Varietal Difference in the Occurrence of Milky White Kernels in Response to Assimilate Supply in Rice Plants (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

We examined the association of assimilate supply in the occurrence of milky white kernels in three cultivars with different percentages of milky white kernels in the field condition: ‘Hatsuboshi’, ‘Koshiibuki’ and ‘Koshihikari’. Five days after heading, the plants were placed in four controlled-environment chambers with either a high or low night temperature and elevated or normal [CO₂] supply. Plants in each chamber were either defoliated with only flag leaf remaining, flag leaf and second leaf remaining or left intact (control). The percentage of each type of chalky kernel was examined. The percentage of milky white kernels was increased by defoliation and decreased by elevated [CO₂], associated with assimilate supply. No association was observed between assimilate supply and white back or basal white kernels. The percentage of milky white kernels was negatively correlated with assimilate supply at a high night temperature in all cultivars. At a low night temperature, there was a clear threshold of assimilate supply, over which the percentage of milky white kernels was nearly zero. Cultivar differences were observed in the relation between the percentage of milky white kernels and assimilate supply. In conclusion, we found a varietal difference in the occurrence of milky white kernels in response to assimilate supply. In the cultivars used in this study, ‘Hatsuboshi’ was more sensitive to the low assimilate supply than ‘Koshihikari’.     

Dynamics of Abscisic Acid Levels during Grain-Filling in Rice : Comparisons between Superior and Inferior Spikelets

Abstract

In a rice panicle, the superior spikelets display higher growth rates than the inferior spikelets during the initial phase of grain-filling. To better understand the regulatory mechanism of this phenomenon, we examined the dynamics of endogenous abscisic-acid (ABA) levels and the effects of shading on the dynamics during the grain-filling period in superior and inferior spikelets. While ABA content in the superior spikelets increased rapidly after flowering, that in the inferior spikelets increased slowly and reached the maximum later than in the superior spikelets. Shading significantly exaggerated the inherently different ABA dynamics between the superior and inferior spikelets. We concluded that ABA levels are correlated with the dry matter accumulation patterns of spikelets. These results support our hypothesis that ABA is involved in assimilate partitioning among spikelets in a panicle during the initial phase of grain-filling of rice.     

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.     

Relationships among the chalkiness,kernel size and endosperm cell morphology of rice kernels at different spikelet positions within a panicle

The occurrence of chalky kernels in rice is causally related to kernel size and endosperm morphology. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of chalky kernels by analyzing kernel size, and the number and area of endosperm cells. Spikelets were sampled from upper and middle primary branches and lower secondary branches in a panicle, and divided into four categories: upper, middle, and lower perfect (PF) kernels and lower milky-white (MW) kernels. On the lower secondary branches, there was a higher percentage of chalky kernels, with smaller kernel lengths, widths and thicknesses, than the kernels on the upper and middle primary branches. MW kernels were smaller in size than PF kernels even on the same lower secondary branches. Regardless of grain appearance quality traits, the total areas of endosperm cross sections in lower kernels were significantly smaller than in upper kernels owing to the decreased cell area, and there was a significant negative correlation between the number of cells and average cell area. When the numbers and the areas of cells were analyzed using angular 30° intervals from the line connecting the center point and the dorsal vascular bundle, the MW kernels had significantly less cells than PF kernels near the ventral side at 120–180°. Thus, the decrease in the number of cells near the ventral side was a main causal factor in the decrease in MW kernel widths compared with PF kernel widths, and this suggested that cell division in MW kernels was inhibited at the early grain-filling stage.     

