Research

14 pages, 2446 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Physiological Characteristics and Differential Gene Expression of Rice Hybrids and Their Parents under Salt Stress at Seedling Stage

by Dan Zhang, Yuanyi Hu, Ruopeng Li, Li Tang, Lin Mo, Yinlin Pan, Bigang Mao, Ye Shao, Bingran Zhao and Dongyang Lei

Plants 2024, 13(5), 744; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13050744 - 06 Mar 2024

Viewed by 553

Abstract

Soil salinization is one of the most important abiotic stresses which can seriously affect the growth and development of rice, leading to the decrease in or even loss of a rice harvest. Increasing the rice yield of saline soil is a key issue [...] Read more.

Soil salinization is one of the most important abiotic stresses which can seriously affect the growth and development of rice, leading to the decrease in or even loss of a rice harvest. Increasing the rice yield of saline soil is a key issue for agricultural production. The utilization of heterosis could significantly increase crop biomass and yield, which might be an effective way to meet the demand for rice cultivation in saline soil. In this study, to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of rice hybrids and their parents that respond to salt stress, we investigated the phenotypic characteristics, physiological and biochemical indexes, and expression level of salt-related genes at the seedling stage. In this study, two sets of materials, encapsulating the most significant differences between the rice hybrids and their parents, were screened using the salt damage index and a hybrid superiority analysis. Compared with their parents, the rice hybrids Guang-Ba-You-Hua-Zhan (BB1) and Y-Liang-You-900 (GD1) exhibited much better salt tolerance, including an increased fresh weight and higher survival rate, a better scavenging ability towards reactive oxygen species (ROS), better ionic homeostasis with lower content of Na⁺ in their Na⁺/K⁺ ratio, and a higher expression of salt-stress-responsive genes. These results indicated that rice hybrids developed complex regulatory mechanisms involving multiple pathways and genes to adapt to salt stress and provided a physiological basis for the utilization of heterosis for improving the yield of rice under salt stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Rice and Rice Breeding)

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14 pages, 1272 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nitrogen Loss and Migration in Rice Fields under Different Water and Fertilizer Modes

by Shurong Hao, Xia Liu, Congyi Liu and Wentan Liu

Plants 2024, 13(5), 562; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13050562 - 20 Feb 2024

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Abstract

Irrigating aquaculture wastewater in appropriate irrigation and drainage modes in paddy fields could reduce water and fertilizer loss. However, the precise mechanisms involved in the degradation and movement of nitrogen in various water and fertilizer modes are still not fully understood. This study [...] Read more.

Irrigating aquaculture wastewater in appropriate irrigation and drainage modes in paddy fields could reduce water and fertilizer loss. However, the precise mechanisms involved in the degradation and movement of nitrogen in various water and fertilizer modes are still not fully understood. This study involves conducting a controlled experiment using barrels to examine the effects of various water quality, irrigation and drainage methods, and fertilization levels. The aim is to analyze the patterns of nitrogen degradation, loss, migration, and absorption in surface water, underground drainage, and soil leakage at different depths. The results showed the following: (1) The paddy field has a significant purification effect on aquaculture wastewater after one day of irrigation, reached at 78.55–96.06%. (2) Aquaculture wastewater irrigation increased nitrogen concentration in the plough layer, which helps rice roots absorb nitrogen and boosts plant TN. (3) In special dry years, underground seepage is the predominant method of nitrogen loss, and underground drainage nitrogen concentration peaks 2–6 days after fertilization. (4) Under aquaculture wastewater irrigation, the TN loss load of II decreased by 27.65–42.45% than FSI. Compared with IA-80, the TN degradation rate of IA in surface water increased by 18.51%, TN loss load decreased by 5.48%, TN absorption rate significantly increased by 14.61%, and yield increased by 31.14% significantly. IA is recommended in special dry years, which can improve the TN absorption rate and ensure high yield while significantly reducing the loss load of nitrogen. The findings can provide a basis for the purification of aquaculture wastewater through paddy field ecosystems in response to fertilizer supply levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Rice and Rice Breeding)

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15 pages, 3829 KiB

Open AccessArticle

OsbZIP18 Is a Positive Regulator of Phenylpropanoid and Flavonoid Biosynthesis under UV-B Radiation in Rice

by Xueqing Liu, Ziyang Xie, Jiajun Xin, Shiqing Yuan, Shuo Liu, Yangyang Sun, Yuanyuan Zhang and Cheng Jin

Plants 2024, 13(4), 498; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13040498 - 10 Feb 2024

Viewed by 633

Abstract

In plants exposed to ultraviolet B radiation (UV-B; 280–315 nm), metabolic responses are activated, which reduce the damage caused by UV-B. Although several metabolites responding to UV-B stress have been identified in plants, the accumulation of these metabolites at different time points under [...] Read more.

