The journey of aromatic rice: genetic diversity, global trade, and prospects for improvement: a review

Aromatic rice, a globally esteemed crop, holds significant cultural and economic value due to its unique fragrance and delicate flavor. Originating in the Indian subcontinent around 400 BC, now grown in over 30 countries. Its evolution is hypothesized to have resulted from hybridization between newly introduced japonica rice, carrying the betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (BADH2) aroma mutation, and local Aus varieties. This market, dominated by Basmati and Jasmine types, constitutes 15-18% of the global rice trade and commands a significantly higher market value than non-aromatic rice. The distinctive aroma is primarily attributed to 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP) alongside over 300-500 other volatile compounds, whose synthesis is regulated by BADH2, a recessive gene on chromosome 8. While BADH2 is a key driver, minor…