阴雨寡照地区高产水稻的生物学特征研究

以水稻(Oryza sativa Linn.)的常规稻品种‘黄华占’、‘湘早籼45’和‘湘晚籼13’,一般杂交稻品种‘金优402’和‘Ⅱ优838’,超级杂交稻品种‘株两优819’、‘丰源优299’、‘陆两优966’和‘Y两优1号’为实验材料,在2008年和2009年不同产季,对种植于多阴雨的湖南桃源县的不同品种水稻的产量构成因子、群体性状和叶片净光合速率(Pn)差异进行了研究.结果显示:在产量构成因子方面,不同品种水稻的有效穗数、每穗粒数、结实率、千粒质量和产量均有一定差异,超级杂交稻品种的产量高于一般杂交稻及常规稻品种;其中,产量分别与有效穗数和结实率呈显著正相关(P＜0.05),与每穗粒数呈极显著正相关(P＜0.O1),与千粒质量无显著相关性.在群体性状方面,不同品种水稻的株高、最大茎蘖数、最大叶面积指数(LAI)、生物量及收获指数均有一定差异,但产量分别与株高、最大LAI和生物量呈极显著正相关,与收获指数呈显著正相关,与最大茎蘖数无显著相关性;其中,产量与最大LAI的相关系数最大(0.889).在拔节期和抽穗期,各品种水稻单叶的Pn日变化曲线呈“双峰型”,Pn第1个峰值差异均较小,“午休”阶段以及第2个峰值Pn差异增大,总体上看“午休”阶段常规稻品种的Pn降幅明显大于杂交稻;各品种的Pn日平均值也有明显差异,常规稻品种的Pn日平均值总体上低于杂交稻.研究结果表明:在阴雨寡照的生态条件下超级杂交稻品种的产量高于其他类型水稻品种,其高产机制与叶面积指数的增加有关.     

不同遗传背景下杂交籼稻功能叶与产量构成因素的相关

为明确水稻功能叶与产量构成因素间的相关性,以不同遗传背景下籼稻的10个不育系和16个恢复系为亲本,按照NCII设计配制两套双列杂交组合,对水稻12个功能叶性状与8个产量性状构成因素进行了相关分析,结果表明：3片功能叶叶长与叶面积、剑叶宽、倒2叶宽等性状之间均存在极显著正相关,功能叶夹角之间也存在极显著正相关,但不同遗传背景对夹角性状与9个形态性状之间的相关性则存在明显差异,在第一套组合中,其相关系数均为负值,且相关均不显著;而第二套组合则相反。8个产量构成因素中,单株穗数与平均穗长、着粒密度、穗实粒数以及穗着粒数之间存在极显著负相关,平均穗长与穗着粒数、结实率与单株产量呈显著或极显著正相关,遗传背景对产量组成上有较大影响,在第一套组合中单株产量主要由结实率、单株穗数以及穗实粒数等性状决定,而在第二套中则主要由穗实粒数和结实率等性状决定。在功能叶与产量构成因素的相关中,功能叶叶长、叶面积、剑叶宽、倒2叶宽与着粒密度、穗实粒数以及穗着粒数等3个性状之间存在显著或极显著正相关。12个水稻功能叶性状与8个产量构成因素之间的主成分分析表明,在不同的遗传背景下,产量构成因素均主要受叶面积和叶夹角影响,两种不同遗传背景中其累积贡献率分别为69.8%和84.0%。     

西北绿洲种植密度对冬小麦产量及生理指标的影响

合理密度是群体高产的基础.在西北绿洲生态条件下,研究了密度对冬小麦产量及相关指标的影响.以冬小麦品种临抗2号为材料,在播种量225～450kg.hm-2范围内设6个处理,处理间对应的密度范围为275～516基本苗·m-2.处理间单位面积籽粒产量、单位面积穗数、穗粒数、千粒重、水分利用效率(WUE)、单株穗数、单株茎数、叶面积指数、株高、光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)以及群体光合速率(CAP)存在着显著或极显著的差异,以密度390·m-2的处理籽粒产量最高(8650kg·hm-2).籽粒产量与单位面积穗数高度正相关(r=O.89**),而与穗粒数和千粒重相关不显著.籽粒产量与生育期分5次测定的单叶Pn、Tr、Ga之间均没有显著相关,而与开花期测定的CAP、灌浆前期和中期的叶面积指数显著正相关.不同密度处理的Pn、Tr、Gs在生育期间的变化都呈双峰曲线,三者的高峰值分别出现在抽穗期和灌浆前期,Pn的最大峰值出现在抽穗期,而Tr、Gs的最大峰值出现在灌浆前期.虽然Pn、Tr、Gs的5次测定平均值之间高度正相关(r=0.94**～0.97**),但它们间的相关程度随生育阶段的不同仍有较大差异(r=0.53～0.99**).各时期测定的Pn、Tr、Gs与CAP没有显著相关.     

