脱落酸对水稻抽穗开花期高温胁迫的诱抗效应

为探究脱落酸(ABA)对水稻(Oryza sativa)抽穗开花期高温胁迫的诱抗效应, 以江西省主推水稻品种黄华占为材料, 于孕穗期用蒸馏水、ABA溶液(10、50和100 µmol∙L^-1)、氟啶酮(FLU)和原花青素(PC) 6种溶液进行叶面喷施, 然后移入对照(CK)和高温胁迫(HS)环境处理8天, 考查籽粒活性氧(ROS)积累、抗氧化防御能力、产量构成及相关基因的表达。结果表明, 高温胁迫下, 水稻的穗长、穗重、结实率、千粒重和产量与超氧阴离子和过氧化氢含量呈显著负相关。高温胁迫下, 喷施ABA显著上调了ABA应答和抗氧化防御基因的表达, 籽粒中活性氧含量下降了8.24%-31.35%; 喷施ABA显著增加了水稻的穗长、穗重、结实率和千粒重, 显著上调了产量形成基因的表达, 增产12.73%-20.77%。高温胁迫下, 喷施FLU可抑制ABA的生物合成, 导致ROS过量积累和水稻减产; 喷施抗氧化剂PC则抑制ROS过量积累, 使产量增加。以上结果表明, 高温胁迫下, 孕穗期喷施ABA不仅能够激发ABA信号通路, 而且上调抗氧化防御能力和产量形成基因的表达, 进而提高水稻在抽穗开花期的耐热性, 达到增产目的。     

水稻籼粳交DH群体籽粒充实度的遗传分析

籽粒充实度差是限制亚种间杂交稻产量潜力发挥的重要因素。作者对籼粳交（圭630／02428）DH群体的籽粒充实度进行了研究,结果表明,籽粒充实度是受多基因控制的数量性状,在该DH群体中发生分离的基因估计数为5－6对。通过估测三级（偏度）和四级（峰度）统计量,检测到控制籽粒充实度的多基因间存在重叠作用。DH群体中籽粒充实度表现出明显的超亲分离,表明基因重组可实现控制籽粒充实度的增效基因的聚合。籽粒充实度与单穗产量、穗均实粒数和干物质／总库容之比呈显著或极显著正相关,与千粒重、穗均颖花数和穗均总库容相关不显著。     

Precise Disease Severity Assessment for False Smut Disease of Rice

False smut is a disease of rice inflorescence. The existing systems of disease severity assessment for rice false smut disease are not very sensitive as the ball quality and also the impact of false smut on filled grain number and grain‐filling were not under consideration. Here, a precise assessment method to evaluate the severity of the disease was developed. The ‘yield representative’ (YR) based on ‘mean floret wt.’ and ‘filled grain %’ was simulated for the precise disease severity assessment of rice false smut disease. The single floret weight envisages major yield components irrespective of the type of panicle. Correlation between YR and major yield attributes was studied, and it was observed that YR had significant correlation with ‘filled grain %’ (0.77–0.95) and ‘single spikelet weight’ (0.88–0.98). Significant negative correlation of YR was observed with the chaff percentage, false smut ball number and ball weight. This YR‐based methodology was utilized to assess the disease severity in nine rice cultivars. The disease severity in those nine cultivars was evaluated by the already existing methodologies also. The disease severity measured by the present technique was compared with the disease severity assessed by the old methodologies. The procedure adapted here for disease severity measurement was found to be more informative and useful. It was observed that in case of mild infection, the false smut was enhancing yield attributes. The high‐yielding rice varieties Savitri and Gayatri were found to be tolerant to false smut and may be used as resistant donors.     

