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.     

The Grain Mold Pathogen, Fusarium thapsinum, Reduces Caryopsis Formation in Sorghum bicolor

Grain mold is a globally important panicle disease of sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] that occurs between floral anthesis and physiological maturity of the caryopsis. Many fungi, including Fusarium thapsinum , cause grain mold. In this study, sorghum florets of grain mold resistant (Sureno and Tx2911), moderately resistant (SC170), and susceptible (Tx430) cultivars were spray-inoculated with a high density (1 × 10⁶ microconidia/ml) of F. thapsinum at anthesis. Mean caryopsis formation frequencies [CFF = (total caryopses/total spikelets per panicle) × 100] for F. thapsinum -inoculated Sureno and Tx2911 panicles did not significantly differ from their respective controls, however F. thapsinum -inoculated SC170 and Tx430 panicles were significantly less than controls. In addition, CFF was significantly reduced in F. thapsinum -inoculated Tx430 panicles when compared to the F. thapsinum -inoculated grain mold resistant genotypes (P = 0.011). This study suggests that screening of sorghum varieties for caryopsis formation using high-density inoculations at anthesis would provide an additional assay to measure F. thapsinum resistance in the greenhouse.     

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.     

Environmental Influences on Panicle Differentiation and Spikelet Number of Pennisetum americanum

Pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke) has a juvenilephase after which the time to panicle initiation is reducedby short daylengths. To understand more fully the mechanismunderlying temperature ? daylength interactions on panicle initiationand differentiation, plants were grown (a) at a range of constanttemperatures under a short daylength from sowing until afterpanicle differentiation and (b) at one temperature until 20d after emergence and then at a range of temperatures duringa 10 d exposure to short daylength. Temperature prior to panicle initiation determined the numberof leaves initiated on the main stem and the size of the apicaldome at the start of panicle initiation. The number of leaves,in turn, influenced the duration of the phase from panicle initiationto anthesis: this phase required a constant thermal time whenexpressed as day degrees per leaf. At anthesis, panicle lengthwas positively correlated with the number of leaves on the mainstem (and temperature) prior to panicle initiation. Changingthe temperature only during exposure to inductive daylengthsaffected the rate of growth of the apical dome so that panicledifferentiation began within 10 d at high temperature (30?C)whereas differentiation did not commence in 10 dat 21?C. Paniclesdeveloped normally if differentiation had commenced under inductivedaylengths whereas panicles were abnormal when plants were returnedto long daylengths after panicle initiation but before visibledifferentiation. Relative extension rates of the panicle during differentiationwere correlated positively with temperature. The results areconsistent with the hypothesis that panicle initiation dependson the apex attaining a critical size and that temperature,by determining the number of leaves initiated on the main stem,affects the size of the apical dome and thus the onset of panicleinitiation, the duration of paniclc differentiation and thenumber of spikelets differentiated. Key words: Pennisetum americanum, panicle differentiation, spikelet number     

开放式空气CO2浓度增高对水稻产量形成的影响

在大田栽培条件下 ,研究开放式空气CO2 浓度增加 (FACE) 2 0 0 μmol·mol-1的处理对水稻产量及产量构成因素的影响 .结果表明 ,FACE处理对水稻株高和主茎叶片数没有明显影响 ,但使水稻生育进程加快 ,全生育期显著缩短 ,增加施N量可减缓FACE处理对水稻全生育期缩短的程度 ;FACE处理能显著增加分蘖数 ,极显著增加穗数 ,提高结实率 ,但使每穗颖花数显著减少 ;FACE处理能显著提高水稻产量 ,在高N条件下增产幅度更大 ;提高FACE处理的每穗颖花数和单位面积颖花数能极显著提高水稻产量 ,增加施N量是提高FACE处理每穗颖花数和单位面积颖花数的重要措施 .     

