Identification of QTL Combinations that Cause Spikelet Sterility in Rice Derived from Interspecific Crosses

Background The exploitation of useful genes through interspecific and intersubspecific crosses has been an important strategy for the genetic improvement of rice. Postzygotic reproductive isolation routinely occurs to hinder the growth of pollen or embryo sacs during the reproductive development of the wide crosses. Result In this study, we investigated the genetic relationship between the hybrid breakdown of the population and transferred resistance genes derived from wide crosses using a near-isogenic population composed of 225 lines. Five loci (qSS12, qSS8, qSS11, ePS6-1, and ePS6-2) associated with spikelet fertility (SF) were identified by QTL and epistatic analysis, and two out of five epistasis interactions were found between the three QTLs (qSS12, qSS8 and qSS11) and background marker loci (ePS6-1 and ePS6-2) on chromosome 6. The results of the QTL combinations suggested a genetic model that explains most of the interactions between spikelet fertility and the detected loci with positive or negative effects. Moreover, the major-effect QTLs, qSS12 and qSS8, which exhibited additive gene effects, were narrowed down to 82- and 200-kb regions on chromosomes 12 and 8, respectively. Of the 13 ORFs present in the target regions, Os12g0589400 and Os12g0589898 for qSS12 and OS8g0298700 for qSS8 induced significantly different expression levels of the candidate genes in rice at the young panicle stage. Conclusion The results will be useful for obtaining a further understanding of the mechanism causing the hybrid breakdown of a wide cross and will provide new information for developing rice cultivars with wide compatibility.

Field performance of heat tolerant mutant rice lines generated from Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima

This study evaluated mutant lines developed from two cultivated species of upland rice, Oryza sativa, and Oryza glaberrima, in field experiments conducted during the hot and dry seasons of 2014/2015 in Morogoro, Tanzania. The growth yield and yield components of 34 and 14 Gamma induced mutant upland rice lines developed from O. sativa (Kihogo red) and O. glaberrima were evaluated, respectively. The mutant lines were selected based on variable expression of heat shock protein genes (HSPs) in previously conducted heat tolerance studies. The minimum and maximum temperatures and rainfall during the field performance experiment were measured between 20 oC and 35 oC, and 32.7 mm and 155.5 mm, respectively. The data for 12 yield and yield component parameters such as days to early and 50% flowering, days to physical maturity, plant height, number of tillers, number of panicles, spikelets, filled grains, unfilled grains and 1,000 grain weights were collected and analysed using ANOVA and Principal Component Analysis. Significant differences (P≤0.05) were obtained among the mutant lines in terms of grain yield, spikelet sterility and other variables, which were further used as criteria for selection of heat and drought tolerant rice lines. Eight heat and drought tolerant mutant rice lines with high yields (over 3.5 ton/ha) and low spikelet sterility were selected for further advancement in breeding programmes

Response of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars to elevated ozone stress

The current study aimed to evaluate the cultivar specific variation in rice exposed to elevated ozone. Fifteen short duration rice cultivars were exposed to 50 ppb ozone for 30 days at reproductive stage. The physiological, biochemical, growth and yield traits of all test cultivars were significantly affected in response to elevated ozone. On average, ozone stress decreased tiller number by 22.52%, number of effective tillers by 30.43%, 1000 grain weight by 0.62 % and straw weight by 23.83% over control. Spikelet sterility increased by 19.26% and linear multiregression 3D model significantly fits the spikelet sterility and photosynthetic traits with the R 2 of 0.74 under elevated ozone. Principal Component Analysis with total variance of 57.5% by first two principle components categorized 15 rice cultivars into four major groups, ie., ozone sensitive (MDU6, TRY(R)2 and ASD16), moderately ozone sensitive (ASD18, ADT43 and MDU5), moderately ozone tolerant (ADT37, ADT(R)45, TPS5, Anna(R)4, PMK(R)3 and ADT(R)48) and ozone tolerant (CO51, CO47 and ADT36).

