Growth,Yield and Quality of Bird-Resistant Sunflower Cultivars Found in Genetic Resources

Abstract

We examined 50 cultivars of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) for their resistance to birds in a field experiment to find parental plants for breeding. Two cultivars, Armarvirskij3497 (from Russia) and Line-41 (from Myanmar), had bird-resistant characteristics. The laboratory bird feeding test indicated that the factors associated with bird resistance were globular seed shape and heavy seed coat, because the main bird feeding on sunflower, oriental greenfinch Carduelis sinica, is relatively small and have difficulty pecking large and globular seeds. Although the two cultivars had unfavorable characters such as low tolerance to lodging and late maturity, the oil contents of their seeds was not significantly lower than that in the susceptible cultivar (63M80). The present findings suggest that Armarvirskij3497 and Line-41 are candidate parental materials for breeding bird-resistant sunflower cultivars without losing seed oil productivity.     

Transpiration and Leaf Movement of Cotton Cultivars Grown in the Field under Arid Conditions

Abstract

Five cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars were grown in the field in Xinjiang, China to evaluate their adaptability to arid conditions in terms of leaf temperature, transpiration rate and leaf movement. Leaf temperature was higher in the morning and lower in the afternoon as compared with air temperature. There were large differences in the transpiration rate represented by the flow rates of stem sap per unit leaf area (FRSS) among the cotton cultivars. The transpiration rate in cotton generally depended on vapor pressure deficit (VPD). In the cultivars with a low transpiring ability, however, the influence of VPD was lower in the higher range of VPD. Cultivars with higher transpiring ability tended to have higher intercepted radiation per unit leaf area (IRL), i.e., to show active diaheliotropic leaf movement. The higher transpiring ability of cotton might be able to reduce heat stresses caused by diaheliotropic leaf movement and be profitable for yield under the arid conditions.     

Leaf Temperature and Transpiration of Field Grown Cotton and Soybean under Arid and Humid Conditions

Abstract

Abstract : Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) cultivars were grown under arid (Urumqi, Xinjiang, China) and humid (Matsudo, Chiba, Japan) conditions to analyze their abilities to adapt to arid conditions in terms of transpiration, leaf movement and leaf temperature. Under the arid condition, the leaf temperature of the cotton cultivars was higher than that of the soybean cultivar and the air temperature. There was no significant difference in leaf temperature among the cotton and soybean cultivars under the humid condition. The flow rate of stem sap in the cotton cultivars under the arid condition was always higher than that in the soybean cultivar, and was largely affected by vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Under the humid condition, however, the flow rates of stem sap were lower in the cotton cultivars than in the soybean cultivars. These results indicate that cotton can avoid heat stress by the high transpiring ability possibly supported by well-developed root systems, which leads to higher drought resistance under the arid condition. Soybean would adapt to arid conditions by the combination of paraheliotropic leaf movement and reduced transpiration.     

Lack of 26 kDa globulin accompanies increased free amino acid content in rice (Oryza sativa L.) grains

Seed nitrogen content, protein composition and free amino acid content were determined in rice mutant lines with altered storage protein composition and their parental cultivars. The Lgc1 gene, which causes low glutelin content and high content of 13 kDa prolamin and 26 kDa globulin, did not affect grain weight, nitrogen content, or free amino acid content. The glb1 gene, which lacks the 26 kDa globulin, did not affect grain weight or nitrogen content, but in mutant lines with glb1 gene the content of the major free amino acids was significantly (1.3–1.5 times) higher than those of their parental cultivars. These results suggest that absence of 26 kDa globulin is accompanied by an accumulation of a high level of free amino acids in rice grains.     

Seed Weight of Nodulating and Non-nodulating Soybeans at Different Nitrogen Levels and Years

Abstract

Seed weight (weight per seed) is an important trait in soybean [Glycine max (L) Merr.] that affects its production, processing, marketing and consumer preferences. To determine the effects of nitrogen fertilizers and climatic conditions on seed weight, a five-year field experiment was conducted by growing four nodulating cultivars and 13 non-nodulating lines at 4 levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 2, 10 and 20 g m^–2). The variation in seed weight due to the difference in the fertilizer level and climatic condition of the year was greater in non-nodulating lines than in nodulating cultivars. This resulted in a lower heritability estimate in non-nodulating lines (0.49) than in the nodulating cultivars (0.85). Nitrogen fertilizer increased the seed weights of non-nodulating lines but did not affect the seed weights of the nodulating cultivars. The high response of the non-nodulating lines to nitrogen fertilizer may be attributed to their strong dependence on fertilizer and soil nitrogen due to their lack of ability to fix nitrogen in symbiosis. The small seeds produced during the years with low temperatures and early onset of frost may have been caused by the slow seed growth rate and short seed filling duration.     

