project - Research and innovation
Mycorrhizae to improve rice yield
Mycorrhizae to improve rice yield
Objectives
The GreenRice project aims to analyse the effects of more sustainable management practices in rice crops.
Mycorrhizae (fungi that establish symbiosis with plant roots) contribute to improving plant nutrient and water uptake and thus increase plant resistance to stress. Yet, it was believed that this type of symbiosis was not established with plants that grow in flooded conditions, such as rice. However, It has been found that there are mycorrhizae that can create symbiosis with plants growing in such conditions.
Objectives
N/A
Activities
As part of the project, researchers from the IRTA and CRAG have conducted tests by inoculating rice plants of the rice varieties most frequently grown in Europe, and observing the effects on the yield and the resistance of the plants to Pyricularia orrizae; a fungus that frequently infects rice crops.
The results showed that rice production increases by 40% in inoculated plants due to a higher number of seed heads per plant. Inoculated plants have also shown resistance to Pyricularia orrizae. These outcomes are promising for application in the field in order to reduce fertiliser and pesticide needs; making rice production more profitable and reducing its environmental impact.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Other EU research and development funds
- Project acronym
- GreenRice
- Agricultural sectors
- Cereals