Identification of QTLs associated with cadmium concentration in rice grains

Cadmium（Cd） contamination in rice has been a hot topic of research because of its potential risk to human health. In this study, a double haploid（DH） population derived from Zhongjiazao 17（YK17）（an early-season indica cultivar）×D50（a tropical japonica cultivar） was used to identify quantitative trait loci（QTLs） associated with Cd concentration in brown rice（CCBR） and Cd concentration in milled rice（CCMR）. Continuous and wide variation for CCBR and CCMR were observed among the DH population. Correlation analysis revealed a positive and highly significant correlation between the two traits. A total of 18 QTLs for CCBR and 14 QTLs for CCMR were identified in five different pot and field trials. Two pairs of QTLs for CCBR（qCCBR2-1 and qCCBR2-2, qCCBR9-1 and qCCBR9-2） and one pair of QTLs for CCMR（qCCMR5-1 and qCCMR5-2） were detected in multiple trials. The alleles increasing CCBR at the qC CBR2-1/qC CBR2-2 and qC CBR9-1/qC CBR9-2 QTLs were contributed by YK17 and D50, respectively, whereas the D50 allele at the qCCMR5-1/qCCMR5-2 QTLs increased CCMR. Eight pairs of QTLs for CCBR and CCMR, qCCBR2-2 and qCCMR2-2, qCCBR3 and qCCMR3, qCCBR4-2 and qCCMR4-1, qCCBR4-3 and qCCMR4-2, qCCBR4-4 and qCCMR4-3, qCCBR5 and qCCMR5-2, qCCBR7 and qCCMR7, and qCCBR11-1 and qCCMR11-2, co-localized on chromosomes 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 11, respectively. For all of these QTL pairs, except qCCBR5/qCCMR5-2, the additive effects came from YK17. In addition, four CCMR QTLs showing significant additive×environment interaction and two pairs of CCMR QTLs with bi-allelic epistatic interactions were identified. The results of this study could facilitate marker-assisted selection of breeding rice varieties with low Cd accumulation in grain.

Effect of delayed sowing on grain number, grain weight, and protein concentration of wheat grains at specific positions within spikes

Delays in sowing have significant effects on the grain yield,yield components,and grain protein concentrations of winter wheat.However,little is known about how delayed sowing affects these characteristics at different positions in the wheat spikes.In this study,the effects of sowing date were investigated in a winter wheat cultivar,Shannong 30,which was sown in 2019 and 2020 on October 8(normal sowing)and October 22(late sowing)under field conditions.Delayed sowing increased the partitioning of ^(13)C-assimilates to spikes,particularly to florets at the apical section of a spike and those occupying distal positions on the same spikelet.Consequently,the increase in grain number was the greatest for the apical sections,followed by the basal and central sections.No significant differences were observed between sowing dates in the superior grain number in the basal and central sections,while the number in apical sections was significantly different.The number of inferior grains in each section also increased substantially in response to delayed sowing.The average grain weights in all sections remained unchanged under delayed sowing because there were parallel increases in grain number and ^(13)C-assimilate partitioning to grains at specific positions in the spikes.Increases in grain number m^(–2) resulted in reduced grain protein concentrations as the limited nitrogen supply was diluted into more grains.Delayed sowing caused the greatest reduction in grain protein concentration in the basal sections,followed by the central and apical sections.No significant differences in the reduction of the grain protein concentration were observed between the inferior and superior grains under delayed sowing.In conclusion,a 2-week delay in sowing improved grain yield through increased grain number per spike,which originated principally from an increased grain number in the apical sections of spikes and in distal positions on the same spikelet.However,grain protein concentrations declined in each section because of the increased grain number and reduced N uptake.

Modeling the effects of extreme high-temperature stress at anthesis and grain filling on grain protein in winter wheat

Extreme high-temperature stress(HTS) associated with climate change poses potential threats to wheat grain yield and quality. Wheat grain protein concentration(GPC) is a determinant of wheat quality for human nutrition and is often neglected in attempts to assess climate change impacts on wheat production. Crop models are useful tools for quantification of temperature impacts on grain yield and quality.Current crop models either cannot simulate or can simulate only partially the effects of HTS on crop N dynamics and grain N accumulation. There is a paucity of observational data on crop N and grain quality collected under systematic HTS scenarios to develop algorithms for model improvement as well as evaluate crop models. Two-year phytotron experiments were conducted with two wheat cultivars under HTS at anthesis, grain filling, and both stages. HTS significantly reduced total aboveground N and increased the rate of grain N accumulation, while total aboveground N and the rate of grain N accumulation were more sensitive to HTS at anthesis than at grain filling. The observed relationships between total aboveground N, rate of grain N accumulation, and HTS were quantified and incorporated into the WheatGrow model. The new HTS routines improved simulation of the dynamics of total aboveground N, grain N accumulation, and GPC by the model. The improved model provided better estimates of total aboveground N, grain N accumulation, and GPC under HTS(the normalized root mean square error was reduced by 40%, 85%, and 80%, respectively) than the original WheatGrow model. The improvements in the model enhance its applicability to the assessment of climate change effects on wheat grain quality by reducing the uncertainties of simulating N dynamics and grain quality under HTS.

