灌溉和种植方式对冬小麦生育后期旗叶光合特性及产量的影响

于2009—2011年通过田间试验,以高产中筋冬小麦品种济麦22为材料,设等行距平作、宽窄行平作、沟播3种种植方式,每种种植方式下设不灌水(W₀)、灌拔节水(W₁)、灌拔节水+开花水(W₂)、灌拔节水+开花水+灌浆水(W₃)4种灌溉处理(每次灌水量为60 mm),研究不同灌溉和种植方式对冬小麦生育后期旗叶光合特性和产量的影响.结果表明: 随冬小麦灌水量的增加,3种种植方式下小麦花后旗叶叶面积和光合速率均增加,光系统Ⅱ最大光化学效率和实际光化学效率也增加;与W₀处理相比,各灌水处理提高了小麦籽粒产量,但水分利用效率(WUE)降低.同一灌溉条件下,与其他两种种植方式相比,沟播方式小麦花后旗叶光合速率、光系统Ⅱ最大光能转化效率和实际光化学效率均较高,且W₂处理籽粒产量显著高于其他处理.统筹考虑冬小麦的籽粒产量和WUE,沟播结合灌拔节水+开花水是华北平原冬麦区较适宜的节水种植方式.     

灌溉和种植方式对冬小麦耗水特性及干物质生产的影响

于2008-2010年通过田间试验,以高产中筋冬小麦品种济麦22为材料,设等行距平作、宽窄行平作、沟播3种种植方式,每种种植方式下设不灌水(W₀)、拔节水(W₁)、拔节水+开花水(W₂)、拔节水+开花水+灌浆水(W₃)4种灌溉处理(每次灌水量为60 mm),研究不同灌溉和种植方式对冬小麦耗水特性及干物质积累与分配规律的影响.结果表明： 随灌水量的增加,3种植方式下农田总耗水量均增加,灌水量占总耗水量的比例也增加,而土壤贮水消耗量及其占总耗水量的比例显著降低;与W₀处理相比,各灌水处理提高了开花后干物质的积累量、小麦籽粒产量,而水分利用效率(WUE)降低.同一灌溉条件下,与其他两种种植方式相比,沟播方式土壤贮水量消耗比例、籽粒产量和WUE均较高.综合考虑小麦的籽粒产量和WUE,沟播结合灌拔节水+开花水是华北平原冬麦区较适宜的节水种植方式.     

Effects of nitrogen rates on grain yield and nitrogen agronomic efficiency of durum wheat genotypes under different environments

Durum wheat is an important staple food crop in Tunisia and other Mediterranean countries and is grown in various climatic conditions. Production and yield are however severely limited not only by drought events but also by reduced levels of nitrogen fertilisation. A study was carried out at two locations in the sub‐humid area of Tunisia: Mateur in 2009–10 and 2010–11 and Beja in 2011–12 and 2012–13 under rainfed conditions. Four durum wheat genotypes (landraces: Bidi, Azizi; improved: Om Rabia, Khiar) were evaluated for nitrogen agronomic efficiency and related agronomic traits under various nitrogen rates: 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 kg N ha^?1, with three replications. There was a significant interaction effect (P ≤ 0.001) environments × genotypes × N treatments for grain yield (GY), biomass yield (BY), harvest index (HI), partial factor productivity of applied nitrogen (PFP_N) and nitrogen agronomic use efficiencies (NAE). GY was the most affected trait by nitrogen applied showing an increase of 94% under high N treatment (250 kg N ha^?1) compared to control plots without N treatments. A significant linear regression exists between GY (0 N) and GY for the different N rates (r = 0.70; P < 0.001). This effect was more pronounced for improved genotypes than landraces for all parameters excepting BY and NAE_BY. BY showed +11% increase in landraces than improved genotypes. PFP_N showed an average decrease of 65% under high‐N fertilisation with 10% prevalence for improved genotypes. Landraces tend to promote vegetative growth while grain filling efficiency was higher for improved genotypes.     

