Variation in cooking and eating quality traits in Japanese rice germplasm accessions

The eating quality of cooked rice is important and determines its market price and consumer acceptance. To comprehensively describe the variation of eating quality in 183 rice germplasm accessions, we evaluated 33 eating-quality traits including amylose and protein contents, pasting properties of rice flour, and texture of cooked rice grains. All eating-quality traits varied widely in the germplasm accessions. Principal-components analysis (PCA) revealed that allelic differences in the Wx gene explained the largest proportion of phenotypic variation of the eating-quality traits. In 146 accessions of non-glutinous temperate japonica rice, PCA revealed that protein content and surface texture of the cooked rice grains significantly explained phenotypic variations of the eating-quality traits. An allelic difference based on simple sequence repeats, which was located near a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on the short arm of chromosome 3, was associated with differences in the eating quality of non-glutinous temperate japonica rice. These results suggest that eating quality is controlled by genetic factors, including the Wx gene and the QTL on chromosome 3, in Japanese rice accessions. These genetic factors have been consciously selected for eating quality during rice breeding programs in Japan.     

Genetic organization of aromatic rice as revealed by RAPD markers: A case study in conserving crop genetic resources on farm

Summary On-farm conservation of landraces is one strategy to maintain the diversity of crop germplasm in local agro-ecosystems. The genetic structures of landraces are a key biological factor in on-farm conservation strategies. To accumulate a genetic understanding that will help establish a methodology for on-farm conservation, the genetic organization of landraces of aromatic rice in Namdinh province, Vietnam was analyzed using RAPD markers. Eighteen RAPD markers detected 38 genotypes among 320 aromatic rice samples growing at 23 sites of farmers' fields and in the experimental field that derived from 13 sites. Geographical variation was observed in the frequency of genotypes, whereas individual landraces could not be distinguished by RAPD markers. Genetic variation within a site was generally smaller than that among sites. The degree of genetic similarity of the plants in a site varied among sites, as did the number of genotypes. Changes in genetic structure over time were investigated using experimental populations each derived from approximately 30 plants from 13 farmers' fields. The differences detected by DNA markers between the genetic structural in the farmers' fields and those in experimental fields suggested that genetic drift is a major cause of these differences. The present study suggests that DNA markers are an essential means to monitor the genetic structures of heterogeneous landraces of rice, and are useful for selecting study sites for the on-farm conservation of genetic diversity as well as for successive monitoring.     

Variation in heading date conceals quantitative trait loci for other traits of importance in breeding selection of rice

To identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with the primary target traits for selection in practical rice breeding programs, backcross inbred lines (BILs) derived from crosses between temperate japonica rice cultivars Nipponbare and Koshihikari were evaluated for 50 agronomic traits at six experimental fields located throughout Japan. Thirty-three of the 50 traits were significantly correlated with heading date. Using a linkage map including 647 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), a total of 122 QTLs for 38 traits were mapped on all rice chromosomes except chromosomes 5 and 9. Fifty-eight of the 122 QTLs were detected near the heading date QTLs Hd16 and Hd17 and the remaining 64 QTLs were found in other chromosome regions. QTL analysis of 51 BILs having homozygous for the Koshihikari chromosome segments around Hd16 and Hd17 allowed us to detect 40 QTLs associated with 27 traits; 23 of these QTLs had not been detected in the original analysis. Among the 97 QTLs for the 30 traits measured in multiple environments, the genotype-by-environment interaction was significant for 44 QTLs and not significant for 53 QTLs. These results led us to propose a new selection strategy to improve agronomic performance in temperate japonica rice cultivars.     

Genetic relationships among improved varieties of rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.) in Indonesia over the last 60 years as revealed by morphological traits and DNA markers

Morphological traits and two kinds of molecular markers were employed to study the genetic relationships among improved rice (Oryza sativa ) varieties of Indonesia since 1943. Dendrograms based on morphological traits and both molecular markers (simple sequence repeats, SSR and single nucleotide polymorphism, SNP) agreed in separating the varieties into two primary groups. Based on the morphological traits, a larger group (>60 %) contains varieties with smaller sizes compared with those in the smaller group (<40 %). SSR and SNP markers revealed that most of the varieties belonged to indica (88; 89 %) and japonica (9; 8 %) subspecies, and 3 % of varieties were not involved in two subspecies. The molecular markers revealed that the genetic diversity (H) stagnated between stage II (1967–1985) and stage III (1986–2003). However, during stage I (1943–1966), H was higher than in the other stages as revealed by SNP markers, while H in stage I was lower than in the other stages as revealed by SSR markers. In this study, the two molecular data sets were positively correlated and positive correlations between the phenotypic and molecular data depended on the kind of molecular marker: SNP had higher Mantel r values than SSRs. Besides, SSR markers seem to be appropriate for pedigree studies, while SNP markers could be used to reveal genomic relationships. These findings were attributable to the different properties of these two different markers. These results suggested that the diversity and differentiation of both the phenotypic and molecular marker variations were probably resulted from the crossing and selection in rice breeding in Indonesia. We suggest that Indonesia needs another strategy to improve new varieties to avoid a reduction in genetic diversity and similarity.     

