Planting geometry as a pre‐screening technique for identifying CO2 responsive rice genotypes: a case study of panicle number

Identifying CO₂ responsive genotypes is a major target for enhancing crop productivity under future global elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration (CO₂]). However, CO₂]‐fumigation facilities are extremely expensive and are not easily accessible, and are limited in space for large‐scale screening. Hence, reliable donors for initiating CO₂]‐responsive breeding programs are not in place for crops, including rice. We propose a simple and novel phenotyping method for identifying CO₂]‐responsive genotypes, and quantify the responsiveness to low planting density over 4‐year trials across both temperate and tropical conditions. Panicle number per plant is the key determinant of grain yield and hence was the focus trait across all our trials. In temperate climate, a 3‐season field screening using 127 diverse rice genotypes and employing two planting densities (normal and low density) was conducted. Two japonica genotypes were selected based on their higher responsiveness to low planting density as candidates for validating the proposed phenotyping protocol as a pre‐screen for CO₂]‐responsiveness. The approach using the two selected candidates and three standard genotypes was confirmed using a free‐air CO₂ enrichment facility and temperature gradient chambers under elevated CO₂]. In tropical climate, we grew three rice cultivars, previously identified for their CO₂]‐responsiveness, at two planting densities. The experiments provided confirmation that responsiveness to low planting density was correlated with that of CO₂]‐responsiveness across both the temperate and tropical conditions. The planting density would be useful pre‐screening method for testing large panels of diverse germplasm at low cost complemented by available CO₂‐control facilities for final validation of candidates from the pre‐screens.