Effects of the number of pollen grains on cold tolerance at the booting stage in rice lines with QTLs for cold tolerance

This study was conducted to clarify the relationship between the number of pollen grains per anther and spikelet fertility under low temperature conditions in the rice cultivars and lines including lines with quantitative trait loci (QTL) for cold tolerance, adapted to the Tohoku region of northern Japan. Cold-water treatment decreased anther length, the number of pollen grains per anther, and spikelet fertility in all cultivars and lines. The number of pollen grains was proportional to anther length in all cultivars and lines and under all temperatures. Spikelet fertility decreased with decreasing the number of pollen grains in cold-water treatments at 18.5 and 19.3?°C. ‘Ouu 415’, with the qLTB3 QTL for cold tolerance, had 28% more pollen grains and 9% higher spikelet fertility than the recurrent parent, ‘Hitomebore’, in the 18.5?°C cold-water treatment, suggesting that qLTB3 increased both parameters. Lines with the qCTB8 QTL for cold tolerance had significantly more pollen grains in two of the three years and significantly higher spikelet fertility in all three years in the 19.3?°C cold-water treatment, suggesting that qCTB8 reinforced cold tolerance. Ctb1, a proposed cold-tolerance QTL, had no effect on the number of pollen grains or spikelet fertility. In conclusion, the cultivars and lines with more pollen grains had a higher cold tolerance. Some of QTLs were inferred to increase the number of pollen grains and reinforce cold tolerance.     

Species,ecotype and cultivar differences in spikelet fertility and harvest index of rice in response to high temperature stress

Spikelet fertility (seed-set) is an important component of yield that is sensitive to high temperature. The objectives of this research were (a) to quantify the effects of high temperature on spikelet fertility and harvest index of rice; (b) to determine if there were species, ecotype, and/or cultivar differences in response to high temperature; and (c) to understand the reasons for lower and/or differential spikelet fertility and harvest index of rice cultivars at high temperatures. Fourteen rice cultivars of different species (Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima), ecotypes (indica and japonica) and origin (temperate and tropical) were exposed to ambient and high temperature (ambient + 5 °C) at Gainesville, Florida. High temperature significantly decreased spikelet fertility across all cultivars, but effects varied among cultivars. Based on decreases in spikelet fertility at high temperature, cultivar N-22 was most tolerant, while cultivars L-204, M-202, Labelle, Italica Livorna, WAB-12, CG-14 and CG-17 were highly susceptible and cultivars M-103, S-102, Koshihikari, IR-8 and IR-72 were moderately susceptible to high temperature. There were no clear species or ecotype differences, as some cultivars in each species or within ecotypes of tropical and temperature origin were equally susceptible to high temperature (for example M-202 temperate japonica, Labelle tropical japonica, CG-14 O. glaberrima, and WAB-12 interspecific). Decreased spikelet fertility and cultivar difference at high temperature were due mainly to decreased pollen production and pollen reception (pollen numbers on stigma). Lower spikelet fertility at elevated temperature resulted in fewer filled grains, lower grain weight per panicle, and decreased harvest index. There is a potential for genetic improvement for heat tolerance, thus it is important to screen and identify heat-tolerant cultivars. Spikelet fertility at high temperature can be used as a screening tool for heat tolerance during the reproductive phase.     

