DNA methylation modification in heterosis initiation through analyzing rice hybrid contemporary seeds

Heterosis is an important biological phenomenon and widely applied in agriculture.Although many studies have been performed by using vegetative organs of F_(1) hybrid plants,how heterosis (or hybrid vigor) is initiated and formed,particularly the underlying molecular mechanism,remain elusive.Hybrid contemporary seeds of rice indica varieties 9311 and PA64 were innovatively used and analysis of DNA methylome of embryo and endosperm at early developing stages revealed the globally decreased DNA methylation.Genes,especially those relate to hormones function and transcriptional regulation present non-additive methylation.Previously identified heterosis-related superior genes are non-additively methylated in early developing hybrid contemporary seeds,suggesting that key genes/loci responsible for heterosis are epigenetically modified even in early developing hybrid seeds and hypomethylation of hybrid seeds after cross-pollination finally result in the long-term transcriptional change of F_(1) hybrid vegetative tissues after germination,demonstrating that altered DNA methylation in hybrid seeds is essential for initiation regulation and maintenance of heterosis exhibiting in F_(1) hybrid plants.Notably,a large number of genes show non-additive methylation in the endosperm of reciprocal hybrids,suggesting that endosperm might also contribute to heterosis.

Effects of Ratio of Row Spacing to Intrarow Spacing on Yield and Nitrogen Accumulation and Utilization of Early and Late Rice

[Objective]The aim was to provide a theoretical basis for the rational configuration of ratio of row spacing to intrarow spacing(RS/IS)of double-cropping rice.[Methods]With early rice‘Ganxin 203’and‘Zhongjiazao 17’and late rice‘Ganxin 688’and‘Wufengyou T025’as materials,the effects of RS/IS on yield,nitrogen accumulation and utilization were studied in the same planting density of31.20×104hills/hm2.[Results]The results showed that yield of early rice was higher in RS/IS2.8(30.0 cm×10.7 cm)and RS/IS2.0(25.0 cm×12.8 cm)treatment,and lower in RS/IS5.0(40.0 cm×8.0 cm)and RS/IS1.3(20.0 cm×16.0 cm)treatment,while late rice were higher in RS/IS5.0and RS/IS2.0treatment,and lower in RS/IS2.8and RS/IS1.3treatment.Total nitrogen accumulation and apparent utilization ratio of nitrogen of early rice were higher in RS/IS2.0treatment and lower in RS/IS5.0treatment,while,for late rice were higher in RS/IS2.8treatment and lower in RS/IS5.0treatment.Nitrogen requirement for 100 kg grain production of early rice was higher in RS/IS1.3treatment and lower in RS/IS2.0treatment,while,for late rice were higher in RS/IS2.8treatment,lower in RS/IS5.0treatment.[Conclusion]In sum,4 varieties of early and late rice obtained higher yield in 25.0 cm×12.8 cm and lower yield in 20.0 cm×16.0 cm,and total nitrogen accumulation,nitrogen requirement for 100 kg grain production and apparent utilization ratio of nitrogen were all lower in 40.0 cm×8.0 cm.

An efficient screening system to identify protein-protein or protein-DNA interaction partners of rice transcription factors

Plant transcription factors(TFs)are key molecular components in the regulation of plant growth,development,and environmental adaptability.Generally,TFs need to form complexes with other interactors to control gene transcription.For example,Heading date 1(Hd1),Grain number,plant height and heading-date(Ghd)7,or Ghd7.1 interacts with Ghd8 and NF-YCs to form a trimeric complex,respectively.