The underlying mechanism of variety–water–nitrogen–stubble damage interactions on yield formation in ratoon rice with low stubble height under mechanized harvesting

Agronomic measures are the key to promote the sustainable development of ratoon rice by reducing the damage from mechanical crushing to the residual stubble of the main crop, thereby mitigating the impact on axillary bud sprouting and yield formation in ratoon rice. This study used widely recommended conventional rice Jiafuzhan and hybrid rice Yongyou 2640 as the test materials to conduct a four-factor block design field experiment in a greenhouse of the experimental farm of Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, China from 2018 to 2019.The treatments included fertilization and no fertilization, alternate wetting and drying irrigation and continuous water flooding irrigation, and plots with and without artificial crushing damage on the rice stubble. At the same time, a 13C stable isotope in-situ detection technology was used to fertilize the pot experiment. The results showed significant interactions among varieties, water management, nitrogen application and stubble status.Relative to the long-term water flooding treatment, the treatment with sequential application of nitrogen fertilizer coupled with moderate field drought for root-vigor and tiller promotion before and after harvesting of the main crop, significantly improved the effective tillers from low position nodes. This in turn increased the effective panicles per plant and grains per panicle by reducing the influence of artificial crushing damage on rice stubble and achieving a high yield of the regenerated rice. Furthermore, the partitioning of 13C assimilates to the residual stubble and its axillary buds were significantly improved at the mature stage of the main crop, while the translocation rate to roots and rhizosphere soil was reduced at the later growth stage of ratooning season rice. This was triggered by the metabolism of hormones and polyamines at the stem base regulated by the interaction of water and fertilizer at this time. We therefore suggest that to achieve a high yield of ratoon rice with low stubble height under mechanized harvesting, the timely application of nitrogen fertilizer is fundamental,coupled with moderate field drying for root-vigor preservation and tiller promotion before and after the mechanical harvesting of the main crop.

A phenology-based vegetation index for improving ratoon rice mapping using harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 data

Ratoon rice,which refers to a second harvest of rice obtained from the regenerated tillers originating from the stubble of the first harvested crop,plays an important role in both food security and agroecology while requiring minimal agricultural inputs.However,accurately identifying ratoon rice crops is challenging due to the similarity of its spectral features with other rice cropping systems(e.g.,double rice).Moreover,images with a high spatiotemporal resolution are essential since ratoon rice is generally cultivated in fragmented croplands within regions that frequently exhibit cloudy and rainy weather.In this study,taking Qichun County in Hubei Province,China as an example,we developed a new phenology-based ratoon rice vegetation index(PRVI)for the purpose of ratoon rice mapping at a 30 m spatial resolution using a robust time series generated from Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2(HLS)images.The PRVI that incorporated the red,near-infrared,and shortwave infrared 1 bands was developed based on the analysis of spectro-phenological separability and feature selection.Based on actual field samples,the performance of the PRVI for ratoon rice mapping was carefully evaluated by comparing it to several vegetation indices,including normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI),enhanced vegetation index(EVI)and land surface water index(LSWI).The results suggested that the PRVI could sufficiently capture the specific characteristics of ratoon rice,leading to a favorable separability between ratoon rice and other land cover types.Furthermore,the PRVI showed the best performance for identifying ratoon rice in the phenological phases characterized by grain filling and harvesting to tillering of the ratoon crop(GHS-TS2),indicating that only several images are required to obtain an accurate ratoon rice map.Finally,the PRVI performed better than NDVI,EVI,LSWI and their combination at the GHS-TS2 stages,with producer's accuracy and user's accuracy of 92.22 and 89.30%,respectively.These results demonstrate that the proposed PRVI based on HLS data can effectively identify ratoon rice in fragmented croplands at crucial phenological stages,which is promising for identifying the earliest timing of ratoon rice planting and can provide a fundamental dataset for crop management activities.

