Net photosynthetic rate of potato at high temperatures

Summary Potato cultivars were grown in a glasshouse and plants periodically transferred to a growth chamber. When the ambient temperature in the growth chamber was raised from 15 to 40°C in steps of 5°C per hour, net photosynthetic rate decreased at temperatures above 20°C. At 40°C the rate was 37% of the rate at 20°C. A greater decrease in net photosynthetic rate occurred with plants of the cultivar Up-to-Date than with cultivars R100 and BP13. Low values of leaf diffusive resistance were recorded and changes in photosynthetic rate could not be explained by changes in this factor. When a constant ambient air temperature of 20°C was maintained while soil temperature was increased, net photosynthetic rate decreased.     

Impact of water management on yield and water productivity with system of rice intensification (SRI) and conventional transplanting system in rice

The system of rice intensification (SRI) reportedly enhances yield with less water requirement. This claim was investigated to determine the effects of alternative cultivation methods and water regimes on crop growth and physiological performance. Treatment combinations compared SRI with the conventional transplanting system (CTS) using standard practices, evaluating both along a continuum from continuous flooding to water applications at 1, 3, 5, or 7 days after disappearance of ponded water (DAD), subjecting plants to differing degrees of water stress while reducing total water expenditure. SRI methods gave significant changes in plants’ phenotype in terms of root growth and tillering, with improved xylem exudation and photosynthetic rates during the grain-filling stage compared to CTS. This resulted in significant increases in panicle length, more grains and more filled grains panicle^?1, greater 1,000-grain weight, and higher grain yield under SRI management. Overall, averaged across the five water regimes evaluated, SRI practice produced 49 % higher grain yield with 14 % less water than under CTS; under SRI, water productivity increased by 73 %, from 3.3 to 5.7 kg ha-mm^?1. The highest CTS grain yield and water productivity were with the 1-DAD treatment (4.35 t ha^?1 and 3.73 kg ha-mm^?1); SRI grain yield and water productivity were the greatest at 3-DAD (6.35 t ha^?1 and 6.47 kg ha-mm^?1).     

Efficacy of Bacillus subtilis MBI 600 Against Sheath Blight Caused by Rhizoctonia solani and on Growth and Yield of Rice

Rice sheath blight disease(ShB),caused by Rhizoctonia solani,gives rise to significant grain yield losses.The present study evaluated the efficacy of Integral?,the commercial liquid formulation of Bacillus subtilis strain MBI 600,against rice ShB and for plant growth promotion.In greenhouse studies,four log concentrations of Integral(from 2.2×106 to 2.2×109 cfu/mL) were used as seed treatment(ST).After 25 d,seedlings were dipped(SD) into Integral prior to transplanting.At 30 d after transplanting(DAT),leaf sheaths were inoculated with immature sclerotia of the pathogen.At 45 DAT,a foliar spray(FS) with Integral was applied to some treatments.The fungicide control was 50% carbendazim at 1.0 g/L,and a nontreated control was also included.Overall,there were 10 treatments,each with five replications.ShB severity was rated at 52 DAT,and seedling height and number of tillers per plant were rated at 60 DAT.In 2009,two field trials evaluated Integral at 2.2×108 and 2.2×109 cfu/mL.Integral was applied as ST,and seedlings were produced in a nursery bed.After 32 d,seedlings were treated with Integral as SD and transplanted into 10 m2 blocks.Foliar sprays were given at 45 and 60 DAT.There were seven treatments,each with eight replications arranged as a factorial randomized complete block design.At 20 DAT,the plots were broadcast inoculated with R.solani produced on rice grains.Seedling height before transplanting,ShB severity at 90 DAT,and grain yield at harvest were recorded.Integral at 2.2×109 cfu/mL provided significant increase of seedling heights over other treatments under greenhouse conditions.The Integral treatments of ST + SD + FS at 2.2×109 cfu/mL significantly suppressed ShB over other treatments.In field studies,Integral provided significant increase of seedling height in nursery,and number of tillers per plant,compared with the control.ShB severity was significantly suppressed with higher concentrations of Integral compared to lower concentrations.Grain yield were the highest at an Integral concentration of 2.2×109 cfu/mL.Overall,Integral significantly reduced ShB severity,enhanced seedling growth,number of tillers per plant and grain yield as ST + SD + FS at the concentration of 2.2×109 cfu/mL under the conditions evaluated.     

