Development and Characterization of Rice Mutants for Functional Genomics Studies and Breeding

Mutagenesis is a powerful tool that has been used to create genetic materials for studying functional genomics, breeding, and for understanding the molecular basis of disease resistance. Approximately 100 000 putative mutants of rice (Oryza sativa L.) have been generated by mutagens. Mutant genes involved in plant architecture, grain quality and disease resistance have been isolated and characterized. Numerous rice cultivars with high yields and superior grain quality have been developed and deployed effectively for rice production worldwide. In this review, we described the ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), irradiation, and fast neutron methods used to create rice mutants; methods for the analysis of rice genes that are responsible for mutations; the use of new mutants for rice breeding and functional genomics; and the molecular mechanisms of blast resistance gene-mediated defence responses.