Rice Husk at a Glance:From Agro-Industrial to Modern Applications

Excessive waste production has led to the concept of a circular bioeconomy to deliver valuable by-products and improve environmental sustainability.The annual worldwide rice production accounts for more than 750 million tons of grain and 150 million tons of husk.Rice husk(RH)contains valuable biomaterials with extensive applications in various fields.The proportions of each component depend primarily on rice genotype,soil chemistry,and climatic conditions.RH and its derivatives,including ash,biochar,hydrochar,and activated carbon have been placed foreground of applications in agriculture and other industries.While the investigation on RH’s compositions,microstructures,and by-products has been done copiously,owing to its unique features,it is still an open-ended area with enormous scope for innovation,research,and technology.Here,we reviewed the latest applications of RH and its derivatives,including fuel and other energy resources,construction materials,pharmacy,medicine,and nanobiotechnology to keep this versatile biomaterial in the spotlight.

Regulation of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline and grain quality in early-season indica fragrant rice by nitrogen and silicon fertilization under different plantation methods

Fragrant rice has a high market value,and it is a popular rice type among consumers owing to its pleasant flavor.Plantation methods,nitrogen(N)fertilizers,and silicon(Si)fertilizers can affect the grain yield and fragrance of fragrant rice.However,the core commercial rice production attributes,namely the head rice yield(HRY)and 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline(2-AP)content of fragrant rice,under various nitrogen and silicon(N-Si)fertilization levels and different plantation methods remain unknown.The field experiment in this study was performed in the early seasons of 2018 and 2019 with two popular indica fragrant rice cultivars(Yuxiangyouzhan and Xiangyaxiangzhan).They were grown under six N-Si fertilization treatments(combinations of two levels of Si fertilizer,0 kg Si ha^(−1)(Si0)and 150 kg Si ha^(−1)(Si1),and three levels of N fertilizer,0 kg N ha^(−1)(N0),150 kg N ha^(−1)(N1),and 220 kg N ha^(−1)(N2))and three plantation methods(artificial transplanting(AT),mechanical transplanting(MT),and mechanical direct-seeding(MD)).The results showed that the N-Si fertilization treatments and all the plantation methods significantly affected the HRY and 2-AP content and related parameters of the two different fragrant rice cultivars.Compared with the Si0N0 treatment,the N-Si fertilization treatments resulted in higher HRY and 2-AP contents.The rates of brown rice,milled rice,head rice,and chalky rice of the fragrant rice also improved with the N-Si fertilization treatments.The N-Si fertilization treatments increased the activities of N metabolism enzymes and the accumulation of N and Si in various parts of the fragrant rice,and affected their antioxidant response parameters.The key parameters for the HRY and 2-AP content were assessed by redundancy analysis.Furthermore,the structural equation model revealed that the Si and N accumulation levels indirectly affected the HRY by affecting the N metabolism enzyme activity,N use efficiency,and grain quality of fragrant rice.Moreover,high N and Si accumulation directly promoted the 2-AP content or affected the antioxidant response parameters and indirectly regulated 2-AP synthesis.The interactions of the MT method with the N-Si fertilization treatments varied in the fragrant rice cultivars in terms of the HRY and 2-AP content,whereas the MD method was beneficial to the 2-AP content in both fragrant rice cultivars under the N-Si fertilization treatments.

Effects of Milling Methods on Rice Flour Properties and Rice Product Quality:A Review

High-quality rice flour is the foundation for the production of various rice-based products.Milling is an essential step in obtaining rice flour,during which significant changes occur in the physicochemical and quality characteristics of the flour.Although rice flour obtained through mainstream wet milling methods exhibits superior quality,low production efficiency and wastewater discharge limit the development of the industry.Dry milling,on the other hand,conserves water resources,but adversely affects flour performance due to excessive heat generation.As an emerging powder-making technique,semi-dry milling offers a promising solution by enhancing flour quality and reducing environmental impact.This is achieved by minimizing soaking time through hot air treatment while reducing mechanical energy consumption to reach saturated water absorption levels.However,continuous production remains a challenge.This comprehensive review summarizes the effects of various milling technologies on rice flour properties and product qualities.It also discusses key control indicators and technical considerations for rice flour processing equipment and processes.

