Grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of an ultrashort-duration variety grown under different nitrogen and seeding rates in direct-seeded and double-season rice in Central China

Nitrogen(N) and seeding rates are important factors affecting grain yield and N use efficiency(NUE) in directseeded rice. However, these factors have not been adequately investigated on direct-seeded and double-season rice(DDR) in Central China. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of various N and seeding rates on the grain yield and NUE of an ultrashort-duration variety grown under DDR. Field experiments were conducted in 2018 in Wuxue County and 2019 in Qichun County, Hubei Province, China with four N rates and three seeding rates.The results showed that the grain yield of the ultrashort-duration variety ranged from 6.32 to 8.23 t ha–1with a total growth duration of 85 to 97 days across all treatments with N application. Grain yield was increased significantly by N application in most cases, but seeding rate had an inconsistent effect on grain yield. Furthermore, the response of grain yield to the N rates was much higher than the response to seeding rates. The moderate N rates of 100–150 and 70–120 kg N ha–1in the early and late seasons, respectively, could fully express the yield potential of the ultrashort-duration variety grown under DDR. Remarkably higher N responses and agronomic NUE levels were achieved in the early-season rice compared with the late-season rice due to the difference in indigenous soil N supply capacity(INS) between the two seasons. Seasonal differences in INS and N response should be considered when crop management practices are optimized for achieving high grain yield and NUE in ultrashort-duration variety grown under DDR.

Translocation and Distribution of Carbon-Nitrogen in Relation to Rice Yield and Grain Quality as Affected by High Temperature at Early Panicle Initiation Stage

Due to climate change, extreme heat stress events have become more frequent, adversely affecting rice yield and grain quality. The accumulation and translocation of dry matter and nitrogen substances are essential for rice yield and grain quality. To assess the impact of high temperature stress(HTS) at the early panicle initiation(EPI) stage on the accumulation, transportation, and distribution of dry matter and nitrogen substances in various organs of rice, as well as the resulting effects on rice yield and grain quality, pot experiments were conducted using an indica rice cultivar Yangdao 6(YD6) and a japonica rice cultivar Jinxiangyu 1(JXY1) under both normal temperature(32 ℃/26 ℃) and high temperature(38 ℃/29 ℃) conditions. The results indicated that exposure to HTS at the EPI stage significantly decreased rice yield by reducing spikelet number per panicle, grain-filling rate, and grain weight. However, it improved the nutritional quality of rice grains by increasing protein and amylose contents. The reduction in nitrogen and dry matter accumulation accounted for the changes in spikelet number per panicle, grain-filling rate, and grain size. Under HTS, the decrease in nitrogen accumulation accompanied by the reduction in dry matter may be due to the down-regulation of leaf net photosynthesis and senescence, as evidenced by the decrease in nitrogen content. Furthermore, the decrease in sink size limited the translocation of dry matter and nitrogen substances to grains, which was closely related to the reduction in grain weight and the deterioration of grain quality. These findings significantly contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms of HTS on grain yield and quality formation from the perspective of dry matter and nitrogen accumulation and translocation. Further efforts are needed to improve the adaptability of rice varieties to climate change in the near future.

Performance of Five Early Indica Rice Varieties under Direct Seeding in Jiangbei District

Comparative experiments were conducted on five conventional indica rice varieties,including Yongxian 15,Zhongzao 39,Shunda 135,Zhongzu 143,and Zhongzu 18.Under direct seeding conditions,their growth period and yield performance were investigated.The results showed that the yield of Zhonggang 143 and Shunda 135 was higher than that of Yongxian 15(CK),and Zhonggang 143 had the highest yield of 7.494 t/hm 2,followed by Shunda 135(7.467 t/hm 2);Yongxian 18(CK)has a yield of 7.326 t/hm 2.Taking into account factors such as field growth,yield,and growth period,Zhongzu 143 and Shunda 135 can be further promoted to optimize the early rice variety structure in Jiangbei District.

