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'Red rice' indicates dormancy gene
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008 11:20 am
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Among rice growers, 'red rice' is considered a weed. That hasn't stopped scientists from studying red rice, and now, a South Dakota State University scientist has demonstrated that red rice gets its seed color and its ability to remain dormant from the same gene.That discovery has important implications for both rice-producing and wheat-producing regions.

Xing-You Gu in SDSU's Department of Plant Science says that red rice causes problems for rice growers worldwide, in part because it germinates at a later time than domestic varieties of rice. The dormancy trait also assures that seed which falls to the ground during harvesting will remain viable in the soil until conditions are right for germination.

"Based on my recent research, red rice is not only a red pigmentation issue", Gu said. "This gene is a transcription factor participating in the regulation of many pathways that could enhance weedy rice's adaptability."

Gu said the association of dormancy and red seed coat, or pericarp, color isn't in itself surprising. Wheat breeders are aware of the connection, for example. "In common wheat there is a report of association between seed dormancy and red seed coat color," Gu said, adding that red-colored wheat varieties are more dormant than white varieties. That means red-colored varieties are also more resistant to pre-harvest sprouting - a major problem for growers of wheat varieties worldwide.

"The question we haven't answered yet is if the dormancy genes and the red color genes are the same gene or two closely linked genes," Gu said.

Gu said that if the genes are only closely linked in wheat, breeders could use genetic tools to dissect the genes and use the dormancy gene to improve white wheat varieties' resistance to pre-harvest sprouting. If they're the same gene, however, then there is absolutely no way to use the dormancy gene without also getting the red seed coat color.

"We haven't done similar research in wheat, but based on our research in weedy rice, the gene that controls red color also controls seed dormancy," Gu said. "Our research will have a possible impact on seed science and seed development."

Red rice is also a delicacy for some, and, as its redness comes from anthocyanins, it might also be thought of as a health food.
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