The influence of rice plant age on susceptibility to the rice water weevil,Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus

Plant age‐ and plant stage‐related changes in the resistance of rice, Oryza sativa, to its most important insect pest in the US, the rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus), were investigated in a series of field and greenhouse choice and no‐choice studies. Rice plants were susceptible to infestation by rice water weevils over a broad range of plant ontogenetic stages, from at least the early vegetative stage to well into the reproductive stage. There was, however, a clear preference expressed by rice water weevils in both choice and no‐choice experiments for plants in (or nearly in) the tillering stage of development, with pre‐tillering and reproductive stage plants less preferred. The relationship between rice plant age and susceptibility to weevils is thus nonlinear. This study constitutes one of the most thorough studies to date of the relationship in a grass species between plant age and susceptibility to herbivores. The results provide a biological explanation for observed patterns of weevil infestations and a rationale for the cultural practice of delayed flooding.     

稻水象甲成虫活动行为的日节律

为了摸清稻水象甲Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel成虫在稻田中的日活动行为节律, 采用室外单头隔离饲养的方法, 将成虫 行为分为移动、 取食、 离水静息、 触水静息和其他5个行为类型, 每30 min观察记录1次, 从2012年4月30日至5月4日连续观察5 d, 共获得7 200个行为数据。结果显示： 稻水象甲越冬成虫行为的日时间分配以离水静息行为最多（47.83%）, 移动行为最少（5.64%）, 各行为的时间分配存在极显著差异（P<0.001）。离水静息行为最高峰值在23:30 （72.67%）, 最低值在7:30 （14.67%）; 触水静息行 为最大峰值在7:30 （75.33%）, 19:00还有一个小高峰（37.33%）; 取食行为在15:00达到最高峰（26.67%）, 在21:00达到第2个高峰 值（18.00%）; 移动行为在22:00-9:00较少（0~4.00%）, 从9:30开始持续增加, 在17:00达到最高峰（20.00%）; 其他行为在 1.33~18.67%之间波动。离水静息、 移动、 取食和其他行为白天和黑夜存在极显著差异（P<0.001）, 但触水静息行为白天和黑夜无显著 不同（P=0.834）; 上午、 中午、 下午和晚上4个时间段之间各行为也有显著差异（P<0.001）。在空间上, 离水静息行为在叶片上最高 , 移动行为以水中最高, 取食行为仅发生在叶片上, 离水静息、 移动和取食在水稻不同部位存在极显著差异（P<0.001）。水中发生触 水静息、 移动和其他共3种行为, 以触水静息行为的日波动最大, 3种行为在各时刻之间有极显著差异（触水静息和移动： P<0.001; 其他： P=0.002）; 叶片上发生离水静息、 移动和取食3种行为, 以离水静息和取食行为的日波动较大且在各时刻间具有极显著的差异 （P<0.001）; 茎秆和瓶壁或封口纱布处主要发生离水静息和移动行为, 所占比例均不高, 但在瓶壁或封口纱布处的移动行为各时刻之 间有极显著差异（P=0.008）。水中和叶片上是行为发生的主要空间, 在水中行为的最高峰值（81.33%）与叶片上的最低值（12.00%）出 现时间相同, 为7:30, 一天中各时刻水中和叶片上的行为呈交错性变化。结果提示, 稻水象甲成虫活动行为受到时空变化的影响, 且 时间变化对其行为的影响较空间变化更为明显。     

The influence of plant age on tolerance of rice to injury by the rice water weevil,Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

