Allelopathic Potential of Rice （Oryza sativa L.） Cultivars on Barnyard Grass （Echinochloa crus-galh~

Laboratory and greenhouse studies were conducted to assess the allelopathic potential of 12 rice cultivars on barnyard grass. Polyethylene glycol （PEG） was used to determine the influence of osmotic potential on the bioassay materials. Effect of different concentrations of stem, root, and leaf extracts of rice cultivars on seed germination, radicle and primary shoot length of barnyard grass seedlings, and rate of respiration of root pieces were investigated in the laboratory experiments. Shoot height and dry weight of weed stands were studied in the greenhouse, Also total peroxidase activity, chlorophyll pigment and mitotic index were determined. Results indicated that, among rice cultivars, Mehr, Tarom-mahali, G3, Nemat, and Shahpasand caused the most inhibition effects on investigated factors. Amol-3 showed the least negative effects on growth of seedlings and stands of barnyard grass. In laboratory, the Mehr cultivar demonstrated the maximum inhibitory effects by reducing barnyard grass seed germination percentage （88%）, radicle length （100%）, primary shoot length （83%）, and root respiration （85%） Cell division, expressed as mitotic index, was significantly reduced in the presence of rice aqueous extracts. Mehr cultivar had higher inhibitory effect on mitosis compared to Amol-3. In greenhouse, the same cultivar showed the maximum inhibitory effect by reducing barnyard grass height （45%） and dry weight （64%）. With increase in extract concentration, the inhibitory effect increased. Leaf extract from rice plants was more effective compared with the root and stem extracts. Comparison of rice cultivars and PEG indicated that any reduction in germination and growth of barnyard grass using rice extract concentrations of 5% and 10% must have been the result of allelochemicals in the extracts. Lower extract concentrations showed a more pronounced inhibitory effect in the laboratory as compared to the greenhouse studies. These results suggest that rice leaf extracts may be a source of natural herbicide.

Improvement of Rice （Oryza sativa L.） var. Ciherang and Cempo Ireng Productivity Using Gamma Irradiation

Rice is the source of important food in the world. The demand of rice tends to increase every year, thus research to increase genetic variation of rice by gamma irradiation has been conducted. This research aimed to study the influence of gamma irradiation doses on the vegetative growth, yield and quality. The randomized completely block design was used with two factors --gamma irradiation doses and varieties. Two rice varieties were Ciherang and Cempo Ireng, while doses of gamma irradiation consisted of six levels： 0, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 Gy. The results indicated that the treatment of 200 Gy gamma irradiation to Ciherang could improve the number of grains/panicle, protein content, degraded plant height and amylose contents. Gamma irradiation to Cempo Ireng at dose of 200 Gy could improve the number of grains/panicle, 1,000 grain weight, while it decreased days to 50% heading and plant harvest age.

Risk Assessment and Biosafety Studies of Transgenic Bt Rice （Oryza sativa L.）

Transgenic crops having alien genes from different sources are getting popularity. A Rice （Oryza sativa L.） containing gene from Bacillus thuringiensis, a soil bacterium, was assessed to study the potential risks of transgenic plants on environment. The crop was found resistant to target insect pests. Rice variety Basmati-370 transformed with two insecticidal genes, crylAc and cry2A, was grown under field conditions for several years. Data were collected at different stages of the plant growth. Fate of Cry protein in soil, effect of Bt protein on non-target insects, risks of vertical and horizontal gene flow were evaluated. No potential hazard was found at all levels. Bt protein was unstable and degraded significantly in soil within 30 days after harvesting the crop. No harmful effects were found on non-target insects （insects other than order lepidoptera）. Maximum gene flow of 0.02% was observed at close spacing and no evidence of horizontal gene transfer to Rhizobium spp. was found. In conclusion, the transgenic rice plants transformed with Bt genes have no harmful effects on the environment.