In plants exposed to ultraviolet B radiation (UV-B; 280–315 nm), metabolic responses are activated, which reduce the damage caused by UV-B. Although several metabolites responding to UV-B stress have been identified in plants, the accumulation of these metabolites at different time points under UV-B stress remains largely unclear, and the transcription factors regulating these metabolites have not been well characterized. Here, we explored the changes in metabolites in rice after UV-B treatment for 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h and identified six patterns of metabolic change. We show that the rice transcription factor OsbZIP18 plays an important role in regulating phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis under UV-B stress in rice. Metabolic profiling revealed that the contents of phenylpropanoid and flavonoid were significantly reduced in osbzip18 mutants compared with the wild-type plants (WT) under UV-B stress. Further analysis showed that the expression of many genes involved in the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways was lower in osbzip18 mutants than in WT plants, including OsPAL5, OsC4H, Os4CL, OsCHS, OsCHIL2, and OsF3H. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) revealed that OsbZIP18 bind to the promoters of these genes, suggesting that OsbZIP18 function is an important positive regulator of phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis under UV-B stress. In conclusion, our findings revealed that OsbZIP18 is an essential regulator for phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis and plays a crucial role in regulating UV-B stress responses in rice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Rice and Rice Breeding)

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21 pages, 7453 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Grain Quality Changes in White and Black Rice under Water Deficit

by Aloysha Brunet-Loredo, María Dolores López-Belchí, Karla Cordero-Lara, Felipe Noriega, Ricardo A. Cabeza, Susana Fischer, Paula Careaga and Miguel Garriga

Plants 2023, 12(24), 4091; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12244091 - 07 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1785

Abstract

Rice is an essential diet component for a significant portion of the population worldwide. Due to the high water demand associated with rice production, improving water use efficiency and grain quality is critical to increasing the sustainability of the crop. This species includes [...] Read more.

Rice is an essential diet component for a significant portion of the population worldwide. Due to the high water demand associated with rice production, improving water use efficiency and grain quality is critical to increasing the sustainability of the crop. This species includes rice varieties with diverse pigmentation patterns. Grain quality, including industrial, nutritional, and functional quality traits, of two black rice genotypes and a commercial white rice cultivar were evaluated in different locations and under different water regimes. Flooding produced higher grain weight compared to alternate wetting and drying irrigation. A high correlation was found between grain color, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity. The black rice genotypes showed higher TPC levels and antioxidant capacity, mainly due to higher levels of cyanidin 3-O-glucoside. The phenolic profile varied between whole and polished grains, while mineral composition was influenced by location and irrigation regime. In turn, the environment influenced grain quality in terms of industrial and nutritional characteristics, with significant differences in quality between whole and polished grains. This study provides valuable information on the genotype–environment relationship in rice and its effect on grain quality, which could contribute to selecting genotypes for an appropriate environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Rice and Rice Breeding)

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13 pages, 3014 KiB

Open AccessArticle

OsMDH12: A Peroxisomal Malate Dehydrogenase Regulating Tiller Number and Salt Tolerance in Rice

by Yuheng Shi, Jiahui Feng, Liping Wang, Yanchen Liu, Dujun He, Yangyang Sun, Yuehua Luo, Cheng Jin and Yuanyuan Zhang

Plants 2023, 12(20), 3558; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12203558 - 13 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1079

Abstract

Salinity is an important environmental factor influencing crop growth and yield. Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) catalyses the reversible conversion of oxaloacetate (OAA) to malate. While many MDHs have been identified in various plants, the biochemical function of MDH in rice remains uncharacterised, and its [...] Read more.

