Physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of rice (Oryza sativa L.) towards elevated ozone tolerance

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important staple food crops that is cultivated in South East Asia. This crop is affected by a wide range of biotic and abiotic factors, each of which is contributing to a change in its physiology, biochemistry, and genetic makeup. Ozone is produced in the troposphere as a result of reactions between abiotic factors, such as oxides of nitrogen and carbon, and UV radiation. These reactions lead to the production of a wide variety of volatile organic compounds. Rice scientists have expressed a great deal of concern regarding the impact of ozone on rice, which has necessitated the development of strategies to combat the problem. The recent advances in rice genomics have led to the discovery of molecular biology approaches such as marker-assisted selection involving quantitative trait loci linked to genes that confer tolerance to ozone stress. This trait is thought to be controlled by a large number of loci with medium effects rather than by a single locus with a large effect. The current review is an effort to provide information on the physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of rice towards elevated ozone tolerance and also to reflect the available strategies to minimize the effect.