Direct-Seeded Rice: Genetic Improvement of Game-Changing Traits for Better Adaption

The sustainability of rice production continues to be a subject of uncertainty and inquiry attributed to shifts in climatic conditions. In light of the impending climate change crisis and the high labor and water costs accompanying it, direct-seeded rice(DSR) is unquestionably one of the most practical solutions. Despite its resource and climate-friendly advantages, early maturing rice faces weed competitiveness and seedling establishment challenges. Resolving these issues is crucial for promoting its wider adoption among farmers, presenting it as a more effective sustainable rice cultivation method globally. Diverse traditional and contemporary breeding methods are employed to mitigate the limitations of the DSR approach, leveraging advanced techniques such as speed breeding and genome editing. Focusing on key traits like mesocotyl length elongation, early seedling vigor, root system architecture, and weed competitiveness holds promise for transformative improvements in DSR adaptation at a broader scale within farming communities. This review aims to summarize how these features contribute to increased crop production in DSR conditions and explore the research efforts focusing on enhancing DSR adaptation through these traits. Emphasizing the pivotal role of these game-changing traits in DSR adaptation, our analysis sheds light on their potential transformative impact and offers valuable insights for advancing DSR practices.

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.

Increasing the appropriate seedling density for higher yield in dry direct-seeded rice sown by a multifunctional seeder after wheatstraw return

Dry direct-seeded rice(DDR) sown using a multifunctional seeder that performs synchronous rotary tillage and sowing has received increased attention because it is highly efficient,relatively cheap,and environmentally friendly.However,this method of rice production may produce lower yields in a rice–wheat rotation system because of its poor seedling establishment.To address this problem,we performed field experiments to determine the rice yield at five seedling density levels(B1,B2,B3,B4,and B5=100,190,280,370,and 460 seedlings m-2,respectively) and clarify the physiological basis of yield formation.We selected a representative high-quality rice variety and a multifunctional seeder that used in a typical rice–wheat rotation area in 2016 and 2018.The proportion of main stem panicle increased with increasing seedling density.There was a parabolic relationship between yield and seedling density,and the maximum yield(9.34-9.47 t ha-1) was obtained under B3.The maximum yield was associated with a higher total spikelet number m-2 and greater biomass accumulation from heading to maturity.The higher total spikelet number m-2 under B3 was attributed to an increase in panicle number m-2 compared with B1 and B2.Although the panicle numbers also increased under B4 and B5,these increases were insufficient to compensate for the reduced spikelet numbers per panicle.Lower biomass,smaller leaf area,and lower N uptake per plant from the stem elongation stage to the heading stage were partially responsible for the smaller panicle size at higher seedling density levels such as B5.The higher biomass accumulation under B3 was ascribed to the increases in the photosynthetic rate of the top three leaves m-2 of land,crop growth rate,net assimilation rate,and leaf area index.Furthermore,the B3 rice population was marked by a higher grain–leaf ratio,as well as a lower export ratio and transport ratio of biomass per stem-sheath.A quadratic function predicted that 260-290 seedlings m-2 is the optimum seedling density for achieving maximum yield.Together,these results suggested that appropriately increasing the seedling density,and thereby increasing the proportion of panicles formed by the main stem,is an effective approach for obtaining a higher yield in DDR sown using a multifunctional seeder in a rice–wheat rotation system.

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.

Effect of irrigation regime on grain yield,water productivity,and methane emissions in dry direct-seeded rice grown in raised beds with wheat straw incorporation

Dry direct-seeded rice grown in raised beds is becoming an important practice in the wheat–rice rotation system in China.However,little information has been available on the effect of various irrigation regimes on grain yield,water productivity(WP),nitrogen use efficiency(NUE),and greenhouse gas emission in this practice.This study investigated the question using two rice cultivars in 2015 and 2016 grown in soil with wheat straw incorporated into it.Rice seeds were directly seeded into raised beds,which were maintained under aerobic conditions during the early seedling period.Three irrigation regimes:continuous flooding(CF),alternate wetting and drying(AWD),and furrow irrigation(FI),were applied from 4.5-leaf-stage to maturity.Compared with CF,both AWD and FI significantly increased grain yield,WP,and internal NUE,with greater increases under the FI regime.The two cultivars showed the same tendency in both years.Both AWD and FI markedly increased soil redox potential,root and shoot biomass,root oxidation activity,leaf photosynthetic NUE,and harvest index and markedly decreased global warming potential,owing to substantial reduction in seasonalThe results demonstrate that adoption of either AWD or FI could increase grain yield and resource-use efficiency and reduce environmental risks in dry direct-seeded rice grown on raised beds with wheat straw incorporation in the wheat–rice rotation system.