Diversity and differentiation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">O. rufipogon</Emphasis> in Indonesia

Analysis of the genetic structure of Indonesian Oryza sativa and O. rufipogon using neighbour-joining trees based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers revealed that O. sativa in Indonesia is separated from O. rufipogon. Accessions of O. sativa in this study were differentiated into two major groups, indica and tropical japonica, excluding some varieties. SSR and SNP markers revealed the high value of differentiation (F _ST) and genetic distance (D) between indica and tropical japonica and we discovered four loci by SNP markers and one locus by SSR markers that play a role in differentiation between indica and tropical japonica. Interestingly, genetic diversity (H) in O. rufipogon was lower than that in O. sativa, however H in O. rufipogon was the highest and H in tropical japonica was the lowest when O. sativa was divided into two groups. Inbreeding coefficient (Fst) showed evidences that gene flow (Nm) between species and within species might be one of the mechanisms related to the diversification and differentiation of Indonesian rice germplasm by asymmetric pattern between species and within O. sativa as revealed by SSR and SNP markers. In addition, we found evidences on stabilizing selection in Indonesian rice germplasm and they might be the reasons why Indonesian rice germplasm did not differentiate due to source location of landrace. However, we found a weak relation between SSR and SNP markers probably due to highly polymorphic in SSR and the different properties of both markers.     

Diversity in Phenotypic Profiles in Landrace Populations of Vietnamese Rice: A Case Study of Agronomic Characters for Conserving Crop Genetic Diversity on Farm

Phenotypic variation of agronomic characters in aromatic rice (Oryza sativa L.) was analyzed in order to elucidate the genetic diversity of the populations of rice landraces. Thirteen populations in Namdinh province, in the Red River Delta of Vietnam, were studied in both of farmers fields and an experimental field. Only small differences were found in agronomic characters among the populations, including populations containing different varieties. Variations among the populations in the frequency distributions of several characters suggested different degrees of diversity among the populations even among populations with the same variety name. The phenotypic profiles of farmers fields were different from those in an experimental field suggesting the environmental differences between them. One variety cultivated in the Myloc district had different phenotypic characters from the other varieties in the Haihau district more clearly in the experimental field. Since the small phenotypic variation in each of farm might be due to the genetic drift and selection by the farmers, on farm conservation of the landraces of rice is considered to be under a force to decrease phenotypic diversity. The present study suggests that the targeting several farms with different phenotypic profiles contribute to the conservation of regional genetic diversity of the landraces of rice.     

Genetic diversity of Central Asian and north Caucasian Aegilops species as revealed by RAPD markers

RAPD analysis of 112 accessions of Aegilops tauschii Coss. (genome DD), Ae. cylindrica Host (CCDD), Ae. crassa Boiss. (DDMM), Ae. biuncialis Vis. (UUMM) and Ae. triuncialis L. (UUCC) collected in the Central Asia and north Caucasia was conducted. Aegilops accessions were divided into two major groups, corresponding to the D genome species and the U genome species. These groups were also separated into sub-groups according to species, except for the Ae. tauschii-cylindrica complex of accessions from Central Asia. Aegilops tauschii from north Caucasia was divided into two varietal groups, tauschii and meyeri. The Central Asian accessions of Aegilops species were more diverse than the accessions from north Caucasia. Aegilops tauschii and Ae. cylindrica accessions from north Caucasia were genetically uniform. Associations between altitudal variation of Aegilops species and variability of RAPD markers were not found.     

Detection of QTLs for white-back and basal-white grains caused by high temperature during ripening period in japonica rice

There is increasing evidence that global warming affects the development of rice. High temperatures during ripening increase the ratio of undesirable chalky grains followed by deteriorating grain appearance quality. In order to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling the occurrence of white-back and basal-white chalky grains of brown rice, QTL analysis was performed using recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between two strains, ‘Tsukushiroman’ (sensitive to heat stress) and ‘Chikushi 52’ (tolerant of heat stress). The F₇ and F₈ lines were exposed to heat stress during the ripening period in two locations, Fukuoka and Kagoshima, in Japan. QTLs for white-back grains and basal-white grains were detected on chromosomes 1, 3, and 8, and those for basal-white grains were detected on chromosomes 2, 3, and 12. QTLs on chromosome 8 for white-back grains were shared in the plants grown in both locations. Near-isogenic lines (NILs), which harbored a segment from ‘Chikushi 52’ on chromosome 8 with the genetic background of ‘Tsukushiroman’, showed relatively lower ratios of white-back grains than ‘Tsukushiroman’. Therefore, insertion of the ‘Chikushi 52’ genomic region of the QTL on chromosome 8 can improve the quality of rice when it is grown under heat stress conditions.     

Integration of Genomics into Rice Breeding

One of the major challenges in genetics has been to identify the nucleotide polymorphisms responsible for phenotypic variation. Through intensive analysis, several major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for agronomic traits in rice have been identified and the underlying candidate genes have been delimited. Advanced mapping populations, including chromosome segment substitution lines, have enhanced the power of genetic analysis to detect QTL alleles, even those with minor effects. Recent examples of marker-assisted selection have proven the potential of this strategy for crop improvement. The genome-wide discovery of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), even among closely related cultivars, has enhanced the power of allele mining in a wide range of rice breeding materials. An array-based SNP genotyping system can be used to visualize pedigree haplotypes in breeding materials, including landraces and modern cultivars. All of these technologies are accelerating the genetic dissection of complex agronomic traits and further improvement of rice.