Inheritance of two endosperm protein loci in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary Previous studies indicated two types of phenotypic protein markers as two minor bands of SDS-PAGE for rice storage protein. A variant derived from a Pakistani variety, Dular, was found to show a mobility variant with Band 11, a relatively faster-moving band as compared to Band 10, while most of the other cultivated rices exhibited Band 10 at a molecular weight of around 100–110 K. Band 11 was also observed in several wild rice species. How this variant occurred is not known. Another marker is characterized by the presence of either Band 56 (slower-migrating band) or Band 57 (faster-migrating band) in most cultivars at a molecular weight of about 28–27 K. Most indica varieties developed in Taiwan have Band 57 and japonica varieties have Band 56. Genetic analysis of F₁, F₂ and F₃ seeds from interstrain crosses indicated that Band 10 versus Band 11 and Band 56 versus Band 57 are due to codominant alleles at two loci. Tests of independent inheritance between these two loci (Band 10/11 versus Band 56/57) indicated that there is no linkage between them. Both of these two protein loci encode for endosperm proteins and mostly belong to the minor polypeptide subunits of the glutelin fraction of rice seed proteins. Studies on reciprocal crosses indicate dosage effects as exhibited in band patterns. Variations in band intensity were frequently observed when the maternal genotype was different.     

Effects of 24-epibrassinolide on seed germination, seedling growth, lipid peroxidation, proline content and antioxidative system of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under salinity stress

The effects of 24-epibrassinolide (24-epiBL) on seedling growth, antioxidative system, lipid peroxidation, proline and soluble protein content were investigated in seedlings of the salt-sensitive rice cultivar IR-28. Seedling growth of rice plants was improved by 24-epiBL treatment under salt stress conditions. When seedlings treated with 24-epiBL were subjected to 120 mM NaCl stress, the activities of superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) and glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2) did not show significant difference, whereas the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11) significantly increased. Increased activity of peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) under NaCl stress showed remarkable decrease in the 24-epiBL+NaCl-applied group. Lipid peroxidation level significantly increased under salt stress but decreased with 24-epiBL application revealing that less oxidative damage occurred in this group (24-epiBL+NaCl). In addition, increased proline content in the NaCl-applied group was decreased by 24-epiBL application in the 24-epiBL+NaCl-applied group. Soluble protein content was increased by 24-epiBL application even under NaCl stress, being also higher than control conditions (no 24-epiBL or NaCl treatment). 24-epiBL treatment considerably alleviated oxidative damage that occurred under NaCl-stressed conditions and improved seedling growth in part under salt stress in sensitive IR-28 seedlings.     

Simple dehydration treatment promotes plantlet regeneration of rice (Oryza sativa L.) callus

Summary To increase plantlet regeneration frequency, rice callus was dehydrated in a Petri dish with a single layer of filter paper prior to transfer to the regeneration medium. With a 24 h dehydration treatment, the regeneration frequency was increased to 47 %, while the regeneration frequency of the untreated control was less than 5 %. This relatively simple method provides an alternative method for improving the regeneration frequency of rice callus.     

RFLP analysis of rice (Oryza sativa L.) introgression lines

Summary Fifty-two introgression lines (BC₂F₈) from crosses between two Oryza sativa parents and five accessions of O. officinalis were analyzed for the introgression of O. officinalis chromosome segments. DNA from the parents and introgression lines was analyzed with 177 RFLP markers located at approximately 10-cM intervals over the rice chromosomes. Most probe/enzyme combinations detected RFLPs between the parents. Of the 174 informative markers, 28 identified putative O. officinalis introgressed chromosome segments in 1 or more of the introgression lines. Introgressed segments were found on 11 of the 12 rice chromosomes. In most cases of introgression, O. sativa RFLP alleles were replaced by O. officinalis alleles. Introgressed segments were very small in size and similar in plants derived from early and later generations. Some nonconventional recombination mechanism may be involved in the transfer of such small chromosomal segments from O. officinalis chromosomes to those of O. sativa. Some of the introgressed segments show association with genes for brown planthopper (BPH) resistance in some introgressed lines, but not in others. Thus, none of the RFLP markers could be unambiguously associated with BPH resistance.     