Protein quality and endosperm modification of quality protein maize (Zea mays L.) under two contrasting soil nitrogen environments

Quality protein maize (QPM) breeding involves the combined use of the opaque-2 (o2) gene and the genetic modifiers of the o2 locus to develop cultivars with modified kernel endosperm, and increased concentrations of lysine and tryptophan. This study was designed to assess grain yield performance, endosperm modification, and protein quality and quantity under two contrasting soil nitrogen environments. A 15-parent diallel cross was evaluated under one low nitrogen stress and one optimal nitrogen environment each at Harare (Zimbabwe) and Bako (Ethiopia). Most QPM hybrids showed higher protein quality levels than the best non-QPM check under both conditions. Protein concentration tended to vary across nitrogen levels, but not endosperm type. Significant differences were found for the test of main effect (nitrogen-level) for endosperm modification and tryptophan concentration. This indicated that QPM maintains quality even under low soil nitrogen, a widespread condition in Africa. General combining ability (GCA) mean squares were highly significant for most protein quality traits for each environment and across environments whereas specific combining ability (SCA) mean squares were not significant in most cases. This indicated that additive gene effects were primarily responsible for variation of most traits evaluated and hence progeny performance can adequately be predicted on the basis of parental performance. Inbred lines P2, P4 and P12 had desirable GCA effects for endosperm modification while P1 and P3 had the best GCA for tryptophan concentration in grain. The current study suggests that hybrids with desirable endosperm modification, protein quality and stable performance under low nitrogen stress and optimal conditions can be produced with careful selection.     

不同氮效率小麦品种苗期相关指标的杂种优势

为探究不同氮效率小麦品种氮代谢相关指标的遗传差异,选用了5个不同氮效率的小麦品种及其组配的6个杂交F₁,设置低氮（LN,0.4 mmol·L^-1 ）和正常供氮（CK,4.0 mmol·L^-1）两个氮水平,研究不同氮处理下小麦苗期形态、抗氧化酶和氮代谢相关酶活性的差异,并对其杂种优势进行了分析。结果表明,5个品种的根鲜重在低氮水平下明显高于正常氮水平,6个F₁的杂种优势表现为超中亲或偏低亲优势;苗鲜重在低氮水平下低于正常供氮水平,其F₁杂种优势表现为中亲优势。两种氮水平下,氮高效品种的硝酸还原酶（NR）、谷氨酰胺合成酶（GS）、谷氨酸脱氢酶（GDH）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）和过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性均高于氮低效品种,6个杂交F₁的上述6种酶活性大多表现出正向杂种优势。正常氮水平下,小麦叶片MDA含量低于低氮水平;低氮水平下,6个F₁的MDA含量杂种优势表现为超中亲或偏低亲优势。两种氮水平下,6个F₁叶片可溶性蛋白含量表现为正向杂种优势,其中低氮水平下,表现为超亲优势。综上所述,低氮条件下,氮高效品种较氮低效品种表现出较好的生长潜力;利用氮高效品种作为亲本能提高杂交F₁的氮利用效率,可用于小麦氮高效育种。     

Chemical composition and nutritional quality of five peanut cultivars grown in Pakistan

Four high yielding imported and one local peanut cultivar, grown under local soil and climatic conditions, were compared for their chemical composition and nutritional quality. The local cultivar Kurram contained the maximum protein (28.3%) and the imported cultivar No. 45 contained the maximum oil content (49.5%). K, Mg, P, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn were present in nutritionally significant and comparable amounts in all the cultivars. Lysine was the first limiting amino acid in all the cultivars. The chemical scores and net protein utilization (operative) values were higher for the imported than local cultivar while net dietary protein calories percent (NDP Cal%) values showed only minor variations among the five cultivars. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed for protein, oil, Na, K, Ca, P and Zn contents of all the cultivars. Roasting (150°C, 1/2 h) decreased the lysine, threonine, methionine, cystine, arginine, tryptophan and tyrosine contents but increased the protein, oil, ash, fiber, mineral elements (except Na and C1), aspartic acid, serine, glutamic acid, proline and phenylalanine contents.     