Common Organic Amendment (Rice Straw) Can Reduce Salinity Effects on Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Growth with or without Photoperiod Manipulation

Soil salinity is a major limiting factor for crop production in coastal areas of Bangladesh. Cheap and sustainable management of soil salinity is hence most sought out topics in agricultural research. Conceptualizing that idea in mind, a pot experiment was conducted in the Department of Soil, Water & Environment, University of Dhaka in order to analyze if common organic amendments (rice straw, saw dust) coupled with reduce photoperiod can mitigate salinity effect on the growth of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). The experiment was set up following completely randomized design (CRD) with nine treatments and three replications containing Tc (Control), T1 (Ambient photoperiod + 110 mM Salinity treatment + Rice straw), T2 (Reduced photoperiod + 110 mM Salinity treatment + Rice straw), T3 (Ambient photoperiod + 220 mM Salinity treatment + Rice straw), T4 (Reduced photoperiod + 220 mM Salinity treatment + Rice straw), T5 (Ambient photoperiod + 110 mM Salinity treatment + Saw dust), T6 (Reduced photoperiod + 110 mM Salinity treatment + Saw dust), T7 (Ambient photoperiod + 220 mM Salinity treatment + Saw dust) and T8 (Reduced photoperiod + 220 mM Salinity treatment + Saw dust). Organic amendments were used separately at the rate of 12 ton/ha. The highest plant height (98.67 cm), root length (12.5 cm), pod number (10.33), leaf area (13.99 cm2), fresh weight (680 kg/ha), dry weight (316.67 kg/ha) were recorded with the treatment T1 while the second-best treatment was treatment T2 (with highest harvest index 0.040) and these results were statistically significant (p < 0.001). In post-harvest soil, pH, EC, OC, OM;available N, P, K, S;total Ca, Mg, Zn, Mn were increased significantly in treatment T1. The overall results illustrated that the best growth and yield performances were achieved in the treatment T1 and T2.

基于RICE模型的不同减排政策下全球分区域碳中和预估

选取分区域的综合评估模型RICE来评估全球分区域的碳中和路径,在改进了RICE模型的损失函数的基础上,利用改进的RICE模型分析研判了不同减排情景下全球以及12个区域的潜在碳中和时间点以及区域未来气候变化潜在损失。结果表明,改进损失函数后,RICE模型对未来气候变化损失的模拟能力显著提升。在不同情景下,未来发达国家区域的气候变化损失绝对值较大,但是气候变化损失占地区生产总值的比例相对较低。发展中国家区域气候变化损失的增加更加明显,并承受更多的气候变化风险。在中等排放情景下(情景二),部分发展中国家区域在2085年以后才能达到碳中和,中国在2060年无法达到碳中和。针对中国设定的碳中和路径表明,中国需要在2040年前后碳达峰,并在此之后迅速减少碳排放。只有尽早实现碳达峰,才能最终实现碳中和目标。

Preparation of lactic acid bacteria compound starter cultures based on pasting properties and its improvement of glutinous rice flour and dough

The effects of 5 lactic acid bacteria(LAB)fermentation on the pasting properties of glutinous rice flour were compared,and suitable fermentation strains were selected based on the changes of viscosity,setback value,and breakdown value to prepare LAB compound starter cultures.The results revealed that Latilactobacillus sakei HSD004 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HSD005 had apparent advantages in increasing the viscosity and reducing the setback and breakdown values of glutinous rice flour.In particular,the compound starter created using the two abovementioned LAB in the ratio of 3:1 had better performance than that using a single LAB in improving the pasting properties and increasing the water and oil absorption capacity of glutinous rice flour.Moreover,the gelatinization enthalpy of the fermented samples increased significantly.For frozen glutinous rice dough stored for 28 days,the viscoelasticity of frozen dough prepared by compound starter was better than that of control dough,and the freezable water content was lower than that of control dough.These results indicate that compound LAB fermentation is a promising technology in the glutinous rice-based food processing industry,which has significance for its application.