For most plant species, tolerance to many types of herbivory increases as plants age, but the applicability of this pattern to root herbivory has not been tested. Injury to roots of rice plants by larvae of the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, causes severe reductions in yields in the United States. It is generally thought that young rice plants, because their root systems are smaller, are less tolerant than older plants of root feeding by L. oryzophilus. Field experiments were conducted to test this hypothesis. Plots of rice (4.7 to 6.5 m2) were established and subjected to natural infestations of L. oryzophilus larvae. A soil insecticide was applied to plots at different times during the tillering phase of rice in order to manipulate the timing of weevil infestation. The impact of these treatments (timings of insecticide applications) was assessed by comparing relationships between yield loss and larval pressure for each treatment using analysis of covariance. Yield losses ranged from 13% to over 40% in plots not treated with insecticide. Patterns of yield losses from plots treated with insecticide at different times were best explained by the hypothesis that yield loss is determined both by the age of plants infested and by the size of larvae infesting plants. Young plants appear to be less tolerant than older plants, and feeding by large larvae appears to be more deleterious than feeding by smaller larvae. Management practices that delay infestation of rice by L. oryzophilus until plants are older may be an important component of management programmes for this pest.     

Effects of defoliation on the resistance and tolerance of rice,Oryza sativa,to root injury by the rice water weevil,Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus

Understanding plant‐mediated interactions in agricultural systems may facilitate the development of novel and improved management practices, which is important, as management of these insects is currently heavily reliant on insecticides. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Prodeniini), is a sporadic pest of rice fields in the southern USA. In southwestern Louisiana, this defoliating insect typically attacks rice early in the growth season, before fields are flooded. Defoliation by fall armyworm larvae may trigger increased expression of plant defenses, which may result in increased resistance to subsequent herbivores. The rice water weevil (RWW), Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Stenopelmini), enters rice fields as an adult both before and after flooding, but oviposition and larval infestation occur only after fields are flooded. RWW may be affected by changes in plant resistance caused by fall armyworm defoliation before flooding. The objectives of this study were to investigate the plant‐mediated effects of natural and artificial defoliation on population densities of RWW larvae after flooding and on the ability of rice plants to compensate for root injury by RWW larvae. In the 2015 season, fall armyworm defoliation before flooding resulted in reduced RWW densities after flooding. However, in 2016 no significant effects of fall armyworm defoliation on densities of RWW larvae were detected. Similarly, mechanical defoliation of rice before flooding did not affect RWW densities after flooding. Although lowest yields were observed in plots subjected to both root injury and defoliation, there was little evidence of a greater than additive reduction in yields from simultaneous injury. These results suggest a lack of plant‐mediated interactions among these two pests in rice in the southern USA.     

基于ISSR分子标记技术的稻水象甲遗传多样性研究

稻水象甲Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel是一种世界性的水稻害虫,已侵入我国23个省市区,发生面积近千万亩。为弄清我国不同地区稻水象甲的遗传多样性水平、居群间的遗传分化及可能的扩散路线,本研究采用ISSR分子标记技术分析了我国13个省28个地区稻水象甲样本的遗传多样性。利用15条ISSR引物共扩增得到258条带,其中247条为多态性条带。在物种水平上,稻水象甲的多态位点百分率(PPB)为95.73%,Nei's基因多样性(H)为0.3578,Shannon信息多样性指数(I)为0.5330;在居群水平上,以上3项指标的平均值分别为46.28%、0.1768、0.2620。Nei's基因分化系数Gst为0.5059,表明有50.59%的遗传变异存在于居群间,49.41%的遗传变异存在于居群内,居群间表现出较高水平的遗传分化。通过UPGMA聚类可将稻水象甲28个居群分成2大支系:安徽池州、安徽合肥、云南嵩明、云南曲靖、江西南昌、四川盐亭、辽宁盘锦、辽宁东港、山西太原、山东东营、天津蓟县、陕西城固、河北唐山、云南寻甸等14个居群聚成第一个分支;贵州、贵州开阳、贵州龙里、贵州贵阳、贵州修文、四川隆昌、四川泸州、湖北武当山、湖北荆门、湖北利川、湖南宁乡、湖南双峰、湖南邵阳、天津宝坻等聚成第二个分支。     

