The Plant Architecture of Rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis>)

Plant architecture, a collection of the important agronomic traits that determine grain production in rice, is mainly affected by factors including tillering, plant height and panicle morphology. Recently, significant progress has been made in isolating and collecting of mutants that are defective in rice plant architecture. Although our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that control rice tillering, panicle development and plant height are still limited, new findings have begun to emerge. This review, therefore, summarizes the recent progress in exploring the mechanisms that control rice plant architecture.     

Growth and CO2 assimilation of lowland rice in response to timing and method of N fertilization

In order to understand more clearly the dynamics of rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield development in relation to N fertilization, a field experiment was conducted in Laguna, Philippines. The soil, a Maahas clay (Aquic Hapludalf), was flooded, puddled, and then planted with 20-day-old seedlings of IR64 rice. Treatments were six combinations of N fertilizer timing and method: (1) 0 N control; (2) prilled urea broadcast at 15 and 60 days after transplanting (DAT) (BR-LATE); (3) prilled urea injected with a spring auger applicator at 15 DAT and broadcast at 60 DAT (INJ-LATE); (4) prilled urea broadcast and incorporated at 0 DAT and broadcast at 40 DAT (BR-EARLY); (5) urea super granules (USG) manually deep-placed at 3 DAT and prilled urea broadcast at 40 DAT (DP-EARLY); and (6) USG manually deep-placed at 3 DAT (DP). Except for the control, all treatments received a total of 58 kg N ha^-1. Yield results were consistent with those of other experiments, namely, DP had the highest yields, the early-split treatments (BR-EARLY and DP-EARLY) were second best, followed by the late-split treatments (BR-LATE and INJ-LATE), with the control having the lowest yield. Sequential harvest results showed that the advantages of DP in terms of dry matter assimilation, tillering, and leaf area index (LAI) were expressed later in the season. For all treatments, midday net CO₂ assimilation (Ac) peaked around 48 DAT, approximately panicle initiation. Grain yield was highly correlated with midday Ac at panicle initiation and flowering but not at other growth periods. Rates of midday Ac and night respiration depended strongly on shoot N content. We conclude that N application method and timing should be designed to give high shoot N content at panicle initiation and flowering, and that DP satisfied this requirement best among the treatments tested.     

Dissection of genetic overlap of salt tolerance QTLs at the seedling and tillering stages using backcross introgression lines in rice

QTLs for salt-tolerance(ST)related traits at the seedling and tillering stages were identified using 99 BC2F8 introgression lines(IL)derived from a cross between IR64(indica)as a recurrent parent and Binam(japonica)from Iran as the donor parent.Thirteen QTLs affecting survival days of seedlings(SDS), score of salt toxicity of leaves(SST),shoot K concentration(SKC)and shoot Na concentration(SNC) at the seedling stage and 22 QTLs underlying fresh weight of shoots(FW),tiller number per plant(TN) and plant height(PH)at the tillering stage were identified.Most QTLs detected at the tillering stage showed obvious differential expression to salt stress and were classified into three types based on their differential behaviors.Type I included 11 QTLs which were expressed only under the non-stress condition.Type II included five QTLs expressed in the control and the salt stress conditions,and three of them(QPh5,QPh8 and QTn9)had similar quantity and the same direction of gene effect,suggesting their expression was less influenced by salt stress.Type III included six QTLs which were detectable only under salt stress,suggesting that these QTLs were apparently induced by the stress.Thirteen QTLs affecting trait difference or trait stability of ILs between the stress and non-stress conditions were identified and the Binam alleles at all loci except QPh4,QTn2 and QFw2a decreased trait difference.The three QTLs less influenced by the stress and 13 QTLs affecting trait stability were considered as ST QTLs which contributed to ST.Comparing the distribution of QTLs detected at the seedling and tillering stages,most(69%)of them were genetically independent.Only four were the same or adjacent regions on chromosomes 1,2,8 and 11 harboring ST QTLs detected at the two stages,suggesting that partial genetic overlap of ST across the two stages occurs.It is likely,therefore,to develop ST rice variety for both stages by pyramiding of ST QTLs of different stages or selection against the overlapping QTLs between the two stages via marker-assisted selection(MAS).     