土壤干旱对小麦生理性状和产量的影响

为探讨土壤干旱对小麦产量的影响及其生理基础,以高产小麦品种扬麦16和宁麦13为材料进行盆栽,自分蘖末期至成熟设置正常供水(WW)、土壤轻度干旱(MD)和土壤重度干旱(SD)3种处理,研究其对小麦根系和地上部分生理性状的影响。结果表明,与WW相比,MD处理显著提高了各生育期的根系氧化力、根系及籽粒中玉米素+玉米素核苷(Z+ZR)的含量、花后干物质积累量及茎鞘中非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)的运转量;根冠比、叶片光合速率及叶片中Z+ZR的含量在WW和MD处理间无显著差异;SD处理则降低了产量和植株生理活性。MD处理显著提高了穗粒数、粒重和产量,SD处理的结果则相反;穗数随土壤干旱程度的加重而降低。两个品种的结果趋势相同。相关分析表明,根系氧化力、根系和籽粒中Z+ZR含量、花后干物质积累量及NSC运转量与籽粒灌浆速率、千粒重和产量呈极显著正相关。表明土壤轻度干旱可提高小麦根系生理活性并促进光合同化物向籽粒的转运,进而增加产量。     

Root signalling and osmotic adjustment during intermittent soil drying sustain grain yield of field grown wheat

A field study was conducted to investigate the effect of intermittent soil drying on resulting non-hydraulic and hydraulic root signals, leaf gas exchange, leaf growth, day of heading, leaf osmotic adjustment and yield of wheat grown in sand and loam soils in lysimeters. A 40-day-drought treatment was imposed when the flag leaf started to emerge and was terminated close to maturity. Soil water content and soil water potential of various soil layers were measured using the neutron moderation method and tensiometers, respectively. Soil drying in the top soil layers induced increase in both xylem and bulk-leaf abscisic acid (ABA) content and reduced the stomatal conductance and leaf growth even before a measurable change in leaf water potential could be detected in droughted plants when compared with fully watered plants. Further, heading and flowering occurred 4 days earlier in the droughted than in the well-watered plants before any loss in leaf water potential had occurred as compared with the fully watered plants. When more severe drought reduced the leaf water status, further accumulation of leaf ABA occurred and transpiration decreased in addition to gradual osmotic adjustment and senescence of older leaves. The osmotic adjustment sustained leaf turgor pressure during soil drying. At severe drought, the osmotic adjustment at full turgor in the flag leaves was 0.85 MPa. In sand, the kernel dry weight increased and as a result similar grain yield was obtained in both the treatments. In loam which had more water available than sand, no significant reduction in the final yield was induced by the drought. It is concluded that (1) non-hydraulic root signals caused early drought adaptation at mild water stress by reducing leaf growth and stomatal conductance and hastening of heading and flowering; (2) osmotic adjustment sustained turgor maintenance and hence the yield-forming processes during moderate and severe water stress.     

Effects of Soil Moisture Depletion for One Month before Flowering on Dry Matter Production and Ecophysiological Characteristics of Wheat Plants in Wet Soil during Grain Filling

