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Rice Coordinated Agriculture Project Funded by the USDA National Research Initiative A multi-state, multi-institutional project Major Objectives:
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Rice Coordinated Agriculture Project • Funded by the USDA National Research Initiative • A multi-state, multi-institutional project • Major Objectives: • Bring together molecular biologists and plant breeders to develop improved U.S. varieties of rice with enhanced resistance to sheath blight disease and improved milling quality. • Provide technical training for rice researchers • Provide educational opportunities for students and consumers emphasizing the potential of genomic research.
RiceCAP target traits • The desired traits for both targets are likely • controlled by multiple genes in the plant. • Sheath blight • a disease caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani • the most prevalent rice disease in the southern U.S. • symptoms progress up the plant and cause white/gray lesions • strong resistance to this fungus is not yet available • Milling Quality • a measure of how much intact, milled rice is obtained from • harvested grain (“paddy” or “rough” rice) • determines the value of harvested grain for growers • can be affected by many factors, including genetics, harvest • moisture, and diseases
Rice as a food… • two-thirds of the world population • depends on rice as a staple food • 103 calories per half-cup serving • (white rice) • cholesterol-free with only a trace • of fat • gluten-free and non-allergenic • contains all 8 essential amino • acids • most white-rice in the U.S. is • fortified with niacin, thiamin, iron, • and folic acid
Japan Bangladesh Consumption of rice around the world… (kg milled rice per person per year) China 90.7 kg (200 lb) Japan 59.9 kg (132 lb) Bangladesh 168.2 kg (370 lb) Cambodia 165.2 kg (364 lb) United States 9.0 kg (20 lb) 1999 figures from IRRI
Geography of U.S. rice production (USDA, Natl. Agri. Statistics Service)