Nitric oxide enhances salt tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedling through gene modulation

Rice is of principal importance as a staple food source for more than half of the world population. The world rice production has been projected to be 915 million tons by 2050 which is by far less than the expected yield doubling hypothesis to supply the demand of the would-be 9 billion global population in the mid of the century. The possible reason why it is unable to increase the rice production in a safe pace with the global population growth is associated with biotic and abiotic stress which are aggravated by climate change. Salinity is one of the major abiotic factors that limit rice production in many areas of the world and the level of salt in the river water is being increased from time to time causing shrinkage of the rice lands. As a result, the crop cultivars currently on hand, particularly in small-scale farming systems, are under high threat of salinity. Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in a regulation of plants growth, development and as a defense strategy in biotic and abiotic stresses.