Breeding for Climate Resilience: Genetic Approaches to Improve Heat and Drought Tolerance in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the world's most important staple crops, feeding over half of the global population. However, climate change poses unprecedented challenges to rice production through increased temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events. Heat and drought stress significantly reduce rice yields, threatening global food security. This review examines the current state of genetic approaches for developing climate-resilient rice varieties, with particular emphasis on quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, marker-assisted selection (MAS), and gene networks associated with abiotic stress tolerance. We discuss the identification and characterization of major QTLs controlling heat and drought tolerance, the application of molecular markers in breeding programs, and the complex gene regulatory networks underlying stress responses. Recent advances in genomics technologies, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genomic selection, have accelerated the development of climate-resilient rice varieties. This review highlights the integration of traditional breeding methods with modern molecular approaches and discusses future directions for enhancing rice climate resilience through genetic improvement.