Increasing canopy photosynthesis in rice can be achieved without a large increase in water use—A model based on free‐air CO2 enrichment

Achieving higher canopy photosynthesis rates is one of the keys to increasing future crop production; however, this typically requires additional water inputs because of increased water loss through the stomata. Lowland rice canopies presently consume a large amount of water, and any further increase in water usage may significantly impact local water resources. This situation is further complicated by changing the environmental conditions such as rising atmospheric CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]). Here, we modeled and compared evapotranspiration of fully developed rice canopies of a high‐yielding rice cultivar (Oryza sativa L. cv. Takanari) with a common cultivar (cv. Koshihikari) under ambient and elevated [CO₂] (A‐CO₂ and E‐CO₂, respectively) via leaf ecophysiological parameters derived from a free‐air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) experiment. Takanari had 4%–5% higher evapotranspiration than Koshihikari under both A‐CO₂ and E‐CO₂, and E‐CO₂ decreased evapotranspiration of both varieties by 4%–6%. Therefore, if Takanari was cultivated under future [CO₂] conditions, the cost for water could be maintained at the same level as for cultivating Koshihikari at current [CO₂] with an increase in canopy photosynthesis by 36%. Sensitivity analyses determined that stomatal conductance was a significant physiological factor responsible for the greater canopy photosynthesis in Takanari over Koshihikari. Takanari had 30%–40% higher stomatal conductance than Koshihikari; however, the presence of high aerodynamic resistance in the natural field and lower canopy temperature of Takanari than Koshihikari resulted in the small difference in evapotranspiration. Despite the small difference in evapotranspiration between varieties, the model simulations showed that Takanari clearly decreased canopy and air temperatures within the planetary boundary layer compared to Koshihikari. Our results indicate that lowland rice varieties characterized by high‐stomatal conductance can play a key role in enhancing productivity and moderating heat‐induced damage to grain quality in the coming decades, without significantly increasing crop water use.     

The MerE protein encoded by transposon Tn21 is a broad mercury transporter in Escherichia coli

In order to clarify the physiological role of the merE gene of transposon Tn21, a pE4 plasmid that contained the merR gene of plasmid pMR26 from Pseudomonas strain K-62, and the merE gene of Tn21 from the Shigella flexneri plasmid NR1 (R100) was constructed. Bacteria with plasmid pE4 (merR-o/p-merE) were more hypersensitive to CH₃Hg(I) and Hg(II), and took up significantly more CH₃Hg(I) and Hg(II), than the isogenic strain. The MerE protein encoded by pE4 was localized in the membrane cell fraction, but not in the soluble fraction. Based on these experimental results, we suggest for the first time that the merE gene is a broad mercury transporter mediating the transport of both CH₃Hg(I) and Hg(II) across the bacterial membrane.