Nant Nyein Zar Ni Naing^{1, 4} , Chunli Wang^{1, 3} , Cui Zhang^{1, 3} , Junjie Li^{1, 3} , Juan Li^{1, 2, 3} , Qian Zhu^{1, 2, 3} , Lijuan Chen^{1, 2, 3} , Dongsun Lee^{1, 2, 3}

1 Rice Research Institute, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China
2 The Key Laboratory for Crop Production and Smart Agriculture of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China
3 State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China
4 Department of Plant Breeding, Physiology and Ecology, Yezin Agricultural University (YAU), Nay Pyi Taw 15013, Myanmar
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 5   
Received: 19 Aug., 2024    Accepted: 27 Sep., 2024    Published: 05 Oct., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Myanmar’s core landrace rice varieties represent a vital genetic reservoir essential for the resilience and sustainability of rice cultivation. This study summarizes the genetic diversity of these landraces, shaped by diverse agro-ecological conditions and traditional farming practices. Despite significant genetic variability, current studies face limitations such as insufficient high-resolution genomic data, inconsistent methodologies, and inadequate geographic and ecological coverage. The study highlights recent advancements in genomic technologies, such as whole-genome sequencing and genotyping-by-sequencing, and their potential to overcome these challenges. Furthermore, it discusses the integration of phenomic tools, bioinformatics, and participatory breeding programs to enhance our understanding of genotype-phenotype relationships. We suggest future research priorities including comprehensive collection and conservation of underrepresented landraces, detailed association studies linking genetic variants with key agronomic traits, and exploring epigenetic mechanisms underlying trait expression. The study underscores the importance of socio-economic studies and policy engagement for the sustainable use and conservation of these valuable genetic resources. By leveraging emerging technologies and addressing current limitations, researchers can unlock the full potential of Myanmar's landrace rice varieties, contributing to global rice breeding efforts and agricultural sustainability.

Genetic diversity; Landrace rice varieties; Genomic technologies; Myanmar rice; Sustainable agriculture