Advances in Crop Science and Technology
Open Access

Abstract

Development of rice cultivars which is tolerant to multiple abiotic tresses is essential to improve food security. With the objective of improving grain yield (GY) under low water input (RS), three drought yield QTLs qDTY2.2, qDTY3.1 and qDTY12.1 had successfully pyramided into Malaysian mega-variety rice, MR219 via marker assisted QTLs pyramiding (MAQP) technique. Donor of the QTLs were the near isogenic lines developed by International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Three selected pyramided lines (PLs) were evaluated for their yield potential under RS and non-stress (NS), and survivability under anaerobic germination, submergence and salinity stresses. Pyramided lines produced higher yield compared to recipient parent, MR219 in all trials. PL-5 became the most promising PL as it gave a yield advantages of 461.15 kg/ha and 1360.00 kg/ha under RS and NS conditions. Under submergence stress, survival rate (SR) of all PLs and submergence tolerant check IR64-Sub1 was significantly different to MR219 (highly susceptible to submergence ) in two evaluation cycles (SS1 and SS2). Furthermore, non-significant result was obtained for SR between PL-2 (80.00%) and IR64-Sub1 (86.67%) under anaerobic germination indicate that these PLs especially PL-2 was capable to germinate and growing well under flooded condition. For salinity stress, SR of PL-68 was higher than salinity tolerant check, Nona Bokra under intermediate (8 dS/m) and severe (15 dS/m) salinity levels. Recovery score (RecS) of PL-68 was either same or higher than Nona Bokra for both salinity levels in two evaluation cycles may indicate a high tolerance level of PL-68 under SL condition. This study suggests that MAQP could be an effective strategy to enhance abiotic stresses tolerance in rice. Promising PLs used in this study can be recommended for cultivation in either normal or unfavorable rice ecosystems in Malaysia as it may help in stabilizing rice production and improving food security.

Recent Publications

1. Gwen Iris Descalsota-Empleo et al. (2019) Genetic dissection of grain nutritional traits and leaf blight resistance in rice. Genes 2019,10,30: 1-23.

2. Arvind K, Nitika S, Shalabh D, Shailesh Y, BPM Swamy, & Noraziyah AAS (2018) Marker-assisted selection strategy to pyramid two or more QTLs for quantitative trait-grain yield under drought. Rice 11:35.

3. Margaret C, Nitika S, Shalabh D, Noraziyah AAS, Kenneth MN, Amelia H, & Arvind K. (2017) Genetic loci enhancing grain yield and root development under variable cultivation conditions. Frontiers in Plant Science 2017(8):1763.

4. Swamy BPM, Noraziyah AAS, Site Noorzuraini AR, Mauleon R, Wickneswari R, Ma. Teressa SC, & Kumar A (2017) Association mapping of yield and yield-related traits under reproductive stage drought stress in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Rice 2017(10-22).

5. Noraziyah AA., Swamy BPM, Wickneswari R, Ma. Teressa SC, Anitha R, & Kumar A (2016) Marker assisted pyramiding of drought yield QTLs into popular Malaysian rice cultivar, MR219. BMC Genetics 2016: 17-30.

Biography

Noraziyah Abd Aziz Shamsudin is a senior lecturer in Plant Breeding and Genetics from Biology Program, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). She finished her PhD on Genetics from UKM-IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) twin program in 2014 and joined UKM as senior lecturer a year after. Her research interest focus on the genetic improvement of rice and vegetables for biotic and abiotic stresses tolerance. She has published 12 articles related to her research interest in high impact journals. She also a member of Genetic Society of Malaysia. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family as well as gardening, reading, and baking.

E-mail: nora_aziz@ukm.edu.my