Smart Salinity Solutions: BRRI Advances Genomic Rice Breeding

Rice production in Bangladesh’s coastal saline regions has long remained a major challenge. Due to climate change–induced increases in soil salinity, farmers frequently face declining yields. In this context, the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) is applying modern and integrated breeding techniques to develop high-yielding, salinity-tolerant rice varieties.

Under BRRI’s cutting-edge salinity-tolerant rice breeding program, pre-breeding strategies are being combined with an elite parental pool. In addition, promising lines are being selected through SNP-based genomic data analysis, artificial salinity screening, and multi-dimensional breeding trials conducted both in field conditions and controlled environments.

Alongside tolerance, equal emphasis is being placed on grain quality. For this purpose, physicochemical traits such as apparent amylose content, gel consistency, and gelatinization temperature are analyzed to select lines that can not only withstand adverse conditions but also deliver superior yield and quality.

During the ongoing Boro season, approximately 1,000 advanced breeding genotypes are being evaluated under this program. These include 650 OYT (Observational Yield Trial), 196 PYT (Preliminary Yield Trial), 118 AYT (Advanced Yield Trial), 36 MLT (Multi-location Trial), and 41 RYT (Regional Yield Trial).

The research initiative has already demonstrated significant success. Recently, BRRI has developed ‘BRRI dhan112’ for the transplanted Aman season and ‘BRRI dhan117’ for the Boro season, both salinity-tolerant varieties. These varieties are capable of producing good yields not only in saline environments but also in non-saline favorable conditions. Notably, ‘BRRI dhan117’ is also resistant to blast disease, offering an added advantage for farmers.

Furthermore, a promising new variety, ‘BRRI dhan119,’ is currently at the proposal stage for the transplanted Aman season. At the same time, proposed variety trials (PVT) for two additional promising lines are ongoing in the current Boro season.

BRRI researchers believe that through these advanced breeding techniques and the development of new varieties, coastal agriculture will become more sustainable, resilient, and productive. This, in turn, will help ensure national food security while bringing positive changes to the livelihoods of farmers in saline-prone regions.