Identification of novel QTLs for grain fertility and associated traits to decipher poor grain filling of basal spikelets in dense panicle rice

High grain number is positively correlated with grain yield in rice, but it is compromised because of poor filling of basal spikelets in dense panicle bearing numerous spikelets. The phenomenon that turns the basal spikelets of compact panicle sterile in rice is largely unknown. In order to understand the factor(s) that possibly determines such spikelet sterility in compact panicle cultivars, QTLs and candidate genes were identified for spikelet fertility and associated traits like panicle compactness, and ethylene production that significantly influences the grain filling using recombinant inbred lines developed from a cross between indica rice cultivars, PDK Shriram (compact, high spikelet number) and Heera (lax, low spikelet number). Novel QTLs, qSFP1.1, qSFP3.1, and qSFP6.1 for spikelet fertility percentage; qIGS3.2 and qIGS4.1 for panicle compactness; and qETH1.2, qETH3.1, and qETH4.1 for ethylene production were consistently identified in both kharif seasons of 2017 and 2018. The comparative expression analysis of candidate genes like ERF3, AP2-like ethylene-responsive transcription factor, EREBP, GBSS1, E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase GW2, and LRR receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinase ERL1 associated with identified QTLs revealed their role in poor grain filling of basal spikelets in a dense panicle. These candidate genes thus could be important for improving grain filling in compact-panicle rice cultivars through biotechnological interventions.

The effect of zinc fertilization and cow dung on sterility and quantitative traits of rice

The grain yield of rice is far below from its potential yield due low organic matter and micronutrients in the soil. Application of cow dung and zinc fertilizer increases grain yield and quality. A field experiment was, therefore, conducted to evaluate the effect of zinc fertilization and well decomposed cow dung on the spikelet sterility, yield, zinc concentration in grains and plants of aromatic rice (cv. Tulsimala). In this experiment,two levels of well decomposed cowdung (CD) of 0, 10 tha-1, and fourdoses of zinc fertilization viz. 0, 2.16, 4.32, 6.48 kg ha-1 of zinc were used followingeight treatment combinations. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with replication thrice. The data revealed that zinc fertilization remarkably increased the grain yield of Tulshimala by reducing the spikelet sterility percentages in both conditions of CD and the efficiency of zinc fertilization was superior in manuring (CD) condition to non-manuring condition. However, zinc fertilization at the rate of 4.32 kg ha-1 of zinc produced the maximum grainyields under manuring and non-manuring conditions. Zinc fertilization increased the concentration of Zn in the rice plants and grains without and with CD. The strong linear relationship between the grain yield and zinc concentration in the rice plants and grains was found with in this study. Zinc fertilization increased grain yield and quality by decreasing sterility percentage under CD. Hence, for increasing productivity towards food security in future generation, integrated use organic and inorganic fertilizers should be used.

Assessment of genetic variability for quantitative characters in rice (Oryza sativa L.) under post flood situation in sali

Sixteen genotypes of rice (including one check) were evaluated on 18 quantitative traits during sali (August), 2018 in a randomized block design with three replications at Instruction cum Research Farm, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat to study the nature and magnitude of variability, heritability and genetic advance under delayed sown condition. The analysis of variance for 18 quantitative traits revealed the presence of significant differences for grain yield and its component characters. The highest genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was observed for chaffs per panicle followed by grains per panicle, spikelet sterility (%), spikelets per panicle, grain yield (kg/ha). A high heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for plant height (cm), spikelets per panicle, spikelet sterility (%), chaffs per panicle, grains per panicle, grain yield (g/hill), grain yield (kg/ha), biological yield (kg/ha), straw weight (kg/ha) and harvest index (%) indicating that selection might be effective for improvement of these characters under delayed sown condition with low input. From the findings of this investigation, one genotype viz., Gandhari emerged as the outstanding genotype which yielded 4170 kg/ha and could be directly used for cultivation in delayed sown situation with low inputs. Some other promising genotypes that yielded higher than the check Manoharsali under delayed sown condition were JR 29, JR 16, Basundhara and JR 60 and could be utilized as potential parental material in the hybridization programmes designed to develop suitable rice varieties for delayed sown situation.

