Regulation of the rice gene OsRMC under salt stress: identification and functional characterization of novel transcription factors

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biology

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is cultivated worldwide and is the staple food for more than one-half of the world population. Abiotic stress conditions, such as high salinity, drought and low temperature have a strong negative effect on rice production. High salinity severely affects rice growth and reduces grain yield, as it induces late flowering and lowers pollen viability. To cope with saline environments, plants rely on the perception and transduction of stress signals through specific response pathways, which activate several adaptation mechanisms.(...)