RICE BREEDING AND GENETICS: THE IMPACT OF CLIMATIC CHANGE AND PESTILENCE ON GLOBAL RICE PRODUCTION

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most crucial staple crops globally, providing sustenance to over half of the world's population. However, rice production faces significant challenges due to climate change and the rising prevalence of pests and diseases, which are threatening food security worldwide. Climate change, characterized by increasing temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and extreme weather events, has a direct impact on rice cultivation by disrupting plant growth, flowering, and grain formation, leading to reduced yields. Similarly, pestilence exacerbated by altered climatic conditions, fosters the spread of the brown plant-hopper (Nilaparvatalugens) and diseases like rice blast (Magnaporthe oryzae), further damaging crops. To mitigate these challenges, modern rice breeding techniques, including genetic modification and genome editing, have been pivotal in developing climate-resilient and pest-resistant rice varieties. Bio-fortification efforts, such as Golden Rice (enriched with Vitamin A), have been developed to address micronutrient deficiencies in rice-consuming populations too.Therefore this study was setup to examine the interplay between climate change, pestilence, and rice productivity, focusing on the genetic advancements aimed at improving rice's pestilence. By exploring the effectiveness of biotechnological innovations in addressing these global threats, this study highlights the potential of genetically improved rice varieties to ensure future food security in a changing climate.