Research Progress on Heat Stress of Rice at Flowering Stage

Global warming has caused frequent occurrence of heat stress at the flowering stage of single-season rice in the Yangtze River region of China, which results in declines of spikelet fertility and yield in rice. Rice flowering stage is the most sensitive period to high temperatures, and therefore, the key for heat stress happening is the flowering stage coinciding with high temperature, which causes spikelet fertility decreasing in heat-sensitive varieties, and is the major factor for heat injury differences among various rice planting regions. With the development of rice breeding, temperature indexes for heat stress has been converted from daily maximum temperature of 35 °C to 38 °C with the stress duration of more than 3 d. During the flowering stage, anther dehiscence inhibition and low pollen shedding onto the stigma are two main reasons for spikelet fertility reduction under high temperatures. At panicle initiation stage, high temperatures aggravate spikelet degeneration, and destroy floral organ development. Various types of rice varieties coexist in production, and indica-japonica hybrid rice demonstrates the highest heat resistance in general, followed by indica and japonica rice varieties. In production, avoiding high temperature is the main strategy of preventing heat stress, and planting suitable cultivars and adjustment of sowing date are the most effective measures. Irrigation is an effective real-time cultivation measure to decline the canopy temperature during the rice flowering stage. We suggested that further study should be focused on exploring heat injury differences among different rice variety types, and innovating rice-planting methods according to planting system changes in rice planting regions with extreme heat stress. Meanwhile, high temperature monitor and warning systems should be improved to achieve optimal heat stress management efficiencies.     

Effects of Heat Stress at Vegetative and Reproductive Stages on Spikelet Fertility

Seed-setting rate, yield components and grain quality traits of 169 accessions from an exotic rice germplasm were tested under high temperatures from 40 °C to 45 °C for 6 h during the daytime at the vegetative and reproductive stages, respectively. The results showed that heat stress significantly decreased the seed-setting rate of all the accessions, but the heat stress effects varied among accessions. Based on the decreases in seed-setting rate at high temperatures, N22 was the most tolerant, followed by AUS17, M9962, SONALEE and AUS16. Moreover, the reductions in seed-setting rate and yield under heat stress were more serious at the vegetative stage (45 d before heading) than at the booting stage (15 d before heading). In addition, heat stress also affected grain quality, especially by conferring chalkiness to most of the accessions, but SONALEE did not change much. The heat-tolerant accessions identified here and the phenotype protocols developed could be used in future genetic studies and breeding programmes focused on heat tolerance.     

Enclosed stigma contributes to higher spikelet fertility for rice(Oryza sativa L.) subjected to heat stress

With global warming, rice plants may be subjected to heat stress more regularly during the heatsensitive flowering stage, causing spikelet sterility and grain yield loss.Stigma exsertion is considered to increase pollen reception and promote female reproductive success.The aim of this study was to investigate the role of stigma exsertion on spikelet fertility at high temperatures.Five rice cultivars(Liangyoupeijiu, Shanyou 63, Huanghuazhan, Nagina 22, and IR64) with differing degrees of stigma exsertion were cultivated and exposed to high temperature at anthesis.Heat-tolerant cultivars did not always show a high percentage of spikelets with exserted stigmas, and vice versa.Irrespective of the presence of more pollen grains on exserted stigmas, spikelets with exserted stigmas did not show greater spikelet fertility than spikelets with fewer exserted stigmas or hidden stigmas under heat stress.GA3 application augmented the percentage of spikelets with exserted stigmas;however, it did not increase spikelet fertility under heat stress.Spikelet fertility of whole panicles was negatively correlated with the percentage of spikelets with exserted stigmas, but positively with that with hidden stigmas.Viability of the hidden stigmas was less reduced than that of exserted stigmas under heat stress, suggesting that hidden stigmas have an advantage in maintaining viability.Heat stress delayed anther dehiscence and reduced the viabilities of both exserted stigmas and pollens, thereby causing low spikelet fertility.Together, these results suggest that high spikelet fertility does not depend on stigma exsertion and that enclosed stigma generally contributes to higher spikelet fertility and heat tolerance under high-temperature conditions during flowering in rice.     

The Difference in Sterility due to High Temperatures during the Flowering Period among Japonica-Rice Varieties

Summary

The objectives of this study are to compare the floret sterility induced by a high temperature given in the daytime during the flowering period among nine japonica rice varieties, and to clarify the mechanism of the high-temperature-induced sterility. Nine japonica rice varieties were subjected to 35.0, 37.5 or 40.0°C day- temperature conditions (1000-1600) for six consecutive days using sun-lit phytotrons, and the percentage of fertility, pollination and germinated pollen grains on the stigmas were examined. The temperature that caused 50% sterility varied with the variety, and a difference of approximately 3.0°C was observed between the most tolerant and susceptible varieties. Under the 37.5°C day-temperature condition, the percentage of florets with 10 or more germinated pollen grains was roughly coincident with the percent fertility, but under the 40° C day-temperature condition, it was higher than the percent fertility. Many of the florets with less than 10 germinated pollen grains had less than 20 total pollen grains on their stigmas under both temperature conditions. From these results, we concluded that sure pollination under high-temperature conditions is an important factor and that the high-temperature tolerance of the processes following pollen germination is also required for fertility under excessively high temperature conditions.     