高浓度CO2对稻穗不同位置籽粒结实和米质性状的影响

不断升高的大气CO₂浓度影响水稻颖花发育、灌浆结实和品质形成,但这种影响是否与籽粒在稻穗上的着生部位有关尚不清楚.利用稻田FACE (Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment)平台,以优质丰产粳稻‘武运粳23’为材料,CO₂处理设背景CO₂浓度(Ambient)和高CO₂浓度(增200 μmol·mol^-1, FACE)两个水平,研究开放大田条件下高浓度CO₂对水稻颖花密度、籽粒结实能力、稻米外观和食味品质的影响及其与稻穗不同着生位置的关系.结果表明:FACE处理使武运粳23籽粒产量平均增加18.3%,从产量构成因素看,穗数和饱粒重分别增加21.4%、9.4%,每穗颖花数、饱粒率平均减少9.0%、2.2%.FACE水稻饱粒率下降主要与稻穗不同部位空粒率大幅增加有关.FACE水稻每穗颖花数减少主要与稻穗上部、中部二次枝梗现存颖花大幅减少有关,而其他位置颖花数均无显著变化;稻穗不同位置饱粒重和饱粒率对FACE的响应无显著差异.FACE处理使绿粒率下降,但糙米长度和宽度均增加,稻穗不同部位趋势一致.FACE使垩白粒率(增幅59%)、垩白度(增幅55%)均极显著增加,增幅表现为稻穗一次枝梗>二次枝梗、上部>中部>下部.FACE使稻穗不同位置稻米直链淀粉含量略增,使最高粘度、热浆粘度、崩解值、最终粘度和消减值略降,但多未达显著水平.FACE使稻米糊化温度显著下降,弱势粒的降幅大于强势粒.综上,高浓度CO₂环境下武运粳23产量增加主要与穗数增多和籽粒增重有关,而稻穗明显变小;高浓度CO₂使稻米绿粒率减少,垩白增多,而对蒸煮食味品质影响较少;颖花着生位置对高浓度CO₂环境下水稻颖花发育、结实和品质的影响因不同测定指标而异.     

The relation between some growth parameters and yield components of rice as influenced by nitrogen level and genotype

The effects of three levels of nitrogen (0, 2 and 4 g (NH₄)₂SO₄ per pot) were evaluated in four rice varieties, differing in grain size, under flooded conditions in a tropical environment. Addition of nitrogen increased plant height and leaf number on the main culm, and hastened flowering significantly in all varieties. It also increased the dry weights of leaf, and culm plus sheath at the maximum tillering stage, anthesis and harvest. The average dry weights of both leaf, and culm plus sheath increased significantly in all varieties until anthesis. Following anthesis, the dry weights of both leaf, and culm plus sheath of the large-seeded varieties, Zhu Lian and PP₆R, further increased mainly due to emergence of the late tillers, but decreased in the small-seeded varieties, IR 747 and P₃C₂₆. During grain-filling, vars Zhu Lian and PP₆R accumulated dry matter more than the other two varieties and did not use their reserve starch present in the culm plus sheath, presumably because of the lack of demand. By contrast, current photosynthesis and ‘reserve’ contributed about 70% and 30%, respectively, of the grain yield in IR 747 and P₃C₂₆. Addition of nitrogen increased grain yield significantly in all varieties. The yield increase in IR 747 and PP₆R was essentially due to increase in grain number, but that in P₃C₂₆ and Zhu Lian was due to increases in both grain size and grain number, the latter having much greater influence. Neither the percentage of filled spikelets nor the 1000-grain weight was influenced by nitrogen addition. It was concluded that grain number is the single most important yield component in rice. Path-coefficient analysis indicated that in a breeding programme involving these four rice varieties, the cross between Zhu Lian and P₃C₂₆ would be most successful in an effort to combine high spikelet number and large grain size.     

垄作梯式生态稻作对水稻光合生理特性及产量的影响

2011—2012年在湖南长沙以超级杂交稻Y两优1号、杂交稻汕优63和常规稻黄华占为材料进行大田试验,比较了垄作梯式生态稻作(RT)和垄厢生态稻作(B)对水稻产量和光合生理特性的影响.结果表明: 与传统稻作(CK)相比,RT的Y两优1号产量显著提高了28.7%,单位面积有效穗数显著提高16.1%,每穗粒数高6.8%,汕优63和黄华占的RT、B处理产量分别高24.3%和19.7%、12.0%和16.2%.RT的Y两优1号叶面积、抽穗前及抽穗后干物质积累量、总干物质量都高于CK,颖花数/叶面积、实粒数/叶面积、粒重/叶面积分别比CK高8.1%、14.8%和15.8%,光合势比CK高32.2%,而净同化率则比CK低9.3%.
     

