Rice Breeding for Yield Improvement through Traditional and Modern Genetic Tools

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) stands as a paramount staple food, catering to the nutritional needs of over half of the world's population. Amidst burgeoning global demand and environmental challenges, the imperative to bolster rice yields has intensified. This abstract encapsulates the multifaceted approaches adopted in rice breeding to augment yield, encompassing both traditional methodologies and innovative transgenic techniques. Traditional breeding methods, honed over centuries, involve the meticulous selection of elite varieties based on desirable traits such as high yield potential, disease resistance, and adaptability to diverse agro-climatic conditions. Through conventional breeding, breeders have successfully developed improved rice varieties with enhanced yield potential, contributing significantly to global food security. In parallel, the advent of transgenic technology has revolutionized rice breeding by enabling the precise manipulation of genetic material to confer desired traits. Transgenic approaches facilitate the introduction of genes associated with traits such as pest resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, and increased photosynthetic efficiency, thereby elevating yield potential and resilience in rice cultivars. Despite controversies surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs), transgenic rice varieties have demonstrated promising results in field trials, offering novel solutions to address pressing agricultural challenges.