Irrigating with cooler water does not reverse high temperature impact on grain yield and quality in hybrid rice

Rice grain yield and quality are negatively impacted by high temperature stress.Irrigation water temperature significantly affects rice growth and development,thus influencing yield and quality.The role of cooler irrigation water in counteracting high temperature induced damages in rice grain yield and quality are not explored.Hence,in the present study two rice hybrids,Liangyoupeijiu(LYPJ)and IIyou 602(IIY602)were exposed to heat stress and irrigated with water having different temperatures in a splitsplit plot experimental design.The stress was imposed starting from heading until maturity under field-based heat tents,over two consecutive years.The maximum day temperature inside the heat tents was set at 38℃.For the irrigation treatments,two different water sources were used including belowground water with cooler water temperature and pond water with relatively higher water temperature.Daytime mean temperatures in the heat tents were increased by 1.2–2.0℃ across two years,while nighttime temperature remained similar at both within and outside the heat tents.Cooler belowground water irrigation did have little effect on air temperature at the canopy level but decreased soil temperature(0.2–1.4℃)especially under control.Heat stress significantly reduced grain yield(33%to 43%),panicles m^(-2)(9%to 10%),spikelets m^(-2)(15%to 22%),grain-filling percentage(13%to 26%)and 1000-grain weight(3%to 5%).Heat stress significantly increased chalkiness and protein content and decreased grain length and amylose content.Grain yield was negatively related to air temperature at the canopy level and soil temperature.Whereas grain quality parameters like chalkiness recorded a significantly positive association with both air and soil temperatures.Irrigating with cooler belowground water reduced the negative effect of heat stress on grain yield by 8.8%in LYPJ,while the same effect was not seen in IIY602,indicating cultivar differences in their response to irrigation water temperature.Our findings reveal that irrigating with cooler belowground water would not significantly mitigate yield loss or improve grain quality under realistic field condition.The outcome of this study adds to the scientific knowledge in understanding the interaction between heat stress and irrigation as a mitigation tool.Irrigation water temperature regulation at the rhizosphere was unable to counteract heat stress damages in rice and hence a more integrated management and genetic options at canopy levels should be explored in the future.

Influence law of modified glutinous rice-based materials on gravel soil reinforcement and water erosion process

A large number of loose piles formed by mountain hazards are highly susceptible to hydraulic erosion under rainfall conditions.The use of ecological substrate materials for erosion control and ecological restoration of gravel soil slopes has become a current research hotspot and the study difficulty.The post-earthquake slump accumulation gravel soil in Jiuzhaigou was selected as the research object,and the self-developed modified glutinous rice-based material was used to reinforce the gravel soil.The variable slope flume erosion test and rainfall simulation test were carried out to study the water erosion resistance of the material reconstructed soil under the influence of runoff erosion and raindrop splash erosion.The results show that:As the material content reached 12.5%,the reconstructed soil did not disintegrate after 24 hours of immersion,the internal friction angle was increased by 42.26%,and the cohesion was increased by 235.5%,which played a significant reinforcement effect.In the process of slope erosion,the soil rill erodibility parameter Kr was only 3‰ of the gravel soil control group,the critical shear force τ increased by 272%,and the soil erosion resistance was significantly improved.In the process of rainfall and rainfall on the slope,the runoff intensity of the reconstructed soil was stable,and the ability to resist runoff erosion and raindrop splash erosion was enhanced.The maximum value of soil loss rate on different slope slopes is 0.02-0.10 g·m^(-2)s^(-1),which is significantly lower than that of the control group and has better erosion reduction effect.