Genetic studies for breeding of rice cultivars with superior grain appearance and lodging resistance from the rice cultivar ‘Emi-no-kizuna’

ABSTRACT

We conducted a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of grain appearance (GA) and agronomic traits of rice, using 128 recombinant inbred lines derived from ‘Emi-no-kizuna’ and ‘Tomohonami’. We detected two promising QTLs associated with GA: qGA4 on chromosome 4 and qGA8 on chromosome 8. qGA4 contributed highly to the greater percentage of perfect grains of the Emi-no-kizuna genotype. In the same region, we detected other QTLs associated with panicle number and spikelet number per panicle. In near-isogenic lines (NILs) in which Emi-no-kizuna alleles were introgressed in the genomic region of only the semi-dwarf 1 (sd1) locus (NIL_1) and both the sd1 locus and qGA8 (NIL_2), respectively, the percentage of perfect grains was significantly higher and the percentages of milky white, basal white, and white back grains were significantly lower than in Tomohonami; and the percentages of milky white and white back grains of NIL_2 were significantly lower than those of NIL_1. These results suggest that introgression in the sd1 region could improve GA, and that the addition of qGA8 could further improve GA. The culm lengths of the NILs were significantly shorter than that of Tomohonami, indicating improved lodging resistance. Grain weight of NIL_2 was significantly smaller than that of NIL_1, suggesting that the effect of qGA8 could be pleiotropic, or the gene that underlies qGA8 could be linked with genes associated with grain weight.

Abbreviations: ANOVA: analysis of variance; AT20: mean air temperature in the 20 days after heading; BW: basal white grain; CL: culm length; DAH: days after heading; GA: grain appearance; GW: 1000-grain weight; LOD: logarithm of odds; MW: milky white grain; NIL: near-isogenic line; PG: perfect grain; PL: panicle length; PN: panicle number; PTSN: putative total spikelet number; PVE: percentage of phenotypic variation explained; QTL: quantitative trait locus; RIL: recombinant inbred line; SN: spikelet number per panicle; SNP: single nucleotide polymorphism; WB: white back grain     

High Risk of the Formation of Milky White Rice Kernels in Cultivars with Higher Potential Grain Growth Rate under Elevated Temperatures

Abstract

Our objective was to clarify whether rice cultivars with a higher grain dry-matter increase rate (GIR) under elevated temperature condition show a higher percentage of milky white rice kernels (MWK). The rate of MWK judged using a rice-quality selector significantly varied with the cultivar and experimental year. The spikes of the cultivars detached 5–7 days after heading were solution-cultured with an adequate nutrient supply for one week at 25, 28 and 33ºC. GIR was overall the highest at 28ºC, and GIR at this temperature was considered to reflect the potential GIR in all the grains tested. There was a close correlation between the rate of MWK and the GIR at 28ºC under field conditions when temperatures during the grain-filling period were approximately over 25ºC. It was suggested that cultivars with a higher potential GIR under elevated temperature conditions have a higher risk of the formation of MWK.     

Plasticity of sorghum kernel weight to increased assimilate availability

Understanding source or sink limitations on crop yield is critical for the rational design of agricultural practices as well as breeding strategies. In the present article, we studied sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] source–sink yield limitations during grain filling, and tested the hypothesis that the time in which kernel maximum water content is reached during grain filling defines a temporal limit for the crop to profit from source increases. Earlier studies have never tested increasing assimilate availability per kernel in different developmental stages. We conducted a field experiment increasing assimilate availability per kernel at anthesis and 15 days after anthesis in commercial hybrids. The anthesis treatment was aimed to increase assimilates per kernel from early grain filling, and the 15 days after anthesis treatment from the stage kernel maximum water content was achieved. Both treatments removed 50% of the kernels from one side of the panicle. Kernel dry weight (KW), kernel water content and kernel volume were measured in apical and basal positions of the panicle throughout grain filling. Increased assimilate availability always yielded a higher KW (34% increase). This KW increase was consistent across the two kernel developmental stages when the treatment was imposed, the panicle position and hybrid. Achieving maximum water content did not prevent kernels from increasing their weight when assimilates were subsequently increased. Final KW was closely related to maximum kernel volume (r² = 0.72; n = 42; p < 0.0001). Increased assimilate availability per kernel promoted changes in both kernel growth rate and duration of grain filling.

We applied a quantitative approach for determining the magnitude of sorghum KW changes in response to assimilate availability changes during grain filling. This allowed us to compare our data to previously published articles, and to determine any general response pattern across environments. The analysis supported our observation that sorghum KW is highly responsive to increased assimilates, and indicated that increased assimilate availability during filling always increased sorghum KW. As such, growth of sorghum kernels is predominately source limited; breeding and management practices aimed to increase assimilate availability per kernel will be likely to enhance sorghum yield. Results show that the crop has the capacity to profit from source increases even after the initial grain-filling stages have occurred.     