推迟拔节水灌溉对宽幅精播麦田冠层温度与叶片水分利用效率的影响

为了探讨冬小麦高效节水灌溉模式,于2012—2013年在山东农业大学试验站采用两种种植模式(宽幅精播种植和常规种植),每种种植模式设3种灌溉处理(全生育期不灌溉、拔节期灌溉60 mm和拔节后10 d灌溉60 mm),研究了推迟拔节水灌溉对宽幅精播麦田冠层温度、光合速率、蒸腾速率、叶片水分利用效率(WUEL)和籽粒产量等的影响。结果表明,推迟拔节水灌溉显著提高了宽幅精播麦田生育后期的冠层温度、旗叶光合速率和蒸腾速率,且在冬小麦生长后期推迟拔节水灌溉显著提高了宽幅精播麦田的WUEL,有利于实现宽幅精播麦田的节水高产;产量构成因素中,推迟拔节水灌溉对两种种植模式的千粒重均没有显著影响,但推迟拔节水灌溉显著提高了宽幅精播麦田的穗粒数和籽粒产量。统筹考虑冬小麦的WUEL和籽粒产量,推迟拔节水灌溉对宽幅精播麦田实现节水高产具有一定的现实意义。     

冬小麦种植模式对水分利用效率的影响

在同一种植密度下,设3种种植模式,包括25 cm等行距平作、"20+40"大小行平作和"20+40"沟播。研究了冬小麦沟播和平作种植对产量及水分利用效率的影响。结果表明,"20+40"沟播产量显著高于平作;叶片相对含水量(RWC)、水势(Ψw)和叶片水平水分利用效率随生育进程的推进呈整体下降趋势,其中,沟播处理RWC、Ψw和叶片水平水分利用效率的平均值均显著高于等行距和"20+40"平作处理;另外,"20+40"沟播还能明显提高冬小麦田土壤贮水量,减少总耗水量,从而提高水分利用效率。灌水增加了冬小麦产量和叶片相对含水量等各水分指标,降低了水分利用效率,减小了各种植模式间差异。"20+40"沟播在灌水135 mm条件下既保障产量又较等行距节水25%。由此表明,冬小麦"20+40"沟播可改善叶片水分状况,提高水分利用效率,增加作物产量。     

Comparative performance of δ13C,ion accumulation and agronomic parameters for phenotyping durum wheat genotypes under various irrigation water salinities

The use of efficient selection traits for screening under contrasting irrigation water salinity is a challenge for breeders. To identify patterns, grain yield (GY) and yield components (kernels m^?2, thousand kernels weight), growth traits (plant height, biomass), flag leaf ion accumulation (Na⁺ and K⁺), carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C_grain) and nitrogen concentration (N_grain) of grains were assessed on 25 durum wheat genotypes (G) in two consecutive growing seasons (2010 and 2011), in three semi‐arid locations in Tunisia. Each location differed in their irrigation water salinity as measured by electrical conductivity: Echbika (S1, 6 dS m^?1), Barrouta (S2, 12 dS m^?1) and Sidi Bouzid (S3, 18 dS m^?1). GY was shown to be negatively correlated to N_grain as well as to δ¹³C_grain. This is confirmed by a multiple linear regression analysis that showed that both δ¹³C_grain and N_grain were the major determinant components for GY variability under S3. A high genotypic variability was observed and the improved genotype Maali exhibited the most stable GY under the three irrigation water salinities and the two cropping seasons. Maali showed the lowest δ¹³C_grain. This indicates that tolerance in durum wheat is likely to be correlated to the ability of maintaining a high stomatal conductance. According to our data suggests δ¹³C_grain can be used for an efficient screening of salt tolerant durum wheat. Under our experimental conditions, N_grain was shown to be highly correlated to δ¹³C_grain and can therefore be easier‐to‐use trait to assess the tolerance to salinity.     