Abstract

The period from mid-March to April in the wheat-growing season in Japan corresponds to a wet period known as “Natanezuyu”. After this wet period, the weather remains rather dry until June. Fluctuations in soil moisture conditions during the growing season might be expected to affect the growth of wheat. Therefore, we compared the grain yield, dry matter production and ecophysiological characteristics of wheat grown with adequate moisture during the ripening stage after it had been grown under adequate (W-plot) or deficient (D-plot) soil moisture conditions for about one month before heading. The grain yield in the D-plot was higher by about 15 to 40% than that in the W-plot, with greater dry matter production. The larger dry weight in the D-plot resulted from a higher rate of crop growth before and after heading, which was due to a larger leaf area and higher net assimilation rate. During the ripening stage, leaf senescence of plants was delayed and the rate of photosynthesis fell more slowly in the D-plot than in the W-plot. Root systems developed better, resistance to water transport from root to leaves was lower, the exudation rate of roots was higher, and the cytokinin activity in xylem exudates from roots was higher in the D-plot. These characteristics of roots might have caused the significant difference in the growth and physiology of the aboveground parts of the plants. Our results indicate that encouragement of the development of the root systems, for example, by drainage during the wet period might be important for improving the grain yield of wheat in Japan.     

Effects of supplemental irrigation based on soil moisture levels on photosynthesis,dry matter accumulation,and remobilization in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars

Two winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, namely Jimai22 (JM22) and Zhouyuan9369 (ZY9369), were used to study the effects of a new irrigation policy, supplemental irrigation (SI) based on soil moisture levels, photosynthesis, dry matter accumulation, and remobilization from 2009 to 2011 in Northern China. Two SI treatments were designed based on relative soil moisture contents in the 0–140 cm soil layer: (1) the target soil relative water contents were 75% of field capacity (FC) at jointing and 65% of FC at anthesis (W1), 75% and 70% (W2) in 2009–2010, and (2) the target soil relative water contents were 75% at jointing and 75% at anthesis (W1′), 75% and 80% (W2′) in 2010–2011. Rain-fed treatment (W0) was used as control. Results showed that SI significantly improved the biomass, grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of both wheat cultivars. The biomass and grain yield of W1 and W1’ treatments were higher than those of others. The net photosynthetic rate, the actual photochemical efficiency of flag leaf, the accumulation of dry matter, and its remobilization from the vegetative parts to the grains after anthesis in W1 and W1’ treatments were significantly higher than in the other treatments. By contrast, the WUE and irrigation efficiency of W2 and W2’ were significantly lower than those of W1 and W1’. Under the experimental conditions, ‘JM22’ showed higher photosynthetic rate in the last stage of grain filling, more spike number per ha, more kernels per spike, higher 1000-kernels weight and eventually higher WUE than ‘ZY9369’.     

Root growth,soil water variation,and grain yield response of winter wheat to supplemental irrigation

Water shortage threatens agricultural sustainability in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China. Thus, we investigated the effect of supplemental irrigation (SI) on the root growth, soil water variation, and grain yield of winter wheat in this region by measuring the moisture content in different soil layers. Prior to SI, the soil water content (SWC) at given soil depths was monitored to calculate amount of irritation water that can rehydrate the soil to target SWC. The SWC before SI was monitored to depths of 20, 40, and 60 cm in treatments of W20, W40, and W60, respectively. Rainfed treatment with no irrigation as the control (W0). The mean root weight density (RWD), triphenyl tetrazolium chloride reduction activity (TTC reduction activity), soluble protein (SP) concentrations as well as catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in W40 and W60 treatments were significantly higher than those in W20. The RWD in 60–100 cm soil layers and the root activity, SP concentrations, CAT and SOD activities in 40–60 cm soil layers in W40 treatment were significantly higher than those in W20 and W60. W40 treatment is characterized by higher SWC in the upper soil layers but lower SWC in the 60–100-cm soil layers during grain filling. The soil water consumption (SWU) in the 60–100 cm soil layers from anthesis after SI to maturity was the highest in W40. The grain yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and irrigation water productivity were the highest in W40, with corresponding mean values of 9169 kg ha^?1, 20.8 kg ha^?1 mm^?1, and 35.5 kg ha^?1 mm^?1. The RWD, root activities, SP concentrations, CAT and SOD activities, and SWU were strongly positively correlated with grain yield and WUE. Therefore, the optimum soil layer for SI of winter wheat after jointing is 0–40 cm.     

