Rice Genomics and Genetics 2025, Vol.16, No.1, 50-60 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/rgg 57 which genes are "working overtime" under high temperatures, but what effects these genes actually produce still needs to be verified by proteomics (Sharma et al., 2021). Interestingly, when these omics data are analyzed together, unexpected discoveries are often made. The complex "interactions" between different stress resistance pathways cannot be discovered by looking at a single set of data (Ullah et al., 2022; Usman et al., 2023). Just like a jigsaw puzzle, only when all the pieces are put together can the complete picture be seen. This multi-omics approach may really help us breed tougher rice varieties. 7.3 Importance of field studies in understanding real-world adaptation Although laboratory research can control variables, if we really want to understand the stress resistance of rice, we still have to look at its performance in the field. After all, nature is not as "rules-based" as the laboratory - the temperature fluctuates, the light is sometimes strong and sometimes weak, and the humidity changes at any time (Hashida et al., 2021). Interestingly, different rice varieties can react very differently to rising CO2 and temperature, which shows that the "compatibility" of genes and the environment is really critical. What's even more surprising is that some varieties that perform mediocrely in the laboratory are very resistant in the field. These phenomena can only be discovered through long-term field observations (Guo et al., 2020), because the gene interaction network in the field is much more complex than that in the laboratory. Therefore, in breeding research now, it is best to combine laboratory data, omics analysis and field verification, so that the varieties cultivated are more likely to adapt to real climate change. 8 Conclusion Sometimes it’s incredible to think about it. Rice supports the livelihoods of more than half of the population, but it also has to face the dual challenges of light and temperature at the same time. Don’t think that rice fields in every place are the same. Some varieties are not very sensitive to cold. In short, light signals and the "clock" in the body need to work together to allow rice plants to survive cold stress, but the details of this "tacit cooperation" need to be further analyzed. Look at the high temperature again. It is easy to go wrong when it comes to heading and flowering, so we have to work hard at the genetic and molecular levels to cultivate new varieties that can withstand the heat. Transcriptome data show that auxin and ABA response genes play a key role in heat stress, and also provide clues to unlock the secret key of heat resistance genes. Finally, don’t forget that genetic improvement alone is not enough: in the context of climate change, optimizing agronomic management is also a necessary means to improve the yield and quality of japonica rice. Don't think that rice can automatically adapt to all environments - its ability to "resist stress" in temperature and light is actually closely related to our rice bowl. Some people say that as climate change makes cold and heat more extreme, this matter is more urgent; but don't forget that the situation in different places is not exactly the same. When high temperatures come, heading and filling are easily affected; if it encounters cold and crisp, the yield will be discounted, which is particularly fatal for those areas that rely on rice for food. Since relying solely on natural regulation is thankless, scientists have taken action: through genetic and molecular strategies, new varieties that are more heat-resistant and cold-resistant are cultivated to stabilize the harvest. At the same time, there are teams that are deeply analyzing the genes and regulatory networks related to temperature stress responses, striving to point out a clear way for breeding. The ultimate goal is simple - to make rice more able to withstand future extreme weather and stop stretching food security. Sometimes you wonder, where should the focus of future rice research be placed? Don't rush to focus only on the "molecular network", first think about how it actually carries together the three mountains of light signals, the "clock" in the body and temperature stress. Although genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics continue to give us new weapons, don't ignore the "lessons learned" from model plants (such as Arabidopsis) - of course, directly copying them won't work. More importantly, laboratory data alone is not enough, and researchers, breeders and policymakers must be brought to a table to turn those "discoveries in the laboratory" into solutions that can be used in the field. Only in this way can we truly enhance the resistance of rice to stress and ensure that the global food supply will not fall behind in the future of climate change.
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