限水灌溉冬小麦冠层氮分布与转运特征及其对供氮的响应

以高产冬小麦品种周麦18为材料,在大田春灌1水条件下,设置不同供氮水平和氮肥运筹处理试验,研究并探讨了在华北地区限水灌溉条件下氮肥施用对冬小麦冠层叶片氮素时空分布与转运及氮肥利用的影响。结果表明,冬小麦适量施氮可显著增产,2008-2009年以施氮量180 kg/hm²时(N21)产量最高,为8749 kg/hm²;2009-2010年以施氮量270 kg/hm²时(N32)产量最高,但施氮量210 kg/hm²(N22)处理与N32处理产量无显著差异,分别为8340 kg/hm²和8558 kg/hm²。氮肥利用效率和氮肥偏生产力均随施氮量增加而降低;氮肥利用率与氮肥农学效率均随施氮量的增加呈先升后降的趋势,分别在N21和N22处理时最高。冠层叶片氮素含量和积累量随叶层层次自上而下降低而下降,垂直梯度分明,各时期冠层叶片氮素垂直梯度随施氮量的增加总体呈先增大后减小的趋势。冠层叶片氮素转运量、转运率和对籽粒的贡献率均呈现为:第1层>第2层>第3层>第4层。相关分析表明,冠层叶片氮素梯度与叶片氮素转运率呈显著正相关关系(R²=0.722^*),与贡献率呈极显著正相关关系(R²=0.975^**)。适量施氮(120-210 kg/hm²)增大了叶层间氮素垂直分布梯度,促进了氮素在植株内的运移分配,有利于叶片氮素向外转运,提高了叶片氮素转运量和对籽粒贡献率,保持了较高的氮素利用率。施氮过多(330 kg/hm²)减小了叶层间氮素垂直分布梯度,减弱了氮素在植株内的再利用,叶片氮素转运不畅,导致叶片氮素转运量和对籽粒贡献率下降,氮素利用率显著降低。连续两年试验结果显示,通过适量氮肥调控可以增大冠层叶片氮素垂直梯度,有利于叶片中的氮素输出,促进氮素的再分配、再利用,从而提高氮素利用率,并可获得较高的籽粒产量和蛋白质含量。     

灌水量与密度互作对冬小麦籽粒产量和水分利用效率的影响

为明确协同提高冬小麦产量和水分利用效率的适宜灌水量和种植密度,选用大穗型品种‘泰农18’(T18)和中穗型品种‘山农22’(S22)为试验材料,设置4个灌溉水平(不灌水、每次灌水45、60、75 mm)和4个种植密度,其中泰农18选用135×10⁴、270×10⁴、405×10⁴、540×10⁴ 株·hm^-2,山农22选用90×10⁴、180×10⁴、270×10⁴、360×10⁴株·hm^-2,研究了籽粒产量、麦田耗水特性和水分利用效率对灌水量和密度互作效应的响应。结果表明: 籽粒产量、总耗水量、土壤贮水消耗量和水分利用效率均受到灌溉水平、种植密度及两者互作效应的显著影响。每次灌水量为45 mm,泰农18种植密度为405×10⁴株·hm^-2、山农22种植密度为270×10⁴株·hm^-2时,两品种籽粒产量均达到最高,拔节后棵间蒸发量占阶段农田总耗水量的比例最小,1 m以下土壤水消耗比例、水分利用效率高。种植密度与灌溉量合理组合,有利于降低水分无效损耗,提高水分利用效率。     

Long-Term Monitoring of Rainfed Wheat Yield and Soil Water at the Loess Plateau Reveals Low Water Use Efficiency

Increasing crop yield and water use efficiency (WUE) in dryland farming requires a quantitative understanding of relationships between crop yield and the water balance over many years. Here, we report on a long-term dryland monitoring site at the Loess Plateau, Shanxi, China, where winter wheat was grown for 30 consecutive years and soil water content (0–200 cm) was measured every 10 days. The monitoring data were used to calibrate the AquaCrop model and then to analyse the components of the water balance. There was a strong positive relationship between total available water and mean cereal yield. However, only one-third of the available water was actually used by the winter wheat for crop transpiration. The remaining two-thirds were lost by soil evaporation, of which 40 and 60% was lost during the growing and fallow seasons, respectively. Wheat yields ranged from 0.6 to 3.9 ton/ha and WUE from 0.3 to 0.9 kg/m³. Results of model experiments suggest that minimizing soil evaporation via straw mulch or plastic film covers could potentially double wheat yields and WUE. We conclude that the relatively low wheat yields and low WUE were mainly related to (i) limited rainfall, (ii) low soil water storage during fallow season due to large soil evaporation, and (iii) poor synchronisation of the wheat growing season to the rain season. The model experiments suggest significant potential for increased yields and WUE.     