Comparison of yield performance between direct-seeded and transplanted double-season rice using ultrashort-duration varieties in central China

Labor scarcity requires double-season rice to be planted by direct seeding as an alternative to transplanting. Only ultrashort-duration varieties can be used in direct-seeded, double-season rice(DSD) in central China where thermal time is limited. Whether ultrashort-duration varieties grown in DSD can be as productive and efficient in nitrogen(N) use as transplanted double-season rice(TPD) remains unclear. Field experiments were conducted in Hubei province, central China with two establishment methods(DSD,TPD) and three N rates in the early and late seasons of 2017 and 2018. Nitrogen treatments included zero-N control(N0), total N rate of 60 kg N ha;with equal splits at basal, midtillering, and panicle initiation(N1), and weekly N application at 15 kg ha;from seeding/transplanting to heading(N2). Both early-and late-season rice under DSD matured within 95 days, on average 9 days shorter than rice under TPD. The grain yield of DSD was comparable to or higher than that of TDP in both seasons, although the daily yield was significantly higher under DSD than under TDP. Before heading, DSD had higher leaf area,stem number, intercepted radiation, and radiation use efficiency than TPD, which compensated for the negative effect of short growth duration on biomass production. Total dry weight and harvest index under DSD were comparable to or higher than those under TDP. In general, the recovery efficiency of fertilizer-N under DSD was higher than that under TPD, but the reverse was true for physiological N use efficiency. Thus, there was no significant difference in agronomic N use efficiency between DSD and TPD. These results suggested that DSD with ultrashort-duration varieties is a promising alternative to TPD in central China for maintaining high grain yield and N fertilizer use efficiency with less labor input.

Grain yield and lodging-related traits of ultrashort-duration varieties for direct-seeded and double-season rice in Central China

Lodging is the most common constraint on grain yield of direct-seeded rice.There is limited information about lodging resistance and its related plant traits in direct-seeded and double-season rice(DDR)in Central China.This study aims to identify the plant traits that achieve high lodging resistance in ultrashort-duration varieties(about 95 days)of DDR.Field experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018 in Wuxue County,Hubei Province,China,with four ultrashort-duration varieties grown under two nitrogen(N)rates.Lodging-related traits were measured on the 15 th day after heading,and yield and yield attributes were measured at maturity.The grain yield of the four varieties ranged from 4.59 to 7.61 t ha^(-1)across the two N rates,with a total growth duration of 85 to 97 days.Varietal differences in lodging index were mainly explained by the bending moment,which was closely related to plant height.Breaking resistance did not affect the lodging index significantly.Shortening plant height from 95.4 to 80.5 cm decreased the lodging index by 22.4%but did not reduce grain yield.Our results suggested that reducing plant height was effective in improving the lodging resistance of ultrashort-duration varieties of DDR.Lodging resistance should be enhanced by improving breaking resistance rather than reducing plant height to increase DDR grain yield further.

Identification of QTL and candidate genes involved in early seedling growth in rice via high-density genetic mapping and RNA-seq

Early seedling vigor(ESV)is a major breeding target in rice,especially under direct seeding.To identify quantitative trait locus(QTL)affecting ESV,a recombinant inbred line population derived from a cross between 02428 and YZX,two cultivars differing in vigor during early seedling growth,was used for QTL analysis.Nine traits associated with ESV were examined using a high-density map.Of 16 additive loci identified,three were detected in two generations and thus considered stable.Four epistatic interactions were detected,one of which was repeated in two generations.Further analysis of the pyramiding effect of the three stable QTL showed that the phenotypic value could be effectively improved with an increasing number of QTL.These results were combined with results from our previous QTL analysis of the germination index.The lines G58 and G182 combined all the favourable alleles of all three stable QTL for ESV and three QTL for germination speed.These two lines showed rapid germination and strong ESV.A total of 37 candidate differentially expressed genes were obtained from the regions of the three stable QTL by analysis of the dynamic transcriptomic expression profile during the seedling growth period of the two parents.The QTL are targets for ESV breeding and the candidate genes await functional validation.This study provides a theoretical basis and a genetic resource for the breeding of directseeded rice.

Effects of different mechanical direct seeding methods on grain yield and lodging resistance of early indica rice in South China

Direct seeding of rice has become a main planting method due to the low labor input and high economic benefit in South China.Dry direct seeding(DDS)has been widely used for single-season rice planting establishment.However,few studies have examined the performance of early-season indica rice under mechanical dry direct seeding.A two-year field experiment was conducted with two indica rice cultivars(i.e.,Zhongjiazao 17 and Zhuliangyou 819)to study lodging characteristics and grain yield formation under DDS,flooded direct seeding(FDS)and wet direct seeding(WDS)patterns.The results showed that the annual grain yield in DDS was higher by 14.42–26.34%for cultivar ZLY819 and 6.64–24.58%for cultivar ZJZ17 than in WDS and FDS,respectively,and these increases were mainly attributed to the improvement of the panicles.The DDS pattern significantly increased the seedling emergence rate of early indica rice cultivars,and increased total dry weight and crop growth rate.Meanwhile,shorter basal internodes,better stem diameter and stem wall thickness and lower lodging index were found in DDS in contrast to FDS and WDS.In particular,DDS improved the stem lodging resistance.Our results suggested that the appropriate direct seeding method was beneficial for improving the grain yield and lodging resistance of early indica rice.