稻穗颖花开花日序对籽粒胚乳细胞数和米质的影响

 以不同类型水稻品种为材料，分析了稻穗颖花开花日序对籽粒胚乳细胞数和米质形成的影响。研究发现，同一穗上随着开花日序的推迟，籽粒胚乳细胞数逐渐减少，垩白率、垩白度逐渐上升，糊化温度和直链淀粉含量逐渐降低。上述主要米质性状与胚乳细胞数密切相关，而与单个胚乳细胞重相关不显著。孕穗期去1/2株或始穗期喷施6-BA［6-(苄基)腺嘌呤］，籽粒的胚乳细胞数明显上升，垩白率、垩白度明显下降，糊化温度上升；孕穗期去1/2叶，结果相反；表明由于胚乳细胞数的不同，造成了穗上籽粒间米质的差异。还就改善米质的措施进行了讨论。     

早籼稻垩白形成中胚乳淀粉粒发育的电镜观察

对不同垩白度早籼品种中优早3号（少垩白）和泸红早1号（多垩白）的不同温度处理下的胚乳淀粉粒进行了扫描电镜观察,结果显示胚乳腹部淀粉粒形成的发育过程明显受温度条件的影响。在灌浆初始,高温促使淀粉粒发育进程提前,淀粉粒形状呈圆球形,边缘光滑,从而造成成熟时淀粉粒间的空隙明显,结构疏松,垩白率高。这在少垩白品种中优早3号中表现得尤为显著。     

不同种植方式对水稻颖花穗部分布的影响

为研究在不同种植方式下水稻穗颖花量的变化特征,设置4种不同田间种植方式,研究水稻稻穗颖花特征。试验发现:(1)稻穗颖花由穗基部向穗顶方向在稻穗呈抛物线型分布,穗中部颖花量最大;(2)随着单株水稻稻田生态空间增加,稻穗颖花总量及穗上、中、下部颖花量分别增加;稻穗一次枝梗数及其颖花量无明显增加;稻穗二次枝梗数及其颖花量和稻穗中、下部二次枝梗数增加及稻穗上、中、下部二次枝梗颖花量显著增加,其中杂交稻表现穗中、下部二次枝梗数增加,常规稻仅为穗中部二次枝梗数增加;(3)单株水稻颖花量与其籽粒重显著正相关(R~2=0.804)。研究结果表明不同种植方式对水稻颖花穗部分布影响主要表现在二次枝梗数总数及分布在穗中、下部位的二次枝梗数,和二次枝梗的颖花量及其在穗的下、中、上部位的分布数量。     

Effect of Top-dressing and Planting Density on the Number of Spikelets and Yield of Rice Cultivated with Nitrogen-free Basal Dressing

Abstract

The effects of nitrogen-free basal dressing (BNo) and top-dressing on the growth and yield of two rice varieties, Akitakomachi and Hitomebore, planted at a standard density (22.2 hills m^?2) and sparse density (16.7 hills m^?2) were examined. The maximum number of stems and the number of panicles per unit area were lower in both BNo plots with a standard planting density (BNo22) and sparse planting density (BNol7) than in the control plot with standard nitrogen dressing and standard planting density (CONT) in both varieties. The number of panicles and spikelets per unit area was lower in both BNo22 and BNo 17 than in CONT, but the number of spikelets per panicle in BNo 17 was significantly higher than that in CONT, although that in BNo22 was not. In BNo22, the percentage of ripened grains and 1,000 grain weight were significantly higher than those in CONT, but in BNo 17, 1,000 grain weight was similar to that in CONT, although the percentage of ripened grains was higher than that in CONT. Grain yield in both BNo22 and BNo 17 was not significantly different from that in CONT, and that in BNo 17 was 660 and 710 g m^?2 in Akitakomachi and Hitomebore, respectively. The leaf area index was lower and crop growth rate was higher in both BNo22 and BNol7 than in CONT at the grain-filling stage. The net assimilation rate and specific leaf weight were significantly higher in BNo22 and BNo 17 than in CONT at the panicle formation and grain-filling stages, respectively. Nitrogen top-dressing at the neck node differentiation stage was found to be very useful for the cultivation of these rice varieties under BNo with sparse planting density in the Tohoku district.     

