Potential Biotechnological Strategies to Improve Quality and Productivity of Rice Under Arsenic Stress

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a widely cultivated staple food crop feeds half of the world’s population. However, rice accumulates higher amount of heavy metals like arsenic and serves as a prominent source of arsenic exposure to humans. Arsenic is a pervasive metalloid, and its contamination in soil and water has been reported globally. In an aerobic environment, arsenic is mainly present as arsenate (AsV), while under anaerobic conditions like flooded paddy soil, it primarily exists in the reduced form as arsenite (AsIII). Because of the extensive incidence of arsenic in paddy fields, a substantially high amount of arsenic gets accumulated in grains and causes severe human health risks. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce arsenic toxicity with suitable approaches and mechanisms. Several biotechnological strategies may offer an effective approach to reduce arsenic accumulation in rice grains. Many key processes can be targeted to regulate its accumulation in rice grains. These include arsenic uptake, AsIII efflux, AsV reduction, AsIII sequestration, and arsenic methylation and volatilization. The combination of modern biotechnology with conventional agricultural practices in a sustainable manner may help clear up arsenic contamination in soil and water and decrease its accumulation in grains. Presently, we emphasize on biotechnological approaches and strategies for reducing arsenic accumulation in rice. These strategies can help to achieve food security for the present and future generations.