Chonnam National University identifies dual-function rice gene that boosts drought tolerance and grain yield
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 22-Oct-2026 08:16 ET (22-Oct-2026 12:16 GMT/UTC)
As climate change intensifies drought stress and threatens agricultural productivity, improving crop resilience has become increasingly important. Now, researchers from Chonnam National University have identified OsFeSOD3, a rice gene that coordinates chloroplast development and protection against stress-induced reactive oxygen species. Rice plants overexpressing OsFeSOD3 produced 33–42% higher grain yields under drought conditions across two growing seasons. This discovery offers a promising strategy for developing climate-resilient, high-yield crops worldwide.
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