Physiological Role of Exogenously Applied Glycinebetaine to Improve Drought Tolerance in Fine Grain Aromatic Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice performance under drought stress is mainly impeded by oxidative damage and hampered plant water status, which may be improved by exogenous use of osmoprotectants. In this study, the role of glycinebetaine (GB) to improve drought tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar Super-basmati was evaluated. GB was used both as seed and foliar application. For priming, seeds were soaked in 50, 100 and 150 mg l⁻¹ aerated solution of GB for 48 h. At four-leaf stage, one set of plants was subjected to drought stress, while the other set kept at full field capacity. Drought was maintained at 50 % of field capacity by watering when needed. For exogenous application, 50, 100 and 150 mg l⁻¹ GB levels were applied at five-leaf stage. Drought stress greatly reduced the rice growth while GB application improved it both under well-watered and drought conditions. Drought tolerance in rice was strongly related to the maintenance of tissue water potential and antioxidant system, which improved the integrity of cellular membranes and enabled the plant to maintain high photosynthesis. Foliar treatments were more effective than the seed treatments, while among the GB treatment, foliar application with 100 mg l⁻¹ was the most effective.     

Improving the Drought Tolerance in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) by Exogenous Application of Salicylic Acid

Drought stress encumbers the rice growth predominantly by oxidative damage to biological membranes and disturbed tissue water status. In this study, the role of salicylic acid (SA) to induce drought tolerance in aromatic fine grain rice cultivar Basmati 2000 was evaluated. SA was applied as seed and foliar treatments. For seed treatment, rice seeds were soaked in 50, 100 and 150 mg l⁻¹ aerated solution of SA for 48 h and then dried back. Treated and untreated seeds were sown in plastic pots in a phytotron. At four leaf stage, one set of plants was subjected to drought stress, while the other remained well watered. Drought was maintained at 50 % of field capacity by watering every alternate day. For exogenous application, SA was applied 50, 100 and 150 mg l⁻¹ at five leaf stage. In the control, SA was neither applied exogenously nor as seed treatment. Drought stress severely affected the seedling fresh and dry weight, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, plant water relations and starch metabolism; however, SA application improved the performance of rice under both normal and stress conditions. Drought tolerance in rice was well associated with the accumulation of compatible solutes, maintenance of tissue water potential and enhanced potency of antioxidant system, which improved the integrity of cellular membranes and facilitated the rice plant to sustain photosynthesis and general metabolism. Foliar treatments were more effective than the seed treatments. Foliar application with 100 mg l⁻¹ (FA 100) was the best treatment to induce the drought tolerance and improve the performance under normal and stress conditions compared with the control or other treatments used in this study.     

DROUGHT STRESS: Comparative Time Course Action of the Foliar Applied Glycinebetaine,Salicylic Acid,Nitrous Oxide,Brassinosteroids and Spermine in Improving Drought Resistance of Rice

Worldwide rice productivity is being threatened by increased endeavours of drought stress. Among the visible symptoms of drought stress, hampered water relations and disrupted cellular membrane functions are the most important. Exogenous use of polyamines (PAs), salicylic acid (SA), brassinosteroids (BRs), glycinebetaine (GB) and nitrous oxide (NO) can induce abiotic stresses tolerance in many crops. In this time course study, we appraised the comparative role of all these substances to improve the drought tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar Super‐Basmati. Plants were subjected to drought stress at four leaf stage (4 weeks after emergence) by maintaining soil moisture at 50 % of field capacity. Pre‐optimized concentrations of GB (150 mg l^?1), SA (100 mg l^?1), NO (100 μmol l^?1 sodium nitroprusside as NO donor), BR (0.01 μm 24‐epibrassinolide) and spermine (Spm; 10 μm ) were foliar sprayed at five‐leaf stage (5 weeks after emergence). There were two controls both receiving no foliar spray, viz. well watered (CK1) and drought stressed (CK2). There was substantial reduction in allometric response of rice, gas exchange and water relation attributes by drought stress. While drought stress enhanced the H₂O₂, malondialdehyde (MDA) and relative membrane permeability, foliar spray of all the chemicals improved growth possibly because of the improved carbon assimilation, enhanced synthesis of metabolites and maintenance of tissue water status. Simultaneous reduction in H₂O₂ and MDA production was also noted in the plants treated with these substances. Drought tolerance was sturdily associated with the greater tissue water potential, increased synthesis of metabolites and enhanced capacity of antioxidant system. Of all the chemicals, foliar spray with Spm was the most effective followed by BR.     