Putative zeatin O‐glucosyltransferase OscZOG1 regulates root and shoot development and formation of agronomic traits in rice

As a ubiquitous reaction, glucosylation controls the bioactivity of cytokinins in plant growth and development.Here we show that genetic manipulation of zeatin-Oglucosylation regulates the formation of important agronomic traits in rice by manipulating the expression of OscZOG1 gene,encoding a putative zeatin O-glucosyltransferase. We found that OscZOG1 was preferentially expressed in shoot and root meristematic tissues and nascent organs. The growth of lateral roots was stimulated in the overexpression lines, but inhibited in RNA interference lines. In shoots, knockdown of OscZOG1 expression by RNA interference significantly improved tillering, panicle branching, grain number per panicle and seed size, which are important agronomic traits for grain yield. In contrast, constitutive expression of OscZOG1 leads to negative effects on the formation of the grain-yielding traits with a marked increase in the accumulation levels of cis-zeatin O-glucoside(c ZOG) in the transgenic rice plants. In this study,our findings demonstrate the feasibility of improving the critical yield-determinant agronomic traits, including tiller number, panicle branches, total grain number per panicle and grain weight by downregulating the expression level of OscZOG1. Our results suggest that modulating the levels of cytokinin glucosylation can function as a fine-tuning switch in regulating the formation of agronomic traits in rice.     

不同育秧方式和插植密度下晚籼稻群体动态结构的研究

不同育秧方式和插植密度下晚籼稻群体动态结构存在差异。旱育秧群体分蘖速度快,分蘖能力强。稀植可促进个体分蘖多发、有效穗数增多,但旱育稀植并无分蘖早发的优势。旱育稀植使主茎基部叶片变短而上部叶片变长,生育后期叶面积消长平稳,地上部干物质积累较多。旱育秧、稀植都使主茎叶总数增多,全生育期延长。     

OsPIN5b modulates rice (Oryza sativa) plant architecture and yield by changing auxin homeostasis,transport and distribution

Plant architecture attributes such as tillering, plant height and panicle size are important agronomic traits that determine rice (Oryza sativa) productivity. Here, we report that altered auxin content, transport and distribution affect these traits, and hence rice yield. Overexpression of the auxin efflux carrier‐like gene OsPIN5b causes pleiotropic effects, mainly reducing plant height, leaf and tiller number, shoot and root biomass, seed‐setting rate, panicle length and yield parameters. Conversely, reduced expression of OsPIN5b results in higher tiller number, more vigorous root system, longer panicles and increased yield. We show that OsPIN5b is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) ‐localized protein that participates in auxin homeostasis, transport and distribution in vivo. This work describes an example of an auxin‐related gene where modulating its expression can simultaneously improve plant architecture and yield potential in rice, and reveals an important effect of hormonal signaling on these traits.     

籼稻根系活力与地上部分的关系

1998年早季在广州研究了不同籼稻类型根系活力与地上部分一些性状的关系,结果表明:（1）所有参试品种的根系活力在全生育期中均呈单峰曲线变化,最高值出现在幼穗第2次枝梗原基分化期。两系法杂交稻在生长前期根系活力增幅大,叶面积指数发展快。（2）根系活力在分蘖期与叶绿素含量呈显著正相关;在分蘖期和孕穗期与叶绿素a/b值呈显著负相关,并在幼穗第2次枝梗原基分化期与叶面积指数呈显著正相关,说明在水稻生长发育前期根系活力的强弱与地上部分叶、蘖的发展是相对应的。（3）根系活力与灌浆成熟后期的籽粒充实度达极显著正相关,根系活力强的品种,后期充实度高,相反则充实度低。     

Trait diversity, heritability and genetic advance in selected germplasm lines of tef

The genetic improvement of the Ethiopian cereal, tef, Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter, depends upon the variability in the indigenous germplasm. A bi-replicated randomized complete block field experiment was, therefore, carried out at Debre Zeit and Alem Tena in Ethiopia during the 1996 main season to study the pheno-morphic and agronomic trait diversity in 320 tef germplasm lines. All of the 17 traits assessed showed substantial (p < or = 0.001) variation among the lines. Genotypes and locations interacted significantly (p < or = 0.05) on 11 of the traits. At about 50% similarity level, the tef lines grouped into six major clusters of nine to 243 lines. Five principal components (PCs) extracted about 71% of the entire variation of the lines. About 28% of the total variance explained by the first PC was due chiefly to variation in main shoot culm length, diameters of the two basal culm internodes, panicle length and grain yield/panicle. About 16% of the whole variance explained by the second PC originated mainly from variation in the length of the first and second basal culm internodes, grain yield/plant, and peduncle length. The third PC accounting for about 12% of the entire variance resulted largely from variation in harvest index and shoot phytomass yield/plant. Across traits, the phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation varied in that order from about 2% for grain yield/panicle to 58% for number of fertile tillers/plant, and from less than 1% for diameters of the two basal culm internodes and grain yield/panicle to 35% for panicle length. Estimates of broad sense heritability and genetic advance (as ratio of the mean) were highest for panicle length (71%) and number of fertile tillers/plant (21%), respectively. But both of these were lowest for the second basal culm internode diameter (< 1%). Overall, the study confirmed that tef is a highly versatile crop with broad trait diversity in the germplasm, and this offers ample opportunities for improvement through breeding.     

Responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caragana korshinskii</Emphasis> Kom. to shoot removal: mechanisms underlying regrowth

Caragana korshinskii Kom. a dominant member of desert flora in north-western China, is often subjected to aboveground shoot destruction but is very successful in its rapid recovery. We investigated the physiological basis for resprouting by comparing shoot elongation, leaf-nutrient content, pre-dawn leaf-water potential (LWP), root non-structural carbohydrate (TNC), and photosynthetic rate of first-year resprouts with those of adjacent undamaged individuals. C. korshinskii resprouts had a significantly higher rate of shoot elongation. Plant responses associated with enhanced shoot elongation included (1) improved water status, (2) drawing upon more TNC from roots to support aboveground shoot regrowth, (3) enhanced photosynthetic rate owing to improved water status and increased nutrient content in leaves, and (4) allocating more photosynthate to vegetative production without reproduction costs. Maintaining an active root system after shoot removal may be the foundation which engenders these mechanisms underlying rapid regrowth of C. korshinskii in the disturbed environment.     

Effects of level,time, and splitting of urea on the yield of irrigated direct seeded rice

Summary To determine effects of level and time of application of urea on grain yields, components of grain yield, and nitrogen use efficiency by irrigated direct seeded rice (Oryza sativa L. var. IR 298-12-1-1-1), three field experiments were conducted at the Gezira Agricultural Research Station during the period 1976–78. The treatments included the factorial combination of three levels of nitrogen as urea (0,75 and 150 kg N/ha) two or three splits, and three times of topdressing of urea (early season application, 10 days after rice emergence, DRE; maximum tillering stage, 40 DRE; and panicle initiation stage, 75 DRE).Without application of nitrogen, grain yields averaged 1.5 t/ha. The yields averaged for rate and time of split significantly increased with increase in nitrogen applied to 3.9 and 5.0 t/ha, but nitrogen use efficiency (kg rice/kg N) decreased from 31 to 23 with the application of 75 and 150 kg N/ha respectively.As compared to other treatments of time of urea application, topdressing of urea at maximum tillering and panicle initiation stages significantly improved nitrogen use efficiency by promoting production of more panicles per unit land area, and increasing grain weight. Three splits were no better than the two splits given at maximum tillering and panicle initiation stages.     

Boron application through seed coating improves the water relations, panicle fertility, kernel yield, and biofortification of fine grain aromatic rice

This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of boron (B) application through seed coating on leaf elongation, tillering, water relations, panicle sterility, kernel yield, and grain biofortification of fine grain aromatic rice. Boron was applied as seed coating at 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 g B kg^?1 seed in two rice cultivars Super Basmati and Shaheen Basmati. Boron seed coating significantly affected the leaf elongation, water relations, panicle fertility, kernel yield and grain biofortification in both rice cultivars. However, seed coating with 1.0–2.0 g B kg^?1 seed was effective in improving the leaf emergence and elongation, and tillering. Whereas water relations (water and osmotic potential) were improved by all B seed coating treatments, but pressure potential was only improved from seed coating with 2.0–3.0 g B kg^?1 seed. Kernel yield was improved by all B seed coating treatments; however seed coating with 2 g B kg^?1 seed was the most effective treatment in this regard. Increase in kernel yield, by B seed coating, was attributed to decrease in panicle sterility. Leaf and kernel B contents were increased with increase in B concentration in seed coating.     