感染稻水象甲的Wolbachia基因组中插入序列的鉴定与分析

共生细菌Wolbachia对宿主的生殖起多种调控作用。以往研究表明, Wolbachia基因组中广泛存在插入序列(insertion sequence, IS), 它们对宿主基因组的可塑性、 多样性和进化起重要作用。稻水象甲Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel在东亚是一种外来水稻害虫, 在原产地北美营两性生殖, 而在所有入侵地均营孤雌生殖。本研究采用PCR法从河北唐海孤雌生殖型稻水象甲体内克隆获得了Wolbachia的2条IS序列, 即ISWosp4和ISWosp6; 从美国德克萨斯州两性生殖型稻水象甲成虫体内克隆获得了Wolbachia的2条IS序列, 即ISWosp3和ISWosp5。碱基序列比对显示: ISWosp3和ISWosp4属于IS3家族IS3组成员, ISWosp5为IS4家族IS231组成员, ISWosp6为IS5家族IS1031组成员。对这些IS的ORF结构、 所编码氨基酸序列的结构等进行了分析, 推测ISWosp5具有潜在转座活性。所得结果增进了我们对Wolbachia IS3, IS4和IS5家族插入序列的认识, 同时为今后从IS的角度探讨Wolbachia与稻水象甲生殖的关系奠定了基础。     

Integrating flood depth and plant resistance with chlorantraniliprole seed treatments for management of rice water weevil,Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Chlorantraniliprole seed treatments in rice provide effective suppression of rice water weevil populations in the United States; however, heavy reliance on prophylactic insecticide treatments as a sole strategy could destabilize management programs for this insect. The present research evaluated the compatibility of seed treatments with two other potential management tactics—plant resistance and shallow flooding–by conducting two split‐plot experiments in 2009 and 2011. In both experiments, no substantial antagonism was found among the 3 different tactics. Statistical interactions in these experiments arose from the strong and persistent effects of chlorantraniliprole on larval densities rather than incompatibility of tactics. In 2009, weevil densities differed among varieties and were significantly lower on the cultivar “Jefferson.” In 2011, weevil densities were reduced significantly in shallow‐flooded plots compared to deep‐flooded plots. Significant reductions in weevil numbers by chlorantraniliprole seed treatments, even at application rates 5 fold lower than commercially recommended rates, demonstrated the potential to reduce application rates of this highly potent larvicide. These latter results suggest that future studies on the relationship between chlorantraniliprole seed treatment rate and weevil fitness are warranted.     

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus intraradices) on the oviposition of rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus)

Root-feeding insects are important drivers in ecosystems, and links between aboveground oviposition preference and belowground larval performance have been suggested. The root-colonizing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a central role in plant nutrition and are known to change host quality for root-feeding insects. However, it is not known if and how AMF affect the aboveground oviposition of insects whose offspring feed on roots. According to the preference–performance hypothesis, insect herbivores oviposit on plants that will maximize offspring performance. In a greenhouse experiment with rice (Oryza sativa), we investigated the effects of AMF (Glomus intraradices) on aboveground oviposition of rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus), the larvae of which feed belowground on the roots. Oviposition (i.e., the numbers of eggs laid by weevil females in leaf sheaths) was enhanced when the plants were colonized by AMF. However, the leaf area consumed by adult weevils was not affected. Although AMF reduced plant biomass, it increased nitrogen (N) and phosphorus concentrations in leaves and N in roots. The results suggest that rice water weevil females are able to discriminate plants for oviposition depending on their mycorrhizal status. The discrimination is probably related to AMF-mediated changes in plant quality, i.e., the females choose to oviposit more on plants with higher nutrient concentrations to potentially optimize offspring performance. AMF-mediated change in plant host choice for chewing insect oviposition is a novel aspect of below- and aboveground interactions.     

