Approach to Identification of Genes That Increase γ-Oryzanol Content Based on Analysis of Rice Germplasm and Its Chromosome Segment Substitution Lines

Abstract

The γ-oryzanol contained in rice bran is a substance unique to rice that does not exist in wheat or barley, and is well-known to improve hyperlipidemia, preventing obesity, and has antioxidant and ultraviolet absorption effects. For these effects, γ-oryzanol extracted from rice bran are used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, etc. In recent years, with the diversification and segmentation of consumers regarding food and health, brown rice foods and brown rice flour processed foods have become one of the food options, and varieties with high-γ-oryzanol content are expected to help improve attractiveness of brown rice diets and brown rice flour processed products. This paper introduces our efforts to search for genes related to quantitative variation of γ-oryzanol in brown rice, with the aim of developing varieties with high γ-oryzanol content that can be used in foods using brown rice. In addition, a research project that was started with the aim of building a breeding platform for rice to increase rice oil production also introduce in this paper.

graphical abstract