Project Number: 5306-21000-016-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jun 18, 2003
End Date: Jun 17, 2008

Objective:
The overall goal of this project is to develop improved rice germplasm for temperate environments and solve problems facing the U.S. rice industry through the application of molecular genetics and genomics approaches. To achieve this, three objectives have been defined: 1) evaluation of rice germplasm using genomics-based tools and resources, 2) discovery and characterization of genes affecting important agronomic traits, and 3) application molecular marker-assisted selection and novel genomic technologies to develop enhanced rice germplasm. California's temperate climate is unique among U.S. rice growing states and presents distinct challenges to the rice industry here. Environmental concerns have also resulted in changes in production practices that threaten the long-term sustainability of rice farming. To address these problems, a better understanding of the genetic basis of important agronomic traits is needed and new sources of genetic material for incorporation into adapted cultivars must be indentified. Emphasis of this rice research is placed on traits affecting cold tolerance, disease resistance, and competitive ability. The knowledge and genetic resources resulting from this research will contribute to the development of new cultivars by state breeding programs to ensure that the rice industry in California continues to be competitive.

Approach:
Rice germplasm will be evaluated using microsatellite markers. The utility of tools such as allele and expression profiling for molecular evaluation of rice will be examined. Genes controlling qualitative and quantitative traits will be mapped using molecular markers. Fine mapping and positional cloning will be performed to isolate genes of interest. These genes will be functionally characterized using plant genetic transformation and reverse genetics. Mapping and mutagenized populations of rice will be developed for gene discovery and characterization. Genes controlling important agronomic traits will be incorporated into elite germplasm using molecular marker-assisted selection.Formerly 5306-21000-013-00D (5/03).

Project Team

Tai, Thomas

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003

Related National Programs

Plant, Microbial & Insect Genetic Res., Genomics, & Genetic Improv. I (301)   Plant Biological and Molecular Processes (302)

Related Projects

TILLING AND ECO TILLING RESOURCES FOR JAPONICA AND INDICA RICE