Effects on dry weight and nitrogen content of grains of semi-dwarf and tall varieties of winter wheat caused by decreasing the number of grains per ear

The number of grains in ears of six varieties of winter wheat growing in the field was decreased by removing the top half of the ear 6 days after anthesis (halving). In the semi-dwarf varieties Hustler, Sentry and Hobbit, and in the taller varieties Armada and Flanders, the mean dry weight per grain in the lower six spikelets of halved ears was about 23% greater than the dry weight of grains in the comparable part of intact ears. In Maris Huntsman the increase in grain size amounted to only 13%. Halving increased the number of grains in the semi-dwarf varieties but not in the others. Consequently, the increases caused by halving in the total weight of grain in the lower six spikelets ranged from 41% in Hustler and Hobbit to 7% in Maris Huntsman. Halving increased the amount of nitrogen in the grain of the lower half of the ear similarly in all varieties, and relatively more than it increased dry weight. So nitrogen per cent dry weight of grain was increased, especially in Armada, Flanders and Maris Huntsman which responded least in dry weight. The uptake of nitrogen into the stem plus ear after anthesis was unaffected by halving. Most of the nitrogen that normally moved to the upper grains accumulated in the lower grains of halved ears. More nitrogen moved into the grain of intact ears of tall than of semi-dwarf varieties after anthesis, because there was greater uptake of nitrogen into the shoot from the roots.     

Polyamines and ethylene in rice young panicles in response to soil drought during panicle differentiation

This study tested the hypothesis that polyamines (PA) and ethylene (ETH) mediate the effects of soil drought on spikelet development in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Two rice cultivars, Yong You-2640 and Yang Dao-6, with vastly different panicle sizes were grown in pots under three soil moisture treatments: well-watered (WW), moderate soil drought (MD) and severe soil drought (SD), from the onset of panicle initiation to the pollen completion stage. MD treatment significantly increased spikelet differentiation, spikelet number per panicle, fully filled grain percentage and grain yield, decreasing the percentage of degenerated spikelets, sterile spikelets and partially filled grains compared to WW treatment. In contrast, SD treatment showed opposite effects. MD also increased the contents of free spermidine (Spd), free spermine (Spm) and the ratios of free putrescine, free-Spd and free-Spm to 1-aminocylopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), decreasing the ETH evolution rate and ACC content in young panicles. In contrast, SD treatment showed opposite effects. Furthermore, free-Spd and free-Spm contents increased significantly, while ETH and ACC levels, and the percentage of degenerated and sterile spikelets decreased significantly under application of Spd or an inhibitor of ETH synthesis. The results were reversed when ACC or an inhibitor of Spd and Spm synthesis was applied. These findings suggest antagonistic interactions between free-PA (Spd and Spm) and ETH in response to soil drought, mediating spikelet development in rice.     

Interactions Among Number of Spikelets, Number of Grains and Grain Weight in the Spikes of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

In a field experiment, comprising four spring wheat cultivars,the frequency and final weight of the grains developing fromeach individual floret were determined in intact spikes andin spikes of which up to nine spikelets had been removed. Theextent of damage caused by the cutting procedure was estimated. Characteristic distributions of the frequencies and weightsof the individual grains were found for each cultivar. Removalof spikelets resulted, in most cases, in a small increase inthe number of grains and in a considerable increase in the weightof the grains of the remaining spikelets. These increases compensatedonly partially, and differently in the different cultivars,for the loss of the removed spikelets. Defoliation at the timeof earing caused a subsequent reduction in grain yield of intactspikes but no reduction in the yield of spikes from which ninespikelets had been removed. The removal of the upper floretsin each spikelet resulted in a certain increase in the weightof the two basal grains. It is concluded that an increase in the number of spikeletsper spike may reduce grain weight but will nevertheless contributeto yield. The number of grains per spikelet is cultivar dependentbut not causally associated with grain weight. Grain set indistal florets is expected to add rather small grains to thespike's yield. Under conditions of limited supplies it may causea reduction in the weight of the basal grains. Any increasein grain weight is anticipated to contribute to grain yieldand is not liable to affect spikelets per spike or grains perspikelet. Wheat cultivars, Triticum aestivum, growth of inflorescence, grain yield, spikelet number     

Effects of fungicide treatments and variety on development, grain growth and yield of spring barley