Liquid Organic Fertilizer and Planting Space Influencing the Growth and Yield of Rice （Oryza sativa L.） in System of Rice Intensification （SRI） Methods

This research aimed to know the influence of liquid organic fertilizer and planting space to the growth and yield of rice in System of Rice Intensification （SRI） methods. The research was conducted in Palur, Sukoharjo, laid on 98 m above sea level from December 2008 to April 2009. Experimental design used was Randomized Completely Block Design with two factors of treatment. The first factor was liquid organic fertilizer; consist of control, cebreng leaf, rumen of goat, banana tree hump, and maja fruit. The second factor was planting space; consisting of 25 cm × 25 cm, 30 cm ×30 cm and 35 cm× 35 cm. There were 15 combinations of treatment and each repeated three times. Data analyzed with F test at 5% and DMRT at 5%. Research result showed that liquid organic fertilizer of maja fruit serves the best on variable of stalk length. Planting space of 35 cm × 35 cm serves the best on variable of plant height, number of total sapling, number of productive sapling, weight of dry plant, weight of rice per clump, and weight of 1,000 rice grains. There is no interaction between liquid organic fertilizer and planting space on all variables.

Effects of Cultivar and Explant Sources on Callus Induction and Plant Regeneration in Rice （Oryza sativa L.）

In vitro callus induction and plant regeneration potentiality were studied from mature embryo of three Indian rice （Oryza sativa L.） groups at Field Crops Department, Agricultural Faculty, Ondokuz May？s University, Samsun, Turkey. The study was done by using callus induction MS medium having different concentration of four. The present research was conducted according to the design of randomized blocks trial. A total of 696 calluses, 193 plants and 917 seeds were obtained from Indica group; 2,110 calluses, 103 plants and 235 seeds were obtained from Japonica group; 1,243 calluses and 13 plants were obtained from Javanica group. With regard to number of calluses obtained from each explant source, 52 calluses were obtained from whole-plant explants, 1,668 calluses from root explants, 629 calluses from shoot explants, 649 calluses from the 1st node explants, 240 calluses from the 2nd node explants, 269 calluses from the 1st internode explants and 12 calluses from the 2nd internode explants. With regard to number of plants obtained from each explant source, 27 plants were obtained from whole-plant explants, 195 plants from shoot explants, 43 plants from the 1st node explants, 40 plants from the 2nd node explants and four plants from the 1st internode explants. With regard to number of seeds, 823 seeds were obtained from shoot explants and 329 seeds were obtained from the 2nd node explants. Germination rate of harvested seeds was over 90%. The establishment of this regeneration system is essential for the development of a genetic transformation system for commercial rice cultivars.

Irrigation regimes modulate non-structural carbohydrate remobilization and improve grain filling in rice(Oryza sativa L.)by regulating starch metabolism

Recently developed ‘super’ rice cultivars with greater yield potentials often suffer from the problem of poor grain filling, especially in inferior spikelets. Here, we studied the activities of enzymes related to starch metabolism in rice stems and grains, and the microstructures related to carbohydrate accumulation and transportation to investigate the effects of different water regimes on grain filling. Two ‘super’ rice cultivars were grown under two irrigation regimes of well-watered(WW) and alternate wetting and moderate soil drying(AWMD). Compared with the WW treatment,the activities of ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase(AGPase), starch synthase(StSase) and starch branching enzyme(SBE), and the accumulation of non-structural carbohydrates(NSCs) in the stems before heading were significantly improved, and more starch granules were stored in the stems in the AWMD treatment. After heading, the activities of α-amylase, β-amylase, sucrose phosphate synthase(SPS) and sucrose synthase in the synthetic direction(SSs)were increased in the stems to promote the remobilization of NSCs for grain filling under AWMD. During grain filling, the enzymatic activities of sucrose synthase in the cleavage direction(SSc), AGPase, StSase and SBE in the inferior spikelets were increased, which promoted grain filling, especially for the inferior spikelets under AWMD.However, there were no significant differences in vascular microstructures. The grain yield and grain weight could be improved by 13.1 and 7.5%, respectively, by optimizing of the irrigation regime. We concluded that the low activities of key enzymes in carbon metabolism is the key limitation for the poor grain filling, as opposed to the vascular microstructures, and AWMD can increase the amount of NSC accumulation in the stems before heading, improve the utilization rate of NSCs after heading, and increase the grain filling, especially in the inferior spikelets, by altering the activities of key enzymes in carbon metabolism.