Research Advances in High-Yielding Cultivation and Physiology of Super Rice

In 1996,China launched a program to breed super rice or super hybrid rice by combining intersubspecific heterosis with ideal plant types.Today,approximately 80 super rice varieties have been released and some of them show high grain yields of 12-21 t/hm2 in field experiments.The main reasons for the high yields of super rice varieties,compared with those of conventional varieties,can be summarized as follows:more spikelets per panicle and larger sink size (number of spikelets per square meter);larger leaf area index,longer duration of green leaf,greater photosynthetic rate,higher lodging resistance,greater dry matter accumulation before the heading stage,greater remobilization of pre-stored carbohydrates from stems and leaves to grains during the grain-filling period;and larger root system and greater root activity.However,there are two main problems in super rice production:poor grain-filling of the later-flowering inferior spikelets (in contrast to earlier-flowering superior spikelets),and low and unstable seed-setting rate.Here,we review recent research advances in the crop physiology of super rice,focusing on biological features,formation of yield components,and population quality.Finally,we suggest further research on crop physiology of super rice.     

Reduction of Rice Chalky Grain by Deep and Permanent Irrigation Method; Effect on Growth and Grain Quality of Rice

Abstract

Formation of chalky grains which is the main cause of the degradation of rice grain quality occurs frequently when the temperature during the 20 days after heading exceeds 27ºC. In this study, we examined the grain quality, chalky grain formation, growth and yield of plants grown by the deep and permanent irrigation (DPI) method, which is a combination of the V-furrow direct seeding method and the deep-flooding irrigation method. Field experiments were conducted in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The DPI method in which the water level was maintained at about 20 cm above the soil surface, improved grain quality by decreasing the chalky grain ratio by about 5% and increasing the perfect grain ratio by about 10% as compared with the V-furrow direct seeding method in which the water level was maintained at about 10 cm above the soil surface. The DPI method decreased the number of tillers and panicles but increased the number of spikelets per panicle so that the two methods gave similar yields. DPI is a promising labor-saving method expected to reduce the formation of chalky grain due to a high temperature during ripening.     

水稻精确定量施氮技术研究

采用小区对比试验方法,设4个处理(基、蘖、穗肥比例分别为2:4:4、2:5:3、2:6:2、2:8:0),探讨了氮肥运筹对水稻盐丰47产量及氮素利用率的影响。结果表明,基、蘖、穗肥比例为2:5:3的处理产量最高,为705.9 kg/667 m2。同时该处理的单位面积颖花数、抽穗至成熟期干物质积累量占产量的百分比、氮利用率以及生产效率均高于其它处理。     

叶枕距标记法研究低温对粳型光温敏核不育系育性转换的影响

用日均温20℃低温处理3个采用剑叶叶枕距标记幼穗发育时期的粳型光温敏核不育系G317S、G321S和G326S,研究低温对不同发育时期粳型光温敏核不育系育性的影响.结果表明:用20℃低温处理3d,3个粳型光温敏核不育系花粉不育度明显降低,平均自交结实率为66.41％;3个粳型光温敏核不育系育性敏感期所对应的剑叶叶枕距为-4 ～4 cm,而剑叶叶枕距＜-4 cm或＞4 cm时,各不育系育性稳定;剑叶叶枕距为-4～ -2 cm和2～4 cm时各不育系不同穗位颖花的花粉不育度比较接近,而剑叶叶枕距为-2～2 cm时,各不育系不同穗位颖花的花粉不育度表现为穗上部＜穗中部＜穗下部.     