The effects of four fungicide treatments for the control of mildew on spring barley were assessed in three field experiments, one in each of the years 1981, 1982, 1983. The fungicide treatments (+/ - triadimenol seed treatment and +/ - triadimefon foliar spray applied during early booting) were chosen to control mildew, and hence affect yield determining processes, at different times in the life of the crop. Two of the experiments also tested different nitrogen amounts and the third tested four varieties differing in their degree of mildew resistance. Mildew appeared too late to affect the production and survival of spikelets and shoots, but reduced average grain weight by reducing the rate of grain growth. Grains in the upper part of the ear had a considerably lower growth rate and final weight than grains in central and basal positions but there was no evidence that the effects of mildew on grain size depended upon grain position within the ear. Mildew incidence increased with increasing nitrogen and varietal susceptibility but there were few significant interactions between these factors and fungicide treatment for grain yield. The degree of mildew control achieved by the seed treatment varied with barley variety. Use of the two successive fungicide treatments did not yield more barley than use of either alone. Amongst varieties, grain positions within the ear and fungicide treatments there was a close correlation between rate of grain growth and final grain weight. Duration of grain growth was not related to rate of grain growth or final grain weight but was inversely correlated with mean temperature during the period of rapid grain growth. The temperature sums during the period of rapid grain growth were similar for the three years and it is suggested that a more precise knowledge of the relationships between mildew incidence, varietal susceptibility and rate of grain growth may enable more accurate predictions to be made about likely yield responses to fungicide treatments.     

Phenotypic plasticity in rice: responses to fertilization and inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Aims Changes in the phenotype of crops (phenotypic plasticity) are known to play an important role in determining responses to nutrient availability, with the direction and magnitude of plasticity of individual traits being crucial for grain yields. Our study analysed the direction, magnitude and hierarchy of plastic responses of yield-related traits (i.e. biomass allocation and yield components) of rice (Oryza sativa L.) to nutrient availability. We estimated the effect of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on these characteristics of phenotypic plasticity.Methods A field experiment was carried out in northeast China, providing rice with six NPK fertilizer levels with or without inoculation with Glomus mosseae. At maturity, we quantified biomass allocation traits (shoot:root ratio and panicle:shoot ratio) and yield component traits (panicle number per hill, spikelet number per panicle, percentage of filled spikelets and seed weight). We also assessed the direction of change in each trait and the magnitude of trait plasticity.Important findings In non-inoculated plants, we found that biomass allocation and seed-number traits (i.e. panicle number per hill, spikelet number per panicle and percentage of filled spikelets) responded to fertilization in the same direction, increasing with rising fertilization. Panicle formation was the most plastic trait, while seed mass was the least plastic trait. AMF inoculation nullified the relationship between most biomass allocation and seed-number traits (except for that between panicle:shoot ratio and the percentage of filled spikelets) but increased the magnitude of plasticity in biomass allocation traits without altering the hierarchy of traits' plasticity. These results underscore the importance of plasticity of yield-related traits per se, and the impact of AMF on plasticity, for maintaining rice yields under low fertilization regimes.     

Branching Shoots and Spikes from Lateral Meristems in Bread Wheat

Wheat grain yield consists of three components: spikes per plant, grains per spike (i.e. head or ear), and grain weight; and the grains per spike can be dissected into two subcomponents: spikelets per spike and grains per spikelet. An increase in any of these components will directly contribute to grain yield. Wheat morphology biology tells that a wheat plant has no lateral meristem that forms any branching shoot or spike. In this study, we report two novel shoot and spike traits that were produced from lateral meristems in bread wheat. One is supernumerary shoot that was developed from an axillary bud at the axil of leaves on the elongated internodes of the main stem. The other is supernumerary spike that was generated from a spikelet meristem on a spike. In addition, supernumerary spikelets were generated on the same rachis node of the spike in the plant that had supernumerary shoot and spikes. All of these supernumerary shoots/spikes/spikelets found in the super wheat plants produced normal fertility and seeds, displaying huge yield potential in bread wheat.     

