Impact of heat stress on pod-based yield components in field pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Elevated temperatures associated with climate change result in crops being exposed to frequent spells of heat stress. Heat stress results in reduced yield in field pea (Pisum sativum L.); it is therefore important to identify cultivars with improved pod and seed retention under heat to mitigate this loss. Objectives were to investigate the effect of heat stress on phenology, yield and pod-based yield components. Sixteen pea cultivars were evaluated at normal and late (hot) seeding dates in the field in Arizona 2012 and in growth chambers with two temperature regimes (24/18°C and 35/18°C day/night temperature for 7 days) during reproductive development. We measured variation in the pattern of pod retention at four-node positions on plants, seed retention by ovule position (stylar, medial and basal) within pods and screened cultivars for pod retention, seed retention and yield. Heat stress reduced seed yield by accelerating the crop lifecycle and reducing pod number and seed size. Heat stress had the most damaging effect on younger reproductive growth (flowers and pods developed later), resulting in ovary abortion from developing flowers. Heat also accelerated seed abortion in all ovule positions within pods. Two high-yielding cultivars under control temperature, “Naparnyk” and “CDC Meadow”, maintained high yield in heat, and “MFR043” had the lowest yield. Cultivars “40-10” and “Naparnyk” retained the most ovules and seeds per pod, and “MFR043” aborted seeds when exposed to heat. In half of the cultivars, ovules at the basal peduncle end of pods were likely to abort while ovules at the medial and stylar end positions developed into seeds. For seven of the field cultivars, ovules at the medial pod position also produced mature seeds. Cultivars “40-10”, “Naparnyk” and “CDC Meadow” had greater pod and ovule retention or maintained high yield under heat stress, and were identified as heat-tolerant cultivars. Our results allow for a better understanding of pod-based yield components in field pea under heat stress and developing heat-tolerant cultivars.     

Drought priming effects on alleviating the photosynthetic limitations of wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) with contrasting tolerance to abiotic stresses

Abiotic stress tolerance in plants is said to be induced by pre-stress events (priming) during the vegetative phase. We aimed to test whether drought priming could improve the heat and drought tolerance in wheat cultivars. Two wheat cultivars “Gladius” and “Paragon” were grown in a fully controlled gravimetric platform and subjected to either no stress or two drought cycles during the tillering stage. At anthesis, both batches were either subjected to high temperature stress, drought stress or kept as control. No alleviation of grain yield reduction due to priming was observed. Higher CO₂ assimilation rates were achieved due to priming under drought stress. Yield results showed that priming was not damage cumulative to wheat. Priming was responsible to alleviated biochemical photosynthetic limitations under drought stress and sustained photochemical utilization under heat stress in “Paragon.” Priming as a strategy in abiotic stress alleviation was better evidenced in the stress susceptible cultivar “Paragon” than tolerant cultivar “Gladius”; therefore, the type of response to priming appears to be cultivar dependable, and thus phenotypical variation should be expected when studying the effects of abiotic priming.     

Modeling for recommending panicle nitrogen topdressing rates for yield and milled-rice protein content

This experiment was conducted to calibrate models for recommending panicle N fertilizer rate for target grain yield and milled-rice protein content based on not only rice growth and N nutrition status at panicle initiation stage (PIS) but also on weather conditions. Five rice cultivars; Chucheongbyeo, Daeanbyeo, Hwasungbyeo, Surabyeo, and Juanbyeo, were grown under various N fertilizer application rates. Shoot N accumulation at PIS (Pnup) was measured before panicle N application at PIS and at harvest. Grain yield, yield component, and milled-rice protein content were measured at harvest. Three models for prescribing panicle N fertilizer rate were calibrated by stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) analysis. The model for shoot N accumulation from PIS to harvest (PHnup) was calibrated using Pnup, panicle N application rate, and weather variables like air temperature and solar radiation. Models for grain yield and milled-rice protein content were calibrated using Pnup, PHnup, and weather variables. The models for PHnup, grain yield, and milled-rice protein content showed acceptable accuracy and precision with R² of 0.78, 0.85, and 0.77, respectively. The stability of the models was tested through the comparison of slopes between the observed and the predicted values in different conditions of temperature, radiation, and cultivar. The models for PHnup and grain yield showed homogeneity of slopes between the observed and the predicted values regardless of different temperature, radiation conditions, and cultivars. The model for milled-rice protein content showed homogeneity of slopes between the observed and the predicted values across low and high temperature and radiation conditions while the slopes were significantly different among cultivars. The oldest cultivar “Chucheongbyeo” being significantly different from the other four cultivars recently improved. In conclusion, the three models were precise and accurate enough to be used effectively for prescribing panicle N topdressing rate if Pnup could be measured timely with a cost-effective method.     

