Tissue culture and chemical mutagenesis in asian and african indica rice
A novel approach combining EMS mutagenesis, 5-azacytidine, and tissue culture stresses to induce mutations in indica rice, enabling rapid trait enhancement in elite varieties. This efficient plant regeneration system promises accelerated breeding for key traits.
Overview
This innovative solution applies chemical mutagenesis combined with tissue culture stress to introduce genetic diversity in Asian and African indica rice varieties. By leveraging EMS mutagenesis and 5-azacytidine, this method induces a wide range of mutations, while activating the Tos17 retrotransposon under epigenetic stress. This approach aims to enhance elite rice varieties with traits such as herbicide tolerance, salinity resistance, and early vigor, significantly reducing breeding times and improving crop resilience.
Technical specifications
- Chemical Mutagenesis: Utilizes EMS to introduce point mutations and 5-azacytidine to inhibit DNA methyltransferase, promoting activation of the Tos17 retrotransposon.
- Tissue Culture Stress: High sugar and heat shock treatments applied to immature embryos or during somatic embryogenesis to induce stress-responsive mutagenesis.
- Efficient Regeneration: Achieves plant regeneration rates up to 91% for elite indica varieties, using a robust system tailored for diverse Asian and African cultivars.
- Trait Screening: Approximately 5,000 plantlets per treatment undergo screening for key agronomic traits such as herbicide tolerance, salinity resistance, and early vigor.
Technology readiness level
This technology is at TRL 3, indicating it is in the active research and proof-of-concept stage. Future validation involves generating and screening mutant populations across multiple elite genotypes, with a project duration of 1.5 to 2 years.
About International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is an independent, non-profit agricultural research and educational organization dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science. Headquartered in the Philippines, IRRI is a member of the CGIAR global research partnership and works in over 17 countries to improve the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers, protect the environment, and promote sustainable rice-based agri-food systems.
delivered to your inbox.