Water Extract of Rice False Smut Balls Activates Nrf2/HO-1 and Apoptosis Pathways,Causing Liver Injury

Ustiloxins are vital cyclopeptide mycotoxins originally isolated from rice false smut balls that form in rice spikelets infected by the fungal pathogen Ustilaginoidea virens.The toxicity of the water extract of rice false smut balls(RBWE) remains to be investigated.Studies have shown that RBWE may be toxic to animals,but toxicological evidence is still lacking.In this study,we found that the IC50 values of RBWE to BNL CL.2 cells at 24 and 48 h were 40.02 and 30.11 μg/m L,respectively,with positive correlations with dose toxicity and time toxicity.After treatment with RBWE,the number of BNL CL.2 cells decreased significantly,and the morphology of BNL CL.2 cells showed atrophy and wall detachment.RBWE induced DNA presynthesis phase arrest of BNL CL.2 cells,increased the proportion of apoptotic cells and inhibited cell proliferation.RBWE up-regulated reactive oxygen species(ROS) levels and lowered mitochondrial membrane potentials.Additionally,Western blot and q RT-PCR results suggested that RBWE exerted the above effects by promoting the Nrf2/HO-1 and caspase-induced apoptosis pathways in vitro and in vivo.The contents of alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,alkaline phosphatase,and total bile acids in the serum of mice from Institute of Cancer were significantly up-regulated by RBWE.At the same time,RBWE can lead to increases in ROS and malondialdehyde contents,decreases in contents of oxidized glutathione,glutathione and reduced glutathione,as well as decrease in catalase and superoxide dismutase activities in mouse liver tissues,demonstrating that oxidative stress occurred in mice.Moreover,liver damage was further detected by haematoxylin-eosin staining and electron microscopy to verify the damage to the mice caused by RBWE.In general,RBWE may cause hepatotoxicity in vivo and in vitro via the apoptosis pathway,which provides a reference for hepatotoxicity and its mechanism of action.

Rice Cultivation under Film Mulching Can Improve Soil Environment and Be Beneficial for Rice Production in China

Rice cultivation under film mulching is an integrated management technology that can conserve water, increase soil temperature, improve yield, and enhance water and nitrogen use efficiencies. Despite these advantages, the system does have its drawbacks, such as soil organic matter reduction and microplastic pollution, which impede the widespread adoption of film mulching cultivation in China. Nonetheless, the advent of degradable film, controlled-release fertilizer, organic fertilizer, and film mulching machinery is promoting the development of rice film mulching cultivation. This review outlines the impact of rice cultivation under film mulching on soil moisture, soil temperature, soil fertility, greenhouse gas emissions, weed control, and disease and pest management. It also elucidates the mechanism of changes in rice growth, yield and quality, water use efficiency, and nitrogen use efficiency. This paper incorporates a review of published research articles and discusses some uncertainties and shortcomings associated with rice cultivation under film mulching. Consequently, prospective research directions for the technology of rice film mulching cultivation are outlined, and recommendations for future research into rice cultivation under film mulching are proposed.

Soaking Rice Seeds in High Concentration Salt Solution Improved Salt Tolerance at the Seedling Stage

[Objectives]This study was conducted to enhance the salt tolerance of current rice varieties at the seedling stage and fulfill the urgent requirement for salt-tolerant rice varieties in coastal tidal flats.[Methods]Four high-generation stable rice lines with diverse salt tolerance were employed as test materials,and four NaCl concentration gradients were established for seed soaking treatment.[Results]The seedling survival rate of line 151465 underwent significant alterations after soaking with four different salt concentrations,and the survival rate was the highest after treatment with 1.8%NaCl for 1 d,reaching 65.2%.The average survival rate of other three lines with different salt tolerance reached 62%after soaking with 1.8%NaCl for 1 d,which was significantly higher than those of the 2.2%NaCl and 0%NaCl treatments.[Conclusions]This study provides a basis for reducing the effect of abiotic stress on rice growth and development and improving the utilization rate of saline-alkali land.