Effect of Water Stress on Physiological Attributes and their Relationship with Growth and Yield of Wheat Cultivars at Different Stages

The effects of water stress on physiological attributes of drought‐sensitive (Kalyansona) and drought‐tolerant (C‐306) wheat cultivars were studied in a pot experiment. Water stress was imposed by withholding irrigation at boot and anthesis stages. Leaf water potential, leaf osmotic potential and leaf turgor potential (measured with pressure chamber and osmometer), as well as leaf diffusive resistance, leaf transpiration rate and leaf‐to‐air transpiration gradient (measured with a steady‐state porometer) were measured diurnally. Growth and yield parameters were recorded after harvesting of the crop. Triplicate data were analysed using a completely randomized design and correlations amongst these parameters were computed. Water stress was found to reduce diurnal leaf water potential and leaf osmotic potential in both the genotypes but leaf osmotic potential was significantly higher in the drought‐tolerant cultivar C‐306 than in the drought‐sensitive cultivar Kalyansona. Positive turgor was recorded in both the genotypes under water stress and non‐stress conditions. Water‐stressed plants showed significantly lower turgor potential than control plants. In diurnal observations, water‐stressed plants exhibited significantly higher leaf diffusive resistance in both genotypes at both stages. The diffusive resistance of C‐306 was predominantly higher than that of Kalyansona. Water stress decreased leaf transpiration rate at both stages but the reduction was higher at the anthesis stage. The leaf‐to‐air temperature gradient was much higher in C‐306 than in Kalyansona at the boot stage but at the anthesis stage genotypic variation was non‐significant. The capacity to maintain cooler foliage was lower at the anthesis stage than at the boot stage in both the cultivars. Shoot dry weight, number of grains, test weight, grain yield, biological yield and harvest index decreased to a greater extent when water stress was imposed at the anthesis stage, while imposition of water stress at the boot stage caused a greater reduction in plant height and number of tillers. Similarly, water stress caused a smaller reduction in growth, yield and yield attributes in C‐306 than in Kalyansona. In general, the correlation coefficient of grain and biological yield with water potential and its components was positive and highly significant. Similarly, turgor potential was also correlated positively and significantly with grain yield at both the stages, but with biological yield it was significant only at the anthesis stage. A negative and significant correlation was obtained for diffusive resistance and leaf‐to‐air temperature gradient with grain yield at the boot and anthesis stages. The rate of transpiration was also positively and significantly correlated to grain and biological yields at both the stages. Amongst the yield attributes, number of leaves and number of tillers were positively correlated at the anthesis stage, whereas leaf area and shoot dry weight were significantly correlated with grain and biological yields at both the stages.     

Genetic changes in resistance to environmental stresses by U.S. Great Plains wheat cultivars

Increased grain yield potential of newcultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) is attributed to morphological traits,but actual yield is determined mostly byenvironmental conditions. Our objectivewas to ascertain the contribution ofresistance to freezing, high temperature,drought, and defoliation to advances inyield of landmark cultivars of winter wheatin the U.S. Great Plains. Eight cultivarsthat represented significant improvementbetween 1874 and 1994 were compared bystandard electroconductivity measurementsof stability of seedling cell membranes tofreezing, high temperature, and desiccationand by grain yield and its components inplants subjected to freezing during theseedling stage and to high temperature,drought, and defoliation during maturation. Genetic changes relative to `Turkey'(introduced 1874) in stability of cellmembranes to freezing, high temperature,and desiccation were small andinconsistent. Advances in grain yieldunder control conditions were similar togains in field studies. Most cultivars hadlittle genetic change in yield afterfreezing, drought, or defoliation, probablybecause high levels of resistance areincompatible with high yield potential andthe stresses are episodic. Genetic advancein grain yield under high temperature wasphenotypically correlated with change inyield under control conditions, suggestingthat the trait is essential forproductivity because of the ubiquitousoccurrence of the stress in the region. Weconcluded that changes in resistances tofreezing, drought, and defoliationcontributed little to advances inproductivity of winter wheat in the GreatPlains, but that resistance to hightemperature was important for new cultivars.     