Genetic analysis and fine mapping of a grain size QTL in the smallgrain sterile rice line Zhuo201S

The development and application of the small-grain rice sterile line Zhuo201S(Z201S)has demonstrated its potential for mechanized hybrid rice seed production,leading to significant cost reductions.However,the molecular mechanism responsible for the small-grain size characteristic of Z201S remains unclear.In this study,we conducted a genetic analysis using near-isogenic lines constructed from Z210S,a small-grain rice sterile line,and R2115,a normal-grain variety.The results revealed that the small-grain trait in Z201S is governed by a single partially dominant gene which also enhances grain number.Through mapping,we localized the causal gene to the short arm of chromosome 2,within a 113 kb physical region delimited by the molecular markers S2-4-1 and LB63.Transgenic analysis and gene expression assays indicated LOC_Os02g14760 as the most likely candidate gene,suggesting that the small-grain size trait of Z201S is controlled by a novel locus that has not been previously identified.

Single-cell transcriptome sequencing reveals the mechanism regulating rice plumule development

Seed plumules comprise multiple developing tissues and are key sites for above-ground plant organ morphogenesis.Here,the spatial expression of genes in developing rice seed plumules was characterized by single-cell transcriptome sequencing in Zhongjiazao 17,a popular Chinese indica rice cultivar.Of 15 cell clusters,13 were assigned to cell types using marker genes and cluster-specific genes.Marker genes of multiple cell types were expressed in several clusters,suggesting a complex developmental system.Some genes for signaling by phytohormones such as abscisic acid were highly expressed in specific clusters.Various cis-elements in the promoters of genes specifically expressed in cell clusters were calculated,and some key hormone-related motifs were frequent in certain clusters.Spatial expression patterns of genes involved in rapid seed germination,seedling growth,and development were identified.These findings enhanced our understanding of cellular diversity and specialization within plumules of rice,a monocotyledonous model crop.

OsPPG encodes a pseudouridine-5'-phosphate glycosidase and regulates rice spikelet development

Florets are the basic structural units of spikelets,and their morphogenesis determines the yield and quality of rice grains.However,whether and how pseudouridine-5’-phosphate glycosidase participates in rice spikelet development remains an open question.In this study,we identified a novel gene,OsPPG,which encodes a peroxisome-localized pseudouridine-5’-phosphate glycosidase and regulates the development of rice spikelets.osppg mutants exhibited abnormal sterile lemma,lemma,palea,lodicule,stamens,and pistils;male sterility;shorter panicles;and reduced plant height.OsPPG was found to regulate several OsMADS genes,thereby affecting the morphogenesis of rice spikelets.Furthermore,metabolomics revealed that the OsPPG gene was involved in the decomposition of pseudouridine via the pyrimidine metabolism pathway and may affect the jasmonic acid signaling pathway.These results suggest that OsPPG is a key regulator of rice spikelet development.

Gene expression profiles in early leaf of rice(Oryza sativa)and foxtail millet(Setaria italica)

Plant anatomy is patterned early during leaf development which suggests studying the spatial–temporal transcriptomes of primordia will help identify critical regulative and functional genes.We successfully isolated the leaf primordia tissues from the C3grass rice and the C4grass foxtail millet by laser capture microdissection(LCM)and studied the gene expression throughout leaf developmental stages.Our data analysis uncovered the conserved expression patterns of certain gene clusters both in rice and foxtail millet during leaf development.We revealed genes and transcription factors involved in vein formation,stomatal development,and suberin accumulation.We identified 79 candidate genes associated with functional regulation of C4anatomy formation.Screening phenotype of the candidate genes revealed that knock-out of a putative polar auxin transport related gene NAL1 resulted significantly reduced veinal space in rice leaf.Our present work provides a foundation for future analyses of genes with novel functions in grasses and their role in leaf development,in particular the role in leaves with a contrasting C3vs.C4biosynthetic pathway.

The UDP-glycosyltransferase OsUGT706D2 positively regulates cold and submergence stress tolerance in rice

In a genome-wide association study,we identified a rice UDP-glycosyltransferase gene,OsUGT706D2,whose transcription was activated in response to cold and submergence stress and to exogenous abscisic acid(ABA).OsUGT706D2 positively regulated the biosynthesis of tricin-4’-O-(syringyl alcohol)ether-7-O-glucoside at both the transcriptional and metabolic levels.OsUGT706D2 mediated cold and submergence tolerance by modulating the expression of stress-responsive genes as well as the abscisic acid(ABA)signaling pathway.Gain of function of OsUGT706D2 increased cold and submergence tolerance and loss of function of OsUGT706D2 reduced cold tolerance.ABA positively regulated OsUGT706D2-mediated cold tolerance but reduced submergence tolerance.These findings suggest the potential use of OsUGT706D2 for improving abiotic stress tolerance in rice.

