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Mechanisms for coping with submergence and waterlogging in rice
Shunsaku Nishiuchi1, Takaki Yamauchi1, Hirokazu Takahashi1
1Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
Rice (New York, N.Y.)
|April 26, 2014
Summary
Rice plants possess unique mechanisms to survive both submergence and waterlogging. These include internal aeration, growth regulation via SUB1A or SK1/SK2 genes, and root adaptations for oxygen supply.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Agronomy
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Rice (Oryza sativa L.) exhibits exceptional tolerance to excess water, unlike other cereals.
- This tolerance enables cultivation in waterlogged and submerged environments, crucial for global food security.
- Excess water stress manifests as either submergence or waterlogging, each posing distinct physiological challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize recent advancements in understanding rice's response to water stress.
- To elucidate the molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying submergence and waterlogging tolerance in rice.
- To compare these mechanisms with those in other gramineous plants.
Main Methods:
- Review of current scientific literature on plant responses to excess water.
- Analysis of genetic and physiological studies on submergence tolerance pathways (SUB1A, SNORKEL genes).
- Examination of root adaptations for oxygen transport and supply under waterlogging conditions.
Main Results:
- Rice employs distinct strategies for submergence: quiescence (SUB1A) and escape (SNORKEL1/SNORKEL2).
- Waterlogging tolerance involves forming lysigenous aerenchyma and a barrier to radial oxygen loss (ROL) in roots.
- These adaptations facilitate oxygen supply to root tips, crucial for survival.
Conclusions:
- Rice's multi-faceted tolerance to excess water is key to its agricultural importance.
- Understanding these mechanisms offers insights into improving crop resilience in water-stressed environments.
- Further research can leverage these findings for developing climate-resilient rice varieties.
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