Responses of Seed Yield and Quality to Nitrogen Application Levels in Two Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.) Varieties Differing in Nitrogen Efficiency

Abstract

The relationship between nitrogen efficiency (NE), defined as seed yield per unit nitrogen (N) application, and seed quality was examined in two oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) varieties at 5 N application levels, 0.6, 3, 6, 12, 15 mmol L?¹, N₁, N₂, N₃, N₄ and N₅, respectively. Seed yield, oil yield and protein content were increased with the increase in N application level, but NE and oil content were decreased, and the fatty acid composition in seed was hardly changed. Analysis of seven fatty acids revealed aslight decrease in the contents of erucic acid and arachidonic acid with the increase in N application level, but no obvious change in the contents of palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid. Compared with the low NE variety H29, the seed yield and contents of erucic acid and arachidonic acid in the high NE variety bin270 were more markedly increased with the increase in N application level, and the oil content was hardly changed. The seed yield, oilcontent and oil yield were higher in the high NE variety than in the low NE variety at all 5 N application levels. There were no significant differences in protein, palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid contents between the varieties at any of the 5 N application levels, but there were slight differences in the linoleic acid and linolenic acid contents between the two varieties. In brief, N application improved oil yield more greatly in the high NE variety than in the low NE variety, but hardly affected the fatty acid composition. Therefore, the seed quality and oil content of oilseed rape may not be decreased by breeding of a high NE variety with a high N absorption efficiency and high N use efficiency.     

Effect of introducing Bacillus thuringiensis gene on nitrogen metabolism in cotton

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) transgenic cotton has shown changes in vegetative and reproductive growth characteristics. The objective of this study was to investigate the physiological changes in nitrogen metabolism that related closely to growth in Bt cotton cultivars. The study was undertaken on two Bt transgenic cotton cultivars and their parents, one conventional (Xingyang 822) and recurrent parent (Sumian No. 9), the other a hybrid (Kumian No. 1) and female parent (Yumian No. 1), during the 2001 and 2002 growing seasons at the Yangzhou University Farm, Yangzhou, China.In the 2001 study, the results indicated that the Bt cotton cultivars (during peak reproductive growth) possessed greater leaf N, free amino acid and soluble protein than their parents. The biggest increase of total nitrogen was at peak boll period, with 36 and 19% increase for Kumian No. 1 and Xingyang 822, respectively. Similar results were found for free amino acid and soluble protein content. Further in 2002, the nitrate reductase activity increased dramatically at peak squaring and early boll open period, the biggest increase at early boll open period, with Kumian No. 1 and Xingyang 822 exhibiting 88 and 61% greater activity than their parents, respectively. The biggest increase in glutamic-pyruvic transaminase activity was at peak boll period, with Kumian No. 1 and Xingyang 822 having 39 and 29% higher activity than their parents, respectively. However, protease activity of Bt cultivars reduced significantly before flowering and early boll open period, the biggest decrease was before the flowering period. The results suggest that the Bt cotton cultivars have a more intense leaf nitrogen metabolism than their parents during reproductive development. The enhanced N metabolism may lead to excessive vegetative growth. Cultural practices should therefore be aimed at reducing leaf nitrogen metabolic strength and keeping the balance of vegetative and reproductive growth.     

Impacts of transgenic Bt cotton on a non-target pest, Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) (Hemiptera: Miridae), in northern China

Transgenic Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) cotton has been effectively used to control the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) in China. However, in recent years, following the wide commercialization of Bt cotton in northern China there have been frequent outbreaks of the non-target pest Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür). To clarify how transgenic cotton contributes to these outbreaks, a four-year field investigation of population dynamics and laboratory life table studies were carried out from 2007 to 2010 to evaluate the impact of two transgenic cotton cultivars (SGK321 expressing Cry1Ac + CpTI and GK12 expressing Cry1Ac) and their corresponding parental non-transgenic lines (Shiyuan321 and Simian3) on A. lucorum. There were no significant differences in the population densities of A. lucorum found in Bt cotton and non-Bt cotton plots, whether one compared those that had received insecticide treatments or those that had not. However, population densities of A. lucorum were significantly lower in pesticide treated plots than in controls. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the net reproductive rates, generation times or intrinsic rates of increase of A. lucorum when reared on either Bt or non-Bt cotton cultivars. These results suggest that Bt cotton has no direct positive or negative effects on the biology of A. lucorum, so the most logical explanation for the observed outbreaks is the decrease in pesticide applications following the commercial release of Bt cotton.     

