Towards a C < inf > 4 < /inf > Rice

Abstract

The success of the green revolution that began in the 1960s led to an increase in rice yeld of up to 10 fold that was sufficient to meet the food demand of a continually growing population. This rapid increase in rice yeld has not been repeated even after four decades, while the global population continues to grow rapidly. To meet the food demand of the soaring population, rice yelds should increase by at least 50% within next four decades. Despite the best efforts of plant breeders, the prospect of a second drastic increase in yeld using conventional approaches is unlikely but may be possible if we redesign rice photosynthesis into C4 type. A C4 type of photosynthesis is much more efficient than the C4 type found in wheat and rice and could facilitate an increase in yield potential to levels found in C4 crops llke sorghum and maize. Although, C4 plants evolved from the C8 there are hstinct hfferences in their leaf structure (evolution of liranz anatomy) and biochemistry. The same would be needed for the development of a C4 rice plant. In 2009, a consortium of scientists was formed to develop C4 rice. The consortium is using multiple approaches which include but are not limited to; alteration of genomes of C4 and C4 plant species, exploration of wild Oryza accessions and bioinformatics to hscover new genes underlyng C4 photosynthesis. The already known or newly discovered genes of C4 pathway are being systematically introduced into rice. Here we review the stratepes adopted by the C4 rice project coordinated by the International Rice Research Institute. © 2012 Academic Journals Inc.