Sensory Phenotypic and Molecular Identification of Aromatic Rice Accessions Cultivated in Benin

Rice is one of the most widely cultivated cereals in the world, and its aroma is increasingly in demand. With the advancement of research, a major rice flavor gene has been identified on rice chromosome 8. It encodes non-functional betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase leading to the accumulation of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline which is the major olfactory compound that confers the fragrant character to rice. The aroma of rice is considered a special trait of enormous economic importance that determines the prime price in world trade. To satisfy the needs of the population and reduce rice imports into Benin, we conducted this study to identify aromatic rice accessions grown in Benin. Seventy-two rice accessions collected across Benin were PCR amplified with three SSR markers RM 7049, Aro 7, and RM 223, linked to the fgr (fragrance of rice) aroma gene. Molecular analysis revealed that 12 of the 72 accessions, namely Bagou 19, Bagou 22, Tchaka 34, Foun 15, Tchaka 41, Nana 32, Kan 61, Kung 69, Kung 67, Bagou 20, Agbab 101 and Koum 55 possess the fgr gene and can be considered as aromatic rice accessions. A sensory phenotypic test using KOH was carried out on rice accessions carrying fgr gene. Of the twelve positives, only one had the smell of aromatic rice, like the Azucena control. These results show that Benin also has aromatic rice varieties that can be sold on national and international markets.

Rice gene OsUGT75A regulates seedling emergence under deep-sowing conditions

Poor seedling emergence is a challenge for direct seeding of rice under deep-sowing field conditions.Here we reveal that UDP-glucosyltransferase OsUGT75A promotes rice seedling emergence under deepsowing conditions by increasing shoot length.Expression of OsUGT75A was higher in the middle regions of the shoot and in shoots under deep-sowing conditions.Levels of free abscisic acid(ABA)and jasmonates(JA)were higher in shoots of OsUGT75A mutants than in those of wild-type plants,and OsUGT75A mutants were more sensitive to ABA and JA treatments.Reduced shoot length was attributed to higher ABA INSENSITIVE 3(OsABI3)expression and lower JASMONATE-ZIM domain protein(OsJAZ)expression in shoots.Shoot extension by OsUGT75A is achieved mainly by promotion of cell elongation.An elite haplotype of OsUGT75A associated with increased shoot length was identified among indica rice accessions.OsUGT75A acts to increase seedling emergence under deep-sowing conditions.

A rice exocyst subunit gene SEC3A is required for anther dehiscence

Anther dehiscence controls optimal interaction between pollen and stigma,thereby determining the successful sexual reproduction.The regulators or mechanisms of this process remain elusive.Here,two CRISPR/Cas9 mutants of a rice exocyst subunit gene SEC3A,sec3a-1 and sec3a-2,showed anther indehiscence at anthesis and male sterility at maturity.Pollen viability and germination in the mutants were partly defective,whereas their female gametes undergone a normal development.Hybrid or self-pollinated seeds could be produced by artificial pollination,suggesting potential use of a weak sec3a mutant as a female line during hybrid breeding.SEC3A is widely expressed in various tissues,including anther walls.Further results showed an excessive IAA accumulation and no endothecium lignification in sec3a-1/2 anthers.Our findings suggest that SEC3A appears to regulate anther dehiscence by modulating auxin signaling,providing insights into regulation of anther dehiscence and function of exocyst in plants.