Salinity is an important environmental factor influencing crop growth and yield. Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) catalyses the reversible conversion of oxaloacetate (OAA) to malate. While many MDHs have been identified in various plants, the biochemical function of MDH in rice remains uncharacterised, and its role in growth and salt stress response is largely unexplored. In this study, the biochemical function of OsMDH12 was determined, revealing its involvement in regulating tiller number and salt tolerance in rice. OsMDH12 localises in the peroxisome and is expressed across various organs. In vitro analysis confirmed that OsMDH12 converts OAA to malate. Seedlings of OsMDH12-overexpressing (OE) plants had shorter shoot lengths and lower fresh weights than wild-type (WT) plants, while osmdh12 mutants displayed the opposite. At maturity, OsMDH12-OE plants had fewer tillers than WT, whereas osmdh12 mutants had more, suggesting OsMDH12’s role in tiller number regulation. Moreover, OsMDH12-OE plants were sensitive to salt stress, but osmdh12 mutants showed enhanced salt tolerance. The Na⁺/K⁺ content ratio increased in OsMDH12-OE plants and decreased in osmdh12 mutants, suggesting that OsMDH12 might negatively affect salt tolerance through influencing the Na⁺/K⁺ balance. These findings hint at OsMDH12’s potential as a genetic tool to enhance rice growth and salt tolerance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Rice and Rice Breeding)

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17 pages, 3819 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Analysis of Transcriptome and Metabolome Reveals Molecular Mechanisms of Rice with Different Salinity Tolerances

by Zhenling Zhou, Juan Liu, Wenna Meng, Zhiguang Sun, Yiluo Tan, Yan Liu, Mingpu Tan, Baoxiang Wang and Jianchang Yang

Plants 2023, 12(19), 3359; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12193359 - 22 Sep 2023

Viewed by 906

Abstract

Rice is a crucial global food crop, but it lacks a natural tolerance to high salt levels, resulting in significant yield reductions. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying rice’s salt tolerance, further research is required. In this study, the [...] Read more.

Rice is a crucial global food crop, but it lacks a natural tolerance to high salt levels, resulting in significant yield reductions. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying rice’s salt tolerance, further research is required. In this study, the transcriptomic and metabolomic differences between the salt-tolerant rice variety Lianjian5 (TLJIAN) and the salt-sensitive rice variety Huajing5 (HJING) were examined. Transcriptome analysis revealed 1518 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 46 previously reported salt-tolerance-related genes. Notably, most of the differentially expressed transcription factors, such as NAC, WRKY, MYB, and EREBP, were upregulated in the salt-tolerant rice. Metabolome analysis identified 42 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) that were upregulated in TLJIAN, including flavonoids, pyrocatechol, lignans, lipids, and trehalose-6-phosphate, whereas the majority of organic acids were downregulated in TLJIAN. The interaction network of 29 differentially expressed transporter genes and 19 upregulated metabolites showed a positive correlation between the upregulated calcium/cation exchange protein genes (OsCCX2 and CCX5_Ath) and ABC transporter gene AB2E_Ath with multiple upregulated DAMs in the salt-tolerant rice variety. Similarly, in the interaction network of differentially expressed transcription factors and 19 upregulated metabolites in TLJIAN, 6 NACs, 13 AP2/ERFs, and the upregulated WRKY transcription factors were positively correlated with 3 flavonoids, 3 lignans, and the lipid oleamide. These results suggested that the combined effects of differentially expressed transcription factors, transporter genes, and DAMs contribute to the enhancement of salt tolerance in TLJIAN. Moreover, this study provides a valuable gene–metabolite network reference for understanding the salt tolerance mechanism in rice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Rice and Rice Breeding)

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15 pages, 3759 KiB

Open AccessArticle

OsWRKY97, an Abiotic Stress-Induced Gene of Rice, Plays a Key Role in Drought Tolerance

by Miaomiao Lv, Dejia Hou, Jiale Wan, Taozhi Ye, Lin Zhang, Jiangbo Fan, Chunliu Li, Yilun Dong, Wenqian Chen, Songhao Rong, Yihao Sun, Jinghong Xu, Liangjun Cai, Xiaoling Gao, Jianqing Zhu, Zhengjian Huang, Zhengjun Xu and Lihua Li

Plants 2023, 12(18), 3338; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12183338 - 21 Sep 2023

Viewed by 895

Abstract

Drought stress is one of the major causes of crop losses. The WRKY families play important roles in the regulation of many plant processes, including drought stress response. However, the function of individual WRKY genes in plants is still under investigation. Here, we [...] Read more.

