Molecular Breeding of Rice for Problem Soils
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Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011. All rights reserved. Soil problems resulting from either excess or shortage of certain elements as a consequence of specific soil properties are widespread globally and significantly constrain agriculture production. Reclaiming these soils is too costly for rice farmers who are predominately resource-poor with small land holdings. However, breeding cultivars with improved tolerances of prevailing stresses is more feasible and sustainable, particularly when combined with best agronomic and mitigation practices. The recent developments in unraveling molecular and physiological bases of tolerance of various abiotic stresses, the discoveries made in identifying major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and genes associated with tolerance, and the advances in molecular marker technologies have made it possible to achieve faster progress in developing more resilient, high-yielding varieties for these unfavorable soil conditions. Precise marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC) systems are being developed and used for introgressing major QTLs associated with tolerance of various soil problems into popular varieties and elite breeding lines lacking these traits, and this has enabled the swift development and deployment of such varieties. We have summarized the progress made so far in major stresses encountered in rice problem soils including salt stress and nutritional toxicities and deficiencies. We have also provided a brief account of the progress toward developing and using MABC for cultivar improvement.
