Ученые используют дроны и генетику для создания риса, устойчивого к жаре и дающего больше урожая

FOR years, making better rice meant scientists walking fields with clipboards and testing plants one by one. Now, researchers at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) are doing much of that work from the sky — and in the lab. In a study published in Current Plant Biology, IRRI scientists used drones and genetic testing to find rice varieties that can turn sunlight into grain more efficiently. The goal is simple: grow more rice on the same land, even as the climate gets hotter and less predictable. The study, “Diversity of photosynthesis-related and high-throughput phenotyping traits in indica rice,” was led by Hsiang-Chun Lin, Jacqueline Dionora, Dmytro Chebotarov, Ma. Rebecca Laza, Ma. Elizabeth Naredo, Pauline Muyco, Stephen Klassen, Amelia Henry, W. Paul Quick, and Kenneth McNally. Why this matters By 2050, the world will need about 50 percent more rice and other grains to feed a growing population. But rice yields are only increasing by less than 1 percent each year. One key to higher yields is photosynthesis — how well a rice plant captures sunlight and turns it into energy. Better photosynthesis usually means more grain. The problem is measuring it. Traditionally, scientists had to check each plant with handheld tools. With hundreds of varieties in a trial, that takes months. What the drones did Over three planting seasons at IRRI in Los Baños, Laguna, researchers flew drones over 318 types of indica rice. The drones were fitted with special cameras that measured three things every week: how green the plants were, how tall they grew, and how hot their leaves were. The idea is straightforward. Healthy, fast-growing plants stay cooler because they release water through their leaves. Cooler plants are usually better at photosynthesis and can handle heat better. When compared to manual tests, the drone data matched well. The aerial images could predict up to 44 percent of the differences in leaf structure and grain yield — without scientists touching a single plant. “Testing each plant by hand is very labor-intensive,” the researchers said. Drones let them quickly spot which varieties deserve a closer look. What the genes revealed After the flights, the team studied the DNA of the same 318 rice types. Using IRRI’s rice gene bank and a global rice genome database, they looked for genes linked to good photosynthesis. They found several important sections of the rice genome. One section, called qTRMMOL-2–2, showed up in two different seasons. That consistency is important because traits like water use often change with the weather. Two specific genes stood out: OsWAK6 — linked to plants that absorbed carbon faster; and OsHAK1 — linked to plants that used water more efficiently. Both traits will matter more as droughts and heat waves become common. The top performers Out of 318 varieties, 17 consistently performed best. They had more leaf pores, higher yields, and shorter stalks. They also carried the “good” versions of the key genes. One variety, Facagro 64, already known for tolerating heat, had the best version of every gene identified. Researchers say it could be used to breed new rice varieties that photosynthesize better. The study does not claim drones can replace all field work. But it shows a faster way to screen rice: fly first, test the best ones later, then use DNA markers to breed new varieties. This “marker-assisted breeding” can cut years off the process. Instead of waiting to see how a plant performs in the field, breeders can check its DNA early. “We see this as a starting point for understanding how rice uses sunlight and how we can improve it,” the authors said. For Filipino farmers and consumers, the research offers hope: rice varieties designed to yield more, use water better, and withstand a hotter climate — developed not just by working harder in the field, but by working smarter with drones and DNA.