Population structure of rice (Oryza sativa) landraces under farmer management

Greater insight into the dynamics of genetic resources of crop plants is needed in order to pinpoint detrimental evolutionary patterns and draw up conservation priorities. The present study demonstrated farmer management of crop population structure and temporal evolution of rice genetic diversity in traditional production systems. The 16 STMS primers analysed for 11 rice landrace populations indicated enough polymorphism to fully differentiate the inter- and intrapopulation diversity. A total number of 98 alleles were recorded, of which 91 were common and seven were rare. The mean number of alleles per locus was 6.13 and for different groups of rice landrace populations, namely five populations of upland common landrace Jaulia, three populations of irrigated common landrace Thapachini and one population each of three distinct rare landraces were 4.37, 2.75 and 4.37, respectively. The study also compared genebank-conserved ( ex situ ) populations and on-farm-managed ( in situ ) landrace populations of same named landraces Jaulia and Thapachini, and revealed greater number of alleles per locus for on-farm-managed populations as compared to the populations under static management. A substantial number of alleles specific to populations under dynamic management could also be recorded. Further, the rare landrace populations included in the present study were more diverse than the common landrace populations. The rare landraces were distinct genetic entities largely representing locally common alleles. Investigating the population genetic structure is therefore helpful in monitoring change in diversity over time and space, and also for devising a rational plan for management of farmer landraces on-farm.     

Natural and human‐mediated selection in a landrace of Thai rice (Oryza sativa)

Landrace rice in Thailand consists of managed populations grown under traditional and long‐standing agricultural practices. These populations evolve both in response to environmental conditions within the local agro‐ecosystem and in response to human activities. Single landraces are grown across varying environments and recently have experienced temporal changes in local environments due to climate change. Here we assess the interplay between natural selection in a changing climate and human‐mediated selection on the population genetic structure of Muey Nawng, a local landrace of Thai rice. Genetic diversity and population structure of landrace rice were assessed by a STRUCTURE analysis of 20 microsatellite loci. The first exon–intron junction of the waxy gene was sequenced to determine genotypes for glutinous or non‐glutinous grain starch. Muey Nawng rice is genetically variable and is structured based on starch grain types and the level of resistance to gall midge pest. A strong positive correlation was found between genetic diversity and the percentage of gall midge infestation. Variation in the waxy locus is correlated with starch quality; selection for non‐glutinous rice appears to involve additional genes. The dynamics of genetic diversity within Muey Nawng rice depends on three factors: (a) a genetic bottleneck caused by strong selection associated with gall midge infestation, (b) selection by local farmers for starch quality and (c) variation introduced by farmer practices for cultivation and seed exchange. These results, when taken in total, document the ability of landrace rice to quickly evolve in response to both natural and human‐mediated selection.     

A calcium- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase from rice (Oryza sativa) leaves

Protein kinases in plants have not been examined in detail, but protein phosphorylation has been shown to be essential for regulating plant growth via the signal transduction system. A Ca²⁺- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, possibly involved in the intracellular signal transduction system from rice leaves, was partially purified by sequential chromatography on DE52, Phenyl Superose and Superose 12. This protein kinase phosphorylated the substrate, histone III-S, in the presence of Ca²⁺ and phosphatidylserine. The apparent molecular mass of the Ca²⁺- and phosphatidylserine-dependent protein kinase (Ca²⁺/PS PK), determined by phosphorylation in SDS-polyacrylamide gel containing histone III-S, was 50 kDa. The protein kinase differed from Ca²⁺-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) in rice leaves in that Ca²⁺/PS PK showed phospholipid dependency and the molecular mass of Ca²⁺/PS PK exceeded that of CDPK. Investigations were carried out on changes in Ca²⁺/PS PK and CDPK activity in the cytosolic and membrane fractions during germination. The maximum activity of Ca²⁺/PS PK in the cytosolic fraction was observed before imbibition and that of CDPK in the membrane fraction was noted at 6 days following imbibition. Protein kinases are likely to regulate plant growth through protein phosphorylation.     

杂草稻落粒粳的抗逆境特性研究

杂草稻落粒粳（Oryza sativa）发生在我国辽宁丹东.落粒粳植株明显高于当地大多数栽培品种,颖果呈中长型,成熟后容易掉粒;果壳稻草色或黄间黑灰色,小穗无芒或有芒,芒长4～12 cm;颖果千粒重235 g,种皮桔红色.落粒粳种子在13～38 ℃条件下的发芽率均大于88%,水层2.5～10 cm处理,落粒粳植株干重减少50%～69%.在幼苗期,落粒粳对无芒稗的各项影响因子均明显大于化感潜力品种I-kung-pao,表明落粒粳无化感作用.落粒粳可以忍耐0.5%的盐碱.     

