Abiotic and Biotic Factors Controlling Grain Aroma along Value Chain of Fragrant Rice:A Review

The aroma of fragrant rice is one of the grain quality attributes that significantly influenceconsumer preferences and prices in world markets. The volatile compound 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP) isrecognized as a key component of the aroma in fragrant rice. The variation in grain 2AP content amongvarious fragrant rice varieties is associated with the expression of the badh2 gene, with 19 alleles havingbeen identified so far. The grain 2AP content is strongly influenced by environmental and managementfactors during cultivation as well as post-harvest conditions. This review pinpointed the major abiotic andbiotic factors that control grain 2AP content. Abiotic factors refer to water, temperature, light quality,fertilizer application (both macro- and micro-nutrients), and soil properties, including salinity, while bioticfactors include microorganisms that produce aromatic compounds, thus influencing the grain aroma infragrant rice. Post-harvest management, including storage and drying conditions, can significantly impactthe grain 2AP content, and proper post-harvest conditions can intensify the grain aroma. This reviewsuggests that there are rice varieties that can serve as potential sources of genetic material for breedingrice varieties with high grain aroma content. It offers an overview of recent research on the major factorsaffecting the aroma content in fragrant rice. This knowledge will facilitate further research on theproduction of high-quality rice to meet the demands of farmers and consumers.

Improve Anthocyanin and Zinc Concentration in Purple Rice by Nitrogen and Zinc Fertilizer Application

Zinc(Zn)is an essential micronutrient for plant growth and development,and anthocyanin is a secondary metabolite compound generally produced under stress conditions;both have benefits to human health.Rice is a staple food crop for most of the world’s population,and purple rice is well known as a natural source of Zn and anthocyanins,but their stability depends upon many factors.This review focuses on the opportunity to increase Zn and anthocyanin compounds in purple rice grains via Zn and nitrogen(N)management during cultivation.Variation in grain Zn concentration and anthocyanin compounds is found among purple rice varieties,thus presenting a challenge for breeding programs aiming at high grain Zn and anthocyanin contents.Genetic engineering has successfully achieved a high-efficiency vector system comprising two regulatory genes and six structural anthocyanin-related genes driven by endosperm-specific promoters to engineer purple endosperm rice that can provide new high-anthocyanin varieties.Grain Zn and anthocyanin concentrations in rice can also be affected by environmental factors during cultivation,e.g.,light,temperature,soil salinity and nutrient(fertilizer)management.Applying N and Zn fertilizer is found to influence the physiological mechanisms of Zn absorption,uptake,transport and remobilization to promote grain Zn accumulation in rice,while N application can improve anthocyanin synthesis by promoting its biosynthesis pathway via the use of phenylalanine as a precursor.In summary,there is an opportunity to improve both grain Zn and anthocyanin in purple rice by appropriate management of Zn and N fertilizers during cultivation for specific varieties.