Natural variation in Tiller Number 1 affects its interaction with TIF1 to regulate tillering in rice

Tiller number per plant—a cardinal component of ideal plant architecture—affects grain yield potential. Thus, alleles positively affecting tillering must be mined to promote genetic improvement. Here, we report a Tiller Number 1 (TN1) protein harbouring a bromo-adjacent homology domain and RNA recognition motifs, identified through genome-wide association study of tiller numbers. Natural variation in TN1 affects its interaction with TIF1 (TN1 interaction factor 1) to affect DWARF14 expression and negatively regulate tiller number in rice. Further analysis of variations in TN1 among indica genotypes according to geographical distribution revealed that low-tillering varieties with TN1-hap^L are concentrated in Southeast Asia and East Asia, whereas high-tillering varieties with TN1-hap^H are concentrated in South Asia. Taken together, these results indicate that TN1 is a tillering regulatory factor whose alleles present apparent preferential utilization across geographical regions. Our findings advance the molecular understanding of tiller development.     

不同生育阶段夜温升高对双季水稻产量的影响

利用两间玻璃温室内夜间不同的温度条件,研究了水稻不同生育阶段的夜温升高对双季早、晚稻产量的影响.结果表明：播种-幼穗分化（一次枝梗分化期）期间夜温升高,有利于双季水稻的分蘖,植株有效穗数显著增加,平均夜间最低温度每升高1 ℃,双季早、晚稻的产量分别提高10.02%～13.18%和6.52%～7.78%（P＜0.01）;幼穗分化-抽穗（10%稻穗抽出剑叶鞘）期间夜温升高,导致颖花退化,使每穗发育颖花数减少,平均夜间最低温度每升高1 ℃,双季早、晚稻的产量分别下降3.76%～6.67%和3.66%～6.94%（P＜0.01）;灌浆结实期（抽穗-成熟）夜温升高,双季早稻的结实率和产量显著下降,而双季晚稻的结实率和产量显著提高,平均夜间最低温度每升高1 ℃,双季早稻的产量下降2.07%～5.61%（P＜0.05）,双季晚稻的产量提高1.63%～2.28%（P＜0.05）.表明不同生育阶段的夜温升高对双季水稻产量的影响存在明显差异.     

The effects of feeding by the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, on the growth and yield components of rice, Oryza sativa

Abstract 1 The effects of feeding by larvae of the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, on the growth and yield components of rice, Oryza sativa, were evaluated using four varieties of rice, ‘Cocodrie’, ‘Cypress’, ‘Bengal’ and ‘XP1003’, over 2 years. 2 Both adults and larvae of L. oryzophilus feed on rice plants, but it is feeding by the larval stage that causes economic losses. Feeding by L. oryzophilus larvae resulted in extensive damage to root systems. Pruning of root systems resulted in a decrease in tiller number and shoot biomass of rice plants in the vegetative stage of growth. 3 Yield losses were due to a combination of decreases in panicle densities, numbers of grains per panicle, and grain weights. Decreases in panicle densities were a direct result of the reductions in tiller numbers. Reductions in numbers of grains per panicle and grain weights probably resulted from decreases in shoot biomass. 4 Injury by rice water weevil larvae is chronic. The tillering stage of rice suffered the majority of weevil damage, but the growth effects were not manifested until later.     

三峡库区古夫河水质时空分异特征

以湖北省神农架林区和兴山县境内长江三峡库区香溪河支流古夫河为研究对象,于2010年8月-2011年7月在整条河流中选取20个采样点,进行样本采集,并测定溶解氧、碱度、硬度、电导率、总磷、总氮、化学需氧量、二氧化硅、总有机碳共9项水质指标,运用多元统计方法,分析水质的时空分异特征.依据研究区土地利用类型差异,将20个采样点分成4组,即森林(A组)、耕地(B组)、水库(C组)和村镇(D组);根据该区域的水文节律,将5-10月归为湿季,其余月份为干季.判别分析和方差分析结果表明,古夫河水质具有时空显著性差异:总磷、二氧化硅、电导率、化学需氧量、总硬度和总碱度等指标具有空间显著性差异;总氮、化学需氧量、溶解氧、二氧化硅和总有机碳与季节存在显著相关性,所测9项水质指标在不同空间类别上呈现出显著的季节变化.主成分分析表明,不同空间类别上的干湿季节引起水质变化的主导因子是不同的:A组中,湿季主要体现为二氧化硅和总有机碳,干季主要体现为总磷、二氧化硅、总有机碳和化学需氧量,该组水质主要受地表径流、地质成因和风化作用等自然因素的影响;B组中,湿季主要体现为硬度和总有机碳,干季主要体现为总磷、化学需氧量、总碱度和总硬度,该组除了受自然因素的影响,还受如农业径流、未处理的生活污水排放等人为因素影响;C组中,湿季主要体现为二氧化硅、总氮和总磷,干季主要体现为总氮、总有机碳和二氧化硅,该组主要受农业径流、地表径流以及未经处理的生活污水等的影响;D组中湿季主要体现为二氧化硅、总氮和总磷,干季主要体现为碱度、硬度、总氮和总有机碳,该组主要受村镇生活污水和农业径流等的影响.结果表明,古夫河水质受自然和人为因素影响而发生变化,其中受人为因素影响更大.因此,加强水资源的管理和保护,改善水质,做好水源地的长期水质监测显得尤为重要.     

