Discovery, Validation, and Transfer of Heat Tolerance Alleles to Enable Rice Production in Bangladesh
- Cereal: Rice
- Abiotic Stressor: Heat
- Principal Investigator: Michael Thomson, Texas A&M University
Working to improve rice tolerance to extreme heat during the most sensitive stages of the crop (flowering), this effort targets the genetic basis of heat tolerance using the largely underutilized diversity within aus germplasm. Elevated temperatures during the reproductive phase cause pollen sterility, reduced grain filling, and measurable yield loss, making heat tolerance a priority trait for rice systems exposed to increasingly frequent heat events, particularly in Bangladesh. This collaboration between Texas A&M University and the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) focuses on identifying alleles that contribute to spikelet fertility and grain set under high-temperature conditions.
High-resolution genotyping and phenotyping data will be integrated through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify genomic regions associated with heat tolerance, addressing a gap in current datasets where aus germplasm remains underrepresented. Genomic regions will be prioritized based on statistical significance, effect size, and consistency across environments, then introgressed into elite genetic backgrounds using marker-assisted backcrossing and rapid generation advance (RGA) to develop near-isogenic lines (NILs). These NILs provide a controlled framework to validate allele performance under field and greenhouse-imposed heat stress conditions.
Validated alleles and associated genetic markers will be integrated into breeding-relevant germplasm and made available as pre-breeding resources to support downstream breeding programs. This project strengthens heat tolerance in rice by identifying alleles, validated genetic stocks, and high-quality phenotypic and genomic datasets. In parallel, the project builds capacity in genomic analysis, molecular breeding, and genomic data interpretation, ensuring that these tools and resources can be applied across breeding programs targeting heat-prone production environments.