基于生态需水保障的农业生态补偿标准

面向流域农业需水和生态需水间的矛盾问题和协调发展的要求,提出了基于生态需水保障的农业生态补偿标准计算方法。其中考虑农业用水定额计算基于生态需水保障的农业用水短缺,引入水分生产函数模型建立保障生态需水量产生的农业用水短缺与产量损失间的关系,根据不同季节作物产量响应系数的变化,定量确定具有时间和等级差异性的农业生态补偿标准。以保障黄河口生态需水引起的山东引黄灌区农业损失补偿标准分析为实例,计算了冬小麦和夏玉米种植户不同等级的生态补偿标准。结论认为,农业生态补偿标准需根据不同的来水过程及生态需水等级确定,面积稳定和保障功能显著的粮食作物应作为补偿标准计算的依据。     

有限供水下冬小麦全程耗水特征定量研究

为明确冬小麦不同水分条件下全生育过程日耗水及阶段耗水特征,在北京地区利用蒸渗仪系统连续监测了几种灌溉处理(W4:起身水+孕穗水+开花水+灌浆水;W2:拔节水+开花水;W1:拔节水;W0:无灌水)耗水动态变化。结果表明:冬小麦全生育期的耗水动态可分为3个阶段:(1)播种至11月底的冬前阶段,这个阶段日耗水量波动明显,一般低于3 mm/d;(2)12月上旬至来年2月底的冬季阶段,这个阶段日耗水量低于0.4 mm/d,且波动很小;(3)3月初小麦返青至收获的春后生长阶段,这个阶段日耗水量总体上是一个先升高后降低的过程,但波动很大,每次灌水都会引起1个日耗水高峰的出现。耗水日变化呈单峰或双峰曲线,高峰出现在正午前后,高峰值因灌水处理而有明显差异,灌水多则耗水峰值显著升高,而夜间耗水量及其在不同处理间差异均很小。拔节至成熟期是冬小麦耗水的主要时期,该期耗水占总耗水60%以上。减少灌溉会增加土壤贮水消耗,但降低了总耗水量。综合比较表明,在有限灌溉下,拔节水和开花水组合是高产和高水分效率相统一的灌溉模式。     

华北地区冬小麦灌溉制度及其环境效应研究进展

充分利用有限的灌溉水资源确保冬小麦安全生产是华北地区冬小麦稳产高产面临的严峻挑战,解决这一问题的关键在于如何基于环境效应科学地进行灌溉管理。综述了国内外有关冬小麦的灌溉管理制度,即充分灌溉与非充分灌溉管理制度以及冬小麦关键灌溉期的环境效应,在此基础上提出了华北地区冬小麦科学灌溉拟重点关注的研究任务:(1)冬小麦生长发育需水时间与需水量的控制机制研究;(2)冬小麦干旱发生发展过程与致灾临界气象条件研究;(3)气候变化背景下极端干旱事件的冬小麦脆弱性诊断与适应性管理,以为华北地区冬小麦安全生产措施制定提供依据。     

Integrating Remote Sensing and GIS for Prediction of Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Protein Contents in Linfen (Shanxi), China