Regulation of Spikelet Development in Rice by Hormones

Four indica rice varieties belonging to two maturity groupswere cultivated in medium irrigated land during the wet seasonof 1989. In all varieties, the primary branches of the panicledeveloped basipetally. Poor development of spikelets on thebasal branches resulted in a high percentage (50–60%)of degeneration and sterility and, consequently, grain yieldwas poor. Application of gibberellic acid (GA3) and kinetin(6-furfuryl amino purine) improved development and grain yieldon all branches. The treatments were more effective on the proximalbranches and reduced the existing gradient in growth, developmentand yield between the distal and proximal branches. In contrastto this, 3-indole acetic acid (IAA) treatment increased spikeletgrowth and development in the distal branches, but suppressedthem in the proximal branches thus increasing the heterogeneityin primary branch growth and development. The soluble carbohydrateand amino acid content per unit dry weight of the primary branchesincreased at the time of anthesis following the applicationof growth regulators. The assimilate level declined rapidlyat the post-anthesis stage. Associated with the depressed growthand development in the lower branches of the panicle by IAAtreatment, was a significantly higher level of assimilates inthese branches in the post-anthesis period. The physiologicalmechanism of spikelet growth regulation is discussed. Key words: Rice, assimilates, development, spikelets, fertility, hormones     

Qualitative inheritance of water-stress induced apical sterility in wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Grain number per unit area is an effective component of grain yield in bread wheat. Water-stress induced apical sterility (tip sterility) reduces the number of grains and, consequently, the grain yield in semi-arid regions with a shortage of available water during the pre-anthesis period. Crosses between apical sterile and apical fertile varieties and selection lines were made and F1, BC1, and F2 populations were subjected to moderate water-stress to study the inheritance of this character. The F2 and BC1 plants were qualitatively categorised into two phenotypes and tested for monohybrid and dihybrid segregation hypotheses. All the spikes of F1 plants obtained from crosses between apical fertile and apical sterile varieties were fully fertile indicating apical fertility is dominant to apical sterility. The F2 segregation Results from crosses between apical fertile lines and Y82187 suggested two complementary dominant genes segregating independently were involved in tolerance to water-stress induced apical sterility. In other words, two dominant genes determine apical fertility in these crosses and if one of these loci is homozygous, recessive waterstress will induce apical sterility. One F2 population segregated for both apical sterility and vernalisation response. Semi-winter plants had more sterile spikelets and the result of chi-square test confirmed monhybrid segregation for vernalisation response.     

Regulation of leaf senescence, grain-filling and yield of rice by kinetin and abscisic acid

Senescence of rice ( Oryza sativa L. cv. Jaya) leaves was regulated with kinetin and abscisic acid (ABA) sprays at the reproductive stage. The effect of such sprays on grain-filling and yield was analyzed. Spraying 100-day-old plants with kinetin solution (100 μg ml^-1) significantly delayed senescence as indicated by higher total chlorophyll and protein levels in the three uppermost leaves compared with the controls. In contrast, spraying with ABA (15 μg ml^-1) significantly promoted foliar senescence. The number of spikelets per panicle, number of panicles, percentage filled grains, panicle weight and grain yield per plant and the mobilization and harvest indices were significantly increased by kinetin treatment, while ABA decreased most of them. The possibility of increased grain-filling and thus, yield due to delayed foliar senescence by kinetin treatment and decreased grain-filling due to hastening of senescence by ABA is discussed.     

Hormones in the grains in relation to sink strength and postanthesis development of spikelets in rice

Inferior spikelets usually exhibit a slower grain filling rate and lower grain weight than superior spikelets in a rice (Oryza sativa L.) panicle. This study investigated whether the variations in grain filling between the two kinds of spikelets were attributed to their sink strength and whether the sink strength was regulated by the hormonal levels in the grains. Using two field-grown rice genotypes, the division rate of endosperm cells, hormonal levels in the grains, and grain weight of both superior and inferior spikelets were determined during the grain filling period. The results showed that superior spikelets had dominance over inferior spikelets in endosperm cell division rate and cell number, grain filling and grain weight. Changes in zeatin (Z) and zeatin riboside (ZR) contents paralleled and were very significantly correlated with the cell division rate and cell number. Cell division rate and the content of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in the grains were also significantly correlated. Gibberellin (GAs; GA₁+ GA₄) content of the grains was high but ABA levels were low at the early grain filling stage. ABA increased substantially during the linear phase of grain growth and was very significantly correlated with grain dry weight during this period. Application of kinetin at 2 through 6 days post anthesis (DPA) significantly increased cell number, while spraying ABA at 11 through 15 DPA significantly increased the grain filling rate. The results suggest that differences in sink strength are responsible for variations in grain filling between superior and inferior spikelets. Both cytokinins and IAA in the grains may mediate cell division in rice endosperm at early grain filling stages, and therefore regulate the sink size of the grain, whereas ABA content correlates with sink activity during the linear period of grain growth.     

