RICE IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT FOOD CROPS GLOBALLY. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT UP TO 40% OF YIELD IN RICE IS LOST DUE TO DROUGHT, A MAJOR ABIOTIC STRESS THAT IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE DUE TO GLOBAL WARMING. ACQUISITION OF TOLERANCE TO DROUGHT REQUIRES COORDINATED REGULATION OF A MULTITUDE OF BIOCHEMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES, AND MOST OF THESE DEPEND ON CHANGES IN GENE EXPRESSION. RECENT STUDIES HAVE UNCOVERED A FAMILY OF HIGHLY CONSERVED SIGNAL RESPONSIVE CALCIUM/CALMODULIN-BINDING TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS (SRS) THAT PLAY IMPORTANT ROLES IN ABIOTIC STRESS RESPONSES IN PLANTS. THIS PROPOSAL FOCUSES ON THE ROLE AND MODE OF ACTION OF A RICE TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR (OSSR1) IN DROUGHT TOLERANCE.

Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO

Investigators