SPIKE gene can boost rice yields in Asia and Southeast Asia significantly and contribute to global food security in coming years, according to Dr. Tsutomu Ishimaru, Plant Breeder of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)-Japan Collaborative Research Project.

The SPIKE gene is derived from Indonesian landrace, and helps improve yield of rice plants significantly. Dr. Tsutomu Ishimaru says he has achieved yield improvement of around 13-36% compared to IR64 and IRRI146. The SPIKE gene version of IR64 is being tested in several Asian countries including Laos, Indonesia (Java island), India (Tamil Nadu) and Japan. Tests are going on to improve yield in popular rice varieties in South Asia and Southeast Asia using the SPIKE gene. Dr. Tsutomu Ishimaru says, The SPIKE breeding is still in the process for BR11 (popular variety in Bangladesh), Swarna (popular variety in Eastern India), TDK1 (popular variety in Laos), Ciherang (popular variety in Indonesia) and PSBRc18 (popular variety in the Philippines). It will take a few years to finish the transfer of SPIKE to these five varieties.

Though it hasnt been tested yet, the taste, milling quality and cooking properties of traditional rice varieties (such as basmati fragrant rice) are likely to remain same with the introduction of the SPIKE gene through conventional breeding. Increase in yield would also translate into more profit for rice farmers and help in the improvement of the economy of South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Rice is a staple food for almost half of the global population which is growing in Southeast Asia and South Asia. Rice consumption is also increasing in Africa. It is estimated that by 2035, a 26% increase in rice production will be essential to feed the growing population, and according to the International Grains Council (IGC), global rice consumption will surpass rice production in just three years. Dr. Tsutomu Ishimaru hopes SPIKE research will spread to several rice growing countries in future and contribute to global food security.

The IRRI-Japan Collaborative Research Project is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan. The Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) is a key partner of the Global Rice Science Partnership (the CGIAR Research Program on Rice), IRRI says.

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