Unlocking the genetic secrets of heat tolerance in Malaysian weedy rice (Oryza spp.)

Climate change poses a significant threat to agricultural crops worldwide. To address this, scientists are working on breeding crops that can withstand various stresses. Heat-tolerant rice is in high demand, and potential heat tolerance genes may be found in weedy rice. In this study, 180 weedy rice types were tested for heat stress tolerance. Five heat-tolerant and five heat-susceptible samples were examined using different tests. The results showed that the heat-tolerant accessions performed better. Genome sequencing revealed beneficial mutations in heat shock factors and heat shock proteins. Transcriptome analysis identified genes involved in heat stress response. Key candidates for heat tolerance were identified, shedding light on the mechanisms behind heat stress resilience in weedy rice.