Rice and cold stress: methods for its evaluation and summary of cold tolerance-related quantitative trait loci

Qi Zhang; Qiuhong Chen; Shaoling Wang; Yahui Hong; Zhilong Wang

doi:10.1186/s12284-014-0024-3

Rice and cold stress: methods for its evaluation and summary of cold tolerance-related quantitative trait loci

Rice (N Y). 2014 Oct 2;7(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s12284-014-0024-3. eCollection 2014.

Authors

Qi Zhang¹, Qiuhong Chen², Shaoling Wang², Yahui Hong², Zhilong Wang²

Affiliations

¹ Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Innovation and Utilization, College of Biological Science and Technology, College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, Hunan, China ; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China.
² Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Innovation and Utilization, College of Biological Science and Technology, College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, Hunan, China.

Abstract

Cold stress adversely affects rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth and productivity, and has so far determined its geographical distribution. Dissecting cold stress-mediated physiological changes and understanding their genetic causes will facilitate the breeding of rice for cold tolerance. Here, we review recent progress in research on cold stress-mediated physiological traits and metabolites, and indicate their roles in the cold-response network and cold-tolerance evaluation. We also discuss criteria for evaluating cold tolerance and evaluate the scope and shortcomings of each application. Moreover, we summarize research on quantitative trait loci (QTL) related to cold stress at the germination, seedling, and reproductive stages that should provide useful information to accelerate progress in breeding cold-tolerant rice.

Keywords: Cold tolerance; Evaluation criteria; Oryza sativa; Physiological metabolites; QTL.

Publication types

Review