Chinese Researchers Unveil Asia’s First Rice Pangenome to Boost Climate Resilience.
Science and Technology
In May 2025, scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), based in Beijing, China, launched the first-ever pangenome of Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) by decoding the genomes of 144 wild and cultivated rice varieties across Asia.
- This groundbreaking initiative aims to enhance the development of high-yield, disease-resistant, and climate-resilient rice cultivars, crucial in the face of rising global temperatures and growing concerns over food security.
- A pangenome represents the complete set of genes found across multiple varieties of a species—including both shared and unique genes—providing a powerful tool to improve rice genetic diversity and adaptability.
- The rice pangenome was constructed using PacBio high-fidelity (HiFi) sequencing technology coupled with advanced computational tools, enabling scientists to decode the genomes of 144 wild and cultivated rice varieties across Asia. This comprehensive genomic mapping led to the identification of 69,531 genes, which include 28,907 core genes shared by all varieties and 13,728 genes specific to wild rice.
Main Point :- (i) Additionally, researchers discovered around 3.87 billion base pairs of genetic material that were absent from the previous reference genome, significantly expanding the known genetic makeup of rice. This new genetic information allows for a deeper understanding of rice diversity and offers critical data to breed climate-resilient and high-yielding rice varieties.
(ii) The study also confirmed that all Asian cultivated rice varieties are descended from Or-IIIa, a subgroup of Oryza rufipogon, the wild ancestor of japonica rice. Notably, about 20% of the identified genes are unique to wild rice, which hold promise for traits such as phenotypic plasticity, environmental adaptation, and regenerative abilities, making them highly valuable for future crop improvement initiatives.
(iii) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), headquartered in New Delhi, has developed two genome-edited rice varieties—Samba Mahsuri and MTU 1010—with improved drought resistance and higher yields, which are currently under testing.
About China
President: Xi Jinping
Capital: Beijing
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