Mechanism of High Photosynthetic Capacity in BC2F4 LinesDerived from a Cross between Oryza sativa and Wild Relatives O. rufipogon

Abstract

We found that several BC₂F₄ lines had high leaf photosynthetic rates under light-saturated and ambient CO₂ conditions. These lines are progenies of BC₂F₁ plants with high photosynthetic capacities which were generated by backcrossing between Oryza rufipogon (W630) and O. sativa cv. Nipponbare, as a recurrent parent. Some photosynthetic characteristics of the BC₂F₄ lines were investigated to identify the factors increasing photosynthetic rates. Photosynthetic rates of these lines under light-saturated conditions at 50 to 700 ppm CO₂ concentrations were higher than those in Nipponbare. The estimated-maximum photosynthetic rates under light-saturated and CO₂-saturated conditions in BC₂F₄ lines were also higher than that in Nipponbare. The photosynthetic rate under light-saturated and ambient CO₂ conditions was positively correlated with the carboxylation efficiency as an indicator of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activity in vivo rather than stomatal conductance. Initial and total Rubisco activities in vitro tended to be higher in the BC₂F₄ lines than in Nipponbare. The content of active Rubisco calculated from the activation state of Rubisco was also higher in the BC₂F₄ lines than in Nipponbare. These results suggest that high photosynthetic capacities of BC₂F₁ plants can be maintained high in their progenies and high photosynthetic rates under light-saturated and ambient CO₂ conditions in the BC₂F₄ lines are achieved mainly by the high activity of Rubisco due to the high active Rubisco content.     

Morphological Evaluation of the Trace of Grain Detachment in Japonica Rice Cultivars with Different Shattering Habits

Abstract

Seed shattering is an important agronomic trait in rice as it directly affects the yield. Manipulation of the degree of shattering will maximize the yield potential. This study was performed to find an indicator for indirect selection to facilitate the selection of medium-shattering habit in japonica rice breeding. The grain shattering pattern and microscopic morphology of the separation zone on pedicels of five japonica rice cultivars with different shattering habits were compared. Almost all grains were separated between the sterile lemma and rudimentary glume in cultivars with medium-shattering, easily-shattering and very easily-shattering habits. On the other hand, approximately 50% of the grains of the cultivar with hardly-shattering habit were torn off at the bent portion of pedicel. A separation pileus was formed on the terminal of the pedicel. The pileuses were most prominent in cultivars with easily-shattering and very easily-shattering habits, while cultivars with a medium-shattering habit had more flat pileuses than prominent pileuses. Additionally, in the cultivar with a hardly-shattering habit all pileuses were flat. Development of fibrous cell walls on the separation pileus varied with degree of shattering habit. The easier the grain shattered, the poorer was the development of fibrous cell walls. These results strongly suggest that the shape of separation pileus and the development of fibrous cell walls are related to the shattering habit in japonica rice. Additionally, it is highly probable that the medium-shattering habit is characterized by the type of shattering that separates between sterile lemma and rudimentary glume with the flat shape of pileus.     

ABT生根粉处理对水稻高节位茎段扦插繁殖的影响

以2个常规水稻品系为材料,分别用100 mg/L ABT1、ABT2和ABT6浸泡高节位茎段1 h后,进行水培试验。结果表明:(1)ABT生根粉处理后,根鲜重、总根长、根表面积、根体积、根平均直径、根鲜重均比对照显著增加,说明生根粉处理后促进了根系生长;(2)对照组的根系活力在抽穗后急剧下降,而处理组的根系活力在生长后期下降较慢,说明生根粉处理有提高根系活力的作用;(3)处理组根系中的可溶性蛋白含量显著高于对照组,与种子繁殖株的根系无显著差异,说明生根粉处理能提高根系可溶性蛋白的含量,提高根系某些酶的含量。     

Improvement of High-Temperature Treatment Method using Solar Radiation under Unstable Wind Conditions

Abstract

Open-top chambers (OTC) equipped with solar-heated double funnels (SDF) were tested for high-temperature treatments under unstable wind conditions. OTC-SDFs have two types of funnel-shaped tunnels attached on opposite ends; OTC-SDF-A had SDFs of the same width, and the OTC-SDF-B had SDFs that were twice the width of the open end. The temperature rise in these OTC-SDFs were compared with that in OTC with solar-heated air introduction tunnel (OTC-SAT). The temperature increase in the OTC-SAT during the daytime was small and not flat, whereas that in OTC-SDF-A was higher than in OTC-SAT and almost flat. The temperature rise was further enhanced in the OTC-SDF-B. An increase in air exchange ability at the intake may account for this enhancement. The drop in temperature at night observed in OTC-SAT was less prominent in OTC-SDFs. Based on these data, OTC-SDFs are considered useful in areas where the wind speed and direction are unstable.     

