A new study on wild rice published in Nature Genetics paves the way for more resilient varieties that can be grown in extreme environments

An international research team led by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST, Saudi Arabia) and Wageningen University & Research (Netherlands) has published a study in the journal Nature Genetics analyzing the evolution of the genus Oryza, which includes cultivated rice and its wild relatives, offering new perspectives for the selection of varieties that are more adaptable to climate change and can be grown in areas that are currently unproductive.
Among the coordinators of the study is Andrea Zuccolo, Research Scientist at KAUST, who during the research held the position of researcher at the Institute of Plant Production of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa. His contribution focused in particular on the comparative analysis of genomes and the phylogenetic reconstruction of wild rice species.
The study examined eleven wild rice species, including nine tetraploids and two diploids, revealing a wide genomic diversity linked to the accumulation of genetic elements known as 'jumping genes' — genetic elements present in the genomes of prokaryotes and eukaryotes, capable of moving from one position to another within the genome — which represent a natural source of genetic variability and innovation.
The analyses showed that these species differ significantly in genome size and in the presence of genes associated with tolerance to extreme environmental conditions, such as high temperatures, saline or dry soils, characteristics that are increasingly relevant in a context of global climate change.

In addition, the study has made it possible to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the Oryza genus, highlighting how environmental stress events have acted as a driver for genomic innovation and adaptation. The results thus provide a useful framework for the genetic improvement of cultivated rice, with the aim of developing more resilient varieties capable of growing in environments that are currently marginal for agriculture.
With over 3.5 billion people relying on it as their main daily food source, rice is a crop that is fundamental to global food security. This work provides valuable tools for strengthening its productivity and adaptability.

The study is available on the journal's website at the following URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-025-02183-5