The auxin transporter OsAUX1 regulates tillering in rice(Oryza sativa)

Tillering is an important agronomic trait of rice(Oryza sativa)that affects the number of effective panicles,thereby affecting yields.The phytohormone auxin plays a key role in tillering.Here we identified the high tillering and semi-dwarf 1(htsd1)mutant with auxin-deficiency root characteristics,such as shortened lateral roots,reduced lateral root density,and enlarged root angles.htsd1 showed reduced sensitivity to auxin,but the external application of indole-3-acetic acid(IAA)inhibited its tillering.We identified the mutated gene in htsd1 as AUXIN1(OsAUX1,LOC_Os01g63770),which encodes an auxin influx transporter.The promoter sequence of OsAUX1 contains many SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE(SPL)binding sites,and we demonstrated that SPL7 binds to the OsAUX1 promoter.TEOSINTE BRANCHED1(OsTB1),a key gene that negatively regulates tillering,was significantly downregulated in htsd1.Tillering was enhanced in the OsTB1 knockout mutant,and the external application of IAA inhibited tiller elongation in this mutant.Overexpressing OsTB1 restored the multi-tiller phenotype of htsd1.These results suggest that SPL7 directly binds to the OsAUX1 promoter and regulates tillering in rice by altering OsTB1 expression to modulate auxin signaling.

Influence of Epistasis and QTL×Environment Interaction on Heading Date of Rice(Oryza sativa L.)

QTLs for heading date of rice （Oryza sativa L.） with additive, epistatic, and QTL × environment （QE） interaction effects were studied using a mixed-model-based composite interval mapping （MCIM） method and a double haploid （DH） population derived from IR64/Azucena in two crop seasons. Fourteen QTLs conferring heading date in rice, which were distributed on ten chromosomes except for chromosomes 5 and 9, were detected. Among these QTLs, eight had single-locus effects, five pairs had double-locus interaction effects, and two single-loci and one pair of double-loci showed QTL × environment interaction effects. All predicted values of QTL effects varied from 1.179 days to 2.549 days, with corresponding contribution ratios of 1.04%-4.84%. On the basis of the effects of the QTLs, the total genetic effects on rice heading date for the two parents and the two superior lines were predicted, and the putative reasons for discrepancies between predicted values and observed values, and the genetic potentiality in the DH population for improvement of heading date were discussed. These results are in agreement with previous results for heading date in rice, and the results provide further information, which indicate that both epistasis and QE interaction are important genetic basis for determining heading date in rice.

Advances in Physiological-biochemical and Genetic Mechanisms of Seed Aging in Rice(Oryza sativa L.)

Reasons causing or accelerating seed aging are mainly damage of mem- branes, DNA and proteins, decline of protein synthesis capacity and excessive ac- cumulation of reactive oxygen species. With the application of natural aging or artifi- cial aging methods, it was reported that quantitative trait loci （QTLs） of seed stora- bility in rice were widely distributed on the chromosomes except the 10th chromo- some. In this paper, we reviewed the progresses in the research on physiological- biochemical and genetic mechanisms of seed aging, and analyzed the existing problems and developing prospect in molecular breeding of rice with improved seed storability, in order to provide reference for the basic research and genetic improve- ment of rice seed storabUity.