Evaluation of the SPAD Value in Faba Bean (Vicia fabaL.) Leaves in Relation to Different Fertilizer Applications

Abstract

The correlations of the reading of a portable chlorophyll meter (SPAD-502) with the chlorophyll and N contents of leaves of two faba bean (Vicia fabaL.) cultivars, Japanese (Ryousai-issun) and Egyptian (Cairo 241), were examined. The SPAD readings positively correlated (ρ<0.01) with the chlorophyll contents and the r² values were 0.99 and 1.00 for Ryousai-issun and Cairo 241, respectively. A close linear relationship (ρ0.001) was observed between SPAD reading and total leaf N content at the pod development stage of faba bean plants with r² = 0.88 and 0.99 for Ryousai-issun and Cairo 241, respectively. The SPAD reading was the highest in the 2^nd to 4^th leaves counted from the top (the youngest fully expanded leaves). The changes in leaf chlorophyll content of both cultivars from 3 weeks after transplanting to the ripening stage showed an incomplete “M” type curve. SPAD readings were significant¬ly higher in Ryousai-issun than in Cairo 241 throughout the growth season. Organic fertilizers application improved faba bean plant growth. These results suggest that the SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter can be used to measure chlorophyll and nitrogen contents of faba bean leaves for quick screening faba bean genotypes.     

Boll size affects the insecticidal protein content in Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) transgenic cotton has been planting in large-scale for more than 10 years in China. It was observed that resistance to bollworm was reduced with the application of big-boll cultivars in China. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of boll size on the contents of CryIA insecticidal protein in boll shell and cotton seed during the course of boll development. Two experiments were conducted at the Yangzhou University Farm, Yangzhou, China. In 2004, three cultivars including Sikang 1 (small-boll), Xiangza 3 (medium-boll) and Kemian 3 (big-boll) were compared for boll shell volume and 100-seed weight from 10 to 40 days after flowering (DAF), and insecticidal protein contents in boll shell and cotton seed from 10 to 50 DAF. As expected, the differences between cultivars were significant for all the four characteristics. Cultivars with bigger boll shell volume had higher 100-seed weight but lower insecticidal protein contents in both of the boll shell and cotton seed. The correlation between boll size and boll insecticidal protein content was negative (−0.653). The correlation between 100-seed weight and cotton seed insecticidal protein content was significantly negative (−0.645). In 2005, leaf cut (LC) and square removal (SR) treatments were applied to Sikang 1 and Sikang 3. The boll shell volume and 100-seed weight were decreased by LR, but increased by SR. LC significantly enhanced and SR significantly reduced the insecticidal protein contents of boll shell and cotton seed. The correlation between boll size and boll insecticidal protein content (−0.870) and the correlation between 100-seed weight and cotton seed insecticidal protein content were both highly significant and negative (−0.841). Therefore, the results of the study indicated that the boll insecticidal protein content was significantly affected by boll size. The implications of the observed results in breeding, cultural practices and pest management were discussed.     

Genotypic Variation in Biomass Production at the Early Vegetative Stage among Rice Cultivars Subjected to Deficient Soil Moisture Regimes and Its Association with Water Uptake Capacity

References

Genetic improvement in water uptake ability and/or water use efficiency (WUE) of rice cultivars is one option to enhance productivity under water-limited conditions. We examined the genotypic variation in biomass production among 70 rice cultivars (69 cultivars of NIAS global rice core collection and Azucena) under different soil moisture conditions, and to identify whether water uptake ability or WUE is responsible for the variation, if any. Two-week-old seedlings were transplanted into pots and grown for three weeks in an environmentally-regulated growth chamber under three soil moisture regimes: flooded (?0.02 MPa soil water potential) and two unflooded (?0.10 and ?0.52 MPa) conditions. Substantial genotypic variations in total dry weight (TDW) were observed under all three regimes. Among all the cultivars tested, TDW was significantly correlated with water uptake ability, but not with WUE. However, several cultivars exhibited comparably higher WUE while showing superior biomass production under the ?0.52 MPa regime. The amount of water uptake was significantly correlated with root dry weight among cultivars regardless of moisture regimes, while substantial genotypic difference in the amount of water uptake per unit root dry weight was observed. These results indicate that a marked genotypic difference exists in biomass production at the early vegetative growth under water-deficient conditions, and that this difference appears to be ascribed primarily to greater water uptake capacity, and additionally to higher WUE in drought-tolerant cultivars.     

