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Srivastava uses gene editing to increase rice yields in Arkansas
Srivastava earned her Ph.D. in plant biotechnology from Jawaharlal Nehru University in India.
Vibha Srivastava / Image- Rice High Night Temperature Stress Research
Indian-origin biotechnologist, Vibha Srivastava, is leading research to develop rice varieties that can withstand rising nighttime temperatures, a growing threat to rice yields and grain quality in Arkansas.
High nighttime temperatures have been shown to cause up to 90 percent yield loss in rice during critical growth stages, including flowering and grain filling.
"Breeding for nighttime heat tolerance in rice is an ongoing challenge," Srivastava, who serves as a professor of plant biotechnology at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said."Gene editing provides a promising pathway to accelerate this process."
Unlike traditional genetic modification, gene editing allows for precise adjustments to a plant’s DNA without introducing foreign genes. Srivastava’s work focuses on using this technology to enhance resilience in rice varieties grown in Arkansas, which produces nearly half of the rice in the United States.
Her recent article in Current Opinion in Plant Biology, co-authored with colleagues Christian De Guzman and Samuel Fernandes, is the first comprehensive review of breeding, genomics, and gene-editing efforts for high nighttime temperature tolerance in rice. The research builds on studies conducted by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, where Srivastava and her team are exploring ways to improve traits such as grain quality and yield under heat stress.
One promising candidate for high nighttime temperature tolerance is the Indian rice variety Nagina 22. While it demonstrates resilience, Srivastava noted that its small grain size, high chalkiness, and susceptibility to lodging make it unsuitable for Arkansas conditions without further improvement. "The specific genes responsible for its tolerance have yet to be identified, which limits the application of gene editing," she said.
Srivastava’s laboratory, supported by a $585,650 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is now working to address these challenges. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, her team is targeting genes associated with heat tolerance and grain chalkiness to create improved rice varieties.
The importance of this research is underscored by rising nighttime temperatures in rice-growing regions. Studies indicate a 1°F increase in Arkansas’s nighttime temperatures since 1940, a trend expected to continue. "Our goal is to develop rice varieties that not only survive but thrive under these conditions," Srivastava said.
Srivastava earned her Ph.D. in plant biotechnology from Jawaharlal Nehru University in India. She has been a faculty member at the University of Arkansas for over two decades, focusing on plant biotechnology, molecular genetics, and transformation methods to improve rice traits.
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