太湖流域粳稻地方品种遗传多样性研究

太湖流域稻作历史悠久,是我国粳稻高产地区之一。但育成品种的遗传基础日趋狭窄,将会给农业生产带来潜在风险。为了有效利用地方水稻资源以扩大改良品种的遗传基础,作者通过调查19个农艺性状,对823个太湖流域粳稻地方品种的遗传多样性进行了研究。结果表明:15个数量性状的变异系数(CV)范围在4.6%(结实率)和33.7%(单株产量)之间。颖壳色、稃尖色、芒型和粒型4个质量性状分别有10、6、5、4种表现型。19个农艺性状的多样性指数(H′)变化范围在0.757(粒型)和1.930(每穗实粒数)之间,平均为1.540。9月10日以后抽穗的品种比9月10日及其以前抽穗的品种具有更丰富的表型变异。主成分分析表明,株高、单株有效穗、每穗总粒数、每穗实粒数、着粒密度、千粒重、单株产量和穗颈长等8个性状是解释太湖流域粳稻地方品种多样性的重要性状。     

水稻水溶性环氧化合物水解酶的生物信息学分析

水溶性环氧化合物水解酶（Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase,SEH）是一组催化环氧化合物水解为相应邻位二醇的酶类,在哺乳动物、植物、昆虫和微生物体内广泛存在。通过BLAST对水稻基因组的蛋白质数据库进行搜索,获得10个水溶性环氧化物水解酶（Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase SEH）sEH蛋白的同源序列。经分析发现这些基因在水稻不同胁迫处理下各个部位都有所表达,而且不同成员之间的表达模式存在较大的差异。水稻sEH蛋白主要参与角质层形成,应激反应,以及病原防御等生理过程,特别在脱毒过程中扮演着重要的角色。对蛋白质多序列联配和三级结构预测结果表明：水溶性环氧化合物水解酶的核心结构域由3个催化残基Asp、His和Asp形成三位一体的催化活性构象。这类基因的表达受抗逆环境诱导,其功能与抗逆性有关,为基因工程抗逆育种提供了参考。     

Effect of iron plaque outside roots on nutrient uptake by rice (Oryza sativa L.). Zinc uptake by Fe-deficient rice

This solution culture study examined the effect of the deposition of iron plaque on zinc uptake by Fe-deficient rice plants. Different amounts of iron plaque were induced by adding Fe(OH)₃ at 0, 10, 20, 30, and 50 mg Fe/L in the nutrient solution. After 24 h of growth, the amount of iron plaque was correlated positively with the Fe(OH)₃ addition to the nutrient solution. Increasing iron plaque up to 12.1 g/kg root dry weight increased zinc concentration in shoots by 42% compared to that at 0.16 g/kg root dry weight. Increasing the amount of iron plaque further decreased zinc concentration. When the amounts of iron plaque reached 24.9 g/kg root dry weight, zinc concentration in shoots was lower than that in shoots without iron plaque, implying that the plaque became a barrier for zinc uptake. While rice plants were pre-cultured in –Fe and +Fe nutrient solution in order to produce the Fe-deficient and Fe-sufficient plants and then Fe(OH)₃ was added at 20, 30, and 50 mg Fe/L in nutrient solution, zinc concentrations in shoots of Fe-deficient plants were 54, 48, and 43 mg/kg, respectively, in contrast to 32, 35, and 40 mg/kg zinc in shoots of Fe-sufficient rice plants. Furthermore, Fe(OH)₃ addition at 20 mg Fe/L and increasing zinc concentration from 0.065 to 0.65 mg Zn/L in nutrient solution increased zinc uptake more in Fe-deficient plants than in Fe-sufficient plant. The results suggested that root exudates of Fe-deficient plants, especially phytosiderophores, could enhance zinc uptake by rice plants with iron plaque up to a particular amount of Fe.     