Advances in Research on Water and Fertilizer Coupling and Its Effects on Rice Growth and Utilization Rate of Nitrogen

At present, the shortage of agricuItural water resources is worsening. In order to reduce the rice irrigation water and improve the utiIization of fertiIizers so as to achieve the high and stabIe yielding of rice, this report reviewed the research advances in water and fertiIizer coupIing, the conception of water and fertiIizer cou-pIing and its three kinds of effects （synergy, antagonism, superposition）, mechanism of water and fertiIizer coupIing, effects of water and fertiIizer coupIing on growth, deveIopment, yield and quality of rice and effects of water and fertiIizer coupIing on utiIization rate of nitrogen in rice. In addition, the deveIopment prospects of water and fertiIizer coupIing in China were described. It was proposed that the water and fertiIizer coupIing mode is an effective measure to achieve the high yield and quality of rice. According to actual demand, referring to the ideas of promoting fertiIizer with water and reguIating water with fertiIizer, reasonabIe water and fertiIizer cou-pIing mode can be estabIished, thereby improving the utiIization efficiencies of water and fertiIizer. In the premise of saving irrigation water and no increasing fertiIization amount, both high yielding and Iess poI ution can be achieved, providing theoretical and technical basis for water-saving agricuIture and cuItivation and management of rice in future.

QTL Analysis for Relative Water Content in Rice

Drought tolerance is complex in rice. Under drought stress, leaf water content trait can be used as a indicator for variety evaluation. In this study, ahybrid F2 population was constructed with drought-tolerant indica rice cultivar Luhan No.1 and japonica rice cultivar Nipponbare, to analyze QTLs related with relative water content in rice. According to the results, two QTLs were detected between markers 4-27M and 4-23M and between markers 6-3M and RM276 on chromosomes 4 and 6, with the contribution rate of 4.81% -6.43% to phenotypic variation.

Leaf Senescence Characteristics and Responses to Water Shortage of Different Hybrid Rice Cultivars during Grain Filling Stage

[Objective] The pattern of leaves senescence was studied to provide reference for the planting technology and breeding rice cultivars resistant to premature senescence. [Method] Six hybrid rice cultivars were cultivated under limited and conventional irrigation managements; after the heading of rice, the root activities, nitrogen content in leaves, chlorophyll content （SPAD value）, net photosynthetic rate and the activities of superoxide dismutase （SOD）, peroxidase （POD）, catalase （CAT） were determined. [Result] The rhythms in attenuation of xylem sap flow rate, leaf nitrogen content, chlorophyll content （SPAD value） and net photosynthetic rate of different rice cultivars were significantly different in attenuation starting time, attenuation frequency and attenuation range. Physiological indexes of different cultivars responded inconsistently to water shortage. Extremely significantly positive correlations were found between the decline rates of chlorophyll content and leaf nitrogen content and xylem sap flow rate of roots, the photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content. The changes in activities of SOD, CAT and POD were different, and responded to water shortage differently in different cultivars. The change dynamic of leaf nitrogen content and chlorophyll content was positively related with the activity dynamic of SOD and CAT. The change dynamic of leaf nitrogen content and chlorophyll content was negatively related with the malondialdehyde （MDA） content. The difference in the attenuation rhythm of physiological indexes of leaves and response to water shortage of different hybrid rice cultivars were related to genotype difference. Increasing roots activities and protecting enzyme activities of leaves benefit to defer attenuation of chlorophyll content and nitrogen content of leaves and to keep stronger photosynthetic function. [Conclusion] The senescence resistance of rice is a combined result of genotype differences and physiological response to environment.

Effects of Water Stress on Economic Characters of Water-saving Rice Variety Luhan No.1

[Objective] This study aimed at exploring the utilization rate of water of the new water-saving rice variety ＂Luhan No.1＂ and providing references and basis for the further demonstration and extension.[Method] Water-saving rice variety ＂Luhan No.1＂ and original receptor ＂6527＂ were used for dry processing without aquifer,and rice under regular irrigation conditions was used as the control.[Result] Under conditions which had economized on 67.4% of water compared with the regular irrigation,decreasing rates of 1 000-seed weight,seed setting rate,plant height and effective panicles of ＂Luhan No.1＂ were relatively small and had not achieved a significant level,while the decreasing rates of production of the region,total grains per panicle,theoretical production and filled grains per panicle of the original receptor ＂6527＂ were all over 25% and had attained very significant levels（P0.01）.[Conclusion] ＂Luhan No.1＂ had shown stable production,energy conservation,reducing environmental pollution and other advantages under water-conservating cultivation conditions.

