HuangDeshan Huang , Yuandong Hong , Haiying Huang

Hier Rice Research Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Rice Genomics and Genetics, 2025, Vol. 16, No. 3   
Received: 19 Apr., 2025    Accepted: 30 May, 2025    Published: 18 Jun., 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The root system architecture (RSA) of rice is a critical determinant of plant health, growth yield, and resilience to environmental stresses. This study explores the genetic and environmental factors influencing rice RSA, highlighting the importance of root traits such as length, number, density, and angle in nutrient and water uptake. Genetic studies have identified numerous quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and candidate genes, such as PSTOL1 and DRO1, which play significant roles in improving RSA under various conditions. Advances in phenotyping technologies, including non-invasive imaging and high-throughput methods, have facilitated detailed studies of RSA, thereby promoting the development of rice varieties with optimized root systems. Environmental factors, such as drought and nutrient availability, also have significant impacts on RSA, necessitating adaptive strategies to enhance stress tolerance. This study emphasizes the potential of integrating genetic research with advanced phenotyping technologies, providing new strategies for breeding rice varieties with superior RSA, ultimately contributing to increased yield and resource-use efficiency.

Root system architecture (RSA); Quantitative trait loci (QTLs); Phenotyping technologies; Genetic variation; Environmental stress adaptation