Effects on rice plant morphology and physiology of water and associated management practices of the system of rice intensification and their implications for crop performance

Field experiments were conducted in Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India, during the dry season (January–May) in 2008 and 2009 to investigate whether practices of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), including alternate wetting and drying (AWD) during the vegetative stage of plant growth, could improve rice plants’ morphology and physiology and what would be their impact on resulting crop performance, compared with currently recommended scientific management practices (SMP), including continuous flooding (CF) of paddies. With SRI practices, grain yield was increased by 48% in these trials at the same time, there was an average water saving of 22% compared with inundated SMP rice. Water productivity with AWD-SRI management practices was almost doubled (0.68 g l⁻¹) compared to CF-SMP (0.36 g l⁻¹). Significant improvements were observed in the morphology of SRI plants in terms of root growth, plant/culm height, tiller number per hill, tiller perimeter, leaf size and number, leaf area index (LAI), specific leaf weight (SLW), and open canopy structure. These phenotypic improvements of the AWD-SRI crop were accompanied by physiological changes: greater xylem exudation rate, crop growth rate, mean leaf elongation rate (LER), and higher light interception by the canopy compared to rice plants grown under CF-SMP. SRI plants showed delayed leaf senescence and greater light utilization, and they maintained higher photosynthetic rates during reproductive and grain-filling stages. This was responsible for improvement in yield-contributing characteristics and higher grain yield than from flooded rice with SMP. We conclude that SRI practices with AWD improve rice plants’ morphology, and this benefits physiological processes that result in higher grain yield and water productivity.     

苗期外源脱落酸和茉莉酸缓减小麦花后干旱胁迫的效应及其生理机制

为探究生育前期喷施脱落酸（ABA）和茉莉酸（JA）对小麦花后干旱胁迫的缓减效应,在盆栽试验条件下,测定和分析了苗期喷施ABA和JA后花后干旱胁迫下小麦籽粒产量及部分生理指标的变化。结果表明,花后干旱胁迫显著降低小麦穗粒数、千粒重和产量。干旱胁迫下,喷施ABA和JA可显著提高植株内源ABA和JA含量、旗叶光合速率和PSⅡ的最大光化学效率、渗透调节物质（可溶性糖、游离氨基酸和脯氨酸）含量以及抗氧化酶（SOD、CAT、APX和GR）活性,降低丙二醛含量,增加穗粒数、千粒重和产量。说明生育前期喷施外源ABA和JA可缓解花后干旱胁迫对小麦光合的抑制作用,增强干旱胁迫下植株的渗透调节和抗氧能力,促进产量形成。     

灌浆结实期高温胁迫对糯玉米子粒产量和叶片光合特性的影响

以苏玉糯5号和渝糯7号为材料,研究灌浆结实期高温胁迫对子粒充实、叶片光合特性和产量的影响。结果表明,高温胁迫下灌浆后期粒重增速缓慢,穗粒数减少,产量降低。高温胁迫使花后5 d光合速率下降,胞间CO₂浓度、气孔导度和蒸腾速率上升。随灌浆进程推进光合参数逐渐降低,高温胁迫处理下降幅较高,是粒重降低并造成产量损失的关键因素。与苏玉糯5号相比,渝糯7号在高温胁迫处理下光合参数降幅较低,光合速率和胞间CO₂浓度中后期较高,受高温胁迫影响较小。     

Effects of Pre-Flowering Soil Moisture Deficits on Dry Matter Production and Ecophysiological Characteristics in Soybean Plants under Well Irrigated Conditions during Grain Filling

Summary

Summer field crop plants in Japan would develop large shoots but poor root systems during the rainy season called “Baiu”. This might have adverse effects on dry matter production in summer thereafter even when they grow under sufficient soil moisture conditions. The effects of pre-flowering soil moisture conditions on dry matter production and ecophysiological characteristics were investigated.