超级杂交稻国稻6号对开花结实期高温热害的反应

以超级杂交稻国稻6号（内2优6号）为材料,于2005-2006年在杭州分期播种,通过不同齐穗期条件下的产量及产量构成因子变异研究,分析开花结实期自然高温对灌浆结实的影响,同时在温室条件下设置可控极值高温（40～42℃）测定热害指数。国稻6号对开花结实期自然高温或设计极值高温的反应明显较对照协优46钝感,两者在小穗育性和热害指数上的差异达显著水平（P<0.05）。试验结果还表明国稻6号随花期日平均温度升高小穗不育率增加,尤其与日最高温度的关系更为密切,两者的相关系数分别为0.8604和0.9850（P<0.05）,表明日最高温度对小穗育性伤害更烈。而灌浆结实期日最高温度对国稻6号结实率的影响不如日平均温度,相关系数分别为0.7352和0.9317（P<0.05）。     

Internodal elongation: A potential screening technique for heat tolerance in potato

Summary In pot culture experiments over 2 consecutive years, 20 potato genotypes of varying heat tolerance were grown under long day conditions and heat stressed by being exposed to high (38 °C/21 °C mean day/night) temperature. The percent increase in mean internode length of heat stressed plants over those grown at normal temperatue (25°C/16°C day/night) was correlated with the percent tuber dry matter yield of the heat stressed plants (r=0.618, P=0.01). In the same 20 genotypes, grown under short day conditions at normal temperature, the fraction of leaf bud cuttings exposed to high night temperature (23°C) that produced tuber initials correlated with the percentage increase in internode elongation in stem cuttings exposed to 25°C compared with those exposed to 15°C (r=0.680. P=0.01). Thus the relative changes in internode elongation are related to thermal tolerance, and it is suggested that this can be used as a selection criterion for heat tolerance.     

The Early-Morning Flowering Trait of Rice Reduces Spikelet Sterility under Windy and Elevated Temperature Conditions at Anthesis

Abstract

We previously demonstrated that heat-induced spikelet sterility at anthesis could be mitigated by using an early-morning flowering (EMF) line of Oryza sativa L. cv. Koshihikari crossed with wild rice, O. officinalis. Another microclimate factor, high wind velocity, is known to increase the sterility induced by heat. In this study, we evaluated whether EMF rice could mitigate sterility under the combined stresses of heat and wind. Rice plants were exposed to three levels of wind velocity (1.1, 2.2, 3.4 m s^?1) from early-morning until 1500 in a glasshouse, where air temperature reached 30°C at 0800, 34°C at 1000 and 38°C around noon. Under these conditions, sterility steadily increased in Koshihikari, ranging from 28.4 to 86.9% as wind velocity increased. However, in the EMF line, low levels of sterility were observed since most spikelets flowered before 1000 when air temperature reached 35°C, the critical value for causing sterility. These results indicated that the increase in heat-induced spikelet sterility by wind can be potentially mitigated by using EMF rice.     

Identification and validation of QTLs for cold tolerance at the booting stage and other agronomic traits in a rice cross of a Japanese tolerant variety,Hananomai, and a NERICA parent,WAB56-104

In Africa, cold temperatures occur in the highlands of East and Southern Africa and in some areas of the Sahel region of West Africa leading to substantial rice yield losses. Cold tolerance (CT) at booting stage on basis of spikelet fertility after cold water irrigation was evaluated using F₂ population derived from a cross between temperate japonica, Hananomai, and tropical japonica, WAB56-104. Two Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for CT were detected on chromosome 8 and 10 with enhanced effects on the trait coming from Hananomai and WAB56-104 allele, respectively. The QTLs explained 30% and 33% of phenotypic variation in spikelet fertility, respectively. CT was negatively correlated with panicle number (r = ?0.35, p < 0.01) and positively correlated with panicle weight (r = 0.61, p < 0.001). Selected BC₁F₄ and BC₁F₅ genotypes having homozygous alleles for both CT QTLs exhibited higher spikelet fertility under cold stress. The identified QTLs will be useful in the development of cold-tolerant varieties for production in high altitude areas through marker-assisted selection.     