Overexpression of the rFCA RNA Recognition Motif Affects Morphologies Modifications in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

RNA recognition motifs as important regulators of gene expression are highly conserved in animals and plants. The FCA floral promotion gene in Arabidopsis encodes a protein, containing two RNA recognition motifs (RRM) and a WW protein interaction domain. Here we isolated FCA cDNA from rice. FCA in rice (rFCA) was homologous to FCA-gamma of Arabidopsis and contained conserved domains. To investigate the function of RRM domain, fragment RRM1 and RRM2 of rFCA were introduced into rice subspecies Oryza sativa L. subsp. Indica var. 9311 and another rice subspecies Oryza sativa L. subsp. Japonica var. zhonghua11 transformation. Two transgenic lines exhibited similar phenotypes, flowering time delay, seed size and cell volume of transgenic plants was increased. These results showed that constitutive expression of RRMs could regulate cellular size. The patterns of overexpression of two RRM domains and their similar morphologies indicate they may play a same role.     

Antioxidative defenses and water deficit-induced oxidative damage in rice (Oryza sativa L.) growing on non-flooded paddy soils with ground mulching

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation under non-flooded conditions using polyethylene film as ground mulching materials, namely plastic film-mulching cultivation system (PFMCS), is an alternative to the conventional rice cultivation system in regions where rainfall and fresh water resources are limited. Two-year field trials (1998–1999) were performed in this study to investigate the growth-stage-dependent changes in activities of antioxidative enzymes and lipid peroxidation in leaves of rice subjected to mulching with plastic film or kraft paper and zero mulching under non-flooded conditions compared with continuously flooded treatment. Significantly higher activities of peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) but lower concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed in mulching treatments than in zero mulching treatment at all growth stages in the drier growing season (1999). The concentration of MDA was significantly higher especially at late growth stages in zero mulching treatment than in the other treatments. In contrast, essentially no significant difference existed in the activities of the major antioxidant enzymes (except POD) or in the concentration of MDA between any two treatments in the wetter growing season (1998). This change tendency of antioxidant enzyme activity and MDA level over two contrasting growing seasons was in line with both soil and leaf moisture status, and rice yields of different treatments. These results strongly suggest that plastic film-mulching treatment or paper mulching treatment significantly alleviated oxidative damages induced by water-deficit stress in rice. The efficacy of ground-mulching-induced enhancement of antioxidative defense to drought stress is discussed with respect to water deficit status in both soils and rice plants.     

Ammonium nutrition increases water absorption in rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.) under water stress

Water stress is a primary limitation on plant growth. In previous studies, it has been found that ammonium enhances the tolerance of rice plants to water stress, but how water is related to nitrogen form and water stress remains unknown. To study the effects of nitrogen form (NH ₄ ⁺ , NO ₃ ^? , and a mixture of NH ₄ ⁺ and NO ₃ ^? ) on the growth and water absorption of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings, a hydroponic experiment with water stress, simulated by the addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG, 10% w/v, MW 6000), was conducted in a greenhouse. The results showed that, compared with non-water stress, under water stress, the fresh weight of rice seedlings increased by 14% with NH ₄ ⁺ nutrition, whereas it had decreased by about 20% with either NO ₃ ^? or mixed nitrogen nutrition. No significant difference was found in the transpiration rate of excised shoots or in xylem exudation of excised roots in NH ₄ ⁺ supply between the two water situations, whereas xylem flow decreased by 57% and 24% under water stress in NO ₃ ^? and mixed nutrition, and root hydraulic conductivity decreased by 29% and 54% in plants in NH ₄ ⁺ and NO ₃ ^? nutrition conditions, respectively. Although water absorption ability decreased in both NH ₄ ⁺ and NO ₃ ^? nutrition, aquaporin activity was higher in NH ₄ ⁺ than in NO ₃ ^? nutrition, regardless of water stress. We conclude that NH ₄ ⁺ nutrition can improve water handling in rice seedlings and subsequently enhance their resistance to drought.     

