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.

Marker-Assisted Breeding of Thermo-Sensitive Genic Male Sterile Line 1892S for Disease Resistance and Submergence Tolerance

Rice line 1892S is an elite thermo-sensitive genic male sterile(TGMS)line for two-line hybrid rice production.However,1892S is susceptible to rice blast,bacterial blight and submergence.Here we reported the introduction of blast resistance(R)gene Pi9,bacterial blight R gene Xa21 and submergence tolerance gene Sub1A into 1892S genetic background through backcrossing and marker-assisted selection.The improved TGMS line 31892S and its hybrids conferred disease resistance to rice blast and bacterial blight,and showed submergence tolerance for over 14 d without significant loss of viability.The sterility-fertility conversion of 31892S was similar to that of 1892S.31892S and its derived hybrid rice had similar agronomic traits and grain quality with 1892S and the control hybrid rice,respectively.The newly developed 31892S provided an improved TGMS line for two-line hybrid rice production with disease resistance to rice blast and bacterial blight,and submergence tolerance with no yield penalty or change in grain quality.

Assessment of Variation in Morpho-Physiological Traits and Genetic Diversity in Relation to Submergence Tolerance of Five Indigenous Lowland Rice Landraces

The present study evaluated submergence responses in 88 lowland indigenous rice(Oryza sativa L.) landraces from Koraput, India, to identify submergence-tolerant rice genotypes. In pot experiments, variations in survival rate, shoot elongation, relative growth index, dry matter, chlorophyll, soluble sugar and starch contents were evaluated in two consecutive years under well-drained and completely submerged conditions. Principal component analysis showed that the first three axes contributed 96.820% of the total variation among the landraces, indicating wide variation between genotypes. Major traits such as survival rate, relative growth index, soluble sugar and starch contents appeared to be important determinants of phenotypic diversity among the landraces. Phenotypic coefficient of variance was higher than genotypic coefficient of variance for all the traits and all showed high heritability(90.38%–99.54%). Five rice landraces(Samudrabali, Basnamundi, Gadaba, Surudaka and Dokarakuji) were the most tolerant to submergence. When submerged for up to 14d, Samudrabali, Basnamundi and Godoba were notable for having greater survival rates than a standard submergence tolerant variety FR13 A, and also notable for elongating more vigorously and accumulating more biomass. These three landraces may therefore be especially useful in lowland rice growing areas that are affected by both moderate stagnant water and flash flooding. Molecular genotyping revealed that the submergence tolerance of Samudrabali, Basnamundi and Godoba is linked to the presence of one or more different Sub1 loci and it may well prove useful for breeding improved submergence tolerant rice varieties, thereby assising to improve yield stability in the rainfed lowland agro-ecosystem.

Positive contribution of shoot apex to the growth and flooding tolerance of Hemarthria altissima upon complete submergence

Flooding events tend to destroy the original flood-intolerant vegetation in riparian zones,but the flood-tolerant species can confront the stress,and contribute to the riparian ecosystem.Grass species,Hemarthria altissima,are usually dominant in the riparian zones.This species is considered as good forage which is usually grazed by livestock or mowed by local people.Therefore,the apical tissues of the plants are often removed,and the plants have to grow without stem apexes,during their life cycle.In this study,we aimed to examine the differences in growth performance of intact versus apex-cut individuals of H.altissima upon complete submergence.Two groups of H.altissima plants(with and without shoot apexes)were treated with dark non-submergence and dark complete submergence conditions for 200 days.During the experiment,we measured plant growth,biomass changes in plant organs,and the consumption of non-structural carbohydrates(NSC)by different tissues.During submergence,shoot elongation stopped,and around six lateral buds were developed averagely by each plant without apexes.This growth performance finally caused 60%decline of NSC in underground parts.The relatively intensive consumption of carbohydrates in submerged apex-removed plants induced the 21%stem length decreased under water,which indicated the decreasing submergence tolerance of plants with shoot apex removed.Therefore,we suggest that when using H.altissima for restoring degraded riparian ecosystems,the shoot apexes should be protected from grazing by livestock or harvesting by local people in order to maintain the submergence tolerance of H.altissima.

Selection of Submergence Tolerant Homozygous Line by STS Marker and Twice Submergence Stress

One sequence tagged site marker Subl-1 and twice submergence stress method were used in selection of submergence tolerant homozygous line from Sub-lBS, a submergence tolerant, bentazon sensitive and photoperiod-sensitive and/or thermo-sensitive genic male sterile line that developed by our laboratory. The results revealed that the original Sub-lBS was heterozygous in SublA-1 locus even though it was identical in almost all of agronomical traits and the segregation of SublA-1 was in accordance with Mendelian law based on chi-square test. And then the original Sub-IBS was divided into two groups： one was ofSublA-1 introgression and the other was not; and the two groups were tested by twice submergence stress method. After the first submergence stress that lasted for 12 d, the average plant heights were significant difference at the 1% level between the two groups. After recovery for 10 d, the second submergence stress sustained for 18 d was carried on; and the group with SublA-1 gene was found apparently tolerant than the other group in submergence tolerance.

Flooding Tolerance in Rice:Focus on Mechanisms and Approaches

Flooding is one of the most hazardous natural disasters and a major stress constraint to rice production throughout the world,which results in huge economic loss.Approximately one-fourth of the global rice crops(approximately 40 million hectares)are grown in rainfed lowland plots that are prone to seasonal flooding.A great progress has been made during last two decades in our understanding of the mechanisms involved in adaptation and tolerance to flooding/submergence in rice.In this review,we summarized the physiological and molecular mechanisms that contribute to tolerance of flooding/submergence in rice.We also covered various features of flooding stress with special reference to rice plants,viz.different types of flooding stress,environmental characterisation of flood water,impact of flooding stress on rice plant and their morphological,physiological and metabolic responses under flooding.A brief discussion on the tolerance mechanism in rice exhibited to different types of flooding will be focused for the future crop improvement programme for development of flooding tolerant rice variety.