减数分裂期高温胁迫对耐热性不同水稻品种产量的影响及其生理原因

以两个耐热性不同的籼稻品种为材料,在减数分裂期进行高温(白天温度>35℃)处理,以同期自然温度(白天温度<33℃)为对照,研究减数分裂期高温对产量的影响及其生理机制。结果表明,高温处理与对照相比,显著降低了热敏感品种双桂1号的花药开裂率及花粉育性,对耐热品种黄华占影响较小;明显降低了每穗颖花数、结实率和粒重,从而使产量显著下降,其中耐热品种下降幅度小于热敏感品种;热敏感品种粒宽显著缩短,长宽比显著增大,而对耐热型品种影响不大;明显降低了水稻的根系活力和幼穗的核糖核酸(RNA)含量,显著增加了叶片丙二醛(MDA)含量和幼穗的乙烯释放速率,热敏感品种变化幅度大于耐热品种;显著增加了耐热品种叶片的抗氧化酶活性,对热敏感品种无显著影响。总之,根系活力和抗氧化保护系统能力强、RNA含量高、MDA含量低及乙烯合成少是耐热性品种在高温胁迫下保持较高产量的重要生理原因。     

四川盆地东南部气象因子对杂交中稻产量的影响

为了探明四川盆地东南部气象因子对杂交中稻产量的影响, 并提出相应的丰产技术对策。2015年和2016年, 以2个杂交中稻品种II优602和旌优127为材料, 在5个播种期和高氮低密与低氮高密2种栽培方式下, 研究了四川盆地东南部气象因子对杂交中稻产量的影响。结果表明, 随着播种期推迟, 平均全生育期从148.13 d逐渐缩短到123.25 d, 缩短了14.77%; 气象因子对水稻全生育期的影响主要在营养生长期, 生殖生长期受其影响较小。年度间、栽培方式间、品种间稻谷产量差异均不显著; 随着播种期推迟, 稻谷产量呈下降趋势, 从3月5日的8507.76 kg hm^-2下降到5月24日的6251.01 kg hm^-2, 降低了26.53%。播种-移栽、移栽-拔节、营养生长的日数和全生育期日数分别与穗粒数和产量呈极显著正相关。气象因子对产量的影响在不同年份和不同品种间的表现不一致: 优质稻旌优127 2015年的结实率、千粒重和产量分别与齐穗-成熟的日平均气温呈极显著正相关, 分别与拔节-齐穗的日照时数呈显著负相关; 2016年的穗粒数、产量分别与播种—移栽日最高气温、移栽—拔节的日平均气温呈极显著负相关。高产品种II优602, 2015年的有效穗、千粒重和产量分别与移栽—拔节的降雨量呈显著或极显著负相关, 2016年的穗粒数和产量分别与移栽-拔节的日最高气温呈显著或极显著负相关, 结实率、千粒重和产量分别与拔节-齐穗的日平均相对湿度呈显著正相关。生产上一季中稻模式的最佳播种期在3月5日至3月25日, 而中稻-再生稻模式则在3月5日至3月25日期间尽可能早播, 以利于提高再生稻安全齐穗保证率。     

The Effect of Late-terminal Drought Stress on Yield Components of Four Barley Cultivars

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an important winter cereal crop grown in the semiarid Mediterranean, where late‐terminal drought stress during grain filling has recently become more common. The objectives of this study were to investigate the growth performance and grain yield of four barley cultivars under late‐terminal drought stress under both glasshouse and field conditions. At grain filling, four barley cultivars (Rum, ACSAD176, Athroh and Yarmouk) were exposed to three watering treatments: (1) well‐watered [soil maintained at 75 % field capacity (FC)], (2) mild drought stress at 50 % FC, (3) severe drought stress at 25 % FC in the glasshouse experiment and (1) well‐watered (irrigated once a week), (2) mild drought (irrigated once every 2 weeks), (3) severe drought (non‐irrigated; rainfed) in the field. As drought stress severity increased, gross photosynthetic rate, water potential, plant height, grain filling duration, spike number per plant, grain number per spike, 1000‐grain weight, straw yield, grain yield and harvest index decreased. In the glasshouse experiment, the six‐row barley cultivars (Rum, ACSAD176, and Athroh) had higher grain yield than the two‐row barley cultivar (Yarmouk), but the difference was not significant among the six‐row cultivars under all treatments. In the field experiment, Rum had the highest grain yield among all cultivars under the mild drought stress treatment. The two‐row cultivar (Yarmouk) had the lowest grain yield. In general, the traditional cultivar Rum had either similar or higher grain yield than the other three cultivars under all treatments. However, the yield response to drought differed between the cultivars. Those, Rum and ACSAD176, that were capable of maintaining a higher proportion of their spikes and grains per spike during drought also maintained a higher proportion of their yield compared with those in well‐watered treatment. In conclusion, cultivar differences in grain yield were related to spike number per plant and grain number per spike, but not days to heading or grain filling duration.     

