Rice gene discovery can increase crop productivity by up to one-third

“We discovered the gene, SPIKE, in an Indonesian tropical japonica rice variety​,” announced rice breeder Nobuya Kobayashi of Japan’s National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation—Institute of Crop Science. 

Food security​

Tropical japonica rice is mainly grown in East Asia and accounts for only about 10% of global rice production. Incorporating SPIKE into indica varieties that are popular and widely used across 70% of global rice-growing areas could significantly contribute to food security.

Breeders from the International Rice Research Institute, which partnered Kobayashi’s research, had earlier observed traits related to higher yield potential, such as large panicles, large leaves, a vigorous root system, and thick stems, in several Indonesian tropical japonica rice varieties. 

At the time, however, the specific gene responsible for higher yield among these varieties had not been identified.

The discovery of SPIKE, which has been published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of the United States of America​, means that breeders can now start incorporating the gene into popular indica rice varieties. The gene can improve plant architecture without altering grain quality or growth periods.

Higher yield​

“Using a new approach of combining molecular identification of the SPIKE gene and conventional breeding, we have developed rice, with the SPIKE gene, that has higher yield when compared with an equivalent rice without the gene​,” Kobayashi said.

The function of the SPIKE gene was validated by IRRI scientists.

“Our work showed that SPIKE is indeed one of the major genes responsible for the yield increase that breeders have spent many years searching for​,” said Inez Slamet-Loedin, head of IRRI’s Genetic Transformation Laboratory, adding that IRRI breeders are now using SPIKE to boost the yield potential of leading local rice varieties.

“Testing of new rice varieties that have the SPIKE gene is under way in multi-location trials across several developing countries in Asia, including Indonesia. We believe that these will contribute to food security in these areas once the new varieties are released​,” said Tsutomu Ishimaru, an IRRI and Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences rice breeder who is now leading the work to develop new varieties with the SPIKE gene.