Soybean plants were grown under sufficient (W plot) and deficient (D plot) soil moisture before flowering in the field. Under sufficient soil moisture conditions after flowering, the plants in the D plot produced higher dry matter due to higher net assimilation rate (NAR) and higher grain yield due to higher pod-flower set ratio and a heavier seed than in the W plot. The higher NAR in the D plot was attributed to (1) a lower resistance to water transport in plants, which is necessary to maintain a high leaf water potential and high photosynthetic rate during the daytime and (2) delayed senescence. The plants in the D plot had a well developed root system, and had roots with high physiological activity represented by a large amount of exudation from the basal cut end of the stem. The development of physiological activity of the root system maybe reflected in higher capacity of root functions, the higher pod-flower set ratio and the delay in the senescence. Improved cultivation practices such as drainage during the rainy season and breeding of the plants with well-developed root system during the rainy season may be necessary to increase the yield of summer crops in Japan. Irrigation during the summer may not be so effective for the plants with a poorly developed root system.     

Gibberellin-sensitive Rht alleles confer tolerance to heat and drought stresses in wheat at booting stage

The present study compared six near-isogenic lines from different backgrounds, varying in Rht (reduced height) alleles for gibberellin (GA) response, for heat and drought tolerance. Various temperature (day/night: 20/12 °C to 39/31 °C), and irrigation (100% field capacity and no irrigation) treatments were imposed at booting stage. Results depicted a 50% reduction in grain yield at 36.7 °C with irrigation and at 31.2 °C without irrigation. Number of grains per spike was severely reduced over 26 °C for water-stressed plants while irrigated plants did not show any significant reduction up to 34 °C. Ear numbers per pot and spikelets per spike were unaffected by irrigation till 33 °C. In Mercia, grain nitrogen, sulphur, and Hagberg falling number (HFN) were significantly higher for severe dwarfs (Rht-D1c and Rht-12), however, in Maris Widgeon, rht (tall) recorded higher nitrogen and sulphur concentration while Rht-B1b presented the maximum sedimentation of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The SDS was higher in Maris Widgeon while HFN were superior in Mercia. Conclusively, the present study demonstrated that heat and drought stresses severely reduced the grain yield while improved grain quality traits. The GA-insensitive semi dwarf Rht-B1b was the most promising genotype for grain yield and HFN under combined drought and heat stresses.     

Root signal controls pod growth in drought-stressed soybean during the critical,abortion-sensitive phase of pod development

Root-originated chemical signals have been shown to regulate the response of vegetative shoot to drought in soybeans (Glycine max L. Merr.). However, their roles in the growth of soybean reproductive structures under drought stress have not yet been investigated. To explore this, a glasshouse experiment was conducted in which potted soybeans were either well-watered (WW) or subjected to six levels of drought stress. Irrigation was withheld in pots at six different dates before anthesis to induce drought of different severity (D1–D6) at sampling, viz. 4 days after anthesis (DAA). Root water potential, leaf water potential, pod water potential, xylem sap [ABA], pod fresh weight (FW), and pod set percentage were determined. Soil water status in the pot was expressed as the fraction of transpirable soil water (FTSW). Pod FW started to decrease at FTSW=0.43±0.02, when pod water potential was similar to that in the WW plants, while root water potential had decreased to −0.15 MPa and xylem sap [ABA] had increased 9-fold as compared with the WW plants. Pod set started to decrease at FTSW=0.30±0.01, and coincided with the decrease in pod water potential. Pod set started to decrease only when pod FW had decreased ca. 30%. Based on the results, a potential role of drought-induced increase in xylem sap ABA in affecting pod growth was suggested. We proposed that a low pod water potential, which might have led to disruptions in metabolic activities in the pods, is important in determining pod abortion.     