Apoplasmic assimilates and grain growth of contrasting rice cultivars differing in grain dry mass and size

Apical dominance in assimilate filling impacts grain growth in basal spikelets of rice panicle. In this study, organic materials of the pericarp, apoplasmic space and endosperm of the apical and basal caryopses, and photosynthesis of the flag leaf were measured during early part of grain development in three types of rice cultivars with similar phenology, but difference in grain weight and size in the dry and wet seasons of 2006 and 2007, respectively. Photosynthetic activity of the flag leaf was consistently low in small-seeded cultivars. Rates of grain filling and cell division of endosperm and concentration of assimilates, starch, proteins and chlorophylls of the caryopsis were lower, but spikelet ethylene production and peroxidase activity were higher in a small-seeded cultivar compared to a big-seeded cultivar. Similar disparities in grain filling and other attributes were noticed for the inferior basal spikelets of the panicle compared to the superior apical spikelets, except the assimilate concentration of the pericarp and endosperm. Temporal fluctuation in assimilate concentration of the organs were similar between the cultivars. Concentration of apoplasmic assimilates mostly exhibited negative correlation with that of pericarp and endosperm. Compared to the apical spikelets, correlation was more negative for the basal spikelets. Conversely, correlation was positive between the concentration of apoplasmic assimilates and endosperm cell number and grain weight of the cultivars. Ethylene released from the spikelets at anthesis affected growth and cell division rates of endosperm and enhanced protein and chlorophyll degradation and peroxidase activity of the caryopsis. It was concluded that variation in spikelet ethylene production may be responsible for differences in size or weight of grains among rice cultivars and spikelets at different locations of the panicle. The concentration of apoplasmic assimilates could be an indicator for grain filling capacity, and ethylene regulated the concentration by affecting pericarp activity for assimilate unloading.     

开放式空气CO2浓度增高对水稻产量形成的影响

在大田栽培条件下,研究开放式空气CO₂浓度增加(FACE)200μmol·mol^-1的处理对水稻产量及产量构成因素的影响.结果表明,FACE处理对水稻株高和主茎叶片数没有明显影响,但使水稻生育进程加快,全生育期显著缩短,增加施N量可减缓FACE处理对水稻全生育期缩短的程度;FACE处理能显著增加分蘖数,极显著增加穗数,提高结实率,但使每穗颖花数显著减少;FACE处理能显著提高水稻产量,在高N条件下增产幅度更大;提高FACE处理的每穗颖花数和单位面积颖花数能极显著提高水稻产量,增加施N量是提高FACE处理每穗颖花数和单位面积颖花数的重要措施.     

Panicle Differentiation and Spikelet Number Related to Size of Panicle in Pennisetum americanum

The size of the developing panicle of pearl millet (Pennisetumamericanum (L.) Leeke) was studied during panicle differentiation(from panicle initiation to the completion of spikelet production)in plants grown in pots or in the field and supplied with varyinglevels of nitrogen. The duration of panicle differentiationrequired a constant thermal time (day degrees) under all nitrogensupplies. However, the rate of growth of the developing panicleduring this phase was retarded by low nitrogen supply. Duringpanicle differentiation, it appeared that the developing paniclehad to reach a critical size before developmental events suchas the initiation of spikelet primordia commenced; timing ofdevelopmental events was related to the size of the developingpanicle. The number of spikelets produced depended on the rate of growthof the differentiating panicle and the duration of the phaseof spikelet initiation (from appearance of the first spikeletprimordium to completion of spikelet differentiation). Low nitrogensupply reduced the number of spikelets produced, by retardingthe rate of growth of the differentiating panicle; this delayedthe time to initiation of spikelets and thereby reduced theduration of spikelet initiation. All spikelets (irrespectiveof nitrogen supply on the mainstem and on tillers) occupiedthe same area of panicle surface at the completion of differentiationof the panicle and at anthesis. Key words: Millet, Panicle differentiation, Spikelet number     

