ABSTRACT
Drought is a major constraint on rice production, particularly in rainfed areas. Erratic rainfall and further predicted global climate change suggest increased frequency and intensity of drought in coming decades around the world. Drought adaptation, through development of drought-resistant varieties with higher yields suitable for water-limiting environments, will be a key to improve rice production and ensure food security for more than three billion people in Asia. Development of such varieties with inbuilt resistance requires a good knowledge and understanding of the traits contributing to physiological and molecular mechanisms of drought tolerance. Nevertheless, in the last decade, significant progress has been achieved in understanding these mechanisms of drought tolerance in rice. The current chapter reviews and consolidates important physiological, molecular and biochemical responses and mechanisms involving quantitative trait loci (QTLs), transcription factors (TFs) and genes in rice under drought stress. The acquired knowledge and understanding of the basic mechanisms and their genetic interaction will provide insights into crop response and will hasten breeding for desirable traits, developing resilient “drought-proof” cultivars suitable for water-limited environments in the climate change scenario.