Field experiments and simulation to evaluate rice cultivar adaptation to elevated carbon dioxide and temperature in sub-tropical India

Location specific adaptation option is required to minimize adverse impact of climate change on rice production. In the present investigation, we calibrated genotype coefficients of four cultivars in the CERES-Rice model for simulation of rice yield under elevated CO₂ environment and evaluation of the cultivar adaptation in subtropical India. The four cultivars (IR 36, Swarna, Swarn sub1, and Badshabhog) were grown in open field and in Open Top Chamber (OTC) of ambient CO₂ (≈390 ppm) and elevated CO₂ environment (25% higher than the ambient) during wet season (June–November) of the years 2011 and 2012 at Kharagpur, India. The genotype coefficients; P1 (basic vegetative phase), P2R (photoperiod sensitivity) and P5 (grain filling phase) were higher, but G1 (potential spikelet number) was lower under the elevated CO₂ environment as compared to their open field value in all the four cultivars. Use of the calibrated model of elevated CO₂ environment simulated the changes in grain yield of −13%, −17%, −4%, and +7% for the cultivars IR 36, Swarna, Swarna sub1, and Badshabhog, respectively, with increasing CO₂ level of 100 ppm and rising temperature of 1 °C as compared to the ambient CO₂ level and temperature and they were comparable with observed yield changes from the OTC experiment. Potential impacts of climate change were simulated for climate change scenarios developed from HadCM3 global climate model under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Emission Scenarios (A2 and B2) for the years 2020, 2050, and 2080. Use of the future climate data simulated a continuous decline in rice grain yield from present years to the years 2020, 2050 and 2080 for the cultivars IR 36 and Swarna in A2 as well as B2 scenario with rising temperature of ≥0.8 °C. Whereas, the cultivar Swarna sub1 was least affected and Badshabhog was favoured under elevated CO₂ with rising temperature up to 2 °C in the sub-tropical climate of India.     

中国气候变化对农作物育种策略影响探究

气候变化直接影响农作物产量,根据生产实际和气候特征,因地制宜选育农作物新品种,对保障中国粮食安全具有重要的意义。本文利用1979—2014年中国粮食主产区和西北地区气象站点数据及粮食产量数据,通过进一步的统计分析,明确粮食产量与气候变化特征。结果表明：中国东北地区、黄淮海地区、长江流域地区和西北地区年平均气温增幅均值分别为0.30℃/10 a、0.37℃/10 a、0.38℃/10 a和0.48℃/10 a,与粮食产量相关性显著;年平均气温空间上从南到北、从东到西呈降低趋势;由于热量资源分布不均导致各地区年降水量变化差异显著,但与粮食产量相关性不显著。粮食作物应以优质、高产、多抗以及适宜于机械化生产为原则,采用传统育种和现代分子生物学技术相结合的育种策略,重点提高东北地区水稻品种的耐涝性和抗倒性,黄淮海和长江流域地区水稻品种的耐高温性,西北地区晚稻品种的耐低温性,以及各地区小麦和玉米品种的耐旱性。     

抽穗和灌浆早期高温对耐热性不同籼稻品种产量的影响及其生理原因

选用4个耐热性不同的籼稻品种,分别于抽穗(始穗后0~10 d)和灌浆早期(始穗后11~20 d)进行高温(白天温度>33℃)处理,以同期自然温度(白天温度<30℃)为对照,研究高温对产量的影响及其生理机制。结果表明,与对照相比,高温处理显著降低热敏感品种的花粉可育率、受精率,而耐热品种与对照无显著差异。高温胁迫明显降低热敏感品种的结实率,导致产量显著下降,且抽穗期高温处理影响大于灌浆早期处理。高温胁迫显著增加耐热品种黄华占叶片的抗氧化酶活性,对热敏感品种影响不大。高温胁迫显著降低热敏感品种籽粒ATP酶活性,耐热品种结果则相反。高温处理增加两类品种叶片温度和丙二醛(MDA)含量,降低根系活力和叶片光合速率,耐热品种增降的幅度显著小于热敏感品种。在高温胁迫下较低的叶片温度,较强的根系活力和抗氧化保护系统能力及较高的籽粒ATP酶活性是耐热性品种保持较高产量的重要生理原因,也是耐热品种的重要生理特征。     