Current and Potential Role of Transgenic Crops in U.S. Agriculture

SUMMARY

Transgenic crop cultivars with resistance to insects, pathogens, and herbicides offer growers powerful new pest management tools. We reviewed the observed and potential farm-level impacts of transgenic cultivars, including those with regulatory approval and commercial availability as well as those still being researched and developed. Direct grower benefits, such as yield and production increases and decreased management costs, have led to rapid and extensive adoption of Bt corn and cotton, herbicide-resistant cotton, soybean, and canola, and virus-resistant papaya. Other transgenic crops, including Bt sweet corn and potato, and herbicide-resistant sugar beet and corn, have not been adopted despite strong agronomic and pest management performance, largely because growers fear there will be no market for their harvests. Despite inconsistent adoption of transgenic cultivars, demonstrated benefits of the technology encourage ongoing efforts to incorporate pest management traits into a wider variety of crops, including broccoli, tomato, lettuce, grape, citrus, pineapple, raspberry, peanut, wheat, barley, and rice. Potential impacts of these upcoming transgenic cultivars range from a decrease in weed management costs for lettuce and tomato growers, to the defense of stone fruit, grape, and citrus against devastating new pests.     

Effects of early planting and cultivars on the yield and agronomic traits of soybeans grown in southwestern Japan

Early planting contributed to increased soybean yields in the U.S. Because a double-cropping system dominates in southwestern Japan, early planting is not performed; it is thus unclear how much the yield potential could be increased by early planting. To address this question, we planted seven U.S. and five Japanese cultivars on around 20 May (early planting), measured the agronomic traits, including yield, yield components, and oil and protein contents, and compared these traits with those of the same cultivars planted on around 20 July (normal planting). In the early planting, the yields of the U.S. cultivars were 322–453 g m^?2, whereas the highest yield among the Japanese cultivars was only 315 g m^?2, which is significantly lower than those of the top five U.S. cultivars, indicating the adaptability of U.S. cultivars to early planting. The increases in yield obtained with early planting were 99–199 g m^?2 and ?26–144 g m^?2 for the U.S. and Japanese cultivars, respectively. The yield obtained by early planting was positively correlated with the pods m^?2, seeds pod^?1, and oil contents, but negatively correlated with the sterile pod rate, 100 seed weight and protein content. In the early planting, the U.S. cultivars had greater pods m^?2, seeds pod^?1 and oil content and less sterile pod rate, 100-seed weight, and protein content than the Japanese cultivars. These results suggest that early planting can increase the yield in southwestern Japan, if cultivars with agronomic traits observed in the U.S. cultivars of this study are grown.     

Introduction of a fungal NADP(H)-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (gdhA) improves growth,grain weight and salt resistance by enhancing the nitrogen uptake efficiency in forage rice

We report the effect of the introduction of a fungal glutamate dehydrogenase gene (gdhA) into forage rice (cv. Momiroman) by analyzing the transgenic rice plants in terms of growth, source function, and nitrogen contents. NADP (H)-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase activities in the gdhA-transgenic lines were markedly higher than those in non-transgenic control plants. Plant growth analysis at the seedling stage revealed that the leaf area and shoot and root dry weights of the high gdhA-expressors were higher than those of control plants under both high (high N) and low nitrogen (low N) conditions. These results suggested that the source ability was enhanced by the gdhA introduction. This was supported by the fact that the net photosynthesis rate at the heading stage was also higher in transgenic than in control leaves. Furthermore, under both high and low N conditions, the nitrogen contents in the shoots and roots, at seedling and grain-harvest stages, were significantly higher in high gdhA-expressors than in control plants, indicating that nitrogen uptake was higher in transgenic than in control plants. At the harvest stage, the high gdhA-expressors exhibited greater panicle and spikelet numbers per plant compared with control plants, resulting in higher grain weight, under the high N conditions. In addition, gdhA expression in forage rice significantly enhanced their tolerance to salt stress compared to control plants. The present study showed that the introduction of a fungal gdhA into forage rice could lead to higher source ability, better growth and higher grain weight by enhancing nitrogen uptake efficiency.     