Effects of Water Stress on Some Physiological Characteristics and Yield Compensation of Rice in Booting Stage

[Objective] The physiological characteristics and yield compensation effects of rice in booting stage were studied after water recovery when rice suffered water stress to provide references for improving rice water utilization efficiency and its drought resistance. [Method] The pot experiments with five rice varieties under three different treatments of water stresses were conducted to study physical signs every six days after water water-recovery. [Result] Along with the increase of water recov- ery, leaf water potential, SPAD and Pn values in treatment B （light drought） in- creased fast, and its compensation effect of the soluble sugar content was higher than that of treatment C （severe drought）; all sap flow speeds in treatments with water stresses fell. As for yield components, panicles per plant and spikelets per panicle decreased with water stress degree, and the decline of spikelets per pani- cle, in particular, was greatly influenced by water stress. Seed setting percentages in treatment B most reached peaks of different varieties, except of D you No. 363. The thousand-seed weight and ear weight per plant in treatment B and C both dropped, compared with control group. [Conclusion] When regular management was resumed after rice underwent water stress at booting stage, many characteristics and yield traits of rice got favorable compensation effects in the light water-stress treatments.

Effects of Different Irrigation Amounts on Physiological Indexes and Water Use Efficiency of Rice at the Jointing-booting Stage

[Objective] This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different irrigation amounts on rice leaf physiology and water use efficiency. [Method] The irrigation test with three different treatments was carried out in the Agrometeo- rological Experimental Station of Nanjing University of Information Science ＆ Technology. [Reset] Under flood irrigation, the rice leaf temperature was lower than wet irrigation by 0.4-0.7 ℃; when the strength of photosynthetically active radiation was in the range of 800-1 800 gmol/（m^2·s）, the average stomatal conductance of rice leaves under flood irrigation was higher than that of the wet irrigation treatment by 0.123-0.183 mol H2O/（m^2·s）, and the leaf water use efficiency was higher than that of the wet irrigation treatment by 0.24 g/kg; after 10：00 every day, the water use efficiency under flood irrigation was always higher than that of the wet irrigation treatment; and compared with the wet irrigation treatment, the rice of the flood irrigation treatments had higher leaf water use efficiency, and final yields were also remarkably improved by 5.89%-13.97%. [Conclusion] This study will provide a practical reference basis for field management.

Grain yield and water use efficiency of super rice under soil water deficit and alternate wetting and drying irrigation

This study investigated if super rice could better cope with soil water deficit and if it could have better yield performance and water use efficiency （WUE） under alternate wetting and drying （AWD） irrigation than check rice. Two super rice cultivars and two elite check rice cultivars were grown in pots with three soil moisture levels, well watered （WW）, moderate water deficit （MWD） and severe water deficit （SWD）. Two cultivars, each for super rice and check rice, were grown in field with three irrigation regimes, alternate wetting and moderate drying （AWMD）, alternate wetting and severe drying （AWSD） and conventional irrigation （CI）. Compared with that under WW, grain yield was significantly decreased under MWD and SWD treatments, with less reduction for super rice than for check rice. Super rice had higher percentage of productive tillers, deeper root distribution, higher root oxidation activity, and greater aboveground biomass production at mid and late growth stages than check rice, especially under WMD and WSD. Compared with CI,AWMD increased, whereasAWSD decreased grain yield, with more increase or less decrease for super rice than for check rice. Both MWD and SWD treatments and eitherAWMD orAWSD regime significantly increased WUE compared with WW treatment or CI regime, with more increase for super rice than for check rice. The results suggest that super rice has a stronger ability to cope with soil water deficit and holds greater promising to increase both grain yield and WUE by adoption of moderate AWD irrigation.