Calcineurin B-like interacting protein kinase OsCIPK23 functions in pollination and drought stress responses in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Drought is very harmful to grain yield due to its adverse effect on reproduction, especially on pollination process in rice. However, the molecular basis of such an effect still remains largely unknown. Here, we report the role of a member of CBL （Calcineurin B-Like） Interacting Protein Kinase （CIPK） family, OsCIPK23, in pollination and stress responses in rice. Molecular analyses revealed that it is mainly expressed in pistil and anther but up-regulated by pollination, as well as by treatments of various abiotic stresses and phytohormones. RNA interference-mediated suppression of OsCIPK23 expression significantly reduced seed set and conferred a hypersensitive response to drought stress, indicating its possible roles in pollination and drought stress. In consistent, overexpression of OsCIPK23 induced the expression of several drought tolerance related genes. Taken together, these results indicate that OsCIPK23 is a multistress induced gene and likely mediates a signaling pathway commonly shared by both pollination and drought stress responses in rice.

Bulked Segregant Analysis to Detect QTL Related to Heat Tolerance in Rice(Oryza sativa L.) Using SSR Markers

The study was undertaken to assess the genetic effect of quantitative trait loci （QTLs） conferring heat tolerance at flowering stage in rice. A population consisting of 279 F2 individuals from the cross between 996, a heat tolerant cultivar and 4628, a heat-sensitive cultivar, was analyzed for their segregation pattern of the difference of seed set rate under optimal temperature condition and high temperature condition. The difference of seed set rate under optimal temperature condition and high temperature condition showed normal distribution, indicating the polygenic control over the trait. To identify main effect of QTL for heat tolerance, the parents were surveyed with 200 primer pairs of simple sequence repeats （SSR）. The parental survey revealed 30% polymorphism between parents. In order to detect the main QTL association with heat tolerance, a strategy of combining the DNA pooling from selected segregants and genotyping was adopted. The association of putative markers identified based on DNA pooling from selected segregants was established by single marker analysis （SMA）. The results of SMA revealed that SSR markers, RM3735 on chromosome 4 and RM3586 on chromosome 3 showed significant association with heat tolerance respectively, accounted for 17 and 3% of the total variation respectively. The heat tolerance during flowering stage in rice was controlled by multiple gene. The SSR markers, RM3735 on chromosome 4 and RM3586 on chromosome 3 showed significant association with heat tolerance respectively, accounted for 17 and 3% of the total variation respectively. The two genetic loci, especially for RM3735 on chromosome 4, can be used in marker-assistant-selected method in heat tolerance breeding in rice.

Studies on the Mechanism of Single Basal Application of Controlled-Release Fertilizers for Increasing Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

This paper was to explore the mechanism of single basal application of controlled-release fertilizers for increasing yield of rice （Oryza sativa L.）. Pot trials and cylinder trials were carried out from 2002 to 2005 to study the influences of single basal application of 3 controlled-release fertilizers on the changes of soil available N, root development, senescence and lodging resistance at late growth stages. Results showed that at 30 days after fertilization, single basal application of controlled-release fertilizers coated with vegetal-substance （CRF1） and polymer materials （CRF3） increased soil available N to 12.0 and 147.9%, respectively, in comparison to split fertilization of rice-specific fertilizer （RSF1）. Treatments of the two CRFs obviously benefited the development of root system, resulting in greater rice root weights with extensive distribution and higher root activity. In addition, the two CRF treatments, in comparison to RSF1, enhanced chlorophyll consents of the flag leaves to 9.5 and 15.5%, and soluble protein up to 89.7 and 108.0% respectively. Application of the two CRFs also made the base of rice stems strong and large, declined the proportion of shoot and root, increased root depth index. Though relatively low K rate, single basal application of the CRF3 coated with NH4MgPO4 could also promote the development of root system, enhance root activity and some physiological functions of flag leaves. Based on these results, it was concluded that major mechanisms for increasing rice yield by single basal application of the CRFs should be attributed to grater soil available N supply, superior development of root systems, better nutrient absorption capacity, slower senescence and enhancement of lodging resistance at late stages.

Genotypic Difference in the Responses of Seedling Growth and Cd Toxicity in Rice(Oryza sativa L.)