Evaluation and analysis the chalkiness of connected rice kernels based on image processing technology and support vector machine

In order to determine the location and type of rice chalkiness accurately, image processing techniques were adopted to process acquired rice kernel images. Connected rice kernels were separated from each other using a convex point matching method. Chalkiness was extracted according to the differences in grayscale levels between chalky and normal regions in the rice kernel and chalky rice kernels were classified by a support vector machine (SVM). The results showed that 2–5 connected rice kernels could be separated accurately using this method and chalky areas could be extracted. The classification accuracy for indica rice and japonica rice reached 98.5% and 97.6%, respectively, by using SVM. Hence, the measurement results are accurate and reliable, and the presented work provides a theoretical and practical basis for the further application of computer vision technology to chalkiness detection.     

The Involvement of Silicon Deposition in Salinity-Induced White Head in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

White heads and silicon deposition in spikelets were observed in three rice varieties (IR28, IR4595-4-1-13 and Mangasa), which were different in vulnerability to white heads under salinity conditions. Plants were grown in three-liter pots with two nitrogen fertilizer levels (HN : high nitrogen and LN : low nitrogen) and subjected to salinity by submerging the soil in a lOOmM sodium chloride solution from booting to seven days after panicle emergence. White heads occurred in IR4595-4-1-13 and Mangasa but not in IR28 under the salinity condition, and the vulnerability to white heads was higher with the HN treatment than the LN treatment. Silicon deposition in spikelets, measured by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis with a scanning electron microscope, was correlated to the vulnerability to white heads. White heads inhibited flower opening and thus induced high sterility. It was concluded that low silicon deposition in spikelets was responsible for the occurrence of white heads under salinity conditions in rice.     

不同锰浓度环境下OsNRAMP5突变对水稻耐热性和主要经济性状的影响

OsNRAMP5是水稻吸收镉、锰的主效转运蛋白.OsNRAMP5突变造成水稻镉含量大幅度降低,使其成为镉低积累水稻分子育种中最重要的靶标基因,而其突变造成的锰含量大幅度降低是否会影响水稻农艺性状和环境适应性一直备受关注且存在争议.以籼稻华占、粳稻中花11这2种不同遗传背景下同一突变位点的osnramp5突变株系为材料,...     

大穗型籼稻三系不育系浙91A的选育

浙91A是以野败籼型不育系V20A为母本,用浙农8010B/浙农91后代中选株系为父本杂交,采用连续单株花粉育性镜检,连续回交转育而成的籼型不育系.其穗型大,每穗粒数达155.6粒;主要稻米品质指标明显优于浙江省主配不育系协青早A;不育株率100%,花粉不育度100%;柱头外露率60.1%,异交结实率55%左右,易于繁殖制种.2003年9月通过了由浙江省科技厅组织的技术鉴定,配制的新组合正进行试验试种.     

Identification of quantitative trait loci for panicle structure and grain filling using a cross between indica- and japonica-type high-yielding rice cultivars

ABSTRACT

To enhance the yield potential of rice by breeding, it is important to reveal the genetic factors affecting yield components in high-yielding cultivars. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis for panicle structure and spikelet weight as an index of grain filling was conducted using recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between an indica-dominant high-yielding cultivar, Takanari, and a japonica-dominant high-yielding cultivar, Momiroman in 2012 and 2013 in eastern Japan. The grain-filling ability of Takanari is reported to be better than that of Momiroman. Since grain filling is generally better near the tip of the panicle and decreases as the number of branches from the rachis increases, we classified whole panicles into upper and lower side panicles and spikelets into primary, secondary, and tertiary spikelets according to the number of branches from the rachis. On chromosomes 1, 4, and 6, QTLs regulating the number of spikelets per panicle and panicle structure were detected and were most likely identical to GN1a, SPIKE, and APO1, respectively, which has been previously reported as QTLs regulating the number of spikelets per panicle. Takanari produced much heavier secondary and tertiary spikelets than Momiroman on the lower side panicle. On chromosome 5, novel QTLs regulating spikelet weight were detected. The Takanari allele enhanced secondary and tertiary spikelet weight on the lower side panicle. These results indicate that it may be possible to enhance sink capacity and translocation of source with a combination of novel QTLs detected on chromosome 5 and GN1, APO1, and SPIKE.