Leaf Photosynthetic Activity and Antioxidant Defense Associated with Sub1 QTL in Rice Subjected to Submergence and Subsequent Re-aeration

The influence of submergence on photosynthesis and antioxidant capacities in rice varieties Swarna and Swarna-Subl with or without Sub1 QTL were evaluated under control, simulated complete submergence and subsequent re-aeration. The leaf photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance decreased in the both varieties during the progression of submergence as compared to the control plants, but significant varietal differences were observed after 1 d of submergence. Submergence also altered the PSII activity, as reflected in a decrease in the values of Fo, Fm and Fv/Fm and degradation of chlorophyll, more in Swarna than in Swarna-Subl. During early submergence period, the activities of superoxide dismutase （SOD）, ascorbate peroxidase （APX）, dehydroascorbate reductase （DHAR）, glutathione reductase （GR） against reactive oxygen species were increased in the both varieties. However, with the progress of submergence period （after 7 d）, the activities of SOD, catalase （CAT）, APX, guaiacol peroxidase （GPX）, GR and DHAR declined, more in Swarna than in Swarna-Subl. During re-aeration, Swarna-Subl showed significant increase of above antioxidant enzymes but not in Swarna, Swarna-Subl improves photosynthetic activity, showing higher photosynthetic rate compared to Swarna under submergence and subsequent re-aeration because of less degradation of chlorophyll, higher stomatal conductance, and efficient PSII activity along with better antioxidant protection from oxidative damage.

Development of New Submergence Tolerant Rice Variety for Bangladesh Using Marker-Assisted Backcrossing

Submergence tolerant high yielding rice variety was developed using BR11 as a recipient parent applying foreground, phenotypic and background selection approaches. Recombinant selection was found essential to minimize linkage drag by BC2F2 generation. Without recombinant selection, the introgression size in the backcross recombinant lines （BRLs） was approximately 15 Mb on the carrier chromosome. The BRLs were found submergence tolerance compared to the check varieties under complete submergence for two weeks at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, and produced higher yield compared to the isogenic Subl-line under controlled submerged condition. The BRL IR85260-66-654-Gaz2 was released as BRRI dhan52 in 2010, which was the first high yielding submergence tolerant variety in Bangladesh. BRRI dhan52 produced grain yield ranging from 4.2 to 5.2 t/hm2 under different flash flood prone areas of Bangladesh in three consecutive seasons. The study demonstrated the efficiency of recombinant selection and better adaptability of the newly released submergence tolerant high yielding variety in flash flood prone different areas of the country with respect to submergence tolerance and yield potential.

Seed Priming Improves Agronomic Trait Performance under Flooding and Non-flooding Conditions in Rice with QTL SUB1

Farmers in South East Asia are adopting rice crop establishment methods from transplanting to direct wet or dry seeding as it requires less labour and time and comparatively less energy than transplanting. In contrast to irrigated condition, in rainfed lowland, direct seeding is a common practice. Early flooding controls weeds but decreases seedling establishment in direct seeded rice. Anaerobic germination is an important trait to counteract damages caused by early flooding. Management options which can help in crop establishment and improve crop growth under flooding might remove the constraints related to direct seeding. The investigation was carried out with two near isogenic lines Swarna and Swarna- Sub1. Swarna-Subl is tolerant to submergence whereas Swarna is susceptible. Seed priming was done with water and 2% Jamun （Syzygium cumini） leaf extract, and it improved seedling establishment under flooding. Acceleration of growth occurred due to seed pretreatment, which resulted longer seedling and greater accumulation of biomass. Seed priming greatly hastened the activities of total amylase and alcohol dehydrogenase in Swarna-Subl than in Swarna. Swarna-Subl outperformed Swarna when the plants were cultivated under flooding. Weed biomass decreased significantly under flooding compared to non-flooding conditions. Seed priming had positive effects on yield and yield attributing parameters both under non-flooding and early flooding conditions.

Understanding Abiotic Stress Tolerance Mechanisms：Recent Studies on Stress Response in Rice

Abiotlc stress is the main factor negatively affecting crop growth and productivity worldwide. The advances In physiology, genetics, and molecular biology have greatly Improved our understanding of plant responses to stresses. Rice plants are sensitive to various ablotlc stresses, in this short review, we present recent progresses In adaptation of rice to salinity, water deficit and submergence. Many studies show that salt tolerance Is tightly associated with the ability to maintain Ion homeostasis under salinity. Na^＋ transporter SKC1 unloads Na^＋from xylem, plasma membrane Na^＋/H^＋ antlporter SOS1 excludes sodium out of cytosol and tonoplast Na^＋/H^＋ antlporter NHX1 sequesters Na^＋ Into the vacuole. Silicon deposition in exodermls and endodermis of rice root reduces sodium transport through the apoplastlc pathway. A number of transcription factors regulate stress-Inducible gene ex- presslon that leads to Initiating stress responses and establishing plant stress tolerance. Overexpresslon of some transcription factors, Including DREB/CBF and NAC, enhances salt, drought, and cold tolerance In rice. A variant of one of ERF family genes, SublA-1, confers Immersion tolerance to lowland rice. These findings and their exploitation will hold promise for engineering breeding to protect crop plants from certain ablotic stresses.