Although a large number of transcription factors and genes respond to cold stress have been identified, the knowledge of the transcriptional control of cold stress responses is limited.
In addition, the regulation of these transcriptional responses is far more complex than previously believed.
The first aim of this project is to identify early novel genes and possible mechanisms including epigenetic regulation involved in cold stress responses at reproductive stage in rice.
RNA-seq technology and DNA methylation analysis will be performed using mature anthers after exposing to cold stress for one day to study genome-wide gene expression and DNA methylation in two cold-tolerant and two cold-sensitive genotypes.
The aim is to identify transcription factors and other molecular factors early respond to cold stress.
Since cold tolerance is a complex trait, targeting transcription factors, which could regulate several targets, is probably more effective for possible use for the development of cold tolerant rice.
The second aim is to develop rice varieties having agronomic desirable traits with cold tolerance.
F2 population will be generated using 4 indica elite lines, vary in their resistance to cold stress, and 4 japonica elite lines, two temperate and two tropical japonica.
All these cultivars have several agronomic desirable traits.
The aim is to combine factors related to cold tolerance and other desirable traits from the eight parents into single F2 plants.
The segregating plants having agronomic desirable traits including high yield will be selected in fields.
Then, the plants having agronomic desirable traits with cold resistance at flowering stage will be identified using controlled growth rooms and a winter field.
The third aim is to identify rice germplasm resistant to cold stress.
At least 100 rice accessions, both low land and up land rice lines, at flowering stage will be treated under normal and cold stress conditions.
The last aim is to study genes/markers associate with variation in response to cold stress.
The selected differential expressed genes/molecular factors will be used to identify polymorphic sequences leading to development of molecular markers, which will be used to test the selected germplasm and the developed rice lines.
The results gained from this project including molecular factors, possible mechanisms, markers, and cold resistant rice germplasm and segregating progenies could benefit food security world wide.