Cold damage to rice during the reproductive stage: a review

Yield loss in rice (Oryza sativa L.) caused by low temperatures during the reproductive stage results from the induction of male sterility. This can be critical for rice production in cool climates. This review summarizes the physiological and molecular mechanisms that underlie cold damage. Recent advances in genome‑analysis technology have accelerated the breeding of tolerant cultivars by identifying key genetic regions associated with mitigation of cold damage. The review concludes with future perspectives for research on how to more reliably grow rice under unpredictable future cold‑stress conditions.