陕北谷子品种更替过程中产量及农艺性状的演变

选择不同年代(1960s—1970s、1980s—1990s、2000s—2010s)在陕北种植的6个谷子品种为试验材料,于2018—2019年在陕西榆林进行田间试验,研究分析了不同年代品种谷子产量及其农艺性状的演变特征。结果表明: 随年代更替,谷子品种产量呈现明显增加趋势,2000s—2010s选育的品种平均产量分别为0.46(2018)和0.66 kg·m^-2(2019),较2000s前的品种显著增产,增产幅度22%～53%;株高、穗重、叶重和杆重与产量趋势类似;而千粒重和穗长表现相对稳定,随品种更替并未呈现明显变化;旗叶宽度虽然变幅不大,但随品种更替呈明显增大趋势。相关性分析表明,穗重、杆重、叶重和株高与产量之间呈极显著相关。主成分分析显示,2000s—2010s谷子品种具有更大的优势。陕北谷子品种更替过程中主要通过株高和穗重的改良来增加单位面积产量,未来谷子高产育种应注重株高、穗重、杆重和叶重性状改良,尤其应探索适合机械收割的最优株高。     

Deciphering the environmental impact on spike architectural traits for grain yield consolidation in bread wheat (T. aestivum L.)

The realization of grain yield in wheat is decided by source-sink balance under prevailing environmental conditions. Management conditions like changing the sowing time influence the source-sink capacity through modification in agronomic traits. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to decipher the influence of spike architectural traits (SATs) on grain yield and to open avenues for further grain yield enhancement. Comparatively early sowing over timely sowing gives the advantage of realizing higher grain yield with a positive relationship with SATs namely spike length, spikelets per spike, individual spike weight, individual grain weight, number of grains per spikelet, grain length, and grain width of upper and lower spike portion. Confirmatory factorial analysis revealed that spike length, spikelets per spike, individual spike weight, grains per spikelet were having a significant effect in deciding grain yield in early sown. The presence of a significant effect of genotype by environment interaction over grain yield and SATs allows the exploitation of available genotypic and environmental variability for further yield enhancement. GGE analysis on transformed and standardized grain yield-trait (GY-trait) combinations was used in the selection of genotypes having high GY-trait combinations for both sowing times. In early sowing, WG 11 was the best for high GY with high individual spike weight; grain length and grain width at lower and upper parts of the spike; and shorter days to 50% flowering. Genotypes exclusively having the high GY-trait combination along with low values of remaining GY-trait combinations were also selected with genotype focused GGE approach.     

Over-expression of the rice LRK1 gene improves quantitative yield components

In rice ( Oryza sativa L.), the number of panicles, spikelets per panicle and grain weight are important components of grain yield. These characteristics are controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and are derived from variation inherent in crops. As a result of the complex genetic basis of these traits, only a few genes involved in their control have been cloned and characterized. We have previously map-cloned a gene cluster including eight leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase ( LRK ) genes in Dongxiang wild rice ( Oryza rufipogon Griff.), which increased the grain yield by 16%. In the present study, we characterized the LRK1 gene, which was contained in the donor parent (Dongxiang wild rice) genome and absent from the recurrent parent genome (Guichao2, Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica ). Our data showed that rice LRK1 is a plasma membrane protein expressed constitutively in leaves, young panicles, roots and culms. The over-expression of rice LRK1 results in increased panicles, spikelets per panicle, weight per grain and enhanced cellular proliferation, leading to a 27.09% increase in total grain yield per plant. The increased number of panicles and spikelets per panicle are associated with increased branch number. Our data suggest that rice LRK1 regulates rice branch number by enhancing cellular proliferation. The functional characterization of rice LRK1 facilitates an understanding of the mechanisms involved in cereal crop yield, and may have utility in improving grain yield in cereal crops.