Improving Water Relations and Gas Exchange with Brassinosteroids in Rice under Drought Stress

Drought stress is the most pervasive threat to sustainable rice production and mainly disrupts membrane structure and cell-water relations. Exogenously applied brassinosteroids (BRs) may produce profound changes that may improve drought tolerance in rice. In this study, we monitored some physiological basis of the exogenously applied BRs in improving drought tolerance in fine grain aromatic rice ( Oryza sativa L.). Two BRs i.e. 28-homobrassinolide (HBL) and 24-epibrassinolide (EBL) were used both as seed priming and foliar spray. To prime, the seeds were soaked in 0.01 μ m aerated solution each of HBL and EBL for 48 h and dried back to original weight. Treated and untreated seeds were sown in plastic pots with normal irrigation in a phytotron. At four-leaf stage (3 weeks after sowing), plants were subjected to drought stress at 50 % field capacity by cutting down the water supply. For foliar spray, 0.01 μ m of HBL and EBL solutions were sprayed at five-leaf stage. Drought stress severely reduced fresh and dry weights, whilst exogenously applied BRs improved net CO₂ assimilation, water use efficiency, leaf water status, membrane properties, production of free proline, anthocyanins, soluble phenolics, but declined the malondialdehyde and H₂O₂ production. In conclusion, BRs application improved the leaf water economy and CO₂ assimilation, and enabled rice to withstand drought. Moreover, foliar spray had better effect under drought than seed treatments and of the two BRs, EBL proved more effective.     

Calcium silicate slag reduces drought stress in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Silicon has been reported to reduce drought stress on many crops, but limited studies have evaluated this effect with rice using calcium silicate slag from the phosphorus fertilizer industry as a source of Si. A greenhouse study was performed to address this issue. Four slag rates (0, 1,000, 2,000 and 4,000 mg/kg) and two application methods (surface application and incorporation) were evaluated under two moisture regimes (flood and 50% field capacity) for drought stress mitigation in a mineral soil that is typical for rice production. Slag application significantly elevated plant‐available Si in the soil and Si accumulation in plant tissues, and tended to improve rice shoot and root biomass relative to the untreated control under both flooding and drought stress. Increased carbon isotope discrimination (△¹³C) and decreased proline in rice leaves subjected to drought stress indicate that this slag may reduce drought stress in rice, which was supported by restoration of foliage density, transpiration, photosynthesis rate and sugar accumulation to at or near flooded levels following the highest slag application. This study supports the usage of calcium silicate slag in rice production as it could improve Si availability and reduce drought stress.     

水稻孕穗期耐热性QTLs分析

水稻籼粳亚种间杂种优势利用是提高水稻产量的重要途径。然而，异常高温或低温导致籼粳亚种间杂种育性下降是影响其优势利用的主要因素之一。本研究以USSR5（粳稻）/广解9号（籼稻）//USSR5回交群体为供试材料，构建了相应的分子连锁图谱，分别以高温处理下直接小穗育性及小穗育性热敏感指数为指标，对水稻孕穗期高温耐热性及其相对耐热性进行数量性状位点（QTLs）分析。结果表明，在第2、4和5染色体上检测到孕穗期耐热性相关的QTL各一个，对表型变异的解释率为6.4%~15.8%；在第4、8染色体上分别检测到与孕穗期相对耐热性相关的QTL，qhts-4和qhts-8，LOD值分别为3.81和2.86，对表型变异的解释率分别为16.8%和9.9%。对其进一步的上位性分析表明，有8条染色体的4对位点存在基因间互作，小穗育性耐热性除受主效QTL控制外，还受基因间互作及修饰基因的影响。     

