Leafy head2, which encodes a putative RNA-binding protein, regulates shoot development of rice

During vegetative development, higher plants continuously form new leaves in regular spatial and temporal patterns. Mutants with abnormal leaf developmental patterns not only provide a great insight into understanding the regulatory mechanism of plant architecture, but also enrich the ways to its modification by which crop yield could be improved. Here, we reported the characterization of the rice leafy-head2 （lhd2） mutant that exhibits shortened plastochron, dwarfism, reduced tiller number, and failure of phase transition from vegetative to reproductive growth. Anatomical and histological study revealed that the rapid emergence of leaves in lhd2 was resulted from the rapid initiation of leaf primordia whereas the reduced tiller number was a consequence of the suppression of the tiller bud outgrowth. The molecular and genetic analysis showed that LHD2 encodes a putative RNA binding protein with 67% similarity to maize TEl. Comparison of genome-scale expression profiles between wild-type and lhd2 plants suggested that LHD2 may regulate rice shoot development through KNOXand hormone-related genes. The similar phenotypes caused by LHD2 mutation and the conserved expression pattern of LHD2 indicated a conserved mechanism in controlling the temporal leaf initiation in grass.     

Tillering in grain sorghum over a wiide range of population densities: modelling dynamics of tiller fertility

The prediction of tillering is poor or absent in existing sorghum crop models even though fertile tillers contribute significantly to grain yield. The objective of this study was to identify general quantitative relationships underpinning tiller dynamics of sorghum for a broad range of assimilate availabilities. Emergence, phenology, leaf area development and fertility of individual main culms and tillers were quantified weekly in plants grown at one of four plant densities ranging from two to 16 plants m(-2). On any given day, a tiller was considered potentially fertile (a posteriori) if its number of leaves continued to increase thereafter. The dynamics of potentially fertile tiller number per plant varied greatly with plant density, but could generally be described by three determinants, stable across plant densities: tiller emergence rate aligned with leaf ligule appearance rate; cessation of tiller emergence occurred at a stable leaf area index; and rate of decrease in potentially fertile tillers was linearly related to the ratio of realized to potential leaf area growth. Realized leaf area growth is the measured increase in leaf area, whereas potential leaf area growth is the estimated increase in leaf area if all potentially fertile tillers were to continue to develop. Procedures to predict this ratio, by estimating realized leaf area per plant from intercepted radiation and potential leaf area per plant from the number and type of developing axes, are presented. While it is suitable for modelling tiller dynamics in grain sorghum, this general framework needs to be validated by testing it in different environments and for other cultivars.     

Leaf primordia initiation,leaf emergence and tillering in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under low-phosphorus conditions

In two simultaneous experiments we examined the effects of phosphorus (P) supply on leaf area development in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in sand with nutrient solutions. In Experiment 1 we studied leaf emergence, leaf elongation, tiller emergence, shoot growth, and P uptake under four levels of P supply (mM) 0.025 (P1), 0.05 (P2), 0.1 (P3), and 0.5 (P4), and. In Experiment 2 there were two levels of P supply, P1 and P4, and we examined the effects of P on leaf primordia differentiation and leaf emergence. The phyllochron was calculated as the inverse of the rate of leaf emergence calculated from the regression of number of leaf tips (PHY-Ltip), Haun index (PHY-Haun), and as the cumulated thermal time between the emergence of two consecutive leaves (PHYtt). The plastochron was calculated from the inverse of the rate of leaf primordia initiation in the apex. P deficiency delayed the emergence of leaves on the main stem and on the tiller 1. Phosphorus deficiency increased the time from emergence to double ridge and anthesis. The final number of leaves was not affected by P. The effects of P on the value of the phyllochron were attributed to both a reduced rate of leaf primordia initiation, and to a reduced leaf elongation rate. P deficiency delayed or even suppressed the emergence of certain tillers. In this work a phosphorus deficiency that reduced shoot growth by 25% at 44 days after emergence significantly modified the structure of the plants by increasing the value of the phyllochron and delaying tillering. These results suggest that any attempt to simulate leaf area development and growth of wheat plants for P-limited conditions should include the effects of the deficiency on leaf emergence.     