Genetic Analysis of Early Generation Stability in Rice

The mechanism of early generation stability （EGS） in rice was studied via genetic analysis. Three types of crosses were made, namely between EGS varieties, EGS and conventional rice variety, and conventional rice varieties. The genetic analysis was based on the stable lines in F2 population. The stable lines may appear from some combinations of EGS rice crossing with each other and EGS rice crossing with conventional varieties at different frequencies, but stable lines didn＇t appear in conventional varieties crossing with conventional varieties. Genetic analysis results indicated that the EGS phenomena should just exist in special rice materials, and the frequency of stable lines was closely related to the EGS traits of parents. The EGS traits were neither qualitative nor quantitative traits, and they were controlled by neither dominant genes nor recessive genes. The EGS traits might be inherited by F1 single plant, and the traits of F3 and F4 were corresponded to those of F2 population, i.e. F3 and F4 lines derived from non-segregating F2 showed uniform agronomic traits, and those from segregating F2.did not. The agronomic traits of EGS lines were consistent with those of F1 single plant. On the other hand, when EGS lines occurred, the segregating lines in Mendelian manner were also observed in all F2 population of the same combination. It was suggested that the reason why the stable strains occurred might be a special factor to control （open/close） gene at the beginning of cell division in zygote, resulting in closing mitosis and opening somatic reduction. The somatic reduction of zygote resulted in recombination and homozygosity forming in F1 single plant, and some lines with uniform agronomic traits were observed in some lines of F2 population.

Synthesis and paste properties of octenyl succinic anhydride modified early Indica rice starch

Octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) modified early Indica rice starch was prepared in aqueous slurry systems using response surface methodology. The paste properties of the OSA starch were also investigated. Results indicated that the suitable parameters for the preparation of OSA starch from early Indica rice starch were as follows: reaction period 4 h, reaction tem- perature 33.4 °C, pH of reaction system 8.4, concentration of starch slurry 36.8% (in proportion to water, w/w), amount of OSA 3% (in proportion to starch, w/w). The degree of substitution was 0.0188 and the reaction efficiency was 81.0%. The results of paste properties showed that with increased OSA modification, the starch derivatives had higher paste clarity, decreased retro- gradation and better freeze-thaw stability.

Effect of Temperature on Rice Starch Biosynthesis Metabolism at Grain-Filling Stage of Early Indica Rice

The sucrose content, starch content and the ratio of amylose to total starch and the activities of six key enzymes, sucrose synthase(SS) , soluble starch synthesis enzyme(SSS) , ADPG pyrophosphorylase (ADPG-Ppase) , granule-boundstarch synthase (GBSS), starch branching enzyme (SBE) and debranching enzyme (DBE) , which involved in starch synthesis metabolism of developing rice grains and effect of temperature on their activities were analyzed by using two early indica varieties Zhefu49 and Jiazao935 in phyto-trons, the daily average temperature was 22 and 32℃, respectively. Results showed that the sucrose content, the starch content, and the activities of enzymes such as SS, ADPG-Ppase, SSS, SBE, and DBE were generally higher under the high temperature treatment (32℃)at the beginning stage as compared with that under low temperature treatment (22℃). However, at the middle and late stages, there were great differences in the change trend of some enzyme activities, and the association with the sucrose content and starch content was very complicated. It could be found that the activities of SS and SSS under high temperature were always lower than that under low temperature, which was closely related to the variation of the sucrose content and starch-accumulating rate. Moreover, compared with ADPG-Ppase, the SS and SSS activities were more sensitive to temperature, indicating that SS and SSS were controlled by enzyme through affecting starch accumulating rate. Difference of the amylose/total starch ratio in developing grains between 32 and 22℃was significant and the lower amylose/total starch ratio was always lower in 32℃, which was closely related to the lower activity level of GBSS. Therefore, it could be concluded that effect of temperature on amylose /total starch was more attributable to GBSS rather than to SS, SSS, ADPG-Ppase, SBE and DBE.

