Genetic mechanisms conferring adaptation to submergence and drought in rice: simple or complex?

Both high and low extremes in precipitation increasingly impact agricultural productivity and sustainability as a consequence of global climate change. Elucidation of the genetic basis underlying stress tolerance facilitates development of new rice varieties with enhanced tolerance. Submergence tolerance is conferred by a single master regulator that orchestrates various acclimation responses, whereas drought tolerance is regulated by a number of small-effect loci that are largely influenced by genetic background and environment. Detailed molecular studies have uncovered the functional importance of genes and signaling components which coordinate various morphological and physiological responses to submergence and drought, providing new insight into understanding the complex regulatory mechanisms of stress tolerance in rice.