水稻苗期耐Cd胁迫的QTL定位分析

[目的]进行水稻苗期耐Cd胁迫的QTL初步定位。[方法]（1）以Lemont（美国）和Dular（印度）杂交建立的重组自交系（RILs）群体,包括123个家系和亲本在内,用含有0.2mg/L镉的水培液进行处理,以不加镉培养的水培液作为对照,考察了叶绿素含量、根长、株高、叶长等4个性状,并转换成抗性指数,用于评价水稻对Cd污染的抗性指标。（2）在已构建的以109个引物为基础的遗传图谱上进行复合区间定位。[结果]（1）共检测到9个加性QTLs,涉及1,2,3,11等4条染色体,其中,以叶绿素抗性指数为指标,检测到3个与耐Cd有关的QTLs 分别位于第2,3,11染色体上,解释了14%,9%,9%的表型变异;（2）以根长抗性指数为评价指标,只定到1个位于第1染色体上控制耐Cd的QTLs,解释了9%的表型变异; （3）用株高抗性指数进行定位,共有3个与耐Cd相关的QTLs,位于1,1,11染色体上,分别解释了10%,27%,10%的表型变异;（4）而以叶长抗性指数进行水稻秧苗耐Cd性表现的QTL定位,结果发现也有2个QTLs与其耐Cd 反应有关,它们分别位于1,11染色体上,解释了21%,12%的表型变异。分析表明,在采用不同评价指标所检测到的9个与耐Cd相关的QTLs中,有7个集中于第1和第11染色体上,其中第1染色体上有4个,第11染色体上有3个。（结论）以株高和叶绿素抗性指数为评价指标,检测到的QTLs最多,根长抗性指数为评价指标的最少。研究还发现在第1和第11染色体上的相同区间内同时检测到以不同抗性指数为评价指标的多个与耐Cd相关的QTLs,推测它们可能是功能相同的几个紧密连锁的非等位基因,也可能就是同一等位基因的不同表现形式,从而也说明了该评价指标用于基因定位的准确性和可行性。     

水稻耐低磷胁迫研究进展

土壤中有效磷缺乏是制约水稻生产的主要因素之一。利用磷效率不同的水稻基因型选育磷高效水稻品种,是解决水稻磷营养问题的一种更为经济、环保的途径。本文简要论述了水稻耐低磷胁迫的机理及磷高效基因型筛选体系,重点综述了近年来水稻磷效率相关性状的QTL定位分析结果,以期为水稻耐低磷研究及磷高效水稻品种的选育提供参考。     

栽培稻叶结构、水分生理与抗旱性关系研究

摘 要：增强栽培稻品种的抗旱性是稻作节水生产的重要途径。稻作种质资源抗旱相关指标的研究是改良稻作品种抗旱性的重要依据。选择抗旱性差异明显的四种类型稻作种质,采用三种干旱胁迫方式,对孕穗期植株叶片的叶肉厚、中脉粗、叶片相对含水量及叶片保水率进行了考察,分析稻作种质在三种处理下各性状相互之间的内在关联及其与品种抗旱性的关系;结果表明叶肉厚、中脉粗、叶片相对含水量及叶片保水率在干旱胁迫下均表现为旱稻类型高于水稻类型。轻度干旱下的叶肉厚与成熟期生物量抗旱指数DRIm2-B极显著相关,与孕穗期生物量抗旱指数DRIm2-H显著性相关。重度干旱下的中脉粗与DRIm2-B极显著相关,重度干旱下的叶片保水率与重度干旱产量抗旱指数DRIm2-Y显著相关,中脉粗和叶片相对含水量在四种种质类型中差异不明显;孕穗期叶肉厚和叶片保水率可分别作为稻作种质抗旱性研究和评价的两个指标。     