花期高温胁迫对水稻颖花生理特性的影响

以野生型水稻中花11及其耐热型突变体(hst)为材料,于抽穗扬花期高温处理7d(40℃,每天处理6h),探讨开花期水稻颖花生理特性与耐热性之间的关系。研究表明,花期高温导致剑叶叶绿素含量、颖花可溶性蛋白和可溶性糖含量均显著下降,突变体hst的降幅明显小于野生型中花11;同时,高温下颖花中丙二醛(MDA)、过氧化氢(H_2O_2)及游离脯氨酸含量均显著增加,而突变体hst的增幅明显低于野生型中花11。在抗氧化酶活性方面,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)及过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性对水稻开花期高温胁迫的响应有所不同,其变化与耐热性之间的相关性有待进一步验证。高温胁迫下水稻剑叶中保持较稳定的光合作用,颖花中保持较多的渗透调节物质及较低的MDA和H_2O_2含量,是突变体耐高温的生理基础。     

Measurement of cellular membrane thermostability to evaluate foliage heat tolerance of potato

Summary Cellular membrane thermostability of leaf tissue, measured by both leaching and direct conductivity, was used as an index for evaluating potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) leaf tolerance to high temperature. Experiments with eight genotypes showed that maximum differences between cultivars in response to temperature occurred at 52.5°C. The wide variability among the genotypes suggested that this index could be used to screen potato foliage for tolerance to heat. The results agreed well with visual scoring after exposing potted plants to 52.5°C. CPRI Publication No 854.     

Specific Spikelet Fertility as an Indicator of Cold Tolerance Identification at Booting Stage in Rice

Spikelet fertility is an uppermost evaluation indicator of cold tolerance in rice at the booting stage. Though many evaluation indicators have adopted by scientists, the whole spikelet fertility (SF) is one of the most important evaluation indexes under low- temperature stress conditions [1-3], which has practical significance in rice production. However, spikelets at different developmental stages have different sensitivities to low-temperature. Moreover, even within the same panicle the spi…     

以淡绿叶为标记的籼型光-温敏核不育系M2S的选育

 以淡绿叶标记基因系IGM19与籼型光-温敏核不育系8902S杂交，再用8902S回交1次，通过多代选育获得了带淡绿色叶隐性标记性状，且育性转换特性与8902S明显不同的籼型光－温敏核不育系M2S。在杭州（30°05’N）自然条件下，M2S具有连续30 d以上的不育期（不育度＞99.5%），在秋季正常情况下，结实率可达51.8%。人工气候箱控制条件下，M2S在短日适温时结实正常，在长日（15.0 h）与所有处理温度（30.1℃、24.1℃和23.1℃）、高温（30.1℃）与所有处理日长（15.0 h、14.0 h和12.5 h）的光温组合下均完全不育或高度不育。结实率的方差分析结果表明，其育性转换的温度效应和光周期效应均不显著，仅光温工作效应显著，属典型的光温互作雄性不育系。M2S本身较稳定的不育性和带有隐性淡绿色叶的标记性状将有利于在两系法杂交水稻中应用。     

Influence of high daytime temperature during the grain filling stage on fissure formation in rice