低钾胁迫对水稻(Oryza sativa L.)化感潜力变化的影响

研究以国际公认的化感水稻P1312777和非化感水稻Lemont为供体,稗草（Echinochloa cru-galli L.）为受体,采用稻／稗共培体系,研究低钾胁迫对水稻化感潜力变化的影响及其机制。受体稗草的形态指标分析结果表明,低钾胁迫促使化感水稻P1312777对共培稗草的根长、株高和干重的抑制率均升高,增幅远大于非化感水稻Lemont。受体稗草生理生化指标分析结果表明,低钾胁迫下化感与非化感水稻对受体稗草保护酶系（SOD、POD、CAT）及根系活力的抑制作用增强,但化感水稻P1312777比非化感水稻Lemont的抑制程度大,且达极显著差异。实时荧光定量PCR分析结果表明,低钾胁迫下,化感水稻P1312777根部与叶部中酚类代谢的关键酶——苯丙氨酸解氨酶、肉桂酸-4-羟化酶、羟化酶、O-甲基转移酶的基因均上调表达,而非化感水稻根部相应酶均下调表达,叶部除苯丙氨酸解氨酶上调,其余酶也下调表达。而萜类代谢途径关键酶——HMG—CoA还原酶、角鲨烯合酶、单萜烯环化酶、倍半萜烯环化酶、二萜烯环化酶的基因,在两种水稻根部中呈现出相同或相似的表达方式（上调或下调）,即HMG—CoA还原酶上调表达,角鲨烯合酶、单萜烯环化酶、倍半萜烯环化酶、二萜烯环化酶下调表达;而在水稻叶部,非化感水稻Lmont相应酶基因表达方式仍然不变,化感水稻P1312777除了角鲨烯合酶下调表达,其余4个酶均上调表达。水稻根系分泌物中酚类物质的HPLC分析结果表明,低钾胁迫下,化感水稻P1312777根系分泌物中,所检出的酚酸类物质总量是正常营养条件下的2．30倍,而非化感水稻Lemont则是正常营养条件下的0．91倍。综合分析认为低钾胁迫下,化感水稻P1312777抑草能力增强主要是由于酚类代谢途径关键酶基因表达上调,导致酚类代谢途径旺盛,分泌出更多的酚类物质,进而破坏受体稗草保护酶系统,抑制了稗草的正常生长。     

Separation and characterization of proteins in rice (Oryza sativa) suspension cultured cells

Proteins extracted from suspension cultured cells of rice were separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The separated proteins were electroblotted onto a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane and 103 electroblotted proteins were analyzed. The N-terminal amino-acid sequences of 20 out of 103 proteins were determined in this manner. N-terminal regions of the remaining proteins could not be sequenced and they were inferred to have a blocking group at the N-terminus. Internal amino-acid sequences of 32 proteins were determined by sequence analysis of peptides obtained by Cleveland peptide mapping. The amino-acid sequences determined here were compared with those of known plant and animal proteins. Furthermore, the concanavalin A-peroxidase method was used to determine which of the 103 proteins were glycosylated, and in vitro and in vivo phosphorylation was carried out to identify some of the phosphorylated proteins. Using this experimental approach, we could identify the major proteins involved in growth and development of rice cell suspension cultures and discuss on the physiological function of some of these identified proteins including the calcium binding protein, superoxide dismutase and rice ascorbate peroxidase. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A large-scale field study of transgene flow from cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) to common wild rice (O. rufipogon) and barnyard grass (Echinochloa crusgalli)

The introgression of transgenes into wild relatives or weeds through pollen-mediated gene flow is a major concern in environmental risk assessment of transgenic crops. A large-scale (1.3–1.8 ha) rice gene flow study was conducted using transgenic rice containing the bar gene as a pollen donor and Oryza rufipogon as a recipient. There was a high frequency of transgene flow (11%−18%) at 0–1 m, with a steep decline with increasing distance to a detection limit of 0.01% by 250 m. To our knowledge, this is the highest frequency and longest distance of gene flow from transgenic rice to O. rufipogon reported so far. On the basis of these data, an adequate isolation distance from both conventional and transgenic rice should be taken for in situ conservation of common wild rice. Meanwhile, there is no evidence of transgene introgression into barnyard grass, even when it has coexisted with transgenic rice containing the bar gene for five successive years. Thus, the environmental risk of gene flow to this weedy species is of little concern.     

Polyamines in various rice (Oryza sativa) genotypes with respect to sodium chloride salinity

Physiological responses of various rice genotypes were studied in relation to salt (NaCl) stress. Cultivars CSR-1 and Dular germinated well in different NaCl regimes compared to cvs Rupsail, Assam Getu and M-1–48. At 100 m M NaCl, the lowest germination was observed in cv. M-1–48. Cvs CSR-1 and Dular were relatively effective in maintaining high concentrations of polyamines as well as arginine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.19) activity in coleoptiles and roots in a non-stressed condition. The activities of two biodegradative enzymes, diamine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.6) and polyamine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.4), were lowest in cv. CSR-1. The polyamine content was not significantly altered when seedlings of cv. CSR-1 were exposed to 100 m M NaCl. However, in cv. M-1–48 enhancement of arginine decarboxylase activity with concomitant accumulation of polyamines was observed. Leakage of metabolites and changes in the levels of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ were prominent in cv. M-1–48 under saline conditions. The results suggest a correlation between polyamine and salt stress-induced responses in rice genotypes.     