Effects of High Temperature on Growth,Yield and Dry-Matter Production of Rice Grown in the Paddy Field

Abstract

The effect of high temperatures on growth, yield and dry-matter production of rice growing in the paddy field was examined during the whole growth period in a temperature gradient chamber (TGC) from 2002 to 2006. Experimental plots, TG1 (control), TG2, TG3 and TG4, were arranged along the temperature gradient (from low to high temperature) in TGC. The mean and maximum air-temperatures in TG4 were 2.0 –3.6ºC and 4.0º7.0ºC higher, respectively, than those in TG1. The plant height was taller and the maximum tillering stage was earlier in TG2, TG3 and TG4 than in TG1. Plant dry weight at maturity in TG2 and TG3 was 12.8?16.4% heavier than that in TG1. In TG4, the increase in the panicle dry weight during the ripening period was smallest and plant dry weight at maturity was 11–16% heavier than that in TG1. The increase in plant dry-matter during the ripening period was smallest in TG4. The decrease in the dry weight of stem and leaf during the ripening period, which represents the amount of assimilate translocation to the panicle, was also larger in TG2-4 than in TG1. The increase in the dry weight of stem in TG2-4 at maturity was also larger than that in TG1. The photosynthetic rate in TG2-4 was up to 35.6% lower than that in TG1 because of the acceleration of leaf senescence. Brown rice yield in TG4 was 6.6?39.1% lower than that in TG1. This yield decline was due to the decrease in the percentage of ripened grains and increase in the percentage of sterile spikelets. The relation between brown rice yield and mean air-temperature during 20 days after heading showed that the brown rice yield declined when mean air-temperature exceeded 28ºC.     

Identification of QTLs for Improvement of Plant Type in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Using Koshihikari / Kasalath Chromosome Segment Substitution Lines and Backcross Progeny F2 Population

Abstract

Thirty-nine chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) population derived from a Koshihikari / Kasalath cross was used for quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of plant type in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Putative rough QTLs (26.2～60.3cM of Kasalath chromosomal segments) for culm length, plant height, panicle number, chlorophyll content of flag leaf blade at heading and specific leaf weight, were mapped on the several chromosomal segments based on the comparison of CSSLs with Koshihikari in the field experiment for 3 years. In order to verify and narrow QTLs detected in CSSLs, we conducted QTL analyses using F₂ populations derived from a cross between Koshihikari and target CSSL holding a putative rough QTL. The qPN-2, QTL for panicle number was mapped on chromosome 2. In traits of flag leaf, the qCHL-4-1 and qCHL-4-2 for chlorophyll content was mapped on chromosome 4, and the qSLW-7 for specific leaf weight on chromosome 7. All QTLs were detected in narrow marker intervals, compared with rough QTLs in CSSLs. The qPN-2, qCHL-4-1 and qCHL-4-2 had only additive effect. On the other hand, the qSLW-7 showed over-dominance. It could be emphasized that QTL analysis in the present study with the combination of CSSLs and backcross progeny F₂ population can not only verify the rough QTLs detected in CSSLs but also estimate allelic effects on the QTL.     

引发提高水稻劣变种子发芽率的蛋白质组学分析

引发处理是目前简便有效的提升种子发芽率和整齐度的方法,但引发提高水稻劣变种子发芽能力的机理并不清楚。利用蛋白质组学方法,分析清水引发和藤茶提取物二氢杨梅素引发2种处理方法与对照的差异蛋白,初步揭示引发提升种子发芽能力的机制。分析双向电泳图谱差异获得2倍以上显著差异蛋白点79个,通过MALDI TOF/TOF MS质谱分析鉴定出74个蛋白,其中2种引发处理与未引发对照相比同步上调或下调的共有蛋白,即引发相关蛋白有57个。分析引发相关蛋白可知,绝大多数的逆境防御蛋白类、能量相关蛋白类以及蛋白质合成和目标类蛋白丰度在引发处理中显著增加,推测引发提高种子发芽率的原因与逆境记忆、能量代谢活动和蛋白质合成能力增强等密切相关。     

Rapid Swelling of Pollen Grains in Response to Floret Opening Unfolds Anther Locules in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

