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Indian-origin researcher secures USDA grant to combat rice crisis
The research aims to identify and develop rice varieties that can withstand the increasing heat stress caused by climate change.
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Raju Bheemanahalli Rangappa. / Image - Beth Wynn/ MSU
In order to confront the imminent rice crisis that has been exacerbated by climate change, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture has granted $720,500 to Raju Bheemanahalli Rangappa, an agronomy researcher at Mississippi State University (MSU).
Rangappa, an assistant research professor in plant and soil sciences, will lead a team focused on developing climate-resilient rice varieties to ensure the staple grain's quality and nutritional value for the 3.5 billion people who depend on it.
Rangappa and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) team will utilize Heat MAGIC (multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross) populations of rice to test tolerance to various temperature combinations, the university said in a statement.
“Our team is focusing on phenotyping and identifying climate-resilient rice varieties with improved tolerance to temperature stress,” Rangappa said. He explained that the MAGIC population method involves crossing multiple rice parents over several generations, followed by self-pollination of the offspring, to analyze their genetic traits and identify those that contribute to heat tolerance.
The research will be conducted in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines and the USDA-ARS Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center in Arkansas. The project will span four years, with the first two years dedicated to heat stress tolerance testing in the Philippines, followed by field and controlled environment experiments in Arkansas and Mississippi.
Rangappa highlighted the significance of these partnerships, noting, “The IRRI in the Philippines offers vast resources and dedicated scientists, while the USDA-ARS DBNRRC in Arkansas manages one of the largest rice collections in the United States.”
“This grant will propel our research in developing climate-tolerant rice varieties,” said Darrin Dodds, MAFES associate director. “It also offers opportunities for student education and outreach while addressing fundamental questions about current rice production limitations.”
The research aims not only to develop temperature-tolerant rice lines but also to provide insights for future multi-location trials, ensuring the sustainability of rice production in a changing climate.
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