The experiment was carried out to study the genotypic difference in the responses of seed germination, growth and physiological characters of rice seedlings to Cd toxicity. The result showed that the germination was slightly stimulated under low Cd concentration （0.01-1.5 mM Cd）, while severely depressed under higher Cd concentration （2.0 mM）. Rice seedlings exposed to 0.01 mM Cd showed slight increases in plant height, root volume, biomass and chlorophyll concentration. These parameters were significantly reduced when Cd level in the medium was increased to 0.5 mM, and meanwhile corresponding increase in superoxide dismutase （SOD） and peroxidase （POD） activities, and MDA （malondialdehyde） content was observed. However, SOD and POD activities declined when plants were exposed to 1 mM Cd when compared with those under 0.5 mM Cd. Cadmium addition lowered Fe, Cu and Mn concentrations in roots and shoots. There was significant genotypic difference in the response of these parameters to Cd stress. Under Cd stress, Xiushui 110 had the least inhibition of growth and increase in MDA content, higher shoot Cd concentration, and greatest increase in POD and SOD activities, indicating its higher tolerance to Cd toxicity, while Bing 9914 had the greatest reduction of growth, and Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn contents, but greatest increase in MDA content, and least increase in activities of antioxidative enzymes, indicating its sensitivity to Cd toxicity.

Biomass-Based Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Aboveground Architectural Parameter Models

To quantify the relationships between rice plant architecture parameters and the corresponding organ biomass, and to research on functional structural plant models of rice plant, this paper presented a biomass-based model of aboveground architectural parameters of rice （Oryza sativa L.） in the young seedling stage, designed to explain effects of cultivars and environmental conditions on rice aboveground morphogenesis at the individual leaf level. Various model variables, including biomass of blade and blade length, were parameterized for rice based on data derived from an outdoor experiment with rice cv. Liangyou 108, 86You 8, Nanjing 43, and Yangdao 6. The organ dimensions of rice aboveground were modelled taking corresponding organ biomass as an independent variable. Various variables in rice showed marked consistency in observation and simulation, suggesting possibilities for a general rice architectural model in the young seedling stage. Our descriptive model was suitable for our objective. However, they can set the stage for connection to physiological model via biomass and development of functional structural rice models （FSRM）, and start with the localized production and partitioning of assimilates as affected by abiotic growth factors. The finding of biomass-based rice architectural parameter models also can be used in morphological models of blade, sheath, and tiller of the other stages in rice life.

Validation of qGSIO, a quantitative trait locus for grain size on the long arm of chromosome 10 in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Grain size is a major determinant of grain weight and a trait having important impact on grain quality in rice. The objective of this study is to detect QTLs for grain size in rice and identify important QTLs that have not been well characterized before. The QTL mapping was first performed using three recombinant inbred line populations derived from indica rice crosses Teqing/IRBB lines, Zhenshan 97/Milyang 46, Xieqingzao/Milyang 46. Fourteen QTLs for grain length and 10 QTLs for grain width were detected, including seven shared by two populations and 17 found in one population. Three of the seven com- mon QTLs were found to coincide in position with those that have been cloned and the four others remained to be clarified. One of them, qGSIO located in the interval RM6100-RM228 on the long arm of chromosome 10, was validated using F2：3 populations and near isogenic lines derived from residual heterozygotes for the interval RM6100-RM228. The QTL was found to have a considerable effect on grain size and grain weight, and a small effect on grain number. This region was also previously detected for quality traits in rice in a number of studies, providing a good candidate for functional analysis and breeding utilization.

Comparative Studies on the Changes of Microtubule Distribution and Reorganization During the Meiotic Stages of Development in Normal (IR36) and a Temperature/photoperiod Sensitive Male Sterile Line (Peiai 64S) of Rice ( Oryza sativa )

