Rice phytobiome engineering could lead to greater food security, says IRRI and UC Davis scientists

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

The rice phytobiome includes various organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and insects that interact with the rice plant. These interactions can influence the plant's health, stress tolerance, and nutrient acquisition. Environmental factors like soil conditions and climate also affect the rice phytobiome. A deeper understanding of these dynamics can lead to innovative agricultural practices and strategies.

The article, Exploring and exploiting the rice phytobiome to tackle climate change challenges, was published in Plant Communications on 03 September 2024. It presented that climate change poses a significant threat to rice production, as it affects agroecosystems by altering environmental conditions and microbial communities that support plant growth. By using novel, data-driven, and systems-level approaches, the rice phytobiome can be accurately reprogrammed to combat climate change threats through the development of prescriptive and predictive analytics for next-generation precision rice agricultural systems.

″Recent research highlights the importance of signaling mechanisms within the rice phytobiome,″ said Dr. Jauhar Ali, IRRI Principal Scientist and one of the authors of the article. ″Plant hormones like salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene regulate the plant's defense responses, while root exudates and secondary metabolites influence microbial communities in the soil. These interactions are essential for helping rice plants cope with stresses such as drought, pests, and diseases. By manipulating these signaling pathways and microbial communities, we can enhance rice plants' ability to thrive under challenging environmental conditions.″

The paper emphasizes the importance of a holistic, system-wide approach to manipulating 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. There is also the potential of machine learning and deep learning techniques to process and analyze large, complex datasets.

″Manipulating the rice phytobiome offers a promising pathway to improve rice production and resilience in the face of climate change,″ said Dr. Ali. ″By employing cutting-edge techniques such as genetic engineering, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence, microbial communities can be engineered to boost rice stress tolerance and nutrient uptake. These advances could lead to more sustainable rice farming practices that ensure food security for future generations.″