Rice genome sequencing project
Rice serves as a model genome for cereal crops due to its relatively small genome size.
Rice (Oryza sativa) is a staple food for more than half the world’s population. With a genome of approximately 389 Mb, it was selected as a model for cereal genomics.
The International Rice Genome Sequencing Project (IRGSP) completed the reference genome in 2005, enabling molecular breeding and comparative genomics across crops.
Rice genomic resources continue to support yield improvement, stress tolerance, and studies of domestication and evolution.