In this study, relationships between normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and plant (winter wheat) nitrogen content (PNC) and between PNC and grain protein content (GPC) were investigated using multi-temporal moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) data at the different stages of winter wheat in Linfen (Shanxi, P. R. China). The anticipating model for GPC of winter wheat was also established by the approach of NDVI at the different stages of winter wheat. The results showed that the spectrum models of PNC passed F test. The NDVI_4.14 regression effect of PNC model of irrigated winter wheat was the best, and that in dry land was NDVI_4.30. The PNC of irrigated and dry land winter wheat were significantly (P<0.01) and positively correlated to GPC. Both of protein spectral anticipating model of irrigated and dry land winter wheat passed a significance test (P<0.01). Multiple anticipating models (MAM) were established by NDVI from two periods of irrigated and dry land winter wheat and PNC to link GPC anticipating model. The coefficient of determination R² (R) of MAM was greater than that of the other two single-factor models. The relative root mean square error (R_RMSE) and relative error (RE) of MAM were lower than those of the other two single-factor models. Therefore, test effects of multiple proteins anticipating model were better than those of single-factor models. The application of multiple anticipating models for predication of protein content (PC) of irrigated and dry land winter wheat was more accurate and reliable. The regionalization analysis of GPC was performed using inverse distance weighted function of GIS, which is likely to provide the scientific basis for the reasonable winter wheat planting in Linfen city, China.     

2009-2011年我国西南地区旱灾程度及其对植被净初级生产力的影响

2009—2011年,我国西南地区遭受了极端干旱气候影响。利用1980—2011年气象站点观测数据和基于光能利用率的植被净初级生产力估算模型Glo PEM,研究了2009—2011年西南地区干旱灾害过程和程度及其对植被净初级生产力的影响,结果显示:2009—2011年西南地区年均降水量和湿润指数明显低于1980—2008年均值。受干旱气候影响,研究区植被净初级生产力比2001—2011年均值低12.55 g C m-2a-1,总计低0.017 Pg C/a,造成的碳损失约占我国总碳汇的7.91%。2001—2011年西南地区植被净初级生产力与蒸散量变化显著相关(R2=0.44,P0.05),而降水量和湿润指数变化过程与植被净初级生产力和蒸散量不同步,可能是由于该地区森林覆盖率较高,具有较强的涵养水源功能,导致土壤湿度变化滞后于降水量和湿润指数变化,从而使降水量变化过程与植被净初级生产力变化不同步。     

Can the agricultural AquaCrop model simulate water use and yield of a poplar short‐rotation coppice?

We calibrated and evaluated the agricultural model AquaCrop for the simulation of water use and yield of a short‐rotation coppice (SRC) plantation with poplar (Populus) in East Flanders (Belgium) during the second and the third rotation (first 2 years only). Differences in crop development and growth during the course of the rotations were taken into account during the model calibration. Overall, the AquaCrop model showed good performance for the daily simulation of soil water content (R² of 0.57–0.85), of green canopy cover (R² > 0.87), of evapotranspiration (ET; R² > 0.76), and of potential yield. The simulated, total yearly water use of the SRC ranged between 55% and 85% of the water use of a reference grass ecosystem calculated under the same environmental conditions. Crop transpiration was between 67% and 93% of total ET, with lower percentages in the first than in the second year of each rotation. The observed (dry mass) yield ranged from 6.61 to 14.76 Mg ha^?1 yr^?1. A yield gap of around 30% was observed between the second and the third rotation, as well as between simulated and observed yield during the third rotation. This could possibly be explained by the expansion of the understory (weed) layer; the relative cover of understory weeds was 22% in the third year of the third rotation. The agricultural AquaCrop model simulated total water use and potential yield of the operational SRC in a reliable way. As the plantation was extensively managed, potential effects of irrigation and/or fertilization on ET and on yield were not considered in this study.     

Gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon: global prices, deforestation, and mercury imports

Many factors such as poverty, ineffective institutions and environmental regulations may prevent developing countries from managing how natural resources are extracted to meet a strong market demand. Extraction for some resources has reached such proportions that evidence is measurable from space. We present recent evidence of the global demand for a single commodity and the ecosystem destruction resulting from commodity extraction, recorded by satellites for one of the most biodiverse areas of the world. We find that since 2003, recent mining deforestation in Madre de Dios, Peru is increasing nonlinearly alongside a constant annual rate of increase in international gold price (∼18%/yr). We detect that the new pattern of mining deforestation (1915 ha/year, 2006–2009) is outpacing that of nearby settlement deforestation. We show that gold price is linked with exponential increases in Peruvian national mercury imports over time (R² = 0.93, p = 0.04, 2003–2009). Given the past rates of increase we predict that mercury imports may more than double for 2011 (∼500 t/year). Virtually all of Peru''s mercury imports are used in artisanal gold mining. Much of the mining increase is unregulated/artisanal in nature, lacking environmental impact analysis or miner education. As a result, large quantities of mercury are being released into the atmosphere, sediments and waterways. Other developing countries endowed with gold deposits are likely experiencing similar environmental destruction in response to recent record high gold prices. The increasing availability of satellite imagery ought to evoke further studies linking economic variables with land use and cover changes on the ground.     