Tillering in grain sorghum over a wide range of population densities: identification of a common hierarchy for tiller emergence,leaf area development and fertility

Most studies of tiller development have not related the physiological and morphological features of each culm to its subsequent fertility. This introduces problems when trying to account for the effects of tillering on yield in crop models. The objective of this study was to detect the most likely early determinants of tiller fertility in sorghum by identifying hierarchies for emergence, fertility and grain number of tillers over a wide range of assimilate availabilities. Emergence, phenology, leaf area development and dry weight partitioning were quantified weekly for individual tillers and main culms of tillering and uniculm plants grown at one of four densities, from two to 16 plants m(-2). For a given plant in any given density, the same tiller hierarchy applied for emergence of tillers, fertility of the emerged tillers and their subsequent grain number. These results were observed over a range of tiller fertility rates (from 7 to 91%), fertile tiller number per plant at maturity (from 0.2 to 4.7), and tiller contribution to grain yield (from 5 to 78 %). Tiller emergence was most probably related to assimilate supply and light quality. Development, fertility and contribution to yield of a specific tiller were highly dependent on growing conditions at the time of tiller emergence, particularly via early leaf area development of the tiller, which affected its subsequent leaf area accumulation. Assimilate availability in the main culm at the time of tiller emergence was the most likely early determinant of subsequent tiller fertility in this study.     

稻麦理论分蘖出叶数及其增长公式

稻麦作物分蘖出叶的数值化研究是作物形态发生光合功能等研究的一个重要基础．根据稻麦叶蘖同伸规律,设n为主茎总叶龄,Li为第i次分蘖上的理论出叶数,K为分蘖的最高次数,则Li和K均是n的函数．如果主茎芽鞘节和分蘖的芽鞘节均不发生分蘖,则K=（n-1）/3,L_i=C~i 1_n-2i(i=1,2,…,K）;如果主茎芽鞘节和分蘖鞘节均能发生分蘖,则K'=（n-1）／2,L'_i=C~i 1_n-i,以上K值均只取整数．分蘖与出叶增长的理论公式可用T＝∑sumfromi=0tok()C~i_A-2i（无鞘叶分蘖）或T'=sumfromi=0tok'()C_A-i-1~i,L'=sumfromi=0toK'()C_A-i-1~i,L'=sumfromi=0toK'()C_A-1~i 1（有鞘叶分蘖）来表示．这里T与L（T'与L'）分别为单株总茎蘖数与单株总叶数,A为叶龄．文章还采用数学归纳法对公式进行了数学证明,并展述了可能的应用前景．同样方法可证明莫惠栋等提出的稻麦理论分蘖数计算公式.     

QTL analysis to study the association between leaf size and abscisic acid accumulation in droughted rice leaves and comparisons across cereals

Plants accumulate abscisic acid (ABA) under droughted conditions. Genetic variation in the accumulation of ABA in detached and partially dehydrated leaves of rice has previously been reported, and this was found to be associated with variation in leaf size (smaller leaves made more ABA). Correlation analysis failed to distinguish clearly between a causal relationship between the two traits and close genetic linkage between loci controlling the traits. Here we present a detailed genetic analysis of ABA accumulation in detached and partially dehydrated rice leaves, using a population of F₂ plants generated from the lowland × upland cross IR20 (high-ABA) × 63-83 (low-ABA) which was mapped with RFLP and AFLP markers. Several highly significant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for ABA accumulation and leaf weight were identified. Only one of the minor QTLs for ABA accumulation (accounting for only 4% of the phenotypic variance) was coincident with any QTLs for leaf size such that the high-ABA allele was associated with smaller leaves. This analysis, therefore, showed that the association previously found between ABA accumulation and leaf size was probably largely due to genetic linkage and not to a direct effect of leaf size on ABA accumulation or vice versa. Because of the importance of ABA accumulation in regulating responses of plants to drought stress and the effects of plant size on the rate of development of stress, QTLs for drought-induced ABA accumulation, leaf size and tiller number were compared between rice and wheat. In particular, a possible location in rice was sought for a homoeologue of the major wheat vernalization responsive gene, Vrn1, as this gene is also associated with major effects on leaf size, tiller number and ABA accumulation in wheat. The likelihood of homoeologous loci regulating ABA accumulation, leaf size and tiller number in the two crops is discussed.     