Genetic Variation for Salinity Tolerance in Pakistani Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Germplasm

Soil salinity is one of the major production constraints. Development and planting of salt‐tolerant varieties can reduce yield losses due to salinity. We screened 185 rice genotypes at germination stage in petri dishes under control, 50, 100 and 150 mm salt stress, and at seedling stage in Yoshida's hydroponic nutrient solution under control, 50 and 100 mm salt stress. At germination stage, 15 genotypes including Nona Bokra, Sonahri Kangni, 7421, 7423 and 7467, whereas at seedling stage, 28 genotypes including Nona Bokra, Jajai‐77, KSK‐133, KSK‐282, Fakhr‐e‐Malakand, Pakhal, IR‐6, Khushboo‐95, Shahkar and Shua‐92 were found salt tolerant. Basmati‐370, Mushkan, Homo‐46 and accessions 7436, 7437 and 7720 were sensitive to salinity at both germination and seedling stage. We further screened a subset of 33 salt‐tolerant and salt‐sensitive genotypes with SSR markers. Four SSR markers (RM19, RM171, RM172 and RM189) showed significant association with two or more of the studied traits under 50, 100 and 150 mm salt stress. These markers may be further tested for their potential in marker‐assisted selection. The salt‐tolerant genotypes identified in this study may prove useful in the development of salt‐tolerant rice varieties in adapted genetic background.     

水稻光敏核不育基因pms3的精细定位

为了进一步研究水稻晚粳品种农垦58转变为光敏核不育水稻农垦58S的突变位点,并精细定位光敏不育基因pms3,我们利用农垦58S/1514杂交组合的F1进行花药培养构建了一个DH群体,验证了在该群体中光敏不育受pms1、 pms3两对基因的控制,并根据分子标记分析选择第12染色体是1514基因型、 第7染色体农垦58S基因型的DH系DH80与农垦58S杂     

Physiological Response of Multiple Contrasting Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivars to Suboptimal Temperatures

The physiological response of multiple rice cultivars, eighteen initially and eight cultivars later on, to suboptimal temperatures (ST) conditions was investigated in laboratory and outdoor experimental conditions. Treatment with ST decreased growth in different extents according to the cultivar and affected the PSII performance, determined by chlorophyll fluorescence fast‐transient test, and stomatal conductance, regardless the experimental condition. Two groups of cultivars could be distinguished on the base of their growth and physiological parameters. The group of cultivars presenting higher growths displayed optimal JIP values, and higher instantaneous water use efficiency (WUE_i), due to a lower Gs under ST, unlike cultivars showing lower growth values, which presented worse JIP values and could not adjust their Gs and hence their WUE_i. In this work, we detected at least two cultivars with superior tolerance to ST than the cold tolerant referent Koshihikari. These cultivars could be used as parents or tolerance donors in breeding for new crop varieties. On other hand, positive and significant correlations between data obtained from laboratory and outdoor experiments suggest that laboratory measurements of most of the above mentioned parameters would be useful to predict the response of rice cultivars to ST outdoor.     

Impact of Humidity on Temperature-Induced Grain Sterility in Rice (Oryza sativa L)

High temperature‐induced grain sterility in rice is becoming a serious problem in tropical rice‐growing ecosystems. We studied the mechanism of high temperature‐induced grain sterility of different rice (Oryza sativa L) cultivars at two relative humidity (RH) levels. Four varieties of Indica and Japonica rice were exposed to over 85 % RH and 60 % RH at 36/30 °C, 34/30 °C, 32/24 °C and 30/24 °C day/night air temperatures from late booting to maturity inside sunlit phytotrons. Increasing both air temperature and RH significantly increased spikelet sterility while high temperature‐induced sterility decreased significantly with decreasing RH. Neither Indica nor Japonica rice types were superior to the other in the response of their spikelets to increased air temperature and RH. Increased spikelet sterility was due to increased pollen grain sterility which reduced deposition of viable pollen grains on stigma. Reduction in sterility with decreased RH was more due to decreased spikelet temperature than to air temperature. Thus the impact of RH should be considered when interpreting the effect of high temperature on grain sterility. Spikelet fertility was curvilinearly related to spikelet temperature. Grain sterility increased when spikelet temperature increased over 30 °C while it became completely sterile at 36 °C. The ability of a variety to decrease its spikelet temperature with decreasing RH could be considered as avoidance while the variability in spikelet sterility among varieties at a given spikelet temperature could be considered as true tolerance.     