Changes in the pattern of organization of microtubules in the meiotic stages of development of pollen (i.e. from pre-meiotic interphase to more or less metaphase I) of a normal (IR36) and a temperature/photoperiod sensitive male sterile line (Peiai 64S) of rice were studied using immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. In IR36, from pre-meiotic interphase to metaphase I, the pattern of microtubule distribution in the meiocytes underwent a series of changes. Some new organizational patterns of microtubules (that have not been described before) were observed during microsporogenesis, including the existence of a broad band of perinuclear microtubules at the diakinesis stage of development. The pattern of microtubule distribution in the meiocytes of the male sterile line, Peiai 64S, was quite different front that seen in IR36. In Peiai 64S, the microtubules showed abnormal patterns of distribution from pre-meiotic interphase to metaphase I. For example the broad band of perinuclear microtubules seen at diakinesis in IR36 was much disorganized and loosened in Peiai 64S. The spindles formed were also very abnormal and different from the normal spindle. The appearance of abnormal microtubule distribution in the early stages of microsporogenesis may contribute to the malformation and ultimate abortion of pollen in Peiai 64S.

Comparison and analysis of QTLs for grain and hull thickness related traits in two recombinant inbred line(RIL) populations in rice(Oryza sativa L.)

Grain traits are major constraints in rice production, which are key factors in determining grain yield and market values. This study used two recombinant inbred line（RIL） populations, RIL-JJ（japonica/japonica） and RIL-IJ（indica/japonica） derived from the two crosses Shennong 265/Lijiangxintuanheigu（SN265/LTH） and Shennong 265/Luhui 99（SN265/LH99）. Sixty-eight quantitative trait loci（QTLs） associated with 10 grain traits were consistently detected on the 12 chromosomes across different populations and two environments. Although 61.75% of the QTLs clustered together across two populations, only 16.17% could be detected across two populations. Eight major QTLs were detected on the 9, 10 and 12 chromosomes in RIL-JJ under two environments, a novel QTL clustered on the 10 chromosome, q GT10, q BT10 and q TGW10, have a higher percentage of explained phenotypic variation（PVE） and additive effect; 15 major QTLs were detected on the 5, 8, 9, and 11 chromosomes in RIL-IJ under two environments, a novel clustered QTL, q GT8 and q TGW8, on the 8 chromosome have a higher additive effect. Finally, the analysis of major QTL-BSA mapping narrowed the q TGW10 to a 1.47-Mb region flanked by simple sequence repeat markers RM467 and RM6368 on chromosome 10. A comparison of QTLs for grain traits in two different genetic backgrounds recombinant inbred line populations confirmed that genetic background had a significant impact on grain traits. The identified QTLs were stable across different populations and various environments, and 29.42% of QTLs controlling grain traits were reliably detected in different environments. Fewer QTLs were detected for brown rice traits than for paddy rice traits, 7 and 17 QTLs for brown rice out of 25 and 43 QTLs under RIL-JJ and RILIJ populations, respectively. The identification of genes constituting the QTLs will help to further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying grain shape.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) nutrient management using mycorrhizal fungi and endophytic Herbaspirillum seropedicae

Integrated nutrient management with biological and chemical fertilizers can improve rice （Oryza safiva L.） productivity, bio-fortification, soil health and fertility. Accordingly, this study was planned to evaluate the combined effects of biological fertilizers including arbuscular mycorrhizal （AM） fungi （Glomus mosseae） and free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria （Herbaspi- rillum seropedicae）, as well as chemical fertilizers on the yield and nutrient contents of wetland rice under field conditions. Seedlings were inoculated with AM fungi and the bacteria in the nursery and were then transplanted to the field. The experi- ment was carried out as a split factorial design with three replicates. Treatments included three rates of nitrogen （N 1, N2 and N3） and phosphorous （P1, P2 and P3） fertilizers （100, 75 and 50% of the optimum level） in the main plots and mycorrhizal and bacterial treatments in the sub plots. The total of urea （g） used per plot was equal to N1=200, N2=150 and N3=100 at three different growth stages （seeding, tillering and heading） and the total of P （g） per plot used once at seeding using triple super phosphate including P1 =16, P2=13 and P3=10. Plant growth and yield as well as the concentration of nitrogen （N）, phosphorous （P）, potassium （K）, iron （Fe）, and zinc （Zn） were measured in the soil, straw and grains. N-fertilizer and biological fertilizers had significant effects on root, shoot and grain yield of rice, however, P-fertilizer just significantly affected root and shoot dry weights. Interestingly, analyses of variance indicated that biological fertilization significantly affected all the experimental treatments except straw N. AM fungi, N1 and P1 resulted in the highest rate of rice growth and yield. The interactions of chemical and biological fertilization resulted in significant effects on grain Zn, Fe, P, and N as well as soil Fe, K and N. The highest rate of grain nutrient uptake was resulted by the combined use of biological fertilization and the medium level of chemical fertilization. Interestingly, with decreasing the rate of chemical N fertilization, rice nutrient use efficiency increased indicating how biological fertilization can be efficient in providing plants with its essential nutrients such as N. However, the highest rate of soil and straw nutrient concentration was related to the combined use of biologicalfertilization and the highest rate of chemical fertilization. We conclude that biological fertilizer, （mycorrhizal fungi and H. seropedicae） can significantly improve wetland rice growth and yield （resulting in the decreased rate of chemical fertilizer）, espe- cially if combined with appropriate rate of chemical fertilization, by enhancing nutrient uptake （fortification） and root growth.