Effect of Water Application Rate on Growth Parameters of Farro 44 Rice Grown in a Selected Irrigation Scheme in Niger State, Nigeria

Water and land are the necessary agricultural inputs, and both are scarce these days. This study aims to determine the effect of water application rate on selected planting and crop parameters of Farro 44 rice during dry season farming and its growth response. The randomised complete block design was employed for the Farro 44 rice variety, with each plot size 4 m2 (2 m × 2 m) for ease of monitoring. A 0.3 m bound space separated each plot. The crop spacing was 0.2 m × 0.3 m, 0.3 m × 0.3 m, and 0.3 m × 0.4 m, respectively, for the row-to-row and plant-to-plant distance. The data collected were statistically analysed. The height of the faro 44 variety of rice ranged between 35.50 cm to 44.00 cm for plots with 2 tillers per hill, while that of 4 and 6 tillers per hill ranged between 35.50 cm to 41.40 cm and 35.50 cm to 39.30 cm, respectively. Minimum damage of 2.32% was seen for plant hills of 2 tillers, while 9.21% and 11.89% were observed for tillers of 4 and 6, respectively. It was seen that plots with the highest spacing of 30 × 40 cm and tillers of 2 per hill were observed to perform better than those of the other plots within the experimental pots. Such plots had a maximum plant tiller of 37 when counted, with the height of the plants reaching 44 cm after 70 days of planting. In conclusion, farmers within the study area of the Kanko community in Niger State. Nigeria appears not to have any known knowledge of the soil they are cultivating and the water they use as a source of irrigation within the farming areas. It was further concluded that the rice crops would be produced maximally with minimal water application to the rice field.

A 48-bp deletion upstream of LIGULELESS 1 alters rice panicle architecture

Panicle architecture is an agronomic determinant of crop yield and a target for cereal crop improvement.To investigate its molecular mechanisms in rice,we performed map-based cloning and characterization of OPEN PANICLE 1(OP1),a gain-of-function allele of LIGULELESS 1(LG1),controlling the spread-panicle phenotype.This allele results from a 48-bp deletion in the LG1 upstream region and promotes pulvinus development at the base of the primary branch.Increased OP1 expression and altered panicle phenotype in chimeric transgenic plants and upstream-region knockout mutants indicated that the deletion regulates spread-panicle architecture in the mutant spread panicle 1(sp1).Knocking out BRASSINOSTEROID UPREGULATED1(BU1)gene in the background of OP1 complementary plants resulted in compact panicles,suggesting OP1 may regulate inflorescence architecture via the brassinosteroid signaling pathway.We regard that manipulating the upstream regulatory region of OP1 or genes involved in BR signal pathway could be an efficient way to improve rice inflorescence architecture.

Effect of rice cultivar on greenhouse-gas emissions from rice-fish co-culture

In aquaculture,co-culturing rice with fish may mitigate greenhouse-gas emissions.In this study,co-culture of four rice cultivars in a laboratory-scale rice–fish system reduced CH_(4)and N_(2)O emissions relative to fish monoculture.Differences in CH_(4)and N_(2)O emissions among rice cultivars primarily stem from the differential effects of rice plants on plant-mediated CH_(4)transport,CH_(4)oxidation and nitrogen absorption.

Perception of the Mechanization of Rice Cultivation and Its Effects on the Soil in the Senegal River Valley

In Senegal, particularly in the Senegal River valley, agricultural mechanization remains limited, mainly due to a lack of agricultural equipment, a lack of expertise in agricultural machinery and an apprehension of the consequences on soil quality. To better understand agricultural mechanization of rice cultivation, this survey study has been carried out in the Senegal river valley. Precisely, this work aimed to characterize farm machinery and its effects on soil and rice cultivation. A questionnaire was administered to 304 out of 1270 farmers, spread over 8 rice-growing areas, 4 of which are located in the Podor department, three in Dagana and one in Saint-Louis. The results showed that 99.3% of farmers used motorized equipment, with 95.7% using tractor and 3.6% a power tiller. Offset tillage, which is a shallow cultivation practice carried out to break up hard soil without turning it over, was most widespread among growers (95.4%). 78.3% of the valley’s farmers felt that the machinery used to carry out tillage operations was inefficient. According to the farmers, the main constraints on the use of agricultural machinery in the valley were: the upkeep and maintenance of equipment (57%), the lack of expertise in mechanization (31%), and issues adapting machinery to local conditions (12%). Those constraints have contributed to a drop in yields in recent years, the spread of weeds on cultivated plots and the gradual degradation of the soil in the area according to 78% of farmers.