Genetic Engineering of Rice to Survive in Nutrient-Deficient Soil

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important crops in the world, providing staple food for approximately half of the world’s population. Globally, the widely cultivated varieties of rice are Oryza glaberrima (Steudel) and Oryza sativa (L.). Asia produces approximately 90% of the total world’s rice (nearly 640 million tons) where the major contributors are China, India, and Pakistan. Approximately 3.5 billion people rely on rice for 20% of their daily calorie intake. The major obstacles to wheat and rice cultivations include various physical and chemical parameters including excessive soil tillage; soils with low carbon (C), zinc (Zn), potassium (K); and inefficient use of soil nitrogen (N). Problems such as iron, phosphorus, and zinc deficiency or excess aluminum, iron, and salts in the soil have limited rice land in Asia by about 50 M ha. Modern agricultural systems use various plant varieties developed by the conventional breeding system, which has resulted in a significant increase in crop yields, specifically cereals. Development of effective gene transfer mechanisms in combination with mixed “omics” technologies has promoted knowledge of plant physiology and biochemistry for adaptive responses to adverse environmental conditions by recognizing the main molecular players regulating these responses. This chapter discusses how genetic engineering in rice has made it possible to survive in nutrient-deficient soil, with high yield.