By: Bhat Hilal Ahmad
Making a smart use of Cutting-Edge HiFi Sequencing Technology , a first of its kind ‘Pangenome’ of Asian Rice is stitched together by assembling key parts of genomes from 144 different variants of cultivated and wild varities of Asian rice. The first genetic breakthrough of its kind reveals that all modern rice have evolved from a single wild ancestor.
This genomic innovation will enables researchers to develop new rice cultivars and introduce newer traits for resilience against climate change and disease resistance. It is much like the Human Genome Project ( HGP – 2003 ) expressing genetic diversity of the human species by mapping genomes from a range of individuals. While rice has 46,000 to 55600 genes , humans are believed to have only 30,000 to 40,000 genes.
Genetic studies further suggest that around 10,000 to 14,000 years ago YangTze river valley in china is likely the primary site of domestication for the Asian Rice. In that context Pangenome of Asian Rice is not only a scientific progress but a substantial tool in our fight against the food insecurity in the progressively warmer world.
Such an innovation underscores the urgency of integrating genomics into sustainable agriculture. It is a comprehensive reference genome that will revolutionize rice breeding by unlocking traits that boost not only diseases resistance but also the climate resilience. It captures the immense biodiversity within the entire rice species. This Pangenome decodes as to how different strains adapt to their new environments and how beneficial traits would be bred into new and improved cultivars.
For nearly two-thirds of the globe, rice is a staple food. In India it is not just food but culture and a livelihood. A primary crop grown over the monsoon months of June to September. India produced a record 220 million tonnes of rice over 51000 hectares with an average yield of 4.2 tons / ha in 2024-25. However, the future of this staple food is under threat.
Given the impact of Global warming which is not only shooting temperatures up but also jeopardizing crop yields and food safety. Over the years several studies have warned that rising temperatures due to climate change would increase arsenic uptake among several rice varieties and will also affect yields. Researches have shown that since 1901 India’s average temperature has increased by 0.7°c with an average minimum temperature of 0.9°c above the long-term average, with 2024 being the hottest year on record.
Therefore, by tapping into the full spectrum of rice genetics from ancient wild verities to high-yielding modern strains, the Pangenome offers breeders a magical outlook. The new cultivars will not only show high-power resistance to high temperatures , water stress , emerging pests and diseases , but will also retain nutritional quality under extreme climates. That is the key to secure future of farming and feeding the generations to come.
Earlier in 1990 we saw engineered Golden rice with a multi-gene biochemical pathway in its genome. The increased beta-carotene content in Golden rice is a precursor to Vitamin A that improves human health. Consequently ‘Pangenome’ of Asian Rice is considered a giant leap in modern plant biotechnology.
The writer holds master’s degree in the discipline of Biotechnology. biotechilal@gmail.com