水稻籽粒有关性状与粒重关系的初步探讨

成熟期测定武育粳２号不同比重籽粒的有关性状，分析其与粒重的关系。结果表明：（１）不同比重谷粒及其糙米的长、宽度差异较小，厚度、体积差异较大，千粒重极差达６．４３ｇ；谷壳的面积和体积差异较小，谷壳重及单位面积谷壳重差异较大；（２）粒重为谷粒体积与比重的乘积，随着谷粒体积的增大，其比重明显提高（ｒ＝０．９２３４），粒重极显著地增加（ｒ＝０．９８８０）；（３）谷粒体积与糙米体积的大小关系密切（ｒ＝０．９     

利用回交导入系定位干旱环境下水稻植株水分状况相关QTL

日益严重的水资源危机使水稻的耐旱育种尤为迫切, 干旱环境下较高的植株水分含量有助于提高或维持作物产量的稳定性, 挖掘与耐旱性密切相关的分子标记有助于提高耐旱品种的选育效率。从供体Lemont (粳稻)导入到特青(籼稻)背景的254个高代回交导入系中筛选出覆盖供体全基因组的55个回交导入系, 采用PVC管栽培, 分析了干旱(胁迫)条件下水稻植株水分状况相关性状与籽粒产量、生物量的相关性并定位了相关QTL。研究表明, 植株水分相关性状(相对含水量、叶片水势、渗透势、卷叶度)均与籽粒产量显著相关。检测到7个相对含水量QTL, 7个叶片水势QTL, 5个渗透势QTL及5个卷叶QTL; 另检测到5个产量QTL, 7个生物量QTL。分析发现, 不仅QLwp5、QLr5、QRwc5和QY5同时分布在RM509~RM163区域, 且该区域还分布有对水分环境表现稳定的产量QTL(QGy5), 效应方向一致, 从遗传学角度解释了籽粒产量与水分相关性状之间的显著相关性。另外, QLr5、QRwc5、QY5、QLr2、QLr7、QLr8、QLr9、QRwc3、QRwc4a、QRwc12及QY7 等11个QTL曾在不同遗传背景群体中被检测到, 它们控制相同目标性状。研究认为RM509~RM163区域及QLr2、QLr7、QLr8、QLr9、QRwc3、QRwc4a、QRwc12和QY7所分布的染色体区域对水分环境或者遗传背景相对稳定, 在水稻分子标记辅助选择(MAS)耐旱育种实践中有较重要利用价值。     

水稻生育期对籽粒产量及品质的影响

明确水稻生育期与产量、品质的关系,对水稻高产优质育种和合理栽培措施的制定,具有重要的意义。本文以晚粳宁111和春江302经遮光(短日照)处理后获得的不同生育期水稻植株为材料,分析其产量和米质指标。结果表明,生育期152 d以上时,对产量无显著影响,而生育期短于152 d时,产量与生育期间呈极显著正相关;成熟期群体干物质积累量随生育期变化的趋势与产量表现基本一致。不同稻米的长度、宽度、蛋白质含量以及淀粉消减值,均以中等偏短生育期(131~132 d)最小,大于或小于131~132 d,均会使上述指标值增加;两品种直链淀粉含量亦有相似的趋势,只是其最低值分别对应132和137 d的生育期;各处理稻米淀粉的崩解值变化与消减值趋势相反。对垩白粒率、垩白度及糊化温度,各处理均呈随生育期延长而降低的趋势;生育期变化对碾米品质影响总体上较小。     