The changes in pollen grain diameter were examined in relation to the floret opening and anther dehiscence in rice (Oryza sativa L.). In the first experiment, the florets were artificially opened by excising the top of the glumes at various times before the expected natural flowering time. Pollen diameter increased rapidly in the artificially opened florets, but slowly in the controls in which the glumes were left intact. The time of anther dehiscence coincided well with the time when pollen grains reached their maximum diameter. In addition, the pollen grain diameter was significantly correlated with the percentage of dehisced anthers in the florets artificially opened at various times. These results indicate that floret opening induces the swelling of pollen grains and that the swelling is an important event for anther dehiscence. In the second experiment, anther segments with pollen left remaining intact and those with pollen removed were immersed in water. The septa in the anther segments without pollen failed to rupture in water, whereas 70% of the septa in the anther segments with pollen left remaining ruptured, indicating that the septa can be ruptured by the swelling pressure of pollen grains resulting in unfolding of anther locules. From these findings, we infer that the rapid swelling of pollen grains in response to floret opening is a driving force to rupture the septum and unfold the locules.     

Genotypic Variations in Response of Lateral Root Development to Fluctuating Soil Moisture in Rice

Abstract

Developmental plasticity in lateral roots may be one of the key traits for the growth of rice plants under soil moisture fluctuations. We aimed to examine responses in seminal root system development to changing soil moisture for diverse rice cultivars. Special attention was paid to the two different types of lateral roots ; the generally long, thick L type capable of branching into higher orders, and the non-branching S type. Plants were grown in half-split polyvinyl chloride tubes fixed with transparent acrylic plate for root observation under glasshouse conditions. When plants were grown first under drought conditions, then rewatered, the seminal root system development in terms of dry weight and total length was promoted as compared with plants grown under continuously well-watered conditions in IR AT 109 and Dular, drought tolerant cultivars. Promoted production of L type lateral roots mainly contributed to the development of the longer seminal root system. Plants exposed to soil submergence before they were grown under drought conditions did not show such promoted responses in these two cultivars. However, in KDML 105, a drought tolerant cultivar, the production of especially L type laterals was substantially promoted under drought and rewatered conditions. Honenwase was characterized by the shallow root system and great reduction in root system length when soil moisture becomes limited. These facts show that genotypic variations exist in the plastic response of rice seminal root system and that the L type lateral root plays a key role in manifestation of this plasticity.     

水稻黄绿叶突变体djyg的遗传分析与基因定位

在粳稻品种Dongjin大田种植过程中,发现一个黄绿叶自然突变体,命名为djyg。该突变体在苗期表现明显的黄绿叶表型,抽穗以后,叶色逐渐恢复正常。叶绿素含量测定结果表明,在苗期、分蘖盛期及抽穗期叶绿素b的含量分别下降53%、62%、36%。电镜结果表明,分蘖期突变体中基粒、类囊体垛堆凌乱、排列疏松,类囊体基质较为稀薄。qRT-PCR结果证实,PORA、Cab1R、PsbA的表达量在突变体中均较野生型明显下调。遗传分析结果表明,黄绿叶突变体djyg由一对隐性主效核基因控制,图位克隆确定该候选基因为编码叶绿素合成酶基因YGL1的一个新等位基因。该突变体未影响植株的主要农艺性状,可作为一个理想的表型标记应用于杂交稻育种工作中。     

Effects of Soil Temperature on Growth and Root Function in Rice

Abstract

The objective of this study was to clarify the effects of soil temperature in the stage from late tillering to panicle initiation (SI) and during the grain-filling stage (SII) on grain setting, dry matter production, photosynthesis, non-structural carbohydrate (NSC), xylem exudation and abscisic acid (ABA) levels in rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Koshihikari). Rice plants were exposed to four different soil temperatures during SI or SII: 17.5, 25, 31.5 and 36.5°C (ST18, ST25, ST32 and ST37, respectively). The yield, yield components, grain filling and quality in SI were negatively influenced by high soil temperature of 37°C. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in those characters among temperature treatments in SII. The root/shoot ratio was smallest in the ST37 plants in both SI and SII, mainly due to their lighter root weight. At 7 days after initiation of treatment (DAT) in both SI and SII, the photosynthetic and xylem exudation rate tended to increase slightly as soil temperature increased up to 32°C. At 21 DAT, however, the photosynthetic rate was lowest in ST37, with concurrent decrease of diffusion conductance and SPAD value. In addition, decrease of NSC concentration in stem and xylem exudation rate, and increase of ABA level in leaves and xylem exudate were observed in ST37 plants at 21 DAT. These results suggested that high soil temperature before heading especially influenced yield, grain quality and plant growth. Possible mechanisms of the effect of soil temperature are discussed.     