High daytime temperatures during the grain filling stage in rice have negative impacts on milling quality traits. In this study, we used growth chambers to evaluate the influence of high daytime temperature (33 °C) during grain filling, together with grain moisture content at harvest (26%, 18% and 15%), on grain fissure formation. Varietal susceptibility to fissure formation was also evaluated by exposing grains to high temperature at different grain filling stages (milky, dough, maturing). Two fissure resistant varieties: Cypress (long-grain) and Reiziq (medium-grain) and susceptible varieties: YC53-00-7 (long-grain) and Baru (medium-grain) were compared. The average head rice yield (HRY) of Cypress declined from 62.7% at 25 °C to 53.5% at 33 °C, while Reiziq declined from 56.2% (25 °C) to 47.4% (33 °C). Both were significantly higher than the HRY of YC53-00-7 (39.2% and 24.9%) and Baru (39.3% and 31.7%) at 25 °C and 33 °C, respectively. When grains were drier at harvest (15% cf. 26%) there was a greater reduction in HRY. When the four varieties were exposed to high temperature, the highest average reduction of HRY was recorded at 21 days after heading. It is important to choose an optimal sowing date to avoid coincidence of the final grainfilling stage with high temperatures, in order to minimize milling quality losses.     

Growth rate and carbohydrate metabolism of potato tubers exposed to high temperatures

Summary The effect of high tuber temperature (30 °C) on the growth rate and carbohydrate metabolism of tubers was studied with 3 cultivars differing in heat tolerance. Subjecting individual tubers to 30°C for 6 days caused cessation of tuber growth. During this period, non-treated tubers (20°C) on the same plant increased in volume. At 30°C, incorporation of¹⁴C-labelled assimilates into the ethanol-insoluble fraction (mainly starch) as well as the starch content was significantly reduced. In contrast, the incorporation of¹⁴C-labelled assimilates into the sugar fraction was not affected by high tuber temperature. At 30°C the activity of some of the enzymes involved in starch metabolism was depressed. Varietal differences in responses of tuber growth rate and carbohydrate metabolism to high tuber temperature were insignificant. From these preliminary results it is concluded that high soil temperatures may decrease starch content of potato tubers directly by inhibition of the conversion of sugars into starch.     

水稻特定位颖花结实率作为孕穗开花期耐冷性鉴定指标

 以十和田与昆明小白谷的重组自交系（RIL）F8和F9群体为研究材料，在4种海拔条件下连续两年进行孕穗期耐冷性鉴定，采用方差分析、相关分析和多元逐步回归分析等方法对单株结实率与单株特定位颖花结实率间的相关性进行了研究。结果表明，单株结实率与特定位颖花结实率呈极显著相关（r=0.9011~ 0.7364），在低温冷害条件下，单株结实率与特定位颖花结实率间的相关系数高于无冷害条件；单株结实率和特定位颖花结实率与穗抽出度均呈极显著正相关。遗传分析表明，特定位颖花结实率可以替代单株结实率作为孕穗开花期耐冷性鉴定指标，而穗抽出度可作为孕穗开花期耐冷性鉴定的一个辅助指标。     

Gibberellin-sensitive Rht alleles confer tolerance to heat and drought stresses in wheat at booting stage

The present study compared six near-isogenic lines from different backgrounds, varying in Rht (reduced height) alleles for gibberellin (GA) response, for heat and drought tolerance. Various temperature (day/night: 20/12 °C to 39/31 °C), and irrigation (100% field capacity and no irrigation) treatments were imposed at booting stage. Results depicted a 50% reduction in grain yield at 36.7 °C with irrigation and at 31.2 °C without irrigation. Number of grains per spike was severely reduced over 26 °C for water-stressed plants while irrigated plants did not show any significant reduction up to 34 °C. Ear numbers per pot and spikelets per spike were unaffected by irrigation till 33 °C. In Mercia, grain nitrogen, sulphur, and Hagberg falling number (HFN) were significantly higher for severe dwarfs (Rht-D1c and Rht-12), however, in Maris Widgeon, rht (tall) recorded higher nitrogen and sulphur concentration while Rht-B1b presented the maximum sedimentation of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The SDS was higher in Maris Widgeon while HFN were superior in Mercia. Conclusively, the present study demonstrated that heat and drought stresses severely reduced the grain yield while improved grain quality traits. The GA-insensitive semi dwarf Rht-B1b was the most promising genotype for grain yield and HFN under combined drought and heat stresses.