Temperature,Water and Fertilizer Influence the Timing of Key Events During Grain Development in a US Spring Wheat

Controlled environments were used to define the manner in which temperature, water and fertilizer affect the timing of key transition points during grain development and to investigate the effects of combined environmental factors in a US spring wheat (Triticum aestivum (L.)). When plants were subjected to very high temperature regimens (37/17  or 37/28 °C day/night) during grain development, the times to maximum kernel water content, maximum dry weight and harvest maturity were shorter than in plants maintained under a 24/17 °C day/night regimen. Starch accumulated at similar rates, but the onset and cessation of starch accumulation occurred earlier. Apoptosis in endosperm tissue also occurred earlier under high temperatures and coincided with physiological maturity. The addition of drought to the 37/17 °C regimen further shortened the time to maximum water content and dry weight and reduced the duration of starch accumulation, but did not influence the timing of protein accumulation or kernel desiccation. Post-anthesis fertilizer had little effect on time to maximum water content, dry weight, apoptosis, or harvest maturity under any of the temperature regimens and did not influence the timing of starch accumulation. However, both the rate and duration of protein accumulation were reduced when post-anthesis fertilizer was omitted.     

拔节后补灌对不同穗型冬小麦耗水和籽粒产量的影响

为探究拔节期和开花期不同补灌方案对不同穗型冬小麦耗水特性、籽粒产量和水分利用效率的影响，于2017-2019年在山东省泰安市以大穗型品种山农23和中多穗型品种山农29为试验材料，以拔节后无灌水(T1)为对照，设置拔节期补灌目标为0~20 cm土层相对含水率达100%田间持水率(T2)、拔节期和开花期补灌目标为0~20 cm土层相对含水率达100%田间持水率(T3)和拔节期补灌目标为0~40 cm土层相对含水率达100%田间持水率(T4) 3种补灌方案。结果表明，拔节后不同补灌方案对大穗型和多穗型小麦品种影响基本一致。与T1处理相比，T4处理显著提高了0~100 cm土层土壤相对含水率，使60~100 cm土层土壤相对含水率在开花期仍保持较高水平；T3处理显著提高了拔节期0～60 cm和开花期0~40 cm土层土壤相对含水率。与T3处理相比，T4处理的拔节至开花阶段耗水量增加了28.9%，其中对上层土壤总供水的表观消耗量增加了66.4%；T4处理在开花至成熟阶段对深层土壤总供水的表观消耗量增加了68.0%，对上层土壤总供水的表观消耗量降低了37.4%。在开花至成熟期降水较多(121.2 mm)的年份，T4处理的开花至成熟阶段耗水量、开花后旗叶净光合速率和籽粒产量相对于T3处理均无显著变化，但总耗水量较高，水分利用效率显著降低；在开花至成熟期降水较少(45.2 mm)的年份，T4处理的开花至成熟期的阶段耗水量、开花后旗叶净光合速率、籽粒产量和水分利用效率较T3处理均显著降低。因此，在小麦全生育期降水量为111.6~220.2 mm、开花后降水量为45.2~121.2 mm的条件下，大穗型和中多穗型小麦品种均以在拔节期和开花期将0~20 cm土层补灌至100%田间持水率的补灌方案最优，可同时实现高产和高水分利用效率。     

Yield and nutritive value of timothy as affected by temperature,photoperiod and time of harvest

Scenarios of global climate change forecast an increase in air temperature of 3°C over the next 100 years in eastern Canada. Growth and nutritive value of cool‐season grasses are known to be affected by air temperature. It is also believed that grasses grown at high latitude have a greater nutritive value. The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of four combinations of day/night temperature and photoperiod (15 h–17/5°C; 15 h–22/10°C; 15 h–28/15°C; and 17 h‐17/5°C) on dry‐matter (DM) yield, in vitro true DM digestibility (IVTD), in vitro digestibility of neutral‐detergent fibre (NDF), and concentrations of NDF, acid‐detergent fibre (ADF), lignin, minerals and non‐structural carbohydrates (NSC) in timothy grown under controlled conditions. Furthermore, herbage was harvested in the morning and in the afternoon to assess the impact of the time of harvest. The dietary cation–anion difference [DCAD = (K⁺ + Na⁺) ? (Cl^? + 0·6 S^2?)] and the grass tetany index [GT index = K⁺/(Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)] were also calculated. Higher temperature regimes significantly decreased IVTD and digestibility of NDF but had a limited effect on concentrations of NDF, ADF and lignin. DM yield of herbage was less and the concentration of NSC was greater in timothy grown under a temperature regime of 28/15°C than the 17/5°C and 22/10°C regimes; this effect is mainly explained by a response to temperature stress. Values of DCAD and the GT index of herbage were also lower under the 28/15°C than the 17/5°C and 22/10°C regimes as a result of a decreased plant K concentration. Under the 17/5°C regime, an increase in 2 h of photoperiod resulted in increased DM yield, decreased concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, Cl and N, and an increased starch concentration; IVTD or digestibility of NDF were not affected, although lignin concentration was reduced. Harvesting timothy in the afternoon rather than in the morning resulted in higher NSC, mainly sucrose, concentrations, and decreased ADF and NDF concentrations. The forecasted increase in air temperature in eastern Canada over the next 100 years will result in lower yields and nutritive value of timothy.     