TAC1, a major quantitative trait locus controlling tiller angle in rice

A critical step during rice (Oryza sativa) cultivation is dense planting: a wider tiller angle will increase leaf shade and decrease photosynthesis efficiency, whereas a narrower tiller angle makes for more efficient plant architecture. The molecular basis of tiller angle remains unknown. This research demonstrates that tiller angle is controlled by a major quantitative trait locus, TAC1 (Tiller Angle Control 1). TAC1 was mapped to a 35-kb region on chromosome 9 using a large F(2) population from crosses between an indica rice, IR24, which displays a relatively spread-out plant architecture, and an introgressed line, IL55, derived from japonica rice Asominori, which displays a compact plant architecture with extremely erect tillers. Genetic complementation further identified the TAC1 gene, which harbors three introns in its coding region and a fourth 1.5-kb intron in the 3'-untranslated region. A mutation in the 3'-splicing site of this 1.5-kb intron from 'AGGA' to 'GGGA' decreases the level of tac1, resulting in a compact plant architecture with a tiller angle close to zero. Further sequence verification of the mutation in the 3'-splicing site of the 1.5-kb intron revealed that the tac1 mutation 'GGGA' was present in 88 compact japonica rice accessions and TAC1 with 'AGGA' was present in 21 wild rice accessions and 43 indica rice accessions, all with the spread-out form, indicating that tac1 had been extensively utilized in densely planted rice grown in high-latitude temperate areas and at high altitudes where japonica rice varieties are widely cultivated.     

Silicon application promotes rice growth and negatively affects development of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith)

Silicon (Si) has been reported to enhance plant resistance against biotic and abiotic stressors and also benefit plant growth. These effects are more pronounced in grass species, especially with soil‐applied Si. This study investigated the effects of Si application on rice resistance to Spodoptera frugiperda development and plant vegetative growth. Effects of Si on rice were assessed via soil and foliar applications and compared with untreated plants (control). Si was soil‐ and foliar‐applied as 1% silicic acid solution at a dosage equivalent to 1.4 t Si per ha. After application, leaf material was collected from Si‐treated and untreated plants and placed in Petri dishes with individual S. frugiperda neonate larvae, where development was followed to adult emergence and biological parameters recorded. Vegetative growth parameters recorded in rice plants were the height, chlorophyll content, fresh and dry weights of shoots, and shoot Si content. No effects of Si application were observed on the durations of larval and pupal stages, larval and pupal survival, and sex ratio of S. frugiperda. Insects fed leaves from Si‐treated plants exhibited lower leaf consumption, larval and pupal weights, longevity of males and females, number of eggs, and egg viability. The negative effects were correlated with higher rice Si content. Si application to rice increased plant height, chlorophyll content and dry weight. Our study demonstrates that foliar‐applied Si is as efficient as soil‐applied Si in negatively affecting S. frugiperda development and providing beneficial effects on rice plant growth.     

Effects of CCC and GA on internodal development of barley

Summary The effect of applying (2-chloroethyl)trimethylammonium chloride (CCC) or gibberellic acid (GA) as foliar sprays on internodal development of barley was studied. CCC applied to the whole plant at main tiller leaf stages 1, 2 or 3 decreased shoot elongation, and prevented elongation of internode 6 (internode 5 subtended the head). CCC at all stages delayed senescence of the lower leaves. CCC sprayed at all 6 leaf stages and GA sprayed at main tiller leaf stages 1, 2, 3 or 4 reduced plant height at maturity. GA treatment at leaf stages 2, 3 or 4 initially stimulated internodal elongation; elongation of later developed internodes was inhibited resulting in shorter plants at maturity. Only the treatment with GA at leaf stages 5 and 6 resulted in increased plant height.     