Identification of Quantitative Trait Locus for Overwintering Germinability in Rice(Oryza sativa L.)

312 recombinant inbred lines （RILs） in F9 from a cross between a overwintering cold-tolerant germplasm resource Glutinous rice 89-1（Gr 89-1） and a cold-sensitive variety Shuhui 527 was used for quantitative trait locus （QTL） analysis. The scores of percent ratooning germinability （PRG） and overwintering germinability （POG） were evaluated. The overwintering germination rate of axillary buds was scored to represent the overwintering germinability. Two significant QTLs （qPRG-4 and qPRG-7） on chromosomes 4 and 7 were detected and explained 8.3 and 7.2% of the total phenotypic variation, respectively. Three significant QTLs （qPOG-2, qPOG-3 and qPOG-7） were identified and mapped on chromosomes 2, 3, and 7, respectively. These QTLs contributed 9.6, 6.7, and 17.8% of phenotypic variations, respectively. A comparative analysis using SSR markers closely linked to the three QTLs for the overwintering revealed cold-tolerant individuals, which harbour the Glutinous rice 89-1 alleles at RM7110, RM250, RM418, and RM232, had a high percent overwintering germinability, while cold-sensitive individuals, which carry Shuhui 527 alleles at these loci, had a low percent overwintering germinability in the F2 population of Shuhui 527/Glutinous rice 89-1. This study demonstrated the utility of these SSR markers for selection of overwintering germinability genotypes.

Mapping of three QTLs for seed setting and analysis on the candidate gene for qSS-1 in rice(Oryza sativa L.)

The lower seed setting is one of the major hindrances which face grain yield in rice. One of the main reasons to cause low spikelet fertility （seed setting） is male sterility or pollen abortion. Notably, pollen abortion has been frequently observed in advanced progenies of rice. In the present study, 149 BC2F6 individuals with significant segregation in spikelet fertility were generated from the cross between N040212 （indica） and Nipponbare （japonica） and used for primary gene mapping. Three QTLs, qSS-1, qSS-7 and qSS-9 at chromosomes 1, 7 and 9, respectively, were found to be associated with seed setting. The recombinant analysis and the physical mapping information from publicly available resources exhibited that the qSS-1, qSS-7 and qSS-9 loci were mapped to an interval of 188, 701 and 3741 kb, respectively. The seed setting responsible for QTL qSS-1 was further fine mapped to 93.5 kb by using BC2F7 population of 1 849 individuals. There are 16 possible putative genes in this 93.5 kb region. Pollen vitality tests and artificial pollination indicated that the male gamete has abnormal pollen while the female gamete was normal. These data showed that low seed setting rate relative to qSS-1 may be caused by abnormal pollen grains. These results will be useful for cloning, functional analysis of the target gene governing spikelet fertility （seed setting） and understanding the genetic bases of pollen sterility.