Isolation, Identification and Earliness Effect Analysis of Rice Dominant Earliness Gene Ef-cd

Ef-cd gene is a dominant earliness gene located on the short arm of rice chromosome 3. In this paper, through continuous backcross, self-pollination and molecular marker assisted selection, individual Ef-cd gene was isolated and its nearly isogenic lines were constructed by using early-maturing indica line 6442S-7 as the donor parent, and by using latematuring indica line Minghui 63 （MH63）, Shuhui 881 （SH881） and Shuhui 527 （SH527） as the recurrent parents （genetic background）, respectively. Further, it was found out that Ef-cd gene could generally advance rice to head 11-14 d earlier. So, it was considered that Ef-cd gene played an important role in rapid developing early-maturing and super high-yielding rice varieties.

Resistance Evaluation of Some Hybrid Rice, Conventional Early Indica and Late Japonica Rice to Magnaporthe grisea

Thirty isolates of Magnaporthe grisea collected from 18 provinces/cities representing 21 pathotypes and 9 different lineages were inoculated to rice varieties with known resistance genes and some hybrid rices, conventional early indica and late japonica varieties cultivated recently in China. Virulence spectrum of the 30 isolates was very different, showing that they recognize numerous different resistance genes. Varieties also revealed very different resistance patterns showing that they carry different resistance genes or combinations of resistance genes. On the basis of comparisons with international differential varieties with known resistance genes, resistance genes in certain Chinese varieties could be speculated. The results indicated that some of them were resistant to most of the isolates tested and that they could be of interest as resistance sources for hybrid parents or to be planted in the field directly.

Genetic Mechanism of Dominant Earliness in Kefeng A,a New Rice Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Line

Kefeng A is an early maturing indica cytoplasmic male sterile （CMS） line of rice. Combinations derived from Kefeng A and late maturing indica restorer lines showed dominant earliness to various extents. To understand the genetic basis of dominant earliness, the genotype of photoperiod-sensitive genes in Kefeng A was analyzed using a complete set of heading time near isogenic lines （NILs） EGO to EG7, ER, LR, T65, T65E^b, T65E^bm, T65m, NIL（Hd1） and NIL（Hd4）. Results indicated that Kefeng A contained two dominant photoperiod-sensitive alleles E1 and Se-1^U on E1 and Se-1 loci, respectively, and the genotype of photoperiod-sensitivity genes for heading time in Kefeng A was E1E1e2e2E3E3Se-1^USe-1UEf-1Ef-1. Based on the detected heading time genotype, in combination with the heading time of Kefeng A and the early maturing phenomenon in its derived F1 hybrids, it is speculated that Kefeng A might carry a dominant inhibitor gene Su-E7 for the dominant photoperiod- sensitive gene E1, and a recessive inhibitor gene i-Se-1 for another dominant photoperiod-sensitive gene Se-1. The reason why F1 hybrids from Kefeng A exhibited early maturing was hereby analyzed and the breeding value of dominant earliness related genes in Kefeng A was discussed.

Retesting Early Generation Stability of a Japonica Rice Variety 84-15 by Using Allelic Differences of Two Qualitative Traits

Early generation stability of a japonica rice variety, 84-15, was retested by using the allelic differences of two qualitative traits, i.e., glume tip color and waxy endosperm. Results showed that both glurne tip color and waxy endosperm segregated in progenies of single F1 plants derived from two crosses of 84-15/Zi 18 （purple color） and 84-15/Dahuaxiangnuo （waxy）. The results denied the conclusion obtained in previous studies that 84-15 had a characteristic of early generation stability. Moreover, it was found that using the coefficient of variation as an indicator of early generation stability was unreasonable by analyzing plant height as an example. Importance of avoiding systematic error in research works was also discussed.

<i>ABNORMAL SHOOT IN YOUTH</i>, a Homolog of Molybdate Transporter Gene, Regulates Early Shoot Development in Rice

We analyzed the abnormal shoot in youth (asy) mutant to understand the phase-specific regulation of shoot development. asy showed various shoot abnormalities, including small leaves due to the precocious termination of cell division, defects in leaf blade-sheath boundary formation, and abnormal shoot apical meristem maintenance at the early vegetative stage. These defects recovered with advanced development. ASY encodes a DUF791 domain protein, which is part of the major facilitator superfamily. Despite stage-specific phenotypes, the ASY expression level was roughly constant throughout development. A paralog of ASY, ASL, exists in the rice genome and is supposed to have redundant functions. ASL expression was relatively low in early-stage embryos but increased at later stages. Thus, asy phenotypes were limited to the stage when ASL expression was suppressed. A homology search revealed that ASY is a homolog of the Chlamydomonas CrMoT2 gene, which encodes a molybdate transporter. ASY was suggested to encode a molybdate transporter based on its sequence similarity with CrMoT2 and predicted transmembrane topology. This is the first report of a CrMOT2-type molybdate transporter in higher plants.

