Perennial hybrids of Oryza sativa × Oryza rufipogon: Part II. Carbon exchange and assimilate partitioning

Oryza species differ in their degree of perenniality, which has implications for patterns of carbon distribution in the plant. Interspecific F₁ hybrids of Oryza sativa × Oryza rufipogon were compared with their parental lines to assess whether they differed in assimilate storage and distribution at flowering and after maturity of the first cohort of panicles. The F₁ hybrids varied widely in plant type, but on average they had small plant size and low main tiller weights at anthesis, similar to O. rufipogon, and had intermediate tiller numbers and final single plant weights similar to cultivated rice. O. rufipogon had higher concentrations of starch in stems at anthesis, while interspecific hybrids exhibited comparatively low leaf, stem + sheath, and root sugar concentrations. Near anthesis, substantial ¹⁴C label remained in the source (flag) leaf in O. sativa and F₁ hybrids, while in O. rufipogon more label was exported to sink tissues. The hybrids partitioned more ¹⁴C label to panicles than did cultivated rice and less to leaf sheaths than either parent. Hybrids that had previously been identified as having above-average carbon exchange rates (CER) did not differ consistently from the low-CER hybrids in carbohydrate dynamics. The cultivated species itself maintains some perennial features, and changes in these traits might increase productivity.     

Evaluation of the yield potential and physicochemical properties of the biomass of Salix viminalis × Populus tremula hybrids

This study presents the characteristics of four Salix viminalis × Populus tremula hybrids, produced for the first time in the world grown in a three-year field experiment. Shoot weight per plant and major biomass yield components, including plant height, number of shoots per rootstock and shoot diameter, were determined. The infection severity caused by leaf rust (Melampsora sp.) was also evaluated. The biomass of three-year-old hybrid plants was subjected to chemical analyses and calorimetric tests to determine the energy value of biomass as solid fuel. Among the studied genotypes the highest yield was achieved by one of the studied hybrids. Its biometric parameters did not differ significantly from the standard genotype, and they were superior to the parameters of the maternal form. All Salix × Populus hybrids were more susceptible to rust infections than their maternal form and one hybrid was more resistant to infections caused by fungi of the genus Melampsora. Two hybrids have optimal biomass parameters as regards both calorific value and amount of carbon, hydrogen, sulfur and nitrogen.     

Transgressive variants for red pericarp grain with high yield potential derived from Oryza rufipogon × Oryza sativa: Field evaluation, screening for blast disease, QTL validation and background marker analysis for agronomic traits

Five transgressive variants (advanced breeding lines from BC₂F₅ and BC₂F₆ generation) were derived from a cross between the wild relative, O. rufipogon Griff. and O. sativa L. subsp. indica cv. MR219, a popular high yielding Malaysian rice cultivar. The aim of the study was to evaluate the pericarp colour of the grains along with yield potential and to validate quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for agronomic traits. The variants were screened against blast disease. Background marker analysis was also done for the promising variants. The field trials were carried out at a single location (due to containment purposes) over two seasons using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. A trait-based marker analysis was used to identify QTLs for validation in BC₂F₅ generation. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the seasonal factors influenced different agronomic traits. Variant G33 produced significantly (p < 0.05) higher yield (5.20 t/ha) than the control, MR219 (4.53 t/ha). Eighteen QTLs for different agronomic traits were identified in BC₂F₂ population in a previous study. Among them 14 QTLs were found in BC₂F₅ population of the present study. The yield of variant G33 was influenced by several QTLs viz. qGPL-1, qSPL-1-2, qSPL-8 and qYLD-4, which were introgressed from the donor parent revealed by background marker analysis using BC₂F₇ generation. Percentage (99%) of red pericarp grain of G33 and G34 in BC₂F₅ and BC₂F₆ generations indicated the stability of pericarp colour which was transferred from the wild relative. Variant G33 showed resistance against two pathotype of blast disease (Magnaporthe oryzae). Among the evaluated variants, G33 could be considered for inclusion in the cultivar development program for red rice with high yield potential and resistance to blast disease. This study demonstrated that the alleles from wild relative could improve the yield and yield related traits through allelic interaction, even though the phenotypic traits were inferior to the recurrent parent.     

Mild peroxyformic acid fractionation of Miscanthus × giganteus bark. Behaviour and structural characterization of lignin

Miscanthus × giganteus bark was subjected to mild fractionation with peroxyformic acid by a two stage process. A factorial experimental design was used to study and quantify the effect of the variables (formic acid concentration (80-90%), hydrogen peroxide concentration (0.2-0.4%), temperature of the first stage (60-80 °C), and treatment time of the second stage (60-120 min)) on the main parameters of fractionation: pulp yield, remaining lignin and total polysaccharides in pulp. The dependence of lignin precipitation rate on hydrogen peroxide concentration in liquor was also studied. Hydrogen peroxide concentrations inferior to 0.5% seems to be suitable to recover high percentages of lignin. The isolated lignin was analysed by 2D-HSQC, ¹³C- and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, size-exclusion chromatography and chemical analysis. The most important chemical modifications taken place in the lignin during the fractionation were identified: β-O-4′ cleavage and hydrolysis of LC-bond structures. The C9-formula was also determined: C₉H_6.81O_2.90(OCH₃)_0.68(COOH)_0.07(OH^Ph)_0.38(OH^Al)_0.33.