Insights into genes and pathways regulating abiotic stress in Oryza sativa L.: A comprehensive transcriptome analysis

Abstract

Rice is the model plant for monocotyledon genomics research. It is a prominent staple food crop worldwide. Its productivity, however, is greatly impacted by the challenges caused by unfavourable environmental conditions. It is intriguing to note that the impacts of these stresses vary depending on the developmental stage, with seedling and reproductive phases being more vulnerable than tillering and grain filling stages. Understanding the molecular responses of rice to abiotic stressors is paramount, and transcriptome analysis emerges as a potent tool for deciphering these complex biochemical reactions. This review delves into the comprehensive transcriptome analysis of genes expressed during various stress conditions, shedding light on the regulatory networks and genes with differential expression underlying stress adaptation. Continued advancements in sequencing technologies and computational resources hold promise for further elucidating plant responses to abiotic stresses. Unraveling the molecular intricacies of these responses is pivotal for developing stress-tolerant crops through targeted breeding and genetic engineering techniques. Highlighting a myriad of challenges faced by rice plants—ranging from salt, drought, heat, cold, flooding, to nutritional deficiencies—the review underscores how these adversities orchestrate intricate changes in gene expression. As our understanding of the transcriptomic landscape expands, this review emphasizes the potential for harnessing these insights to ensure global food security amidst evolving environmental conditions, thereby laying the foundation for future research endeavors.