气候变化对华北冬小麦生育期和灌溉需水量的影响

利用华北4个气象站点1981—2010年冬小麦的生育期数据和气象资料,研究了华北平原典型区域冬小麦在气候变化条件下的生育期及各生育阶段灌溉需水量。结果表明:(1)过去30a来,华北地区冬小麦播种期和出苗期均有推迟趋势,且高纬度站点的变化趋势明显,其他生育期则呈提前趋势,而冬小麦全生育期表现为缩短;(2)华北冬小麦灌溉需水量在空间上从北到南、自东向西逐渐递减趋势;在时间上,东西部地区灌溉需水量变化趋势相反,东部地区呈逐渐增加趋势,而西部地区呈减小趋势;(3)冬小麦生育阶段的灌溉需水量变化不相同,播种—出苗、拔节—抽穗和抽穗—乳熟期灌溉需水量表现为减少趋势,而出苗—拔节和乳熟—成熟期则表现为增加趋势。就冬小麦整个生育期而言,华北西部地区灌溉需水量(北京密云站和石家庄栾城站)有减少趋势,分别减少6.72mm/10a和8.3mm/10a;而华北东部地区(天津宝坻站和邢台南宫站)的趋势正好相反,分别增加2.6mm/10a和7.08mm/10a。6个生育阶段灌溉需水量的年际波动程度依次为:播种—出苗期乳熟—成熟期抽穗—乳熟期拔节—抽穗期出苗—拔节期播种—成熟期;(4)气象要素对灌溉需水量的影响较复杂,其中灌溉需水量同有效降水量、相对湿度呈负相关,且相关关系极显著,与生育期长度存在微负相关关系,与日照时数、平均温度和风速呈显著正相关。同时,影响各生育阶段灌溉需水量的气象要素也存在差异,主要包括有效降水量、相对湿度和风速等。     

Water Footprint in paddy rice systems. Its determination in the provinces of Santa Fe and Entre Ríos,Argentina

In the context of social responsibility and, of the directives aimed at an integral management of natural resources, the Water Footprint (WF) has been widely spread as an indicator that contributes to a safe and sustainable use of water. The purpose of this study was to determine the WF for rice production (WF_R) in two rice-growing areas in Argentina: central-east Entre Ríos and Santa Fe. The calculation was made using the methodology proposed in The Water Footprint Assessment Manual, according to which the WF of a crop, in this case rice, represents the relation between the amount of water satisfying the evapotranspiration demand (CWU) and the field productivity. The WF has three components: green (WFgreen), associated with rain used by the crop (CWUgreen); blue (WFblue), related to underground or surface water that fulfils the evapotranspiration demand (CWUblue); and grey (WFgrey), related to the volume of water required to dilute the residues of pollutants generated from the crop production. To estimate the CWUblue and CWUgreen, a rice water balance model (RWM), specifically developed for continuous flooding irrigation, was applied. Based on daily data of precipitation, crop evapotranspiration and soil variables the model allows calculating gross irrigation depth, surface runoff due to precipitations, variation of water stored in the soil, and deep percolation. Four agricultural seasons were assessed: 2009/2010, 2010/2011, 2011/2012, and 2012/2013. In Entre Ríos, WF was 987 m³ ton⁻¹ (44% WFgreen and 56% WFblue), whereas in Santa Fe it was 846 m³ ton⁻¹ (36% WFgreen and 64% WFblue). In accordance with related work in the region, WFgrey was not considered. Although only CWU is part of the WF calculation, the other components of the water balance are necessary for rice production. The RWM model determined the consumptive use of the crop and distinguished blue water from green water, besides calculating the other parameters of the water balance. This made possible to show the inefficiencies in the system since precipitations are not fully used. The WF_R, together with these components, is useful to make comparisons between different regions and it is a tool to promote water saving, provided that it is complemented with specific policies, such as the differential application of irrigation taxes or electric power rates.     