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。     

超级杂交水稻谷粒产量与叶光合速率的关系

在2000～2005年期间,通过测定几种超级杂交水稻与普通杂交水稻‘汕优63’的产量构成和叶片光合作用探讨了谷粒产量与光合作用的关系。结果表明:(1)4种超级杂交水稻‘培矮64S/E32’、‘P88S/O293’、‘金23A/611’和‘GD-lS/ RB207’的产量水平显著高于‘汕优63’,是对照的108%～120%。(2)与‘汕优63’相比,这些超级杂交水稻的株型好,上层叶片直立,穗大即每穗粒数多,是对照的125%～177%。(3)与‘汕优63’相比,这些组合第二叶的净光合速率显著提高,但第一叶即剑叶的未必都较高。(4)去半叶处理降低了‘GD-1S/RB207’的结实率,而去半穗处理显著提高了结实率。因此,这些超级杂交水稻的高产原因在于穗大、株型好以及群体光能利用效率高。增加单叶特别是剑叶的光合能力是克服谷粒产量的光合产物源限制和在未来的超级杂交水稻育种中实现产量潜力新突破的关键。     

The Effect of High Temperature at Different Stages of Ripening on Grain Set, Grain Weight and Grain Dimensions in the Semi-dwarf Wheat 'Banks'

Grain number in the wheat cultivar Banks was reduced by up to11 % with a rise in temperature from 21/16 °C to 30/25 °Cover a 10-d period immediately following first anthesis in general,the upper ‘d’ and ‘c’ florets were moreaffected by high temperature than the basal ‘a’and ‘b’ florets within a spikelet and florets fromthe upper spikelets were more sensitive than those lower onthe ear Grain weight and grain length at maturity were most affectedby a 10 d period of high temperature commencing 7–10 dafter anthesis However, if dry-matter accumulation between thestart of a treatment and grain maturity was used as a base forcomparison, the response was more uniform throughout development,with a peak in sensitivity 25 d after anthesis Although grainposition within an ear did not have a large effect on the responseto temperature, grains from the basal spikelets were more sensitivethan those from the apex, and the upper floret grains of a spikeletwere more sensitive to high temperature than those at the base There is a need to obtain, for a range of cultivars, more comprehensivedata on the effect of the timing and degree of temperature stressfollowing anthesis, for use in interpreting the response torising temperatures late in the development of the crop in thefield Triticum aestivum L, wheat, temperature, grain development     

The Effect of Speckled Leaf Blotch on Apical Development and Yield in Winter Wheat in New Zealand

Speckled leaf blotch (Mycosphaerella graminicola) reduced yieldin a winter wheat trial by 18 per cent. Detailed analyses ofthe effects of disease on yield components showed that diseasereduced both grain number per ear and grain weight. The reductionin grain number per ear was due to a decrease in grain numberper spikelet, and this occurred for both main stem and tillers,and occurred equally at each spikelet position on the ear. The effect of disease on grain number was traced back to anearlier reduction in floret primordium number per ear, especiallyfloret number per spikelet. It was suggested that floret primordiumproduction was affected by the reduced assimilate supply tothe developing apex. The effects of disease on yield could therefore be attributedto effects on plant development both before and after anthesis.The disease effects on yield were not necessarily associatedwith the time of maximum disease severity. Plots with the early phase of disease epidemic only showed asignificant reduction in yield, but there was some evidenceof compensation for early reductions to yield potential in thelater-determined yield components. We suggest, therefore, thatan effective disease-control programme must take into accountthe possible early effects of disease on yield potential. Mycosphaerella graminicola, speckled leaf blotch, winter wheat, yield loss, apical development     

Soluble Carbohydrates and Floret Fertility in Wheat in Relation to Population Density Stress

Wheat, variety Sonalika, was grown at different densities inboth field and pots during the winter seasons 1983–84and 1984–85. Grain yield pattern of the spikelets of themain shoot inflorescence was similar in both the field and pots,the spikelets in the middle part of the ear contributed mostand yield per spikelet decreased progressively towards the apexand the base. Increased population density decreased yield ofgrain, primarily by decreasing spikelet number and the fertilityof florets. High population density accelerated growth of thespike for some time during the pre-anthesis period and the solublecarbohydrate concentration was also higher under these conditions.During both anthesis and post-anthesis, the soluble carbohydrateconcentration and the growth of the spike declined much fasterin the high-density population. High density also decreasedthe floret fertility and growth in dry weight in all the spikelets,but it was more severe on the basal spikelets, resulting incomplete sterility of the florets at these nodes. The solublecarbohydrate concentration of these slow-growing, sterile, basalspikelets was found to be higher in comparison to that of fertilespikelets in the middle and top positions within the ear. Soluble carbohydrates, spike, spikelet, fertility, grain number     

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.     