Development and mapping of 2240 new SSR markers for rice (Oryza sativa L.).

A total of 2414 new di-, tri- and tetra-nucleotide non-redundant SSR primer pairs, representing 2240 unique marker loci, have been developed and experimentally validated for rice (Oryza sativa L.). Duplicate primer pairs are reported for 7% (174) of the loci. The majority (92%) of primer pairs were developed in regions flanking perfect repeats > or = 24 bp in length. Using electronic PCR (e-PCR) to align primer pairs against 3284 publicly sequenced rice BAC and PAC clones (representing about 83% of the total rice genome), 65% of the SSR markers hit a BAC or PAC clone containing at least one genetically mapped marker and could be mapped by proxy. Additional information based on genetic mapping and "nearest marker" information provided the basis for locating a total of 1825 (81%) of the newly designed markers along rice chromosomes. Fifty-six SSR markers (2.8%) hit BAC clones on two or more different chromosomes and appeared to be multiple copy. The largest proportion of SSRs in this data set correspond to poly(GA) motifs (36%), followed by poly(AT) (15%) and poly(CCG) (8%) motifs. AT-rich microsatellites had the longest average repeat tracts, while GC-rich motifs were the shortest. In combination with the pool of 500 previously mapped SSR markers, this release makes available a total of 2740 experimentally confirmed SSR markers for rice, or approximately one SSR every 157 kb.     

Selection for mutants with low nitrate uptake ability in rice (Oryza sativa)

Screening for mutants deficient in the high affinity system of nitrate uptake was performed using mutagenized M₂ population of rice ( Oryza sativa , cv. Nipponbare or Kinmaze). For selecting mutants, M₂ seedlings were transferred individually to 10 ml solution containing 250 μ M potassium nitrate and 500 μ M calcium sulphate at 20 or 28°C. After 6 or 24 h, nitrate concentration of the solution was determined with a nitrate selective electrode and the seedlings showing impaired nitrate uptake were selected as nitrate uptake deficient variants. Of 74 variants, three were confirmed to be mutants with low nitrate uptake ability in the M₃ generation. Potassium uptake ability also decreased in the mutants. Three mutants were divided into two groups based on the analysis of nitrate reductase (NR, EC 1.6.6.1) activity and chlorate resistance. Two, NUE13 and NUE36 , had a lower level of NR activity than the original cultivar and were not resistant to chlorate, while the seedlings of NUE50 had the same level of NR activity as the original cultivar and were more resistant to chlorate than the original cultivar. All mutants were resistant to cesium, a toxic ion analogue for potassium, suggesting that the decreased levels of both nitrate and potassium uptake were coupled to the change of plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase activity.     

Characteristics of floral organs related to reliable self-pollination in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

In many varieties of rice, the length of basal pores on the thecae just after anthesis is strongly correlated both with the percentage of florets receiving adequate pollen and with the number of pollen grains deposited on the stigmata and its variation (coefficient of variation). Therefore, the size of the basal pores is considered to be an important factor for the reliable self-pollination of rice. We discuss how long basal pores may facilitate self- pollination.     

Molecular cloning and structural analysis of a novel Rac gene osRACB in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rac is a subfamily of small GTP-binding protein family. Its molecular weight is between 20 and 30 kilodaltons. As a signal protein, Rac directly or indirectly participates in many physiological processes, such as the regulation of cytoskeleton and the transduction of stress-induced signal. So Rac is also named ?molecular switch? The switch is based on the cycle from a GTP-bound 憃n?to a GDP-bound 憃ff?state[1]. In the superfamily of GTP-binding protein, only heterotrimeric G protein, Ra…     

A method for screening copper-tolerant rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars based on hydroponic experiments and cluster analysis