Proteolytic gut activities in the rice water weevil,Lissorhoptrus brevirostris Suffrian (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Digestive endoprotease activities of the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus brevirostris Suffrian (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), were characterized based on the ability of gut extracts to hydrolyze specific synthetic substrates, optimal pH, and hydrolysis sensitivity to protease inhibitors. Larvae of this species were found to use a complex proteolytic system that includes cathepsin D-, cathepsin B-, trypsin-, and chymotrypsin-like activities. Trypsin-like activity was evenly distributed among the anterior, middle, and posterior portions of the gut, whereas cathepsin B- and cathepsin D-like activities were mainly located in the anterior and middle sections, and the chymotrypsin-like activity was highest in the middle and posterior sections. Gelatin-containing native-PAGE gels indicated the presence of several aspartyl, cysteine, and serine protease forms and confirmed the spatial organization of the proteolytic digestive process.     

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

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

The rice terpene synthase gene OsTPS19 functions as an (S)‐limonene synthase in planta,and its overexpression leads to enhanced resistance to the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae

Rice blast disease, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, is the most devastating disease of rice. In our ongoing characterization of the defence mechanisms of rice plants against M. oryzae, a terpene synthase gene OsTPS19 was identified as a candidate defence gene. Here, we report the functional characterization of OsTPS19, which is up‐regulated by M. oryzae infection. Overexpression of OsTPS19 in rice plants enhanced resistance against M. oryzae, while OsTPS19 RNAi lines were more susceptible to the pathogen. Metabolic analysis revealed that the production of a monoterpene (S)‐limonene was increased and decreased in OsTPS19 overexpression and RNAi lines, respectively, suggesting that OsTPS19 functions as a limonene synthase in planta. This notion was further supported by in vitro enzyme assays with recombinant OsTPS19, in which OsTPS19 had both sesquiterpene activity and monoterpene synthase activity, with limonene as a major product. Furthermore, in a subcellular localization experiment, OsTPS19 was localized in plastids. OsTPS19 has a highly homologous paralog, OsTPS20, which likely resulted from a recent gene duplication event. We found that the variation in OsTPS19 and OsTPS20 enzyme activities was determined by a single amino acid in the active site cavity. The expression of OsTPS20 was not affected by M. oryzae infection. This indicates functional divergence of OsTPS19 and OsTPS20. Lastly, (S)‐limonene inhibited the germination of M. oryzae spores in vitro. OsTPS19 was determined to function as an (S)‐limonene synthase in rice and plays a role in defence against M. oryzae, at least partly, by inhibiting spore germination.     

Rostrum structure and development in the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea: Dryophthoridae)

A documentation and review of weevil rostrum growth is made through examination of the developmental life stages in the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus). Histological and morphological examinations are made utilizing light, fluorescent, and electron microscopy. In S. oryzae, rostral tissue begins proliferating in the late 4th instar larva and continues through to the pupal stage, with the majority of rostrum growth taking place in the prepupa. Adult cranial and rostral morphology is also reviewed, focusing on structures that may be pertinent to phylogeny reconstruction. The weevil rostrum is essentially an extension of various head sclerites that are basal to the mouthparts. Therefore, while the mouthparts are fairly similar to other Coleoptera in basic form, the head is markedly different due to its anterior extension. By understanding the more noticeable details of rostrum growth and structure, this study may serve as a foundation for comparative studies of a similar nature and as a basis for beginning research on the genetic nature of rostrum formation and evolution throughout the weevil clade.     

Functional characterisation of two phytochelatin synthases in rice (Oryza sativa cv. Milyang 117) that respond to cadmium stress

• Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most toxic heavy metals and a non‐essential element to all organisms, including plants; however, the genes involved in Cd resistance in plants remain poorly characterised.
• To identify Cd resistance genes in rice, we screened a rice cDNA expression library treated with CdCl₂ using a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) mutant ycf1 strain (DTY167) and isolated two rice phytochelatin synthases (OsPCS5 and OsPCS15).
• The genes were strongly induced by Cd treatment and conferred increased resistance to Cd when expressed in the ycf1 mutant strain. In addition, the Cd concentration was twofold higher in yeast expressing OsPCS5 and OsPCS15 than in vector‐transformed yeast, and OsPCS5 and OsPCS15 localised in the cytoplasm. Arabidopsis thaliana plants overexpressing OsPCS5/‐15 paradoxically exhibited increased sensitivity to Cd, suggesting that overexpression of OsPCS5/‐15 resulted in toxicity due to excess phytochelatin production in A. thaliana.
• These data indicate that OsPCS5 and OsPCS15 are involved in Cd tolerance, which may be related to the relative abundances of phytochelatins synthesised by these phytochelatin synthases.

     

Olfactory cues explain differential attraction of the striped rice stem borer to different varieties of rice plant

In Iranian rice fields, different varieties of rice are cultivated which are differentially impacted by females of the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis. To elucidate the role odours may play in their host plant finding behaviour, female Ch. suppressalis were exposed to four varieties of rice plants and their volatiles in a four‐arm olfactometer. In whole plant tests, Ch. suppressalis were significantly attracted to the variety previously characterized as most susceptible, least attracted to one characterized as semisusceptible, and showed no attraction to those varieties characterized as semi‐ and highly resistant. Tests using headspace volatile extracts yielded similar results in the case of the most susceptible variety, but showed no attraction to the semisusceptible and highly resistant varieties, and low attraction to the semiresistant variety. Subsequent analysis of the volatile composition identified a panel of 27 components, some of which were either unique to, or abundantly present in, particular varieties, and may explain the observed variation in their attractiveness. Our findings show that rice plant volatiles can play a role in the host selection behaviour of this pest species, and we suggest compounds which may be important to this process and the future application of volatiles in rice pest management programs.     

Attractiveness of synthetic volatile blends of flowering rice panicles to Trigonotylus caelestialium (Kirkaldy) (Heteroptera: Miridae)

The attractiveness of 22 synthetic volatile blends or seven individual chemicals emitted from flowering rice panicles to a rice leaf bug, Trigonotylus caelestialium (Kirkaldy), were investigated with an olfactometer to identify the active compounds responsible for the invasion of the bugs into paddy fields. n‐Decanal attracted only male bugs, whereas β‐caryophyllene attracted only females. β‐Elemene repelled males and methyl benzoate marginally repelled females. The other chemicals did not attract or repel male and female bugs at all. Two‐, 3‐, 4‐ and 5‐component blends of β‐caryophyllene, n‐decanal, n‐tridecene, methyl salicylate and geranyl acetone were attractive to neither females nor males. Two‐component blends comprised of β‐caryophyllene and methyl salicylate, or n‐decanal and methyl salicylate, marginally repelled females. The three‐component blend comprised of β‐caryophyllene, n‐decanal and geranyl acetone marginally repelled females. The five‐component blend comprised of β‐caryophyllene, n‐decanal, n‐tridecene, methyl salicylate and geranyl acetone repelled males. The seven‐component blend comprised of β‐caryophyllene, n‐decanal, n‐tridecene, methyl salicylate, geranyl acetone, methyl benzoate and β‐elemene attracted female bugs and marginally attracted male bugs. Six‐component blends without any one of these seven components were not attractive to the bugs although the six‐component blend without n‐decanal was marginally attractive to females. The six‐component blend without n‐tridecene repelled males. These findings suggest that mixtures of these seven compounds play an important role in the attractiveness of flowering rice panicles to both sexes of the bugs, although the attractiveness of individual compounds differs between sexes.     

