Drought Tolerance in Rice (Oryza sativa L.): Impact, Performance and Recent Trends

Abstract

Drought poses a significant challenge to rice cultivation in Asia's rain-fed regions, which is expected to worsen with climate change. This article presents a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge on drought tolerance in rice, based on a literature review of 52 relevant articles. The articles were chosen based on their relevance to the topic of drought tolerance in rice. The selected articles were then analyzed using a qualitative approach to summarize and synthesize their findings into three main sections: impact, performance, and recent trends. The article highlights several key findings on the development of drought-tolerant rice cultivars, including the identification of genes that control responses to water availability, the use of submergence-tolerant varieties in flood-prone lowlands, and the importance of physiological, biochemical, and molecular adaptation processes in improving rice's tolerance to drought stress. The article emphasizes the importance of marker-assisted breeding and cultivation in semi-arid and rainfed environments to develop more drought-tolerant cultivars. The development of drought-tolerant rice cultivars is crucial to ensure food security and mitigate the effects of climate change in Asia's rain-fed regions. The article also discusses various types of droughts and their effects on different plant species and drought pressures. As the global population increases, the demand for rice as a dependable food crop also rises. To meet this demand, rice cultivation must be expanded to rainfed areas. However, rice's adaptation mechanisms and habitat make it one of the most challenging crops for breeders to develop drought-tolerant varieties. Overall, this article provides important insights and recommendations to improve rice productivity and address the challenges associated with drought in rice cultivation.