Engineering Rice Phytobiome Could Lead to Greater Food Security and Combat Climate Change

Scientists from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the University of California Davis (UC Davis) have published a groundbreaking paper detailing an innovative pathway for exploring and manipulating the rice phytobiome. They say this will contribute to rice resilience and productivity, which could help secure the global food supply in the face of climate change.

The rice phytobiome includes bacteria, fungi, and insects interacting with the rice plant. These interactions influence the rice plant's health, stress tolerance, and nutrient acquisition. Aside from these organisms, environmental factors like soil conditions and climate also affect the rice phytobiome. According to the paper published in Plant Communications, a deeper understanding of these dynamics can lead to innovative agricultural practices and strategies.

Climate change is a threat to rice production as it affects agroecosystems by altering environmental conditions and microbial communities that support plant growth. According to the researchers, using novel, data-driven, and systems-level approaches, can help accurately reprogram the rice phytobiome to combat climate change threats. The paper suggests using a holistic, system-wide approach to manipulate the phytobiome to ensure sustainable benefits and minimize disruptions to the ecosystem. Recent advances in synthetic biology and microbiome engineering allow for the manipulation of these microbial communities.

For more details, read the news release from IRRI.