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

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

Eucalypt hybrid susceptibility to Gonipterus scutellatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract Damage caused by the eucalypt snout weevil Gonipterus scutellatus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) (=G.gibberus Boisduval) was found on a greater proportion of F₁Eucalyptus amygdalina Labill. X E. risdonii J. D. Hook, hybrid trees than either of the pure species, in a replicated field trial in south‐east Tasmania. A greater proportion of E. risdonii trees was also damaged than E. amygdalina trees. A study of the pattern of oviposition within the trial revealed no difference in oviposition by G. scutellatus between E. risdonii and E. amygdalina. Oviposition by G. scutellatus was significantly higher on the F₁ and F₂interspecific hybrids between these two eucalypt species compared with pure species crosses. There were no apparent differences in damage or oviposition levels between the F₁ hybrids and the single large F₂ progeny included in the trial. This finding provides little evidence that hybrid susceptibility is due to hybrid breakdown after the first generation. Rather, the evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that there may be different mechanisms of host defence operating in each species that are somehow diluted below a threshold level in the hybrids.     

Natural variation in the promoter of rice calcineurin B‐like protein10 (OsCBL10) affects flooding tolerance during seed germination among rice subspecies

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) has two ecotypes, upland and lowland rice, that have been observed to show different tolerance levels under flooding stress. In this study, two rice cultivars, upland (Up221, flooding‐intolerant) and lowland (Low88, flooding‐tolerant), were initially used to study their molecular mechanisms in response to flooding germination. We observed that variations in the OsCBL10 promoter sequences in these two cultivars might contribute to this divergence in flooding tolerance. Further analysis using another eight rice cultivars revealed that the OsCBL10 promoter could be classified as either a flooding‐tolerant type (T‐type) or a flooding‐intolerant type (I‐type). The OsCBL10 T‐type promoter only existed in japonica lowland cultivars, whereas the OsCBL10 I‐type promoter existed in japonica upland, indica upland and indica lowland cultivars. Flooding‐tolerant rice cultivars containing the OsCBL10 T‐type promoter have shown lower Ca²⁺ flow and higher α‐amylase activities in comparison to those in flooding‐intolerant cultivars. Furthermore, the OsCBL10 overexpression lines were sensitive to both flooding and hypoxic treatments during rice germination with enhanced Ca²⁺ flow in comparison to wild‐type. Subsequent findings also indicate that OsCBL10 may affect OsCIPK15 protein abundance and its downstream pathways. In summary, our results suggest that the adaptation to flooding stress during rice germination is associated with two different OsCBL10 promoters, which in turn affect OsCBL10 expression in different cultivars and negatively affect OsCIPK15 protein accumulation and its downstream cascade.     

Improving rice tolerance to potassium deficiency by enhancing OsHAK16p:WOX11‐controlled root development

Potassium (K) deficiency in plants confines root growth and decreases root‐to‐shoot ratio, thus limiting root K acquisition in culture medium. A WUSCHEL‐related homeobox (WOX) gene, WOX11, has been reported as an integrator of auxin and cytokinin signalling that regulates root cell proliferation. Here, we report that ectopic expression of WOX11 gene driven by the promoter of OsHAK16 encoding a low‐K‐enhanced K transporter led to an extensive root system and adventitious roots and more effective tiller numbers in rice. The WOX11‐regulated root and shoot phenotypes in the OsHAK16p:WOX11 transgenic lines were supported by K‐deficiency‐enhanced expression of several RR genes encoding type‐A cytokinin‐responsive regulators, PIN genes encoding auxin transporters and Aux/IAA genes. In comparison with WT, the transgenic lines showed increases in root biomass, root activity and K concentrations in the whole plants, and higher soluble sugar concentrations in roots particularly under low K supply condition. The improvement of sugar partitioning to the roots by the expression of OsHAK16p:WOX11 was further indicated by increasing the expression of OsSUT1 and OsSUT4 genes in leaf blades and several OsMSTs genes in roots. Expression of OsHAK16p:WOX11 in the rice grown in moderate K‐deficient soil increased total K uptake by 72% and grain yield by 24%–32%. The results suggest that enlarging root growth and development by the expression of WOX11 in roots could provide a useful option for increasing K acquisition efficiency and cereal crop productivity in low K soil.