DBT propelled national effort in creating mutant resource for functional genomics in rice

In 2007, with the help of DBT, a research project to create mutant resources for functional genomics in rice was launched through a national initiative involving ICAR-National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi; ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi; Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad; University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore and Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Genetically well-defined material is a prerequisite for functional genomics. Thus, the project aimed to generate EMS mutants in the background of an upland and short duration aus genotype, Nagina22, characterize the mutants and use them in crop improvement. As of now, nearly 85,000 rice M2 mutant populations have been created under the project. Based on field phenotyping, gain and or loss of function mutants for tolerance to herbicide spray, drought, salinity and resistance to rice leaf and panicle blast, sheath blight and high phosphorus (P) use efficiency under low P field have been identified. Notably, the herbicide-tolerant mutant identified is under the process of registration for distribution to public and private rice breeders under appropriate material transfer agreement. Besides this, the project also aims to serve as a 'National Repository of rice EMS mutant resource' for the researchers involved in rice biology and improvement in the country.