Accumulation Characteristics of Protein and Non-Protein Components and Their Correlations with Protein Concentration in Rice Grains

Protein in rice grains is an important source of nutrition for rice consumers.This study mainly aimed to identify the critical factors that determine grain protein concentration in rice.Accumulation parameters,including mean accumulation rate(Rmean)and active accumulation duration(Dactive),for protein and non-protein components and their correlations with protein concentration in rice grains were investigated in field experiments conducted over two years with six rice cultivars.Results showed that grain protein concentration ranged from 9.6%to 11.9%across cultivars and years.Accumulation processes of protein and non-protein components were well fitted by the logistic equation for all six rice cultivars in both years,and the ratio of protein to non-protein for R_(mean) and D_(active) ranged from 0.08 to 0.12 and 1.01 to 1.33,respectively.Grain protein concentration was significantly correlated with protein to non-protein ratio for R_(mean).This study suggests that grain protein concentration is not solely determined by the accumulation of protein or non-protein component,but by the coordination of protein and non-protein accumulation.

Identification and validation of novel loci associated with wheat quality through a genome-wide association study

Understanding the genetic basis of quality-related traits contributes to the improvement of grain protein concentration(GPC),grain starch concentration(GSC),and wet gluten concentration(WGC)in wheat.In this study,a genome-wide association study(GWAS)based on a mixed linear model(MLM)was performed on 236 wheat accessions,including 160 cultivars and 76 landraces,using a 55K single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)array in multiple environments.A total of 12 stable QTL/SNPs that control different quality traits in this populations in at least two environments under stripe rust stress were identified.Among these 12,three,seven and two QTLs associated with GPC,GSC and WGC were characterized,respectively,and they were located on chromosomes(chr)1B,1D,2A,2B,2D,3B,3D,5D,and 7D with the phenotypic variation explained(PVE)ranging from 4.2 to 10.7%.Compared with the previously reported QTLs/genes,five QTLs(QGsc.sicau-1BL,QGsc.sicau-1DS,QGsc.sicau-2DL.1,QGsc.sicau-2DL.2,and QWgc.sicau-5DL)were potentially novel.KASP markers for the SNPs AX-108770574 and AX-108791420 on chr5D associated with wet gluten concentration were successfully developed.The phenotypes of the cultivars containing the A-allele in AX-108770574and the T-allele in AX-108791420 were extremely significantly(P<0.01)higher than those of the landraces containing the G-or C-allele with respect to the wet gluten concentration in each of the environments.The KASP markers developed and validated in this study could be utilized in molecular breeding aimed at improving the quality of wheat.

Relationships and Mechanisms of Sand Grain Promotion on Nozzle Cavitation Flow Evolution: A Numerical Simulation Investigation

The objective of this study was to primarily investigate the effects of sand grains with different mean diameters and concentrations on cavitation flow development in a nozzle. One new solid-liquid-vapor three-phase coupling numerical method was presented and a cavitation model was changed to perform numerical simulations. Results indicated that sand grain-pure water-cavitation flow(SG-PW-CF) vapor contents were greater than in pure water-cavitation flow(PW-CF). Sand grains were found to promote cavitation flow development, with the concentration promotion range becoming smaller with increased mean diameter. The mechanisms for these effects were explored and revealed as well. In SG-PW-CF, cavitation nuclei number was greater and tensile stress was also greater than in PW-CF. The maximum and absolute minimum slip velocities and maximum and minimum turbulent kinetic energies of SG-PW-CF were greater than in PW-CF. These effects on SG-PW-CF evolution were large, involving primary factors. The calculated magnitude of the Saffman lift force in SG-PW-CF was small(10^(-2)), with its effects relatively weak and it was thus a secondary factor. Effects of variations of flow fields were more significant than force changes. In SG-PW-CF, variations of a single parameter with the concentration could not reflect the alternating relationships of vapor content with the concentration. Indeed, it was a combination of variations of all parameters.

Elucidating Variations in Nitrogen Requirement According to Yield, Variety and Cropping System for Chinese Rice Production

Better understanding of the factors that influence crop nitrogen(N) requirement plays an important role in improving regional N recommendations for rice(Oryza sativa L.) production. We collected data from 1 280 plot-level measurements in different reaches of the Yangtze River, China to determine which factors contributed to variability in N requirement in rice. Yield, variety, and cropping system were significantly related to N requirement. The N requirement remained consistent at about 18.6 kg N Mg^(-1)grain as grain yield increased from 7 to 9 Mg ha^(-1), then decreased to 18.1, 16.9, and 15.9 kg N Mg^(-1)grain as yield increased to 9–10, 10–11, and > 11 Mg ha^(-1), respectively. The decreased requirement for N with increasing yield was attributable to declining N concentrations in grain and straw and increased harvest index. Super rice variety had lower N requirement(17.7 kg N Mg^(-1)grain) than ordinary inbred and hybrid varieties(18.5 and 18.3 kg N Mg^(-1)grain, respectively), which was a result of lower grain and straw N concentrations of super rice. The N requirements were 19.2, 17.8, and 17.5 kg N Mg^(-1)grain for early, middle, and late rice cropping systems, respectively. In conclusion, the rice N requirement was affected by multiple factors, including yield, variety, and cropping system, all of which should be considered when planning for optimal N management.