不同遗传背景下杂交籼稻功能叶与产量构成因素的相关性

为明确水稻功能叶与产量构成因素间的相关性,以不同遗传背景下籼稻的10个不育系和16个恢复系为亲本,按照NCII设计配制两套双列杂交组合,对水稻12个功能叶性状与8个产量性状构成因素进行了相关分析,结果表明：3片功能叶叶长与叶面积、剑叶宽、倒2叶宽等性状之间均存在极显著正相关,功能叶夹角之间也存在极显著正相关,但不同遗传背景对夹角性状与9个形态性状之间的相关性则存在明显差异,在第1套组合中,其相关系数均为负值,且相关均不显著;而第2套组合则相反。8个产量构成因素中,单株穗数与平均穗长、着粒密度、穗实粒数以及穗着粒数之间存在极显著负相关,平均穗长与穗着粒数、结实率与单株产量呈显著或极显著正相关,遗传背景对产量组成上有较大影响,在第1套组合中单株产量主要由结实率、单株穗数以及穗实粒数等性状决定,而在第2套中则主要由穗实粒数和结实率等性状决定。在功能叶与产量构成因素的相关中,叶长、叶面积、剑叶宽、倒2叶宽与着粒密度、穗实粒数以及穗着粒教等3个性状之间存在显著或极显著正相关。12个水稻功能叶性状与8个产量构成因素之间的主成分分析表明,在不同的遗传背景下,产量构成因素均主要受叶面积和叶夹角影响,两种不同遗传背景中其累积贡献率分别为69．8％和84．0％。     

吉林省47年育成的水稻品种根系伤流液重量变化及其与剑叶光合速率的关系

为了解不同年代水稻品种根系活力的变化及其与叶片光合的关系,以根系伤流液重量作为根系活力指标,研究了吉林省1958-2005年间育成的33个水稻品种抽穗后根系伤流液重量变化及其与剑叶净光合速率的关系。2--~-的研究结果表明,47年的遗传改良导致了水稻品种根系伤流液重量增加,根系伤流液重量与品种的育成年份呈显著正相关,与剑叶光合速率也呈显著正相关。抽穗后根系伤流液重量可以作为剑叶光合能力和高产的参考指标。     

水稻不同基因型耐低氮能力差异评价

以水稻单株谷重及其氮素反应指数作为耐低氮能力指标,分析不同施氮水平下水稻种质资源的耐低氮能力以及单株谷重及其氮素反应指数与其他农艺性状的相关关系。结果表明,水稻种质资源的耐低氮能力在不同施氮水平间均有较大差异,多数农艺性状的表型差异顺序为未施氮〉施低氮〉普通施氮;不同施氮水平间单株谷重、单株草重和穗数的差异大于其他农艺性状。在不同施氮水平下,单株谷重与单株草重均呈极显著正相关;单株谷重的氮素反应指数与单株谷重、单株草重和谷草比均呈极显著正相关。在未施氮水平下,单株谷重与株高、穗数、穗粒数和单株草重的相关性以及单株谷重的氮素反应指数与穗数、单株谷重、单株草重和谷草比的相关性比施低氮或普通施氮水平更为密切。花峰稻、中作9059、旱稻9号、旱稻502和IRAT359等种质资源表现较迟钝的氮素反应,具有较强的耐低氮能力。     

水稻微核心种质氮素利用率相关性状的鉴定评价及其相关分析

以中国水稻微核心种质为试验材料,在低氮水平下进行了水稻氮素利用率相关性状的鏊定评价,分析了产量和氮素利用率相关性状的相关关系.结果表明,秸秆舍氮率和单株秸秆含氮量变幅分别为0.56%～1.85%和0.04～0.61 g,子粒舍氮率和单株子粒舍氮量变幅分别为1.28%～3.23%和0.02～1.04 g,植株舍氮量变幅为0.10～1.30 g,氮素子粒产量利用率和氮素生物产量利用率变幅分别为3.85～57.52 s/g和17.56～104.02 g/g,氮素收获指数变幅为7.05%～88.58%.氮素利用率相关性状在品种闻存在较大的差异.秸秆合氮率与舍氮量、子粒含氮率与含氮量和植株含氮量在粳稻和籼稻亚种间没有显著差异;氮素生物产量利用率籼稻略大于粳稻,但差异不显著;氮素子粒产量利用率与氮素收获指数在粳稻和籼稻亚种间存在较明显的差异.氮素子粒产量利用率、氮素收获指数与结实率、单株子粒重和单株有效穗数均呈板显著正相关;认为在低氮水平下,结实率、单株子粒重和单株有效穗数可以作为耐低氮与氮高效水稻种质的筛选指标.     

