Rice is classified in the grass family Gramineae. Its genus is Oryza and species O. sativa. It is commonly cultivated for food in Asia. Some varieties of rice include red rice, glutinous rice, and wild rice. (Jodon, 303) The kernel within the grain contains most of the vitamins and minerals (298). The kernel contains thiamine, niacin, and riboflavin (299).

Rice has many enemies that destroy a majority of the rice crops. The larvae of moth, stem borers, live in the stems of the rice plants. Some insects suck the plant juices or chew the leaves. Birds, such as bobolink, Java sparrow, or paddybird, would eat the seeds or grains. Disease causing factors such as fungi, roundworms, viruses, and bacteria also destroy the r

Jodon, Nelson. "Rice." World Book Encyclopedia.

Normille, Dennis. "Rice Genome Races Ahead." "Science."

There are various types of rice grown all over the world. A majority of rice grown is cultivated rice. When rice is grown with water standing on the fields, it is called lowland, wet, or irrigated rice. Rice plants grown in certain parts of Asia, South America, and Africa are called upland, hill, or dry rice because they are raised on elevated lands that cannot be flooded, but with plentiful rainfall. Wild rice is grown along lake shores of Canada and the Great Lakes. It is usually eaten by people in India. Scented rice is the most expensive because is has long grains and tastes like popcorn when cooked. Glutinous rice is waxy rice consumed by Asians. It is cooked to a sticky paste and is used for cakes and confections. (Jodon, 299)

Ronald, Pamela. "Making Rice Disease-Resistant." "Scientific American."

Rice is one of the world's most important crops because a majority of the world depends on this as a staple food. The number of rice plants planted, however, are greater than the number of rice consumed. This is because of various factors that destroy the rice plants before they can be harvested for commercial use. Various factors, such as insects, birds, and disease, destroy the rice crops. Projects are being conducted to improve the rice plant, but researchers encounter various obstacles. Making the rice plant disease-resistant to blight may be useful and valuable, but they must also find a way to make the rice plant resistant to other diseases and viruses such as ragged- stunt. Since Japan has increased its funds to its genome projects, they have been able to increase the work on mapping the twelve rice chromosomes. Scientists hope that these projects will be finished, and that farmers will be using the enhanced genes on their rice plants by the beginning of the next century.

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Approximate Word count = 1949
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)