Correlations of the Characteristics of Photosynthates between Female Parent and F_1 Inter-subspecific Hybrids of Rice

The utilization of hybrid rice heterosis between subspecies is an important way to prove rice breeding programs, but the low matter conversion rate of inter- subspecific hybrids becomes the bottleneck to get high yield. To further explore the reasons for the low conversion rate of dry matters, and the coordination mechanism between biological yield＇s potential and grain yield＇s potential, we evaluated the correlations of the agronomic characters between the female parent and F1 inter subspecific hybrids, using a male parent R292, three female parents Y58S, Peiai 64S and 83S, and their hybrid combinations Y58S/292, 64S/292 and 83S/292 as experimental materials, Yueyou 9113 as the control. The results indicated that the contents of both soluble sugar and starch of all the experimental materials varied at different growth stages, and the highest starch content appeared at pre-ripening stage while soluble sugar content was the lowest. Notable positive correlations in a- gronomic characteristics were observed between the female parents and their F1 hybrids. The soluble sugar content in stem was the highest, followed by that in panicle, and the soluble sugar content in sheath and flag leaf was lower. The re- sults provide a theoretical basis for the research on heterosis and yield coordination mechanisms of inter-subspecific hybrids of rice.

Correlation and Regressive Model Between Spikelet Fertilized Rate and Temperature in Inter-Subspecific Hybrid Rice

To study the sensitivity of inter-subspecific hybrid rice to climatic conditions, the spikelet fertilized rate （SFR） of four types of rice including indica-japonica hybrid, intermediate hybrid, indica and japonica were analyzed during 2000-2004. The inter-subspecific hybrids showed lower SFR, and much higher fluctuation under various climatic conditions than indica and japonica rice, showing the inter-subspecific hybrids were sensitive to ecological conditions. Among 12 climatic factors, the key factor affecting rice SFR was temperature, with the most significant factor being the average temperature of the seven days around panicle flowering （T7）. A regressive equation of SFR-temperature by T7, and a comprehensive synthetic model by four important temperature indices were put forward. The optimum temperature for inter-subspecific hybrids was estimated to be 26.1-26.6℃, and lower limit of safe temperature to be 22.5-23.3℃ for panicle flowering, showing higher by averagely 0.5℃ and 1.7℃, respectively, to be compared with indica and japonica rice. This suggested that inter-subspecific hybrids require proper climatic conditions. During panicle flowering, the suitable daily average temperature was 23.3-29.0℃, with the fittest one at 26.1-26.6℃. For an application example, optimum heading season for inter-subspecific hybrids in key rice growing areas in China was as same as common pure lines, while inferior limit for safe date of heading was about a ten-day period earlier than those of common pure lines.

Effect of Temperature on Pollen Fertility in Inter-Subspecific Rice Hybrids

Seventeen rice varieties and hybrids of different types (indica, japonica, javanica, indica hybrid, japonica hybrid and inter-subspecific hybrid) were evaluated to determine the effect of temperature on pollen fertility in inter-subspecfic hybrids. The pollen fertility of inter-subspecific hybrids was greatly reduced when average daily temperature dropped to 22.0 - 23.0℃ at meiosis stage, and the extent of pollen fertility reduction varied greatly with respect to different hybrids. However, the pollen fertility reduction of indica and japonica hybrids and conventional varieties was not obvious under the same regime of temperature conditions. When the average daily temperature dropped to 20℃, the pollen development of conventional varieties and hybrids was also affected. Correlation analysis revealed that there existed a positive correlation between pollen fertility and average daily temperature. A significant difference (P<0.01) was also found between the two correlation coefficients i.e. inter-subspecific hybrids and conventional varieties. Temperature at meiosis stage of pollen mother cell was a key factor in pollen developing, and the pollen fertility of inter-subspecific hybrids was more sensitive to low temperature than that of traditional variety.

Bulked Segregant RNA-Seq Analysis of Pollinated Pistils Reveals Genes Influencing Spikelet Fertility in Rice

Prezygotic isolation is important for successful fertilization in rice, significantly affecting yield. This study focused on F_(5:6) generation plants derived from inter-subspecific crosses(Nipponbare × KDML105) with low(LS) and high seed-setting rates(HS), in which normal pollen fertility was observed. However, LS plants showed a reduced number of pollen grains adhering to the stigma and fewer pollen tubes reaching the ovules at 4-5 h post-pollination, compared with HS plants. Bulked segregant RNA-Seq analysis of pollinated pistils from the HS and LS groups revealed 249 and 473 differentially expressed genes(DEGs), respectively. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis of the HS and LS-specific DEGs indicated enrichment in metabolic pathways, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, and flavonoid biosynthesis. Several of these DEGs exhibited co-expression with pollen development genes and formed extensive clusters of co-expression networks. Compared with LS pistils, enzyme genes controlling pectin degradation, such as OsPME35 and OsPLL9, showed similar expression patterns, with higher levels in HS pistils pre-pollination. Os02g0467600, similar to cinnamate 4-hydroxylase gene(CYP73), involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, displayed higher expression in HS pistils post-pollination. Our findings suggest that OsPME35, OsPLL9, and Os02g0467600 contribute to prezygotic isolation by potentially modifying the stigma cell wall(OsPME35 and OsPLL9) and controlling later processes such as pollen-stigma adhesion(Os02g0467600) genes. Furthermore, several DEGs specific to HS and LS were co-localized with QTLs and functional genes associated with spikelet fertility. These findings provide valuable insights for further research on rice spikelet fertility, ultimately contributing to the development of high-yielding rice varieties.

Progress in super-hybrid rice breeding

1.Introduction To meet the food demand of the Chinese people in the 21st century,a super-rice breeding program aimed at increasing rice yield was initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture of China in 1996.It is divided into four phases,with the following yield targets:10.5 t ha^(-1)(phase I,1996–2000),12 t ha^(-1)(phase II,2001–2005),13.5 t ha^(-1)(phase III,2006–2015),and 15 t ha^(-1)(phase IV,2016–2020)~[1].The average yield of super-rice should be verified in two locations of 6.7 ha each in two consecutive years.