Characteristics of Gas Exchange and Chlorophyll Fluorescence during Senescence of Flag Leaf in Different Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivars Grown under Nitrogen-Deficient Condition

Abstract

Effects of nitrogen (N) deficiency on photosynthetic gas exchange and photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry of flag leaves during grain-filling stage were investigated in six rice cultivars, Kasalath (a conventional indica), IR36 (an improved indica), Shirobeniya (a conventional japonica), Nipponbare (an improved japonica), Akenohoshi (an improved japonica-indica intermediate type) and BSI429 (an improved tropical japonica, a new plant type line) grown hydroponically in N-sufficient (NS) and N-deficient (ND) solution. From 3 to 24 days after heading (DAH), net photosynthetic rate (P_n), maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) (F_v/F_m), quantum yield of PSII electron transport ( Φ_psii), and contents of chlorophyll (Chl) and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) in the flag leaves decreased, particularly under the ND condition in all six cultivars. A substantial difference was observed among the ND plants for the sustainability index (SI, the ratio of the value at 24 DAH to that at 3 DAH) of P_n, F_v/F_m, Φ_psii, Chl content and Rubisco content; SIs of those parameters of Akenohoshi, BSI429, Nipponbare and Shirobeniya were higher than those of IR36 and Kasalath. The SI of P_n showed significant positive correlations with those of F_v/F_m, Φ_psii, and the contents of Chl and Rubisco under the ND condition. It was concluded that the sustainability of photosynthesis in the flag leaves was mainly due to those of PSII photochemistry and electron transport, which was associated with the maintenance of Chl and Rubisco under the ND condition.     

Effects of Silicon on Tolerance to Water Deficit and Heat Stress in Rice Plants (Oryza sativa L.), Monitored by Electrolyte Leakage

Summary

To evaluate the positive efTects of silicon on the stress tolerance of rice plants, we measured the electrolyte leakage (El) from leaf tissue caused by desiccation with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and by high temperature to estimate the integrity of cell membranes. The El caused by 30% and 40% solutions of PEG decreased with the increase in the level of Si in leaves. In leaves of plants grown with 100 ppm Si02, the level of polysaccharides in cell walls, which is one of the factors related to tolerance to desiccation, was 1.6-fold higher than that in leaves of plants grown without Si. Ultrastructural observations of leaves revealed that polymerized Si accumulated in the walls of epidermal cells but not in those of the mesophyll cells, which are probably the main sites of El. These findings suggested that silicon in rice leaves is involved in the water relations of cells, such as mechanical properties and water permeability and plays a role in preventing El through the synthesis and functions of cell walls. The El caused by high temperature (42.5° C) was also lower in the leaves grown with Si than in the leaves grown without Si, suggesting the involvement of silicon in the thermal stability of lipids in cell membranes. These results suggested that silicon prevents the structural and functional deterioration of cell membranes when rice plants are exposed to environmental stress.     

Comparison of Susceptibility to Photoinhibition and Energy Partitioning of Absorbed Light in Photosystem II in Flag Leaves of Two Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivars that Differ in Their Responses to Nitrogen-Deficiency

Abstract

Abstract: The energy partitioning in photosystem II (PSII) and the susceptibility to photoinhibition in PSII were investigated in flag leaves of two rice cultivars, Shirobeniya (a traditionaljaponica) and Akenohoshi (an improved japonica-indica intermediate) grown under standard-nitrogen (N) (SN) and low-N (LN) conditions. N-deficiency resulted in significant decreases in total dry weight, net photosynthetic rate (P_n), the energy flux via carboxylation (J_c), and content of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase /oxygenase (Rubisco) in flag leaves in the two cultivars, and these parameters of Shirobeniya were lower than those in Akenohoshi under the LN condition. In the two cultivars, the energy flux via alternative electron flow was significantly increased by N-deficiency, which was accompanied by enhanced activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Although under the LN condition no cultivar differences were found in J_a and SOD, ascorbate peroxidase activity in Shirobeniya was lower than that in Akenohoshi. N-deficiency resulted in more significant increases in the susceptibility to photoinhibition (the degree of decrease in maximum quantum yield of PSII), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) content and malondialdehyde content after exposure to high irradiance in Shirobeniya than those in Akenohoshi. These results indicated that the increased susceptibility to photoinhibition in the LN plants of Shirobeniya was mainly due to oxidative damages to chloroplasts, resulting from lower carboxylation and H₂O₂-scavenging capacities. Therefore, both carboxylation and H₂O₂-scavenging capacities could be important factors in determining the cultivar difference in the productivity of rice under LN conditions.     

