Summary

Australian rice is currently grown under flooded conditions to maximize yield (>10t ha-1) in the Riverina. However, low and variable water supply presents a significant constraint on production. The AgriFutures Rice Program RD&E has set a goal of increasing water productivity to 1.5 t/ML by 2026. Aerobic rice production is a non-flooded but well-watered system and has been shown to improve water productivity. Most studies found a reduction in grain yield under aerobic conditions compared to flooded conditions, there may be a need to increase nitrogen application to increase the grain yield under aerobic conditions. However, high nitrogen uptake could substantially impact rice plants’ susceptibility to lodging, which results in considerable yield losses. Lodging resistance is a complex trait affected by diverse physiological, morphological and genetic factors. This project aims to develop a screening method to identify donor varieties and traits related to lodging resistance in Australian rice. The project will address four objectives through multiple field experiment activities across three years. Experiments will be conducted to identify donor varieties and assess genotypic variation in lodging and associated phenotypic traits. Furthermore, the identification of QTL associated with lodging resistance will be pursued. Lastly, the genotypic performance of lodging resistant traits will be evaluated in the Riverina region aligned with Rice Breeding Australia. This project will contribute to the development of lodging-resistant and high-yielding rice varieties in the Australian rice production systems. This will result in decreased yield losses and enhanced productivity, ultimately benefiting the Australian rice industry.

Program

Rice

Research Organisation

The University of Queensland