糜子育成品种成株期抗旱性鉴定与评价

在年降雨量不足40 mm的甘肃省敦煌市,采用大田干旱胁迫法对我国不同地区育成的56份糜子品种成株期抗旱性进行了鉴定。结果表明,成株期干旱胁迫对糜子主茎节数、单株有效穗数、单株草重、主穗长、千粒重、比叶重影响不显著,而对株高、单株穗重、单株粒重、小区产量、旗叶面积、叶面积指数、生育期影响达到了极显著水平,干旱胁迫处理后株高降低了14.08 cm,单株穗重、单株粒重和小区产量分别下降2.65 g、2.19 g和86.18 g,旗叶面积和叶面积指数分别减少9.36 cm2和1.21,生育期延长了11.68 d;以抗旱指数和抗旱性综合评价值D的聚类结果为依据,筛选出成株期1级抗旱品种2份:陇糜2号、陇糜10号;经灰色关联度分析,旗叶面积、千粒重、单株有效穗数、小区产量均与抗旱指数、抗旱性综合评价值D的关联度较大,可作为成株期抗旱评价指标。     

种植密度对夏玉米产量和源库特性的影响

以高产玉米品种郑单958(ZD958)和登海661(DH661)为试验材料,在4个不同区域(山东农业大学、汶口、兖州和莱州)设置22500、45000、67500、90000和112500株.hm-25个种植密度,研究了种植密度对夏玉米产量及源库特性的影响.结果表明:两品种在112500株.hm-2密度条件下玉米籽粒产量和生物产量最高,分别为19132和36965kg.hm-2,与22500和67500株.hm-2密度相比,籽粒产量分别增加了72%和48%,生物产量分别增加了152%和112%.两品种单株叶面积、最大花丝数、穗粒数和千粒重随密度增大而减小,但叶面积指数随密度增大而显著提高.收获指数与粒叶比随密度增大而显著减小,当密度超过67500株.hm-2时差异不显著,表明高密度条件下玉米通过增加群体库来提高产量.     

转拟南芥NPR1基因桂99 T3代植株的抗病性及农艺性状表现

以转拟南芥AtNPR1基因的恢复系品种桂99T3代纯合株系为材料,考查其农艺性状及其抗病性,并比较转基因植株与桂99侵染水稻白叶枯病菌后的农艺性状。结果表明:转基因植株表现出对水稻白叶枯病的抗性显著增强77%以上;穗长、剑叶长、有效穗数、一次枝梗数、每穗实粒数、单株产量和谷粒宽等农艺性状与未转基因桂99无显著差别。在受到水稻白叶枯病菌侵染后,转基因植株的一次枝梗数、每穗粒数、每穗实粒数和单株产量等方面均比对照桂99高出13%～78%。说明AtNPR1基因增强了水稻的抗病能力,从而降低了病害引起的产量损失。转基因植株的恢复力不受影响,稻米品质比桂99更加优良。本工作为转基因水稻抗病育种的研究奠定了基础。     