气候变暖下品种更新对河西地区春小麦生育期与产量的影响

利用甘肃省张掖农业气象观测站 1986—2014年春小麦的观测资料和同期气象数据,采用相关分析、趋势分析和方差分析等方法,研究气候变暖背景下品种更新对河西地区春小麦生育期与产量的影响。结果表明：29年来该地区气温显著升高,递增率为0.81℃/10a;降水量减少,年递减率为2.09mm/10a,气候呈现变暖趋势。温度增加与品种更新均对生育期天数的减少有明显促进作用。通过分析产量与气象要素、产量要素及品种的关系,可以发现穗粒数和品种更新均导致了春小麦产量的显著提高。     

Root morphological traits of winter wheat under contrasting environments

Roots strongly influence the growth and yield of field crops. We characterized root morphological traits of 10 winter wheat varieties in order to determine the extent they were influenced by the environments and impacted grain yield under two irrigation regimes at Bushland (a cooler, drier site with clay loam soil) and Uvalde (a warmer, wetter site with clay soil) in Texas, USA, from 2015 to 2017. Major root traits, including root diameter, specific root length (SRL), root surface area (SSA), tissue mass density (TMD), root length density (RLD), and root weight density, were measured and related to one another and to grain yield. RLD of wheat decreased but SRL and SSA increased with soil depth. Irrigation was second to environment in affecting root traits. Compared with Uvalde, the environment of Bushland promoted deeper root growth, higher TMD, but reduced SRL and SSA. Water deficit inhibited RLD and root: shoot ratio at Bushland, but moderately promoted them at Uvalde. Both SRL and RLD were positively associated with grain yield, with the former relation stronger under drought. The dichotomy of “conservative” versus “acquisitive” root strategy partially explained the variations of root traits of winter wheat in contrasting environments.     

超级早、晚稻品种的源库协调性

为了探讨超级早、晚稻品种的高产机理,对其源库特性进行了研究。与非超级稻品种(对照)相比,超级早、晚稻品种的总库容量、粒叶比、粒束比均较大,且与产量显著正相关;在整个灌浆结实期的源库增量比略大,但早稻在灌浆中后期(抽穗后10~25 d)和晚稻在灌浆前期(抽穗后0~10 d)均明显大;起始灌浆速率和平均灌浆速率均大,结实率与起始灌浆速率显著正相关,产量与平均灌浆速率极显著(早稻)或显著(晚稻)正相关;生育后期的根系活力衰退值较小,而剑叶的气-叶温差除早稻的株两优819和晚稻的淦鑫688外,其它均大。根系活力衰退值与产量显著负相关,剑叶的气叶温差与产量显著正相关。研究表明,较大的库容量且源库协调性较好是超级早、晚稻品种超高产的重要机理。     

播种期对广东省晚稻产量及生育期的影响

为了研究出广东省5个典型稻作生态区晚稻最佳播种期,明确气候变化对近年来新育成并大面积推广晚稻品种产量的影响。2009年晚季,在韶关、肇庆、广州、汕头、湛江等5个代表性地点对超级杂交稻天优998、超级常规稻玉香油占及杂交稻天优428进行了分期播种试验,结果表明：播种期对广东晚稻产量及其构成因素的影响具有一定的地域性差异,其中,5个地点高产播种期分别为7月2日（B）、7月16日（D）、7月16日（D）、7月23日（E）、7月9日（C）。通过分析晚稻产量及其构成因素与温度、降雨、光照等气候生态因子的相互关系、构建逐步回归方程,结果表明,返青期至拔节期较低的日均最高气温、较低的日均最低气温、较高的日均气温及较高的积温,孕穗期至齐穗期较高的日均气温、较低的平均日照时数,以及齐穗后20天至收割期较大的累积日照时数,有利提高晚稻产量。     