Crosses with spelt improve tolerance of South Asian spring wheat to spot blotch, terminal heat stress, and their combination

Spot blotch and terminal heat are two of the most important stresses for wheat in South Asia. A study was initiated to explore the use of spelt (Triticum spelta) to improve tolerance to these stresses in spring wheat (T. aestivum). We assessed 185 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the cross T. spelta (H + 26) × T. aestivum (cv. HUW234), under the individual stresses and their combination. H + 26 showed better tolerance to the single stresses and also their combination; grain yield in RILs was reduced by 21.9%, 27.7% and 39.0% under spot blotch, terminal heat and their combined effect, respectively. However, phenological and plant architectural traits were not affected by spot blotch itself. Multivariate analysis demonstrated a strong negative correlation between spikelet sterility and grain yield under spot blotch, terminal heat and their combination. However, four recombinant lines demonstrated high performance under both stresses and also under their combined stress. The four lines were significantly superior in grain yield and showed significantly lower AUDPC than the better parent. This study demonstrates the potential of spelt wheat in enhancing tolerance to spot blotch and terminal heat stresses. It also provides comprehensive evidence about the expression of yield and phenological traits under these stresses.

Identification of Novel QTLs for Spikelet Fertility, Panicle Compactness and Phytohormone Ethylene to Decipher Poor Grain Filling of Basal Spikelets in Dense Panicle Rice

High grain number is positively correlated with grain yield in rice, but it is compromised because of poor filling of basal spikelets in dense panicle bearing numerous spikelets. The phenomenon that turns the basal spikelets of compact panicle sterile in rice is largely unknown. In order to understand the factor(s) that possibly determines such spikelet sterility in compact panicle cultivars, QTLs and candidate genes were identified for spikelet fertility percentage, panicle compactness and ethylene production that significantly influence the grain filling using recombinant inbred lines developed from a cross between indica rice cultivars, PDK Shriram (compact, high spikelet number) and Heera (lax, low spikelet number). Novel QTLs, qSFP1.1, qSFP3.1 and qSFP6.1 for spikelet fertility percentage; qIGS3.2 and qIGS4.1 for panicle compactness; and qETH1.2, qETH3.1 and qETH4.1 for ethylene production were consistently identified in both kharif seasons of 2017 and 2018. The comparative expression analysis of candidate genes like ERF3, AP2-like ethylene-responsive transcription factor, EREBP, GBSS1, E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase GW2, and LRR receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinase ERL1 associated with identified QTLs revealed their role in poor grain filling of basal spikelets in dense panicle. These candidate genes thus could be important for improving grain filling in compact-panicle rice cultivars through biotechnological interventions.

An early-morning flowering trait enhances heat-resilience at flowering

An early-morning flowering (EMF) trait is supposed to be effective in enhancing grain yield due to mitigation of heat-induced spikelet sterility at flowering in rice. This study evaluated (i) phenotypic differences between a near-isogenic line carrying a QTL for EMF trait, designated as IR64+qEMF3, and a recurrent parent, IR64, under wide variation in climates and (ii) whether an EMF trait can enhance grain yield under heat stress at flowering. IR64+qEMF3 had significant earlier flower opening time (FOT) in diverse environmental conditions including temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions. Under normal temperatures at flowering, IR64+qEMF3 had similar grain yield to IR64 with some significant changes in agronomic traits and yield components. Field trials in heat-vulnerable regions of central Myanmar for seven crop seasons showed that higher percentage of filled grains contributed to the significantly higher grain yield in IR64+qEMF3 among yield components when plants were exposed to daily maximum air temperatures around 36.5 oC or higher. Lower spikelet sterility in IR64+qEMF3 was attributed to the earlier FOT during cooler early morning hours. This is the first field study that clearly demonstrates the enhancement of heat-resilience due to EMF trait at flowering.