阴晴天条件下高CO2浓度对杂交稻光合作用影响的FACE研究

光和二氧化碳(CO₂)是绿色植物光合作用的两个基本条件.为了明确不同光照条件下,高CO₂浓度对不同杂交水稻光合特性的影响,2017年利用稻田大型FACE平台,以‘Y两优900’和‘甬优538’为供试材料,设置环境CO₂和高CO₂浓度(增200 μmol·mol^-1)两个水平,分别在拔节期和灌浆期同时测定阴、晴天气条件下顶部全展叶光合特性参数.结果表明: 高CO₂浓度使不同天气情况下两品种叶片的净同化率(P_n)均呈增加趋势,其中晴天条件下的增幅(31%)大于阴天(25%),拔节期的增幅(37%)大于灌浆期(21%),CO₂与天气、CO₂与生育期均存在显著的互作效应.叶片水分利用效率(WUE)对高CO₂浓度的响应趋势与P_n一致.高CO₂浓度环境下叶片气孔导度(g_s)、蒸腾速率(T_r)均呈下降趋势,晴天条件下的降幅略大于阴天.与晴天相比,阴天条件下叶片P_n、g_s、T_r、WUE和L_s平均分别下降41%、18%、41%、26%和27%,差异均达显著或极显著水平.相关分析表明,晴天P_n、g_s、T_r均与阴天时的参数呈极显著正相关关系.表明阴天使水稻生育中、后期叶片光合参数及其对高CO₂浓度的响应均大幅降低,且两品种表现一致.评估未来水稻产量潜力需要考虑天气条件.     

阴晴天条件下高CO_2浓度对杂交稻光合作用影响的FACE研究

光和二氧化碳(CO_2)是绿色植物光合作用的两个基本条件.为了明确不同光照条件下,高CO_2浓度对不同杂交水稻光合特性的影响,2017年利用稻田大型FACE平台,以‘Y两优900’和‘甬优538’为供试材料,设置环境CO_2和高CO_2浓度(增200μmol·mol^-1)两个水平,分别在拔节期和灌浆期同时测定阴、晴天气条件下顶部全展叶光合特性参数.结果表明:高CO_2浓度使不同天气情况下两品种叶片的净同化率(P_n)均呈增加趋势,其中晴天条件下的增幅(31%)大于阴天(25%),拔节期的增幅(37%)大于灌浆期(21%),CO_2与天气、CO_2与生育期均存在显著的互作效应.叶片水分利用效率(WUE)对高CO_2浓度的响应趋势与P_n一致.高CO_2浓度环境下叶片气孔导度(g_s)、蒸腾速率(T_r)均呈下降趋势,晴天条件下的降幅略大于阴天.与晴天相比,阴天条件下叶片P_n、g_s、T_r、WUE和L_s平均分别下降41%、18%、41%、26%和27%,差异均达显著或极显著水平.相关分析表明,晴天P_n、g_s、T_r均与阴天时的参数呈极显著正相关关系.表明阴天使水稻生育中、后期叶片光合参数及其对高CO_2浓度的响应均大幅降低,且两品种表现一致.评估未来水稻产量潜力需要考虑天气条件.     

粳稻生育后期剑叶光合日变化和光合色素对大气CO2浓度和温度升高的响应——FACE研究

为研究水稻叶片光合色素和光合日变化对大气CO₂浓度和气温升高的响应,我们采用在开放空气中控制升高CO₂浓度和温度的方法,以常规粳稻南粳9108为试验材料,设置了环境CO₂和高大气CO₂浓度(增加200 μmol·mol^-1)、环境温度和增温(增加1～2 ℃)交互的4个处理,测定了灌浆中期和后期水稻剑叶的光合日变化特征和光合色素含量.结果表明: 水稻剑叶净光合速率(P_n)为双峰曲线,发生了光合“午休”现象;大气CO₂浓度升高提高了剑叶P_n,灌浆中期和后期平均分别增加了47.6%和39.1%;高温有降低P_n的趋势,但相关性未达到显著水平.大气CO₂浓度和温度升高导致水稻剑叶生育后期气孔导度(g_s)平均分别降低了17.0%和11.8%.高CO₂浓度水稻剑叶生育后期蒸腾速率(T_r)、叶绿素a、叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素、总叶绿素和叶绿素a/b值显著降低,平均降幅分别为5.9%、50.4%、21.3%、41.4%、39.4%和21.4%,明显增加了剑叶水分利用率(WUE),平均增幅达47.9%.与之相反,生育后期增温使水稻剑叶T_r增加了10.2%,使WUE平均降低了20.4%.综上所述,大气CO₂浓度升高对粳稻生育后期剑叶P_n、g_s和光合色素含量的影响明显大于增温效应.因此,应重视大气CO₂浓度和温度对水稻光合作用和光合色素的综合效应,减弱增温的负效应.     

