Snorkel genes and rice diving

2009/08/20 Etxebeste Aduriz, Egoitz - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Botanika
• Genetika
• Nekazaritza

Click on the image to watch the video

The rice plant is attracted to water. But when he has too much he drowns. However, there are varieties of rice with survival capacity by raising the water level. Researchers at Nagoya University in Japan have found two genes that help them.

When rice plants with the genes SNORKEL 1 and SNORKEL 2 are submerged, they are able to stretch them quickly and take the ends of the leaves to the surface. Normally plants of a few centimeters can be 4 meters or more if the water level rises. And extreme stomata that come out of the water open more than normal to breathe.

These rice plants can grow up to 25 cm a day. In Bangladesh many farmers plant these varieties in rainy season, but unfortunately these varieties are very scarce. In many other places they run out of rice by raising the water level.

According to researchers, this discovery can greatly improve this situation. In fact, a variety with SNORKEL genes has been crossed with another one unable to cope with flooding and the following hybrids have been able to extend the water level as it rises. According to the researchers, the next step will be to get fertile and flood-resistant rice plants.

Photo and video: Motoyuki Ashikari.