New Genetic Breakthrough Could Lead to Disease Resistant Rice
Today, scientists reported a major breakthrough in the fight against one of the world’s most serious crop diseases, blast disease, which affects rice production. The research team from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has identified a gene that could be used to create more disease-resistant varieties of the crop. The gene, called Rsp1, has been found to be highly effective in protecting rice from blast disease, a fungal pathogen that is responsible for devastating yields in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. With this new discovery, researchers hope that they can develop improved varieties of rice that are more resistant to blast disease. This could help farmers in these regions produce more food, while also reducing their reliance on chemical pesticides.
source: Phys.org