Comparison of Physicochemical Properties of the Grains between Old- and New-Types of Rice Cultivars in Japan

Abstract

The physicochemical properties of the grains of 16 old- and 21 new-type rice cultivars in Japan were investigated in 1995 and 1996. Among the old- and new-type cultivars, we found a similar pattern of varietal differences in physicochemical properties in both years, and in both the fields with and without nitrogen fertilizer applied. Between the two types, no significant differences in the mean protein and amylose contents in the rice grain were observed. The old-type rice cultivars tended to be lower in mean maximum viscosity and breakdown values than the new- type cultivars, although the difference was not significant. Cooked rice of the old-type cultivars tended to be higher in mean hardness/adhesion ratio (H/-H) and hardness/adhesiveness ratio (H/A₃) than that of the new -type cultivars. The physicochemical properties which showed superior values in the standard partial regression coefficients against the taste of cooked rice were the protein content, breakdown value and H/-H. These, physico-chemical properties can be efficient indicators for evaluating the taste of cooked rice. The coefficient of parentage of each cultivar to cultivar Koshihikari showed tight negative correlations with amylose content, H/-H and H/A₃, and tight positive correlations with maximum viscosity and breakdown values. The coefficients showed a loose positive correlation with protein content. However, Sasanishiki, Domannaka, Chiyonishiki, Nakate shinsenbon and Rikuu 132 were superior in their physicochemical indicators, in spite of their small coefficients of parentage to Koshihikari. This suggests that a highly palatable cultivar that is widely different from Koshihikari can be developed by utilizing genetic resources with superior physicochemical indicators.     

Protein and hordein content in barley seeds as affected by nitrogen level and their relationship to beta-amylase activity

Two barley cultivars differing in grain size and protein content were used to investigate the effects of nitrogen nutrition, cultivar and their interaction on grain protein content, hordein content and beta-amylase activity and the relationship between hordein content and beta-amylase activity during in vitro spike culture. The content of protein and hordein fraction, and beta-amylase activity in barley grains increased as the nitrogen level in culture solution increased. Grain protein content was significantly affected by nitrogen treatment and cultivar, and there was no significant interaction between nitrogen treatment and cultivar. Hordein content and beta-amylase activity were significantly affected by nitrogen treatment and cultivar as well as their interaction. Beta-amylase activity was positively correlated with grain protein and hordein contents, and the ratio of hordein B:C was negatively correlated with total protein content and beta-amylase activity.     

Varietal Difference in Nitrogen Redistribution from Leaves and Its Contribution to Seed Yield in Soybean

A large amount of nitrogen is redistributed from vegetative organs to the seeds during seed filling in soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merrill). However, the effect of nitrogen redistributed from leaves on the seed yield production is not clear. We evaluated the varietal difference in nitrogen redistribution and its contribution to the seed yield. Ten soybean cultivars were cultivated under conventional conditions in the field in Saga, Japan. The plant samples were collected at various reproductive stages, and then the nitrogen contents in each part were determined. The redistributed nitrogen was estimated by the difference in the nitrogen contents of leaves between the plants at the R5 and R7 stages. The nitrogen content of leaves began decreasing after R5 stage in all cultivars, indicating the start of nitrogen redistribution. About 13.8% to 37.9% of the total nitrogen in the seeds was estimated to have been redistributed from the leaf tissues in the ten cultivars. The seed yield was correlated positively with the amount of redistributed nitrogen from leaves but neither with the nitrogen concentration in the leaves at R5 nor with the proportion of redistributed nitrogen in the seeds. However, in high seed yielding years, 2008 and 2009, the seed yield was not associated with nitrogen redistribution; and the lowest nitrogen redistribution was associated with a relatively high seed yield in Tamahomare. Our results indicated that redistribution of a large amount of nitrogen does not always contribute to high seed yielding, implying the direct nitrogen uptake during seed filling could be more important factor for high seed yielding depending on the cultivars.