Cloning and characterization of a novel splicing isoform of the iron-superoxide dismutase gene in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) are ubiquitous metalloenzymes in aerobic organisms that play a crucial role in protecting organisms against ROS. Here, we report the molecular cloning and functional characterization of a novel alternatively spliced variant of the iron-superoxide dismutase gene, OsFe-SODb, from a rice panicle cDNA library. The alternative splicing event occurred in the fourth exon of the OsFe-SOD gene, and led to the translation of two isoforms of different sizes. The 5′ flanking region of the OsFe-SOD was cloned and many cis-acting regulatory elements were found that are involved in light responsiveness, including a G-box and an I-box. RT-PCR analysis showed that the two alternative forms of OsFe-SOD were expressed in both the vegetative and reproductive tissues of Cpslo17. Moreover, accumulation of both isoforms was upregulated by light induction. In addition, the alternative splicing of OsFe-SOD mRNA was sensitive to low temperature. High yield production of the two recombinant OsFe-SOD isoforms was achieved in Escherichia coli. SOD assays showed that C-terminal truncation in OsFe-SODb did not result in a loss of SOD enzyme activity.     

The expression of the rice (Oryza sativa L.) homologue of Snm1 is induced by DNA damages

We isolated and characterized the rice homologue of the DNA repair gene Snm1 (OsSnm1). The length of the cDNA was 1862bp; the open reading frame encoded a predicted product of 485 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 53.2kDa. The OsSnm1 protein contained the conserved beta-lactamase domain in its internal region. OsSnm1 was expressed in all rice organs. The expression was induced by MMS, H(2)O(2), and mitomycin C, but not by UV. Transient expression of an OsSnm1/GFP fusion protein in onion epidermal cells revealed the localization of OsSnm1 to the nucleus. These results suggest that OsSnm1 is involved not only in the repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks, but also in various other DNA repair pathways.     

Sink anatomy in relation to solute movement in rice (Oryza sativa L.): A summary of findings

The results of studies on assimilate and water transport in the developing caryopsis of rice are summarised. Evidence is presented for a symplastic movement of solutes as far as the aleurone layer. However, transport into the apoplast at the nucellus/aleurone interface appears to be a necessary step due to the absence of plasmodesmata at this site. It is suggested that water leaves the caryopsis during grain filling by the isolated cell walls of the pigment strand, the suberised walls of these cells functioning to isolate the apoplast from the symplast and thereby allowing opposing fluxes of water and assimilates to occur in the dorsal region of the grain.     

Alteration of oxidative and carbohydrate metabolism under abiotic stress in two rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes contrasting in chilling tolerance

Abiotic stress is a major limiting factor in crop production. Physiological comparisons between contrasting abiotic stress-tolerant genotypes will improve understanding of stress-tolerant mechanisms. Rice seedlings (S3 stage) of a chilling-tolerant (CT) genotype (CT6748-8-CA-17) and a chilling-sensitive (CS) genotype (INIAP12) were subjected to abiotic stresses including chilling (13/12 degrees C), salt (100mM NaCl), and osmotic (200mM mannitol). Measures of physiological response to the stresses included changes in stress-related sugars, oxidative products and protective enzymes, parameters that could be used as possible markers for selection of improved tolerant varieties. Metabolite analyses showed that the two genotypes responded differently to different stresses. Genotype survival under chilling-stress was as expected, however, CT was more sensitive to salt stress than the CS genotype. The CT genotype was able to maintain membrane integrity better than CS, perhaps by reduction of lipid peroxidation via increased levels of antioxidant enzymes during chilling stress. This genotype accumulated sugars in response to stress, but the accumulation was usually less than in the CS genotype. Chill-stressed CT accumulated galactose and raffinose whereas these saccharides declined in CS. On the other hand, the tolerance mechanism in the more salt- and water-deficit-tolerant CS may be associated with accumulation of osmoprotectants such as glucose, trehalose and mannitol.     

Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence cDNA encoding nucleoside diphosphate kinase of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

We isolated a rice cDNA encoding nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDK, EC 2.7.4.6). The deduced amino acid sequence of the rice NDK shows highest homology to spinach NDK-I. The rice NDK gene exhibits a strong codon bias (73.8% GC) in the third position of the codon. DNA blot analysis indicated that at least single NDK gene is present in rice genome.     