Over-expression of OsPIN2 leads to increased tiller numbers, angle and shorter plant height through suppression of OsLAZY1

Crop architecture parameters such as tiller number, angle and plant height are important agronomic traits that have been considered for breeding programmes. Auxin distribution within the plant has long been recognized to alter architecture. The rice (Oryza sativa L.) genome contains 12 putative PIN genes encoding auxin efflux transporters, including four PIN1 and one PIN2 genes. Here, we report that over-expression of OsPIN2 through a transgenic approach in rice (Japonica cv. Nipponbare) led to a shorter plant height, more tillers and a larger tiller angle when compared with wild type (WT). The expression patterns of the auxin reporter DR5::GUS and quantification of auxin distribution showed that OsPIN2 over-expression increased auxin transport from the shoot to the root-shoot junction, resulting in a non-tissue-specific accumulation of more free auxin at the root-shoot junction relative to WT. Over-expression of OsPIN2 enhanced auxin transport from shoots to roots, but did not alter the polar auxin pattern in the roots. Transgenic plants were less sensitive to N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid, an auxin transport inhibitor, than WT in their root growth. OsPIN2-over-expressing plants had suppressed the expression of a gravitropism-related gene OsLazy1 in the shoots, but unaltered expression of OsPIN1b and OsTAC1, which were reported as tiller angle controllers in rice. The data suggest that OsPIN2 has a distinct auxin-dependent regulation pathway together with OsPIN1b and OsTAC1 controlling rice shoot architecture. Altering OsPIN2 expression by genetic transformation can be directly used for modifying rice architecture.     

Life history and population dynamics of the Japanese Yam,Dioscorea japonica thunb.

Shoot morphology at the emergence ofDioscorea japonica Thumb. could be classed into the following three types: (1) a seedling emergence with only one leaf (Se type), (2) a plant consisting of one stem and one leaf, which has emerged from a small tuber (rhizophore) or bulbil less than 50 mg in dry weight (S type) and (3) a twiner with many leaves, which has emerged from a tuber or a bulbil of more than 50 mg in dry weight (L type). The Se type failed to develop beyond the second leaf stage in 1.5% sunlight exposure. The effects of initial plant (seeds, bulbils and tubers) size and light intensity on plant growth were analyzed. The larger the initial plant size was, the greater the growth in height and leaf area was. The distribution ratio of assimilated substances in leaves was high in smaller plants at the early growth stage. The distribution ratio in the tubers of larger plants became high at the early stage of growth. In all three types at over 3% sunlight exposure, the switch-over from the vegetative to reproductive growth phase occurred simultaneously at a later growth stage, but the Se type at 1.5% sunlight exposure showed a very early switch-over in its development; this switch-over may be related to shade tolerance capacity. The L type showed shade avoidance by forming a large productive structure as a twiner     

Effects of Shading the First Leaf on Growth of Barley Plants: I. Long-term Experiments

Plants of barley were grown under controlled conditions andthe first or second leaves covered with tubular shades thusreducing the light intensity at the leaf surface to low levels.Expansion of the shaded leaves was not prevented, but appearanceof the next leaf but one and all subsequent leaves on the mainstemwas delayed by up to 3 days. Primordia of the first four leaveswere present in the dry grain. Shade treatment delayed slightlythe initiation of the eighth and subsequent leaves and transitionto the double ridge stage at the mainstem apex. Shading the first leaf caused a temporary reduction in the rateof dry-matter increase of plants, but after 14 days the ratewas similar to that of control plants. Smaller effects werefound when the second leaf was shaded. Dry-matter productionfollowed two logarithmic phases in the period prior to awn emergence,and rates for the whole plant and for plant parts were similarfor control and shaded plants. Thus, apart from the initialperturbation, shading had no effect on growth in terms of rateof dry-weight gain. Shade treatment did not affect weight per grain or numbers ofgrain per ear, but over-all yield of grain was significantlyreduced since shading delayed the appearance of tillers andalso reduced the number of tillers bearing grain. The effectof shade was especially marked on tillers originating on primarytillers. Similar qualitative effects on tiller development werefound in an experiment on wheat.     