水稻耐低磷种质的筛选与鉴定

本研究对281份不同的水稻（Oryza sativa L.）品种（品系）进行了耐低磷筛选和鉴定。在大田种植条件下,通过水稻部分性状耐低磷系数（－P/+P）的变异范围、平均值以及它们间的相关性分析,认为相对籽粒产量、相对成熟期的地上部生物重、相对植株分蘖期的分蘖数是较好的耐低磷筛选和评价的指标。并提出以偏低含磷量大田初筛及     

Inter-relationships Amongst Grain Characteristics, Grain-Filling Parameters and Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Milling Quality

Resistance to breakage is a desirable trait of the rice kernel. Many factors, such as the genetics of the cultivar, the plant growth environment and the conditions of the milling process, will affect kernel breakage. Although many papers have discussed the factors that may affect and improve rice milling quality, few have related the grain-filling process to head rice, the unbroken polished kernels obtained after milling. The objectives of this paper were: (i) to characterize the interrelationships amongst grain filling and grain structural characteristics; (ii) to determine whether the grain-filling process and grain characteristics affect head rice, and (iii) to suggest a pathway through which grain characteristics can influence head rice recovery. An analysis of the interrelationships amongst all grain characteristics suggested that variables of grain structure (size, volume and per cent hull) have a decisive influence on the grain-filling process (rate and duration of grain filling). The grain-filling process will affect final grain traits such as weight and density, which in turn will have a direct impact on head rice. In addition, non-uniformity, whether expressed in terms of variable grain size and shape or grain filling and maturity, has a detrimental effect on rice milling quality. The implication of these findings is that rice breeders need to pay more attention to selecting plant types that have a high degree of uniformity of grain characteristics on the panicle, and to those traits (such as greater grain size, weight and density) that have a positive impact on yield and milling quality.     

水稻甜质胚乳突变体m5788的鉴定及基因定位

胚乳发育是种子形成的关键,其决定水稻的外观品质和食味品质。m5788是从粳稻品种中花11的组织培养后代中发现的甜质胚乳突变体,其籽粒皱缩,千粒重与穗粒数均显著降低,淀粉合成受阻,可溶性糖含量显著增加。通过对m5788与IRAT129杂交产生的F₂代群体分析表明,甜质胚乳性状受1对隐性核基因控制。对569个F₂隐性极端单株进行连锁分析和定位,将目的基因定位在8号染色体长臂端Z8-25.8和Z8-25.9之间110kb的区域内。该区间内存在1个与玉米甜质基因Sugary 1氨基酸序列相似性高达82.2%的基因LOC_Os08g40930,编码一个属于淀粉去分支酶（DBE）途径的异淀粉酶ISA1。测序结果表明,该基因序列和启动子在野生型和m5788中不存在碱基差异。qRT-PCR分析结果表明,与野生型相比,突变体中LOC_Os08g40930的表达量明显降低。同时,DBE途径中支链淀粉酶的编码基因表达量也显著降低。因此,m5788携带的isa1基因是一个新发现的等位变异。     

水稻单叶独立转绿型黄化突变体grc2的鉴定与基因精细定位

转绿型叶色突变体是研究植物叶绿体分化与发育的基础材料。grc2是利用60Co-γ射线诱变籼型三系保持系T98B后获得的单叶独立转绿型黄化突变体。grc2植株上任一叶片刚抽出时为黄色,在生长10 d左右后变绿,具有单叶不依赖于植株特定发育阶段而独立转绿的特性。与野生型T98B相比,grc2黄化叶片的总叶绿素和叶绿素b含量显著降低,叶绿体滞留在黄化质体阶段,表明grc2可能在叶片早期发育中起关键作用。遗传分析表明,grc2受1对隐性核基因独立控制;利用源于grc2/Nipponbare的F2群体的960个突变单株,将grc2基因定位在STS标记S254与S258之间约31 kb的范围内,该区域含有5个未报道过的注释基因。这些结果为grc2的克隆及功能研究提供了重要信息。