RNA-seq of Suraksha at recommended nitrogen dose NNP11
Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in rice is becoming need of hour in context of increasing nitrous oxide emissions contributing to climate change and cost of cultivation. Under the umbrella of National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), rice germplasm has been screened for NUE and breeding lines are also being evaluated for yield performance under low nitrogen.  As a part of it, transcriptome analysis of two genotypes (Basmati 370 and Thurur Bhog) with best NUE vis-à-vis low efficient genotypes (Kola Joha and Suraksha) at recommended and low nitrogen doses was performed. At developing panicle stage, total RNA was isolated from panicles and subjected to RNA sequencing on 454 Roche and Illumina platforms to unravel the molecular mechanism of nitrogen use efficiency. Transcripts for nitrogen metabolism, transcription factors, transporters, signaling molecules were differentially expressed between the best and low nitrogen use efficient genotypes.The data can be further deployed in developing rice genotypes with better NUE through molecular breeding or genetic engineering.