Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part A (2024)

Climate change poses a significant threat to global agriculture, especially rice production, as rice serves as a primary staple for over 50% of the world's population. As global temperatures rise and the frequency of extreme weather events increases, rice cultivation is confronted with numerous environmental stresses, including heat, drought, flooding, and soil salinity. Genetic adaptation through molecular mechanisms is crucial to developing rice varieties that are resilient to these changing climatic conditions. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the molecular mechanisms involved in rice’s genetic adaptation to climate-induced stresses, focusing on heat tolerance, drought resistance, salt tolerance, and submergence resilience. It discusses key genes, molecular pathways, and the latest genomic tools, such as CRISPR-Cas9, QTL mapping, and transcriptomic analysis, used to enhance rice’s adaptive capacity. The paper also includes tables and data to highlight advancements in breeding techniques and markers linked to climate resilience. This review emphasizes the importance of modern genomic techniques in breeding rice varieties that can withstand the evolving challenges of climate change.