Grain yield, carbon isotope discrimination, mineral and silicon content in durum wheat under different precipitation regimes

Twenty-one durum wheat genotypes originating from different geographic areas were grown during 3 successive years. The trials were characterised by different precipitation regimes. Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ), carbon content (CC) and ash content (m_a) were assessed in the flag leaf during anthesis, then in the kernel at full maturity. Differences between the 3 years, due to water availability, were noted for Δ, m_a, CC and yield. Genotypic differences were also noted within each year for all the traits studied. Some genotypes from the Middle East exhibited higher flag leaf and kernel Δ than those originating from the West of the Mediterranean basin. The kernel Δ was strongly correlated with grain yield (GY). The leaf Δ correlated with GY only under strong water limitation and with biomass production (BP) in favourable water conditions. For the flag leaf, Δ was correlated with m_a and with CC. Silicon content was then assessed in the flag leaf and in the kernel on a subset of 10 genotypes differing in their Δ values. Strong positive correlations were noted between silicon content and Δ and m_a for the flag leaf. However, no clear relationship was found between silicon content and GY. The results obtained in this study confirm the validity of kernel Δ as a predictive criterion for GY under water stress and suggest the possible use of kernel m_a as an alternative criterion to select genotypes with higher water stress tolerance.     

Quantitative trait loci associated with drought tolerance at reproductive stage in rice

Drought is a major constraint to rice (Oryza sativa) yield and its stability in rainfed and poorly irrigated environments. Identifying genomic regions influencing the response of yield and its components to water deficits will aid in our understanding of the genetics of drought tolerance and development of more drought tolerant cultivars. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for grain yield and its components and other agronomic traits were identified using a subset of 154 doubled haploid lines derived from a cross between two rice cultivars, CT9993-510 to 1-M and IR62266-42 to 6-2. Drought stress treatments were managed by use of a line source sprinkler irrigation system, which provided a linearly decreasing level of irrigation coinciding with the sensitive reproductive growth stages. The research was conducted at the Ubon Rice Research Center, Ubon, Thailand. A total of 77 QTL were identified for grain yield and its components under varying levels of water stress. Out of the total of 77 QTL, the number of QTL per trait were: 7-grain yield (GY); 8-biological yield (BY); 6-harvest index (HI); 5-d to flowering after initiation of irrigation gradient (DFAIG); 10-total spikelet number (TSN); 7-percent spikelet sterility (PSS); 23-panicle number (PN); and 11-plant height (PH). The phenotypic variation explained by individual QTL ranged from 7.5% to 55.7%. Under well-watered conditions, we observed a high genetic association for BY, HI, DFAIG, PSS, TSN, PH, and GY. However, only BY and HI were found to be significantly associated with GY under drought treatments. QTL flanked by markers RG104 to RM231, EMP2_2 to RM127, and G2132 to RZ598 on chromosomes 3, 4, and 8 were associated with GY, HI, DFAIG, BY, PSS, and PN under drought treatments. The aggregate effects of these QTL on chromosomes 3, 4, and 8 resulted in higher grain yield. These QTL will be useful for rainfed rice improvement, and will also contribute to our understanding of the genetic control of GY under drought conditions at the sensitive reproductive stage. Close linkage or pleiotropy may be responsible for the coincidence of QTL detected in this experiment. Digenic interactions between QTL main effects for GY, BY, HI, and PSS were observed under irrigation treatments. Most (but not all) DH lines have the same response in measure of productivity when the intensity of water deficit was increased, but no QTL by irrigation treatment interaction was detected. The identification of genomic regions associated with GY and its components under drought stress will be useful for marker-based approaches to improve GY and its stability for farmers in drought-prone rice environments.