Genetic diversity of Australian wild rice

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa) is the most important crop in the world. Two thirds of the world population consume rice as main part of their daily diet. Crop wild relatives are essential to provide new genetic resources in order to improve crops to meet food demand and cope with environmental changes. Domestication of rice led to loss of many important genes through application of strong selection for the traits favoured by humans. Australian wild rice has unique features and is found