Pre-breeding for cold tolerance and intermittent irrigation adaptation and improved agronomy for high water productivity rice

The University of Queensland

  • Project code: PRO-013282

  • Project stage: Current

  • Project start date: Thursday, September 30, 2021

  • Project completion date: Monday, January 5, 2026

  • Journal Articles From Project: Low canopy temperature and high stomatal conductance contribute to high grain yield of contrasting japonica rice under aerobic conditions Frontiers in Plant Science (Issue: 14 on 12/5/2023), Narrow root cone angle promotes deeper rooting, cooler canopy temperatures and higher grain yield in a rice (Oryza sativa L.) recombinant inbred line population grown under different water availabilit Field Crops Research (Issue: 299 on 1/6/2023), Low canopy temperature and high stomatal conductance contribute to high grain yield of contrasting japonica rice under aerobic conditions Frontiers in Plant Science (Issue: 14 on 12/5/2023), Effect of nitrogen management on grain yield of rice grown in a high-yielding environment under flooded and non-flooded conditions Crop and Environment (Issue: 2 on 20/2/2023)

  • National Priority: RIC-Optimised genetic improvement

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Summary

For 75% improvement in water productivity (WP) in rice production, there needs to be a significant genetic improvement in cold tolerance to improve yield stability and enable utilisation of water saving systems. Currently, the main limitation to the utilisation of intermittent (non-permanent water) irrigation production in the Riverina is inadequate cold tolerance. Furthermore, WP is optimised when intermittent irrigation provides sufficient water and subsequent N uptake to meet the crop requirement, and varieties which possess traits such as deep root system, cold and heat tolerance and high leaf photosynthesis/stomatal conductance are required. This proposed project has several components aimed at developing genetic material for use in intermittent irrigation system for production of high yield with high grain quality. The project includes: 1) a cold tolerance benchmarking system at germination, vegetative, young microspore and flowering stages, will be developed with new varieties and information distributed to growers; 2) pre-breeding activities using marker-assisted-selection (MAS) to introgress validated cold tolerance and root cone angle (RCA, to increase water uptake from depth) quantitative trait loci (QTL) into elite Australian germplasm; 3) simulation analysis would be conducted to evaluate various breeding strategies, to establish the most effective method to rapidly introgress cold tolerance; 4) physiological activities for identification of genotypes and physiological traits/QTL for a heat tolerance; and 5) intermittent irrigation management for high WP in the Riverina will be explored.

In combination with improved understanding of nitrogen and water requirements under intermittent irrigation, the outputs of this project will accelerate genetic gains in cold tolerance and enable faster development of appropriate cold tolerant high yielding, high grain quality, adapted varieties through Rice Breeding Australia (RBA). While the well-established relationships between UQ, Rice Research Australia Pty Ltd (RRAPL) and Rice Breeding Australia will enable outputs to be delivered within a four year time frame. 

Program

Rice

Research Organisation

The University of Queensland