Effects of high temperature and shading on grain abscisic acid content and grain filling pattern in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

ABSTRACT

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a key factor regulating starch biosynthesis genes and is involved in assimilate partitioning to individual spikelets. The objective of this study was to clarify the effects of high temperature and shading during grain filling on grain ABA content and the grain filling pattern of spikelets located at different positions in a panicle. We grew the rice cultivar ‘Koshihikari’ in pots in 2009 under two temperature regimes and two light conditions during grain filling. We periodically measured grain dry weight and grain ABA content (pmol per grain) and concentration (pmol per grain dry weight). Shading increased a grain weight difference between superior and inferior spikelets while high temperature decreased the difference regardless of light condition. High temperature decreased ABA content and concentration in grains. There was a close correlation between mean grain ABA content and mean grain-filling rate averaged over the first half of grain filling.     

Effects of field high temperature on grain yield and quality of a subtropical type japonica rice—Pon-Lai rice

Typical japonica type rice is sensitive to high temperature. Pon-Lai rice is a special japonica type with adaptation to the subtropical climate in Taiwan. Facing climate change, rising temperatures would damage the yield and quality of rice production. This research was conducted using Pon-Lai rice in the field of a subtropical climate. We conducted 2 experiments, including a year-round experiment and collection of samples from different districts for building different temperature conditions. We analyzed the correlation between rising temperature and rice yield or quality. In our results, the critical period of temperature effect is 0–15 days after heading (H15). The threshold of high temperature damage in yield and appearance quality was 25–27 °C. Grain weight decreased about 2–6%, while the temperature of H15 was raised 1 °C above the thresholds. Perfect grain ratio and chalky grain ratio decreased and increased, respectively, while the temperature of H15 was raised above the thresholds. However, the high temperature in H15 affected the physicochemical characteristics. In addition, we found positive correlation between grain length to width ratio and perfect grain ratio. Grain length to width ratio could be an index of temperature effects for grain quality. In our study, when the temperature was below 30 °C, a rising temperature of H15 could damage rice yield and appearance quality, and change grain shape. Our results could provide reference for dealing with the warming future in other temperate rice-cultivated countries.     

Phloem sugars and amino acids as potential regulators of hordein expression in field grown malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

The commercial quality of malting barley is dependent on the content and composition of grain proteins which are subjected to nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) control. In nutrient deficient soils, grain protein content is mainly a consequence of the remobilization efficiency. In order to evaluate the effect of N and S soil availability on phloem amino acid and sugar export rates and B- and C-hordein gene expression during grain filling, a factorial combination of N and S fertilization assay was carried out under field conditions. Besides, several carbon (C) and N metabolites were analyzed in leaves and spikes. We observed that, even under soil N and S availabilities that do not limit yield, N and S fertilization induced significant changes in N and C metabolism. N phloem remobilization was promoted by S fertilization independently of N fertilization and C remobilization was also promoted by S fertilization but only in N fertilized plants. The B- and C-hordein gene expression correlated positively with sugar and amino acid exudation rate, respectively. Our results suggest an important role of the export rate of sugars and amino acids in the regulation of grain prolamine expression.