Tolerance and compensatory response of rice to sugarcane borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) injury

A 3-yr field experiment was conducted to evaluate the tolerance and compensatory response of rice (Oryza sativa L.) to injury caused by sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.), as affected by cultivar (Cocodrie, Francis, and Jefferson), stage of crop growth during which the injury occurred (third tiller stage, panicle differentiation stage, and heading stage), and sugarcane borer density. The proportion of rice tillers with sugarcane borer injury (leaf and leaf sheath injury and/or stem injury) was lower when injury occurred at the third tiller stage (0.05) than at panicle differentiation (0.19) and heading (0.18). When injury occurred at the two latter stages, both the proportion of tillers with injury and the proportion of tillers with stem injury were negatively correlated with rainfall. Rainfall resulted in dislodgement and mortality of sugarcane borer eggs and larvae before the larvae entered the stems. Rice plant density in this study (111.1 plants/m2) was higher than recorded for previous research on rice compensation using potted rice or conducted in low-density hill production systems (26.7-51.3 plants/m2). Two mechanisms of within-plant tolerance/compensation were observed. Stem injured plants produced approximately 0.69 more tillers than uninjured plants, whereas tillers with leaf and leaf sheath injury produced larger panicles, up to 39.5 and 21.0% heavier than uninjured tillers, when injury occurred at third tiller stage and at panicle differentiation, respectively. Rice yield was not reduced with up to 23% injured tiller and up to 10% injured stems at the third tiller stage, 42% injured tillers and 17% injured stems at panicle differentiation, and 28% injured tillers and 14% injured stems at heading. Significant between-plant compensation was not detected, suggesting competition between adjacent plants is not significantly reduced by injury. Our results suggest that rice can tolerate and/or compensate for a level of stem borer injury previously considered to be economically damaging.     

Evaluation of Rice Cultivars under Greenhouse Conditions for Adult-Plant Resistance to Pyricularia oryzae

Six rice cultivars showing various types of resistance or susceptibility to Pyricularia oryzae in the field were compared under controlled environmental conditions. The resistance of the cultivars with adult-plant resistance was race-specificat early growth stage. On all cultivars tested, blast infection became increasingly reduced on either leaves of adult plants or older leaves, as observed in rice plants of different leaf stages infected with different individual races. Their increase inhost resistance was marked by an apparent transition in infection type and reduced blast severity depending on leaf age and developmental stage of plants. The ranking of disease severity of the adult-plantresistant cultivars to different races was constant during plant development, whereas that of the susceptible cultivars was differential. It is suggested that different degrees of resistance in rice cultivars may exist in seedlings and be consistently maintained during plant development, probably becoming more distinct as rice plants mature.     

植物重力反应的分子调控机制

重力是调节植物生长发育和形态建成的重要环境因子。植物感受到重力刺激后可以通过重力反应来协调自身各个器官的生长方向与重力方向之间的最适角度。植物重力反应过程分为重力信号的感受、重力信号的转导、生长素不对称分布的形成和重力反应器官的弯曲生长4个阶段。近年来,随着大量重力反应缺陷突变体的鉴定及其控制基因的功能解析,重力信号的感受和生长素不对称分布的分子机制等方面的研究取得了重要进展。作为植物适应环境变化的重要手段之一,重力反应还可以通过调节水稻(Oryza sativa L.)的分蘖角度实现对水稻株型和产量的调控。因此,研究植物的重力反应,不仅有助于解析植物生长发育的调控机制,对于作物株型的改良也具有重要的指导意义。然而,重力反应的分子机制及其调控网络仍不清楚。本文综述了近年来植物重力反应的调控机理及其调控水稻分蘖角度的作用机制,并对该领域未来的研究方向和热点进行了展望。