ABSTRACT
School of Fundamental Sciences, c/o Centre for Fundamental and Liberal Education, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia, Tel: +609 6683176, Mob.: +6 19 3475443, Fax: +609 6683434
E-mail: mail: aaziz@umt.edu.my
7.1 INTRODUCTION
Rice is one of the main source of carbohydrate, feeds more than half of the world’s population mainly in Asian region especially India, Japan, China, and Southeast part of Asia (Xue et al., 2015; Verma and Srivastav 2017). Rice is also a source for proteins, zinc, and niacin with low calcium, iron, thiamine and riboflavin (Verma and Srivastav 2017). Extensive studies have been carried out by various research institutions worldwide to increase the rice productivity and qualities to fulfill the increases of market demands (Verma et al., 2012, 2013, 2015). It was estimated that the rice production requires upto 50% increment to ensure sustainable food security by 2025 (Mohanty, 2009). Besides the inputs, diseases and post-harvest management, weather and/or climatic change is the bottleneck in rice production. Flooding and drought are two phenomenon derived from weather changes that cause an environmental stress to rice plants. Rising of sea water into agricultural land in low coastal area and accumulation of ionic fertilizer that domestically employed by farmer enlarge the environmental stress due to soil salinity (Wanjogu et al., 2001; Yadav et al., 2011). This environmental
stresses poses a serious problem and limiting rice production worldwide (Kumar et al., 2003).