Relationship Between Canopy Temperature at Flowering Stage and Soil Water Content,Yield Components in Rice

The canopy temperature of rice at the flowering stage and the soil water content were investigated under different soil water treatments （the soil water contents were 24%, 55%, 90% and 175% at the flowering stage）. The canopy temperature was lower than air temperature, and the soil water content significantly influenced the canopy temperature. The lower the soil water content, the higher the canopy temperature, the less the accumulative absolute value of canopy-air temperature difference. Moreover, the maximum difference between treatments and CK in the accumulative absolute value of canopy-air temperature difference appeared at 13：00 μm. in a day, thus, it could be considered as a suitable measuring time. Under the lowest water content treatment, the peak flowering occurred in the first three days （about 70% of panicles flowered）, resulting in shortened and lightened panicle of rice. As to the CK and the high water content treatments, the peak flowering appeared in the middle of flowering duration, with longer panicle length and higher panicle weight. Results indicated the lower the soil water content, the less the filled grain number and grain yield.

Effects of Water Stress on Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Protection System in Rice During Grain-Filling Stage

Rice is one of the main staple food crops in the world, but it may suffer serious water stress during growth period. Water stress during grain filling results in decreased grain yeild, but its mechanism generating and scavenging the active oxygen is unclear under continuance of the water stress. The experiment was carried out in growth chamber to investigate the effects of water stress on the production of superoxide free radical （O2）, hydrogen peroxide （H202）, malondialdehyde （MDA）, reduced glutathione （GSH）, ascorbic acid （AsA）, and antioxidative enzyme activities in three rice hybrids with differing drought resistant under both normal and drought conditions during grain-filling stage. The results showed that water stress aggravated the membrane lipid peroxidation in rice leaves, which was more severe in less drought resistant hybrids than that in more tolerant ones. Also O2＇ and H2O2 accumulated more rapidly in less drought resistant hybrids than that in more tolerant ones. During water stress, decreases of GSH, AsA, chlorophyll, and relative water contents in more drought resistant hybrids were obvious less than those in less tolerant ones. Activities of superoxide dismutase （SOD）, catalase （CAT） and peroxidase （POD） in/eaves increased obviously in 0-14 d after heading and subsequently decreased rapidly, and those in more drought resistant hybrids were more than those in less tolerant ones. The results showed that changes of O2, H2O2, MDA, GSH, and AsA contents and antioxidative enzyme activities correlated significantly to drought resistance of rice hybrids, and more drought resistant hybrids possessed high ant oxidation capacity.

The effects of water and nitrogen on the roots and yield of upland and paddy rice

It is of great significance to study the root characteristics of rice to improve water and nitrogen(N) use efficiency and reduce environmental pollution. This study investigated whether root traits and architecture of rice influence grain yield, as well as water and N utilization efficiency. An experiment was conducted using the upland rice cultivar Zhonghan 3(a japonica cultivar) and paddy rice cultivar Huaidao 5(also a japonica cultivar) using three N levels, namely, 2 g urea/pot(low amount, LN), 3 g urea/pot(normal amount, NN), and 4 g urea/pot(high amount, HN), and three soil water potentials(SWPs, namely, well-watered(0 kPa), mildly dried(–20 kPa) and severely dried(–40 kPa). The results showed that with decreasing SWP, the percentage of upland rice roots increased in the 0–5 cm tillage layer, and decreased in the 5–10 and 10–20 cm tillage layers, whereas paddy rice roots showed the opposite trend. With increasing amounts of N, the yield of upland and paddy rice increased, and the percentage of root volume ratios of the two rice cultivars in the 0–5 and 5–10 cm tillage layers increased, whereas that in the 10–20 cm tillage layer decreased. The roots of upland rice are mainly distributed in the 10–20 cm tillage layer, whereas most paddy rice roots are in the 0–5 cm tillage layer. These results indicate that the combination of-20 kPa SWP and NN in upland rice and 0 kPa SWP and LN in paddy rice promotes the growth of the root system during the middle and late stages, which in turn may decrease the requirements for water and N fertilizer and increase rice yield.