Formula for Determining Number of Basic Seedlings at Scattered-Planting with Seedling Dry-Raised on Plastic Trays in Double-Season Rice

The tiller emergence in seedling nursery beds and field, and panicle formation in the field were investigated under scattered-planting with seedling dry-raised on plastic trays in double-season rice. A significant difference was noted in the non-synchronously-emerged tillers （the tillers that formed from latent buds and did not emerge following the normal tillering law on seedling nursery beds and recovered to grow after scattered-planting or transplanting） as well as the percentage of the available synchronously-emerged tillers between seedlings raised on plastic trays under dry-land conditions （DPT） and seedlings raised on nursery beds under wetland conditions （WB）. The seedlings under DPT had some non-synchronously-emerged tillers, but those under WB had not. Therefore, the traditional formula for determining the number of rice seedlings was improved, and the formula for determining the number of basic seedlings under scattered planting with DPT in double-season rice was introduced. For early rice, it was X=Y/{（I＋t1r1）[1＋（N-n-SN）Rr2]＋（SN-3-t1）R2r5}, and for late rice, it was X=Y/{（1＋t1r1）[1＋（N-n-SN）Rr2]＋（N-n-SN-3）Rr2R1r3＋（SN-3-t1）R2r5}. Where, X represents reasonable number of basic seedlings per unit area at scattered-planting; Y, number of fitting panicles per unit area; t1, total number of tillers per plant; r1, percentage of the total available tillers; N, total number of leaves of the main culm; n, total number of elongated internodes in the main culm; SN, seedling leaf ages at scattered-planting; R, percentage of the primary tillers emerged in available node-position; r2, percentage of the available primary tillers; R1, percentage of the secondary tillers in the field （except the secondary tillers of the seedlings）; r3, percentage of the available secondary tillers; R2, percentage of the asynchronously-emerged tillers after scattered-planting; r5, percentage of the available non-synchronously-emerged tillers after scattered-planting.

Performance of Soft Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Grown in Early Season in China

Eating quality is of paramount importance to rice(Oryza sativa L.)consumers and soft rice with low amylose content has become popular in China.This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of soft rice grown in the early season(ES)dominated by non-soft rice.Field experiments were conducted in Yongan and Santang,Hunan Province,China from 2016-2018.Results showed that grain amylose content in soft rice cultivars was consistently lower in the ES compared to the late season(LS).The lower grain amylose content in the ES compared to the LS was partly attributed to higher average daily mean temperature during grain filling.No significant relationship was observed between grain yield and seed amylose content in ES rice.Soft rice cultivars produced a similar average grain yield to non-soft rice cultivars in the ES.These results encourage breeders to develop more ES rice cultivars with soft texture to meet the consumer demand for this type of rice.

Prediction of the occurring amount of whitebacked planthopper(WBPH) on early rice by sea temperature

Whitebacked planthopper (WBPH) is a kind of long-distance migratory pest. Its occurring amount is closely related to the climate change of large sphere. In recent years many researches have reported that the climate of large sphere was affected by the Pacific sea temperature (ST). We studied the long-range forecast of the occurring amount of WBPH by using data provided by State Meteorological Administration, China. Taking the highest amount per 100 hills in main injurious generation of WBPH on early rice in Ganzhou Prefecture, Jiangxi Province as the object of forecast (y), and dividing y into six grades,i.e. 1-6 grades means the sequence of 1,000,1,001-3,000, 3,001-5,000, 5,001-10,000,10,001-20,000, and over 20,000 heads in order. Three regions were selected from the 286 grid points in the northwest Pacific. Region A was the maritime space between Black Tide Region and California Cold Flow Region, 160°E-130°W,

An early maturing rice variety of high quality—Zhefu 218

Early maturing rice variety of high quality "Zhefu 218" was developed by prof XIA Yingwu, Zhejiang Agricultural University, Hangzhou, China. The growth period of the new rice variety is 106 d and its average yield is about 5.25-7.08 t / ha. It has the speciality of early-maturing combined with good quality. Not only the grains of "Zhefu 218" are of excellent cooking, but also of nutritive quality. The flavour of the cooked rice of"Zhefu 218" is considerably better than those of the ordinary rice cultivars here.