QTLs affecting morph-physiological traits related to drought tolerance detected in overlapping introgression lines of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Plant photosynthetic traits such as net photosynthetic rate (P_n), stomata conductance (g_s), transpiration rate (T_r), and intercellular CO₂ concentration (C_i), are known to relate to drought tolerance in plants, but the genetic basis of these traits remains largely uncharacterized because of the difficulty in phenotyping physiological traits in a large mapping population. In this study, a set of 55 overlapping introgression lines (ILs) in the Teqing (indica) background were used to genetically dissect several morph-physiological traits and their relationship with grain yield under water stress and non-stress conditions. These traits included specific leaf weight (SLW), chlorophyll content (CC), leaf stomata frequency (SF), P_n, g_s, T_r, and C_i. A total of 40 QTLs affecting the measured traits were identified and mapped to 21 genomic regions in the rice genome. Clustered QTLs affecting P_n, g_s, T_r, and C_i in the same genomic regions suggest common genetic bases for the physiological traits. Low or no phenotypic correlations between leaf morphological traits and photosynthetic traits and between morph-physiological traits and grain yield (GY) appeared to be due to inconsistence in QTL effect for clustered QTLs, unlinked QTLs affecting different traits, and to possible epistasis that could not be adequately addressed in this study. Our results indicate that improving drought tolerant (DT) of rice by selecting any single secondary traits is not expected to be effective and the identified QTLs for GY and related morph-physiological traits should be carefully confirmed before to be used for improving DT in rice by MAS.     

粳稻生育后期剑叶光合日变化和光合色素对大气CO2浓度和温度升高的响应——FACE研究

为研究水稻叶片光合色素和光合日变化对大气CO₂浓度和气温升高的响应,我们采用在开放空气中控制升高CO₂浓度和温度的方法,以常规粳稻南粳9108为试验材料,设置了环境CO₂和高大气CO₂浓度(增加200 μmol·mol^-1)、环境温度和增温(增加1～2 ℃)交互的4个处理,测定了灌浆中期和后期水稻剑叶的光合日变化特征和光合色素含量.结果表明: 水稻剑叶净光合速率(P_n)为双峰曲线,发生了光合“午休”现象;大气CO₂浓度升高提高了剑叶P_n,灌浆中期和后期平均分别增加了47.6%和39.1%;高温有降低P_n的趋势,但相关性未达到显著水平.大气CO₂浓度和温度升高导致水稻剑叶生育后期气孔导度(g_s)平均分别降低了17.0%和11.8%.高CO₂浓度水稻剑叶生育后期蒸腾速率(T_r)、叶绿素a、叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素、总叶绿素和叶绿素a/b值显著降低,平均降幅分别为5.9%、50.4%、21.3%、41.4%、39.4%和21.4%,明显增加了剑叶水分利用率(WUE),平均增幅达47.9%.与之相反,生育后期增温使水稻剑叶T_r增加了10.2%,使WUE平均降低了20.4%.综上所述,大气CO₂浓度升高对粳稻生育后期剑叶P_n、g_s和光合色素含量的影响明显大于增温效应.因此,应重视大气CO₂浓度和温度对水稻光合作用和光合色素的综合效应,减弱增温的负效应.     

Empirical relationship between specific leaf area and thermal dissipation of Phragmites australis in salt marshes of Qinwangchuan

Aims The correlation between specific leaf area (SLA) and thermal dissipation reflects not only the accumulation and dissipation of plant photosynthesis, but also plants’ adaptation to their habitats and changing environment. The objective of this study is to examine the correlation between SLA and thermal dissipation of reed (Phragmites australis) under different soil moisture conditions and salt contents.Methods Our study site was located in the National Wetland Park in Qinwangchuan, Gansu Province, China. Our sampling site extends from the edge to the central of a salt marsh where the reed was the single dominant species. The study site was divided into three zones based on the distance from the water. Within each zone, six 2 m × 2 m sampling plots were randomly located to select six reed individuals in each plot (total = 18). Vegetation height, aboveground biomass, soil moisture, and soil electrical conductivity (EC) were measured, with the six reed individuals taken to the laboratory to measure leaf thickness. Leaf net photosynthetic rate (P_n), transpiration rate (T_r), and other parameters of the reeds were also measured in each plot prior to harvesting. Quantitative measures of chlorophyll fluorescence were taken after 30-min dark adaptation. Quadrat survey method was used to model the empirical relationship between the transpiration rate and leaf characteristics.Important findings Vegetation height and aboveground biomass increased with soil moisture content, but EC and photosynthetically active radiation decreased. Leaf area, T_r and P_n increased along the gradient, leaf thickness showed decreasing, but the increasing trend of SLA switched to a decreasing trend, while leaf dry mass presented an opposite trend. From plot I to III, the quantum yield of regulated energy dissipation (Y(NPQ)) and non-photochemical quenching decreased, the actual photochemical efficiency of PSII and photochemical quenching increased, and quantum yield of non-regulated energy dissipation increased before decreasing. There appeared a highly significant negative correlation (p < 0.01) between SLA and Y(NPQ) at plot I and III, and a less significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) at plot II. Along the soil moisture gradient, reed seemed using light effectively by changing leaf thermal dissipation through adjusting their leaf size and SLA—A potential self-protection mechanism in light of adapting the habitat.     