Crystal structure of nucleoside diphosphate kinase required for coleoptile elongation in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDK) is a ubiquitous enzyme found in all organisms and cell types, and catalyzes the transfer of the phosphoryl group from a nucleoside triphosphate to a nucleoside diphosphate. The enzyme is involved in and required for coleoptile elongation in rice as the level of the rice NDK (rNDK) changes during seed germination and the early stages of seedling growth. The expression of rice NDK gene is up-regulated in the growing coleoptiles when the anaerobic stress persists. The rNDK structure determined at 2.5 A resolution consists of a four-stranded anti-parallel beta-sheet, of which the surfaces are partially covered with six alpha-helices; its overall and active site structures are similar to those of homologous enzymes except the major conformation variations of residue 132-138 regions, involving significant structural contacts. The model contains 148 residues of 149 residues in total and averaged 19 water molecules per monomer for 12 molecules in an asymmetric unit. A mold of 12 superimposed molecules shows that the alphaA-alpha2 area has greater variations and higher temperature factors, indicating the flexibility for a substrate entrance. Hexameric molecular packing in both crystal and solution implies that rNDK functions as hexamers. This rNDK structure, which is the first NDK structure from a higher plant system, provides the structural information essential to understand the functional significance of this enzyme during growth and development in both rice and other plants.     

Molecular mapping of the ge s gene controlling the super-giant embryo character in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The giant-embryo character is useful for quality improvement in rice. Three alleles controlling embryo size have been reported at the ge locus. Based on trisomic analysis, this locus is known to reside on chromosome 7. The objective of the present study was to identify linkage between molecular markers and the ge ^s gene using an existing molecular map of rice and an F₂ population derived from Hwacheongbyeo-ge ^s (super-giant embryo)/Milyang 23. The bulked-segregant method was used to screen 38 RFLPs and two microsatellite markers from rice chromosome 7. RZ395 and CDO497 flanked the ge ^s gene, at 2.4 cM and 3.4 cM, respectively. The two microsatellite markers, RM18 and RM10, were linked with ge ^s at 7.7 cM and 9.6 cM, respectively. The availability of molecular markers will facilitate selection of this grain character in a breeding program and provide the foundation for map-based gene isolation.     

Nuclear and cell migration during pollen development in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Nuclear and cell migration during pollen development in rice were studied using semi-thin section light microscopy, differential interference contrast microscopy and epifluorescence microscopy. Four migrations of nuclei and cells were observed and described in detail here. The first nuclear migration occurs at the uninucleate microspore stage, when the nucleus of the microspore migrates from the center to the periphery of the cell, and then to the wall opposite the pollen aperture where pollen mitosis I takes place. The second migration occurs at the early bicellular pollen stage, with the vegetative nucleus migrating three-quarters of the circumference of the pollen wall, finally locating at the periphery of the wall where the microspore cell nucleus is positioned. The third migration occurs at the late bicellular pollen stage, with the vegetative nucleus migrating from the periphery of the cell to the central part of the pollen and the generative cell migrating from the opposite side of the aperture to a position between the aperture and the vegetative nucleus where pollen mitosis II takes place. The fourth migration appears at the mature pollen stage when the two sperm cells and the vegetative nucleus migrate to the opposite side of the aperture, finally becoming positioned in the cytoplasm of the vegetative cell distal to the aperture where the male germ unit forms. Cytological observations of pollen abortion resulting from allelic interaction at the S-a, S-b and S-c loci show that abnormalities in the first or second nuclear migration result in the formation of empty abortive pollen, whereas abnormalities in the third or fourth migrations cause production of stainable abortive pollen.     

