Rice Genomics and Genetics 2024, Vol.15, No.5, 287-296 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/rgg 287 Research Insight Open Access Research Insights into Rice Nutritional Quality: Genetic and Agronomic Approaches Ruchun Chen, Yuandong Hong, Jianquan Li Modern Agricultural Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: jianquan.li@hitar.org Rice Genomics and Genetics, 2024, Vol.15, No.6 doi: 10.5376/rgg.2024.15.0028 Received: 27 Oct., 2024 Accepted: 26 Nov., 2024 Published: 03 Dec., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Chen et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licensse, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Chen R.C., Hong Y.D., and Li J.Q., 2024, Adaptation advancements in hybrid rice varieties: integrating intersubspecific heterosis and high-yield traits, Rice Genomics and Genetics, 15(6): 287-296 (doi: 10.5376/rgg.2024.15.0028) Abstract Rice is a staple food globally but often lacks essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals. This review highlights advances in improving rice nutritional quality through genetic engineering, such as biofortified Golden Rice, and marker-assisted selection (MAS) targeting key genes like OsZIP and OsNAS. Agronomic strategies, including zinc fertilization and optimized water management, complement these genetic approaches to enhance nutrient uptake. Challenges remain in ensuring bioavailability, environmental stability, and balancing productivity with nutritional gains. Future efforts should focus on integrating omics technologies, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, and advanced agronomic practices to develop nutrient-rich, high-yielding rice varieties, addressing global malnutrition effectively. Keywords Rice nutritional quality; Biofortification; Genetic engineering; Marker-assisted selection (MAS); Agronomic practices 1 Introduction Rice (Oryza sativa) is a fundamental staple food for over half of the global population, particularly in Asia and Africa, providing a significant portion of daily caloric intake (Muthayya et al., 2014; Rajagopalan et al., 2022; Bataller et al., 2023). It is a primary source of dietary protein, fat, and essential nutrients in more than thirty developing countries (Das et al., 2020). Despite its widespread consumption, rice is often deficient in essential vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds necessary for preventing chronic diseases (Muthayya et al., 2014; Birla et al., 2017). The nutritional quality of rice varies significantly among different varieties, with pigmented rice grains offering superior nutritional and health benefits due to their rich content of flavonoids, anthocyanins, and proanthocyanidins (Mbanjo et al., 2020; Sudan et al., 2023). Enhancing the nutritional quality of rice presents several challenges. Traditional white rice, while a major caloric source, is poor in essential nutrients due to the loss of vitamins and minerals during the milling process (Muthayya et al., 2014). Efforts to improve rice nutrition through genetic and agronomic approaches face obstacles such as the complexity of nutrient biosynthesis, uptake, and transport mechanisms (Birla et al., 2017). Additionally, the cultivation of nutritionally superior rice varieties, such as pigmented rice, is limited by lower productivity and unfavorable cooking qualities (Sudan et al., 2023). Biofortification strategies, including genetic engineering and mutation breeding, have shown promise but require further research to ensure bioavailability and address potential allergenicity (Birla et al., 2017; Senguttuvel et al., 2023). This study aims to comprehensively explore the progress in enhancing the nutritional value of rice through genetic and agronomic methods. It will review the development status of genetic engineering, mutation breeding, and traditional breeding techniques aimed at improving the nutritional quality of rice. In addition, we will conduct in-depth analysis of the genetic mechanisms behind the accumulation of nutrients in rice and evaluate the potential of developing rice varieties rich in specific nutrients to alleviate global malnutrition. Through a comprehensive analysis of the achievements and challenges faced in this field, this study aims to clarify the key directions for future exploration and their practical application value in promoting global food security and public health.
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