Analysis of Storage Protein Distribution in Rice Grain of Seed-Protein Mutant Cultivars by Immunofluorescence Microscopy

Abstract

Localization of storage proteins in rice grains of seed-protein mutant cultivars, low-glutelin cultivars LGC-1, LGCsoft and a 26-kDa-globulin-deficient low-glutelin cultivar LGC-Katsu, was examined by immunofluorescence microscopy using fluorescence-labeled antibodies of 13 kDa prolamin and 23 kDa glutelin. Abundant 13 kDa prolamin and 23 kDa glutelin was observed in the outer regions of rice grains. Image analysis revealed that peaks of fluorescence intensity of both proteins were located at 2–7% of the width or longitudinal length of brown rice distant from the outer surface of brown rice (RDOS) on the dorsal, ventral, and apical sides of brown rice. In these seed-protein mutant cultivars and a normal-type cultivar Nihonmasari, the foot of the distribution peaks of both proteins were located at 20–30% RDOS on the ventral and apical side. In contrast, on the dorsal side of rice grain, varietal differences of RDOS at the foot of the distribution peak of both proteins varied with the cultivar. The RDOS was 20 –40%; and Nihonmasari >LGC-1≒LGCsoft >LGC-Katsu. Although the quantity of 13 kDa prolamin and 23 kDa glutelin greatly varied with the cultivar in the outer region of rice grain, both proteins were distributed uniformly at low levels in the inner region in all cultivars. Furthermore, SDS-PAGE analysis showed that a larger quantity of 13 kDa prolamin localized on the ventral than the dorsal side of rice grains in seed-protein mutant cultivars, especially in LGC-Katsu.     

A Point Mutation in an F-Box Domain-Containing Protein Is Responsible for Brown Hull Phenotype in Rice

The accumulation of pigments affects the color of rice hulls while only limited information is known about its underlying mechanisms. In the present study, a rice brown hull 6(bh6) mutant was isolated from an ethane methyl sulfonate(EMS)-induced IR64 mutant bank. Brown pigments started to accumulate in bh6 rice hulls after heading and reached a higher level in mature seeds. Some major agronomic traits including panicle length and 1000-grain weight in bh6 were significantly lower than those in its corresponding wild type IR64, while other agronomic traits such as plant height, growth duration and seed-setting rate were largely similar between the two genotypes. The analysis of pigment content showed that the contents of total flavonoids and anthocyanin in bh6 hulls were significantly higher than those in IR64 hulls. Our results showed that the brown hull phenotype in bh6 was controlled by a single recessive gene which locates on the long arm of chromosome 9. Sequencing analysis detected a single base substitution(G/A) at position 1013 of the candidate gene(LOC_Os09g12150) encoding an F-box domain-containing protein(FBX310). Functional complementation experiment using the wild type allele can rescue the phenotype in bh6. Thus, we named this mutated gene as Os FBX310~(bh6), an allele of OsFBX310 functioning as an inhibitor of brown hull. The isolation of Os FBX310~(bh6) and its wild type allele can provide useful experimental materials and will facilitate the studies on revealing the mechanisms of flavonoid metabolism in monocot plants.     

水稻斑点叶突变体hm197的鉴定及其基因定位

通过双环氧丁烷 (diepoxybutane)诱变籼稻品种IR64获得遗传稳定的水稻褐色斑点叶突变体hm197。在自然条件下,该突变体褐色斑点自播种后10周开始于叶尖出现,而后慢慢扩散至全叶。遗传分析表明,该褐色斑点性状受一对隐性核基因控制,暂名spl^hm197,并将其定位在第4染色体长臂上140 kb的区段内。与野生型IR64相比,突变体株高、结实率和千粒重等农艺性状均显著下降。遮光处理表明,hm197褐色斑点的形成受自然光照的诱导。此外,hm197光合色素含量和光合效率也比野生型显著降低。组织化学分析表明,突变体中有过氧化氢和大量超氧阴离子O_{2 ?}的沉积。与IR64相比,hm197叶片中清除氧自由基酶系统中SOD和APX活性极显著上升,其余均极显著下降,同时伴随总可溶蛋白含量下降以及MDA含量上升,hm197表现出早衰迹象。抗病性鉴定表明,与野生型相比突变体对白叶枯病菌的抗性显著增强。