Time-lapse photography shows the effect of a gene
that enables rice to withstand long-term flooding
The SUB1 gene--identified by IRRI and University of California (UC) researchers--allows rice to survive complete submergence for up to 17 days as illustrated
by the rice still standing to the left and right of the scientist in the photo at left. Seeing is believing!
Even better than a static photo to show the effect of
SUB1 is a time-lapse video, spanning 127 days from 14 June to 16 October 2007 in an IRRI research plot. Prepared by IRRI’s
photography and video section, click hereto view
the 2:39 video.
See below to watch a
speeded up 40-second version. The photo at right shows the end-result harvest of the plot on
16 October 2007 (click to enlarge), which yielded the equivalent of 3.8
tons/hectare for IR64+SUB1 and 1.4 tons/hectare for IR64.
The second video below on YouTube shows
IRRI's work on both drought and flood tolerance in rice. Sometimes there is
not enough water in rice fields and sometimes there is too much.
In November 2008, IRRI and UC scientists ceremoniously harvest a rice
variety with the flood-tolerant gene on the research station of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute
near Rangpur. See third video below.
Click here
to view more than 50 IRRI videos on YouTube about various topics including more on Sub1
rice.
ABC Radio Australia Podcast: David
Mackill and his team at the International Rice Research Institute have found a
rice that can survive floods. In fact, the strain can survive underwater for up
to 2 weeks. There's no genetic modification in this; instead, it uses a gene
provided by good 'ol mother nature. Mackill tells the Breakfast Club that the
new rice could prove to be a life saver on the Subcontinent. To listen to the 8:19 podcast on this from ABC Radio
Australia, click the logo above.