长白落叶松冠层光合作用的空间异质性

以2014年黑龙江省帽儿山林场14年生人工长白落叶松为研究对象,对比分析了各项光合指标、环境因子及光合生理参数在冠层内的空间差异性,并探讨了净光合速率(P_n)与其他指标的关系.结果表明: 在树冠垂直方向,上层P_n、气孔导度(g_s)和蒸腾速率(T_r)显著高于中层和下层,胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)表现为下层>中层>上层;光合有效辐射(PAR)从上层外部到下层内部呈显著降低趋势,水汽压差(VPD)和叶片温度(T_l)表现为上层显著高于中层和下层,相对湿度(RH)则无显著差异;最大净光合速率(P_{n max})、暗呼吸速率(R_d)、光补偿点(LCP)和光饱和点(LSP)均表现为上层>中层>下层,下层比上层分别降低32.7%、55.8%、80.2%和51.6%,表观量子效率(AQY)表现为下层>中层>上层,下层分别是中层和上层的1.2和1.3倍.水平方向,光合指标和环境因子的差异性主要体现在树冠上层,P_n、g_s、T_r、PAR和VPD表现为树冠外部显著高于树冠内部,而C_i和RH差异不显著;P_{n max}、R_d、LCP和LSP表现为外部>内部,内部比外部分别降低0.4%、37.7%、42.0%和16.4%,而AQY在内部比外部高0.7%.C_i是限制P_n的主要生理因子,PAR是影响P_n的主要环境因子,尤其在弱光区域PAR对P_n的影响十分明显.因此,在模拟和预估树木冠层光合作用时,考虑空间异质性有一定的必要性.     

Regulation by kinetin and abcisic acid of correlative senescence in relation to grain maturation,source-sink relationship and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

When kinetin was applied to the source organ (flag leaf) of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Ratna), foliar senescence was delayed and grain yield per plant (as evidenced by grain weight, grain/straw weight ratio and 1,000 grain growth) was increased through the increase of sink activity (increase in dry weight of the grains/plant), duration of sink capacity as well as photosynthetic ability of the glumes (as determined by the chlorophyll content of the glumes of the developing grains). However, application of kinetin to the sink organs (fruits), promoted senescence of the source but increased the yield by increasing the sink capacity and 1,000 grain growth mostly at the earlier stage of reproductive development. Lower sterility percentage was associated with higher grain yield of the plant by kinetin treatments. ABA applied either to the source or the sink promoted leaf senescence and reduced the grain yield by reducing the sink activity, harvest index, sink capacity duration and increasing the sterility percentage. Thousand grain dry weight at harvest did not vary significantly amongst the treatments. It was concluded that nutrient drainage was associated with the correlative influence of fruit on the monocarpic senescence of rice plant and that a competetion for differential allocation of cytokinin and ABA in the source and sink organs initiates this senescence syndrome.     

Genetic dissection of the source-sink relationship affecting fecundity and yield in rice (shape Oryza sativa L.)

The genetic basis underlying the relationship between the source leaves (the top two leaves) and the sink capacity in rice was investigated in a replicated trial of 2418 F₂ derived F₄ progeny from an inter-subspecific cross between cv. Lemont (japonica) and cv. Teqing (indica) and a complete linkage map with 115 well distributed RFLP markers. Path analysis indicated that 50% of the phenotypic variation in the primary sink capacity-grain weight per panicle was attributable to variation of the flag leaf area. Thirteen QTL and 30 pairs of epistatic loci were identified, which influence the length, width and area of the source leaves and the size of the primary sink (panicles) panicle length, floret density and floret number per panicle. Two QTL (QLl3b and QLw4) and 7 pairs of epistatic loci are largely responsible for the observed relationship between the source leaves and the sink capacity. The others appear to primarily influence the shape of the source leaves or panicle length/branching, and contribute little to the observed source-sink relationship and partially explain the yield component compensation. Our results suggest that important QTL affecting the source leaves can be manipulated through marker-assisted selection to increase sink capacity, which might result in improved yield potential in rice.