Source-sink manipulation effects on postanthesis photosynthesis and grain setting on spike in winter wheat

Source-sink manipulation could regulate the net photosynthetic rate (PN) of winter wheat after anthesis, however, the direction and magnitude of the regulation varied with time after anthesis. The PN was significantly increased by source reduction at the initial time of grain filling, but sink reduction had little influence on the PN, which suggested that the sink (spike) limitation did not occur at this time. Source-sink relation markedly affected PN during rapid grain filling. The PN was increased by source reduction and decreased by sink reduction significantly, which indicated that PN was closely associated with the change of source or sink size. The effect of source-sink manipulation on PN had some relationship with the occurrence of plant senescence at the time of late grain filling. Source reduction accelerated the senescence and dropped the PN, meanwhile, sink reduction delayed the senescence and promoted the PN. A direct relation between the effect of source-sink manipulation on PN and stomatal limitation was not found. Removing one quarter of leaves (RQ) had little influence on spike development after anthesis. In this case there was enough compensation in source production through photosynthesis. Removing one half of leaves (RH) made grain mass per spike and mass of grains lowered, especially the grain mass in the top and base positions of spike declined markedly. The source supply was grain-limiting. Removing one quarter of spikelets (RS) was beneficial to grain-setting in the remaining spikelets, leading to the increase of grain mass. Thus promoting the source supply of photosynthates after anthesis is of major importance for grain to set and to develop.     

Canopy analysis on the relationships between leaf area index and productivity in lowland rice,Oryza sativa,L.

Summary Different densities of populations were created under field conditions at two levels of N and canopy analysis was made with variety Sona on different growth parameters governing productivity. The relationships between leaf area index (LAI) and dry matter, grain yield and grain number were quadratic. LAI vs panicle number and grain number vs grain yield relationships were linear. The panicle number and grains per panicle are found to be compensatory for one another. The intercepting points of the two appear to be around 400 panicles per square metre with a grain range of 90–100 per panicle. re]19750228     

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.     

He－Ne激光照射糙米种胚对水稻当代生长发育的影响

Ｈｅ－Ｎｅ激光处理水稻去壳种子可以促进分蘖,提高成秧率和成穗率,增加有效穗数和每穗总粒数、千粒重及单株产量。但结实率降低、生育期延长。株高、穗长虽略有增加,但不明显。     

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.     

Spikelet Sterility and Flowering Response of Rice to Water Stress at Anthesis

Water deficits at the anthesis stage of rice (Oryza sativa L.)induce a high percentage of spikelet sterility and reduce grainyield. This study attempted to elucidate the direct effectsof water stress on panicle exsertion, spikelet opening, andspikelet desiccation leading to spikelet sterility. A well-wateredtreatment and two water stress levels were imposed in pot-grownplants of IRAT 13 (upland cultivar) and IR20 (lowland cultivar)at the time of flowering under greenhouse conditions A cultivar difference was observed in the flowering responseto water stress with a high sensitivity in IR20. The time courseof panicle exsertion showed an inhibitory effect due to thelow panicle water status. Low panicle water potentials significantlyreduced the number of opened spikelets. Spikelet opening wascompletely inhibited at panicle water potentials below –1·8MPa and –2·3 MPa in IR20 and IRAT 13, respectively.However, the peak spikelet opening time in a day was not influencedby the stress treatment. Spikelets in stressed panicles wereobserved to remain open for a longer period than in the well-wateredpanicles. The role of turgor in spikelet opening is also discussedin the study. At low panicle water potentials, severe desiccationof spikelets and anthers was noted. The deleterious effectsof water deficits on spikelet opening and spikelet water losscontributed to reduced spikelet fertility Oryza sativa L., rice, spikelet sterility, flowering, water stress, panicle water potentials, turgor potentials, desiccation