Fri May 09 02:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Scientists Create Comprehensive Rice Pangenome to Boost Food Security
**New Delhi, May 9, 2025** – A groundbreaking study by scientists, primarily from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has resulted in the creation of the first-ever rice pangenome. This comprehensive genetic map, compiled from 144 varieties of Asian cultivated and wild rice, promises to revolutionize rice breeding and enhance global food security.
The pangenome, similar to the Human Genome Project, maps both common and unique genes across various rice strains, providing a more complete picture of rice genetic diversity. The research utilized advanced sequencing technology, revealing 3.87 billion previously unknown base pairs and identifying 69,531 genes, including 20% specific to wild rice. This wealth of genetic information opens doors to developing rice cultivars with enhanced disease resistance, drought tolerance, and resilience to climate change – crucial factors given rising global temperatures and the increasing impact of climate change on crop yields. India, a major rice producer, experienced its hottest year on record in 2024.
The study confirms the evolutionary origin of Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) from the wild variety Or-IIIa, and highlights the genetic contributions from both cultivated and wild varieties. The findings underscore the potential of incorporating beneficial traits from wild rice into cultivated varieties to improve yields and adaptability. While India recently announced two new genome-edited rice varieties, the pangenome offers a broader platform for future rice improvement strategies. The research has been published in [Publication name – not specified in provided text].
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