Vol. 12, Issue 11 (2023)

Author(s):
Sheetal R Patel, Ritesh K Patel, Gita R Cahudhari, Supritha Raj DS and Shridhar Ragi

Abstract:
Rice crop is extensively grown in drought prone zones and remarkably vulnerable to drought stress. The multiple genetic control of drought tolerant traits would be a major impediment for the existing study, rendering breeding for drought tolerant rice cultivars a challenging endeavour. However, the primary organ to experience water deprivations is the root and are vital absorbents of water. A redesigned root system architecture in the form of deeper roots, increased root hairs with higher density and modified root growth angle probably adds drought tolerance behaviour. The most widely believed target trait for strengthening drought resistance is the tendency for deep root growth, but genetic variation has been revealed for a number of traits that may modulate drought response. To expedite the breeding process for stress-tolerant crops, it is fundamental for scientists to comprehend the regulatory mechanisms that drive root system resilience to extreme circumstances. Hence, this review assessment highlights newly discovered drought responsive genes, physiology and molecular pathways that determine the architecture of rice roots in relation with breeding.