Identification and genetic analysis of semidwarfism-related proteins in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary By transferring a semidwarf gene (sd-1) from Taichung Native 1 into a tall Japanese cultivar, Norin 29, through seven backcrosses, a semidwarf near-isogenic line SC-TN1 was obtained. The proteins of the embryo in Norin 29 and SC-TN1 were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Most of the proteins showed the same electrophoretic pattern. However, it was found that there was a difference in the appearance of two basic glycoproteins designated as SRP-1 and SRP-2. These proteins exhibited the same molecular mass, but different isoelectric points. Hybridization results indicated that a single locus controls SRP-1 and SRP-2 with codominant alleles. The gene symbol Srp was given to this locus, with alleles Srp-1 and Srp-2 responsible for SRP-1 and SRP-2, respectively. Srp-2 was found in all of the semidwarf cultivars and lines having sd-1, except a tall cultivar Tsaiyuan-chung. This finding suggests that Srp-2 may be closely linked with sd-1. The amounts of these proteins markedly increased after water absorption of the seed, suggesting that these proteins may be related to the early development of the plant.     

不同环境下水稻谷粒重发育的杂种优势和遗传相关性分析

选用9个不同类型的水稻品种(系),按双列杂交设计(6×5)配成两套亲本和F12个世代的遗传材料,采用数量性状的加性、显性遗传模型、发育遗传模型比较分析了水稻谷粒重发育的杂种优势和遗传相关性。结果表明,早季在谷粒充实前期(1～12d)群体平均优势较小,中后期(13～28d)正向优势趋于明显,在谷粒充实的全过程均表现较小的负向群体超亲优势;晚季则在谷粒充实前中期(1～18d)表现正向群体平均优势。后期(19～28d)优势不明显,在谷粒充实前期(1～12d)表现正向群体超亲优势,之后转为明显的负向群体超亲优势,表明晚季谷粒发育的杂种优势表现较之早季更有利于提高籽粒充实质量,不同发育时期谷粒重之间以及与最终谷粒重之间的遗传相关分析表明,早季以显性相关为主,晚季以加性相关为主,随着发育进程的推进,相关趋于密切。     

Efficient transformation of Korean rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L) mediated byAgrobacterium tumefaciens

The purpose of this study was to improve transformation efficiency for three Korean rice cultivars, Ilpum, Dasan, and Namyang. Using two different media with or without light, efficiencies of callus induction, regeneration, and transformation of the Korean cultivars were compared to Japanese cultivar, Nipponbare, as a control. Immature cv. Nipponbare seeds produced 35.5% and 16.1% regeneration efficiency on CIM and N6D media, respectively. Among the Korean cultivars, only cv. Ilpum induced on CIM in the dark was actively regenerated with efficiency of 8.2%. With LBA4404 (pTOK233), no difference for the efficiency of transformation was found between mature and immature seeds of cv. Ilpum. This result reveals that mature seeds can be substituted for this study with no difference. The anther-derived calli of cv. Namyang inoculated with either LBA4404 (pTOK233) or EHA101 (pSMABuba) showed regeneration efficiencies of 14.5% and 20.9%, respectively, even though efficiency of transformation did not differ with these two vectors. We suggest that the anther-derived calli are better-materials for transformation experiment due to their genotype-independent regeneration. In the assay of GUS, all of the calli that survived on the second selection medium were strongly stained. PCR-Southern blot analyses confirmed that T-DNA was stably transformed into all tissues selected. Cvs. Nipponbare and Namyang transformed by LBA4404 (pTOK233) showed positive color in the NPTII ELISA.     

QTLs and epistasis underlying activity of acid phosphatase under phosphorus sufficient and deficient condition in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Eighty-four selected lines from a recombinant inbred (RI) line population of 284 lines derived from a cross between the indica varieties IR20 and IR55178-3B-9-3 were used in a hydroponic culture experiment with sufficient P supply (10 mg P L^–1) and P-deficient stress (0.05 mg P L^–1). After 2 weeks, the activity of acid phosphatase (AAP) in roots of each parent and each line from both normal culture and P-deficient stress was determined. QTLs for AAP, P-deficiency stress induced AAP (Psi-AAP) and relative AAP (RAAP) were detected using 178 molecular markers mapped on all 12 chromosomes based on single marker analysis and interval mapping. One QTL for AAP and three QTLs for Psi-AAP were detected on chromosome 1, 6 and 12, respectively. Two QTLs for RAAP were identical with these for Psi-AAP on chromosome 6 and 12. The results in this case indicated that the genetic system for Psi-AAP was different with that for AAP under normal culture. The AAP was mainly influenced by interaction among muti-factors, while Psi-AAP was controlled by a Psi genetic system.