Independent and Combined Effects of High Temperature and Drought Stress During Grain Filling on Plant Yield and Chloroplast EF‐Tu Expression in Spring Wheat

High temperature and drought stress are among the two most important environmental factors influencing crop growth, development and yield processes. These two stresses commonly occur in combination. Objectives of this research were to investigate the independent and combined effects of high temperature and drought stress during grain filling on physiological, vegetative and yield traits and expression of a chloroplast protein synthesis elongation factor (EF‐Tu) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Two spring wheat cultivars (Pavon‐76 and Seri‐82) were grown at control temperatures (CT; day/night, 24/14 °C; 16/8 h photo/dark period) from sowing to heading. Thereafter, one half of the plants were exposed to high temperature stress (HT; 31/18 °C in Exp. 1 and 34/22 °C in Exp. 2), drought stress (withholding water), or a combination of both HT and drought stress. There were significant influences of HT and/or drought stress on physiological, growth and yield traits. There was no cultivar or cultivar by temperature or cultivar by drought interaction effects on most traits. The decreases in leaf photosynthesis were greater at HT compared with drought alone throughout the stress period, and the combination of HT and drought had the lowest leaf photosynthetic rates. Overall, HT or drought had similar effects (about 48–56 % decrease) on spikelet fertility, grain numbers and grain yield. High temperature decreased grain numbers (by 56 % averaged across both experiments) and individual grain weight (by 25 %), while, respective decreases due to drought were 48 % and 35 %. This suggests that the grain numbers were more sensitive to HT and grain weights to drought for the range of temperatures tested in this research. The interaction between HT and drought stress was significant for total dry weights, harvest index and spikelet fertility, particularly when HT stress was severe (34/22 °C). The combined effects of HT and drought were greater than additive effects of HT or drought alone for leaf chlorophyll content, grain numbers and harvest index. High temperature stress and the combination of HT and drought stress but not drought stress alone resulted in the overexpression of EF‐Tu in both spring wheat cultivars.     

Effects of CO2 Enrichment and Drought on Photosynthesis,Growth and Yield of an Old and a Modern Barley Cultivar

Susceptibility of crops to drought may change under atmospheric CO₂ enrichment. We tested the effects of CO₂ enrichment and drought on the older malting barley cultivar Golden Promise (GP) and the recent variety Bambina (BA). Hypothesizing that CO₂ enrichment mitigates the adverse effects of drought and that GP shows a stronger response to CO₂ enrichment than BA, plants of both cultivars were grown in climate chambers. Optimal and reduced watering levels and two CO₂ concentrations (380 and 550 ppm) were used to investigate photosynthetic parameters, growth and yield. In contrast to expectations, CO₂ increased total plant biomass by 34 % in the modern cultivar while the growth stimulation was not significant in GP. As a reaction to drought, BA showed reduced biomass under elevated CO₂, which was not seen in GP. Grain yield and harvest index (HI) were negatively influenced by drought and increased by CO₂ enrichment. BA formed higher grain yield and had higher water‐use efficiency of grain yield and HI compared to GP. CO₂ fertilization compensated for the negative effect of drought on grain yield and HI, especially in GP. Stomatal conductance proved to be the gas exchange parameter most sensitive to drought. Photosynthetic rate of BA showed more pronounced reaction to drought compared to GP. Overall, BA turned out to respond more intense to changes in water supply and CO₂ enrichment than the older GP.     

Short-term water management at early filling stage improves early-season rice performance under high temperature stress in South China

