Establishment of a Rice Mutant Library for Functional Genomics

Abstract

Rice has been a model monocot for functional genomics research due to its small genome size (430 Mb) relative to other cereals, its ease of transformation, and its economic importance. With the completion of genomic sequencing analysis, the next challenge will be to assign functions of 37,000 predicted rice genes. During years 2002 to 2006, we have generated nearly 60,000 gene knockout or activation transgenic rice mutant lines using a T - DNA insertional mutagenesis approach. These mutant lines provide important resources for functional analysis of cereal genes using both forward and reverse genetics approaches. The forward genetics approach would screen for mutants with abnormal phenotypes grown under various conditions or treatments, and the reverse genetics approach would identify mutants based on information of flanking sequence tag (FST). By applying these approaches, currently, we have identified many mutants with altered phenotypes of important agronomic traits. Functions of genes responsible for these phenotypes are being analyzed. Novel genes with essential functions will be employed for cereal crop improvement through genetic engineering approaches.