A method for screening copper (Cu)-tolerant rice cultivars was studied by combining hydroponic experiments and cluster analysis, and the classification of cultivars in Cu stress tolerance was done. In the first hydroponic experiment, seedlings of Jiahe991 and Xiushui114 were planted in nutrient solution with different Cu²⁺ concentrations from 10 to 1800 μg/L. Results indicated that the toxic threshold of Cu concentration in solution ranged from 900 to 1200 μg/L, since SPAD (Soil and Plant Analyzer Development, SPAD-502, a portable chlorophyll meter, Minolta Camera Co. Ltd., Japan) values of leaves and seedlings biomass of the treatments with ≥900 and/or 1200 µg/L were significantly lower than the control. The second experiment was conducted with 16 local rice cultivars under three Cu treatments (10, 1000, and 1500 μg/L). The 16 cultivars were well classified into tolerant, normal, and sensitive groups as a result of cluster analysis based on the relative SPAD (Soil and Plant Analyzer Development, SPAD-502, a portable chlorophyll meter, Minolta Camera Co. Ltd., Japan) value, shoot and root dry weights, root length and root dehydrogenase activity, and oxidizing capacity and shoot Cu concentration. Xiushui123, Xiushui134, Jiahe991, and Xianghu301 belonged to the tolerant group; Xiushui137 belonged to the sensitive group. The cluster analysis based on hydroponic experiments is an effective method for identifying rice cultivars that are tolerant to Cu stress. In addition, four cultivars (Xiushui123, Xiushui134, Jiahe991, and Xianghu301) are recommended in local practice.     

A comparison of nitrate transport in four different rice(Oryza sativa L.) cultivars

As rice can use both nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4+), we have tested the hypothesis that the shift in the pattern of cultivars grown in Jiangsu Province reflects the ability of the plants to exploit NO3- as a nitrogen (N) source. Four rice cultivars were grown in solution culture for comparison of their growth on NO3- and NH4+ nitrogen sources. All four types of rice,Xian You 63 (XY63), Yang Dao 6 (YD), Nong Keng 57 (NK) and Si You 917 (SY917), grew well and produced similar amounts of shoot biomass with 1 mmol/L NH4+ as the only N source.However, the roots of NK were significantly smaller in comparison with the other cultivars. When supplied with 1 mmol/L NO3-, YD produced the greatest biomass; while NK achieved the lowest growth among the four cultivars. Electrophysiological measurements on root rhizodermal cells showed that the NO3--elicited changes in membrane potential (ΔEm) of these four rice cultivars were significantly different when exposed to low external NO3- (＜1 mmol/L); while they were very similar at high external NO3- (10 mmol/L). The root cell membrane potentials of YD and XY63 were more responsive to low external NO3- than those of NK and SY917. The ΔEm values for YD and XY63 rhizodermal cells were almost the same at both 0.1 mmol/L and 1 mmol/L NO3-;while for the NK and SY917 the values became larger as the external NO3- increased. For YD cultivar, ΔEm was measured over a range of NO3- concentrations and a Michaelis-Menten fit to the data gave a Km value of 0.17 mmol/L. Net NO3- uptake depletion kinetics were also compared and for some cultivars (YD and XY63) a single-phase uptake system with first order kinetics best fitted the data; while other cultivars (ND and SY917) showed a better fit to two uptake systems. These uptake systems had two affinity ranges: one had a similar Km in all the cultivars (0.2 mmol/L); the other much higher affinity system (0.03 mmol/L) was only present in NK and SY917. The expression pattern of twelve different NO3- transporter genes was tested using specific primers, but only OsNRT1.1 and OsNRT2. 1 expression could be detected showing significant differences between the four rice cultivars. The results from both the physiological and molecular experiments do provide some support for the hypothesis that the more popular rice cultivars grown in Jiangsu Province may be better at using NO3- as an N source.     

Regeneration of fertile plants from isolated zygotes of rice (Oryza sativa)

A simple mechanical method has been developed which allows the routine isolation of unfertilized and fertilized egg cells from ovules of Japonica and Indica rice varieties. In the experiments described, the majority of the egg cells and zygotes survived the isolation procedure when the donor plants were in a vigorous state. About 40% of the surviving zygotes underwent sustained development when cultured in Millicell inserts with a non-morphogenic rice feeder-cell culture. Nearly all zygote-derived callus cultures regenerated multiple shoots, which could be subsequently rooted with high efficiency. Zygote-derived plantlets matured to fertile plants when transplanted to soil. So far, about 80 independent plants each from the Japonica variety 'Taipei309' and the Indica variety 'IR58' have been regenerated. The potential of this single-cell regeneration system for marker gene-free transformation is discussed. Received: 26 November 1998 / Revision received: 15 March 1999 / Accepted: 21 March 1999