水、旱条件下水稻茎秆主要抗倒伏性状的QTL分析

以粳型旱稻IRAT109和粳型水稻越富杂交的116个DH株系的群体为材料,利用已构建的分子标记连锁图(包括94个RFLP标记和71个SSR标记),定位了水稻茎秆主要抗倒伏性状的QTL。在水田、旱田栽培条件下,考查了乳熟期DH系及其亲本的茎基粗、茎秆长及茎秆强度等性状。相关分析表明,茎基粗与茎秆长、茎基粗与茎秆强度及茎秆长与茎秆强度间均呈极显著正相关。利用QTLMAPPER进行水、旱田单环境定位分析及水、旱田联合定位分析定位了控制这些性状的QTL。水、旱田单环境定位分析结果表明：3个性状共检测到9个加性QTL和5对上位性QTL;联合定位分析表明：茎基粗、茎秆长共检测到6个加性QTL和6对上位性QTL,其中6个加性QTL和1对上位性QTL在两种方法下都检测到。旱田条件下检测到2个加性及2对上位性QTL(bctla、ct9、c16a-c16c和cs5-cs12)对表型变异的贡献率(简称贡献率)大于30％。这些高贡献率QTL可能对旱田条件下旱稻抗倒伏分子育种有重要意义。     

Nitrogen uptake and recovery from urea and green manure in lowland rice measured by15N and non-isotope techniques

In the recent past considerable attention is paid to minimize dependence on purchased inputs such as inorganic nitrogen fertilizer. Green manure in the form of flood-tolerant, stem-nodulatingSesbania rostrata andAeschynomene afraspera is an alternative N source for rice, which may also increase N use efficiency. Therefore research was conducted to determine the fate of N applied to lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the form ofSesbania rostrata andAeschynomene afraspera green manure and urea in two field experiments using¹⁵N labeled materials.¹⁵N in the soil and rice plant was determined, and¹⁵N balances established. Apparent N recoveries were determined by non-tracer method. ¹⁵N recoveries averaged 90 and 65% of N applied for green manure and urea treatments, respectively. High partial pressures of NH₃ in the floodwater, and high pH probably resulted from urea application and favoured losses of N from the urea treatment. Results show that green manure N can supply a substantial proportion of the N requirements of lowland rice. Nitrogen released fromSesbania rostrata andAeschynomene afraspera green manure was in synchrony with the demand of the rice plant. The effect of combined application of green manure and urea on N losses from urea fertilizer were also investigated. Green manure reduced the N losses from¹⁵N labeled urea possibly due to a reduction in pH of the floodwater. Positive added N interactions (ANIs) were observed. At harvest, an average of 45 and 25% of N applied remained in the soil for green manure and urea, respectively.Contribution from IRRI, Los Baños, Philippines and Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, GermanyContribution from IRRI, Los Baños, Philippines and Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany     

LAX PANICLE2 of rice encodes a novel nuclear protein and regulates the formation of axillary meristems

Aerial architecture in higher plants is dependent on the activity of the shoot apical meristem (SAM) and axillary meristems (AMs). The SAM produces a main shoot and leaf primordia, while AMs are generated at the axils of leaf primordia and give rise to branches and flowers. Therefore, the formation of AMs is a critical step in the construction of plant architecture. Here, we characterized the rice (Oryza sativa) lax panicle2 (lax2) mutant, which has altered AM formation. LAX2 regulates the branching of the aboveground parts of a rice plant throughout plant development, except for the primary branch in the panicle. The lax2 mutant is similar to lax panicle1 (lax1) in that it lacks an AM in most of the lateral branching of the panicle and has a reduced number of AMs at the vegetative stage. The lax1 lax2 double mutant synergistically enhances the reduced-branching phenotype, indicating the presence of multiple pathways for branching. LAX2 encodes a nuclear protein that contains a plant-specific conserved domain and physically interacts with LAX1. We propose that LAX2 is a novel factor that acts together with LAX1 in rice to regulate the process of AM formation.