Asymmetric warming and frequent temperature extremes are the consequences of climate change that are affecting crop growth and productivity over the globe while heat stress at early filling stage is of serious concern for the early-season rice in double cropping rice system of South China. In present study we assessed different short-term water management strategies to cope with the high temperature at early filling stage in rice. Water was applied as flood irrigation at two various depths i.e., 4–5 cm (I1) and 5–10 cm (I2) during 9:00–18:00 and then drained off at 18:00 as well as applied over-head during different time spans i.e., over-head sprinkle irrigation during 11:00–12:00, 13:00–14:00 and 14:00–15:00 at 60–80% relative humidity (RH) at early filling stage and regarded as S1, S2 and S3, respectively. A control was maintained with the maintenance of 1 cm water layer as normal farmer practice of this region. A fragrant rice cultivar, ‘Yuxiangyouzhan’ in early March (regarded as early season rice) in both 2014–15 and the effectiveness of different water management strategies were measured by estimating physio-biochemical responses, photosynthesis, yield and quality of rice exposed to high temperature stress at early filling stage. Our results showed that water treatments lowered lipid peroxidation (in terms of reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) contents) whilst proline and protein contents were affected differently. The water treatments also regulated the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), nevertheless, improved plant photosynthesis and gas exchange, rice yield and quality attributes considerably by lowering severity of canopy temperatures than control (CK). On average, both flood and sprinkler water application were proved effective against high temperature stress, nonetheless, flood irrigated treatments were remained more effective than sprinkler which provided 26.58 and 43.63% higher grain yields in 2014–15, respectively than CK. On average, 5.58 and 11.92% higher grain yields were recorded in flood irrigation than sprinkler irrigation whereas among individual water application treatments, I1 was noted as the most effective regarding grain yield of rice (26.76 and 49.35% higher yield than CK) in both years which suggests that maintenance of 4–5 cm water layer might be helpful for the rice to withstand against high temperature stress at post heading and/or early filling stage in early-season rice production in South China.     

Tagging quantitative trait loci associated with grain yield and root morphological traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.) under contrasting moisture regimes

Plant breeding for drought-prone habitats envisages a favorable combination of grain yield and drought resistance. Though several components enhancing drought resistance have been identified in rice,their association with grain yield, under low-moisture stress, has been established in very few instances. We attempt to study the associations between rice grain yield and root system parameters both at phenotypic and genotypic levels. The doubled haploid population of IR64/Azucena was evaluated for root related traits at peak vegetative stage and grain yield related traits under both low-moisture stress and non stress conditions. ‘Mean environment’ was computed for yield related traits. Correlation and QTL mapping was attempted to find out the associations. The correlation between maximum root length and grain yield was positive under stress and negative in non stress. Genotypes with thicker and deeper roots, manifested higher biomass and grain yield under stress. Only one QTL found to increase days to flowering in non stress was also found to influence root volume and dry weight negatively under stress. The study suggests that loci enhancing grain yield and related traits were not pleiotropic with loci for desirable root morphological traits studied under low-moisture stress at vegetative stage, in the genetic material used in the study. It is thus possible to combine higher grain yield and desirable root morphological traits, favorably, to enhance productivity of rice under low-moisture stress. In rainfed ecologies, where deep roots contribute to enhanced drought resistance in rice, the results indicate the possibility of combining drought resistance with higher levels of grain yield. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

水氮管理模式对不同氮效率水稻氮素利用特性及产量的影响

以高产氮高效品种(德香4103)和中产氮低效品种(宜香3724)为材料,通过“淹水灌溉+氮肥优化运筹(W1N1)”、“控制性交替灌溉+氮肥优化运筹(W2N1)”、“旱种+氮肥优化运筹(W3N2)” 3种水氮管理模式处理,研究其对氮素利用及产量的影响及其生理特性,并探讨氮素利用及产量与生理响应间的关系。结果表明,氮效率品种间的差异与水氮管理模式对水稻氮素利用特征、灌溉水生产效率、生理特性及产量均存在显著影响;不同氮效率品种间在氮肥利用效率方面的差异明显高于水氮管理模式的调控效应;而水氮管理模式对灌溉水生产效率、总吸氮量、氮素干物质生产效率及稻谷生产效率的调控作用显著。W2N1相对于W1N1及W3N2水氮管理模式能促进不同氮效率水稻拔节至抽穗期、抽穗至成熟期氮素的累积,提高功能叶谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)活性、光合速率(P_n)及根系活力,进而提高稻谷产量及氮肥利用率,且对中产氮低效品种的调控效应显著高于对高产氮高效品种,为本试验最佳的水氮管理模式。高产氮高效品种的平均总颖花数、拔节至抽穗期稻株氮累积量、功能叶GS活性、P_n及根系活力均显著高于氮低效品种,尤其结实期高产氮高效品种更有利于维持叶片及根系的代谢同化能力,利于氮素转运、再分配到籽粒中提高稻谷生产效率及氮肥利用效率,是氮高效品种相对于氮低效品种高产、氮高效利用的重要原因。相关分析表明,水氮管理模式下不同氮效率水稻主要生育时期功能叶GS活性、P_n及根系活力与氮素利用及稻谷产量均存在显著或极显著的正相关;尤其以水稻抽穗期剑叶GS活性及根系活力与氮素利用及稻谷产量的正相关性最高。