Drought stress is one of the major causes of crop losses. The WRKY families play important roles in the regulation of many plant processes, including drought stress response. However, the function of individual WRKY genes in plants is still under investigation. Here, we identified a new member of the WRKY families, OsWRKY97, and analyzed its role in stress resistance by using a series of transgenic plant lines. OsWRKY97 positively regulates drought tolerance in rice. OsWRKY97 was expressed in all examined tissues and could be induced by various abiotic stresses and abscisic acid (ABA). OsWRKY97-GFP was localized to the nucleus. Various abiotic stress-related cis-acting elements were observed in the promoters of OsWRKY97. The results of OsWRKY97-overexpressing plant analyses revealed that OsWRKY97 plays a positive role in drought stress tolerance. In addition, physiological analyses revealed that OsWRKY97 improves drought stress tolerance by improving the osmotic adjustment ability, oxidative stress tolerance, and water retention capacity of the plant. Furthermore, OsWRKY97-overexpressing plants also showed higher sensitivity to exogenous ABA compared with that of wild-type rice (WT). Overexpression of OsWRKY97 also affected the transcript levels of ABA-responsive genes and the accumulation of ABA. These results indicate that OsWRKY97 plays a crucial role in the response to drought stress and may possess high potential value in improving drought tolerance in rice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Rice and Rice Breeding)

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19 pages, 5649 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interference Effects of Commercial Persistent Luminescence Materials on Rice Germination and Seedling Growth

by Nina Zhu, Xinpei Wei, Jingbo Yu, Shuo Zhang, Die Hu, Ping Li, Yunfei Xia and Kai Song

Plants 2023, 12(13), 2554; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12132554 - 05 Jul 2023

Viewed by 888

Abstract

Persistent luminescence materials (PLMs) are widely used across a multitude of fields due to their distinct optical properties. However, like other micron-sized materials such as microplastics, the production and recycling processes of PLMs can lead to their accumulation in soil and water, potentially [...] Read more.

Persistent luminescence materials (PLMs) are widely used across a multitude of fields due to their distinct optical properties. However, like other micron-sized materials such as microplastics, the production and recycling processes of PLMs can lead to their accumulation in soil and water, potentially posing detrimental effects on plant growth and development. In this study, we investigated the impact of commercially available blue PLM (bPLM), green PLM (gPLM), and red PLM (rPLM) on germination, seedling growth, and oxidative stress responses in rice. Our findings demonstrate that the morphology and size of PLMs do not significantly differ in their effects on rice growth. All three types of PLMs significantly inhibited root length and stem length, disrupted root cell structures, and decreased seedling biomass. Interestingly, gPLM and bPLM were found to stimulate the synthesis of osmolytes and chlorophyll in rice, while rPLM had the opposite effect. Changes in the antioxidant enzyme system in rice clearly indicated that the three types of PLMs induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage in rice. This study enhances our understanding of the potential environmental impacts of PLMs, offering valuable insights for the safe and responsible use of these materials in various applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Rice and Rice Breeding)

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20 pages, 9389 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Association Study of Xian Rice Grain Shape and Weight in Different Environments

by Nansheng Wang, Wanyang Zhang, Xinchen Wang, Zhenzhen Zheng, Di Bai, Keyang Li, Xueyu Zhao, Jun Xiang, Zhaojie Liang, Yingzhi Qian, Wensheng Wang and Yingyao Shi

Plants 2023, 12(13), 2549; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12132549 - 04 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1135

Abstract

Drought is one of the key environmental factors affecting the growth and yield potential of rice. Grain shape, on the other hand, is an important factor determining the appearance, quality, and yield of rice grains. Here, we re-sequenced 275 Xian accessions and then [...] Read more.

Drought is one of the key environmental factors affecting the growth and yield potential of rice. Grain shape, on the other hand, is an important factor determining the appearance, quality, and yield of rice grains. Here, we re-sequenced 275 Xian accessions and then conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on six agronomic traits with the 404,411 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) derived by the best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) for each trait. Under two years of drought stress (DS) and normal water (NW) treatments, a total of 16 QTLs associated with rice grain shape and grain weight were detected on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, and 12. In addition, these QTLs were analyzed by haplotype analysis and functional annotation, and one clone (GSN1) and five new candidate genes were identified in the candidate interval. The findings provide important genetic information for the molecular improvement of grain shape and weight in rice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Rice and Rice Breeding)

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19 pages, 9535 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Temporal Changes of Leaf Spectral Properties and Rapid Chlorophyll—A Fluorescence under Natural Cold Stress in Rice Seedlings

by Árpád Székely, Tímea Szalóki, Mihály Jancsó, János Pauk and Csaba Lantos

Plants 2023, 12(13), 2415; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12132415 - 22 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1251

Abstract

Nowadays, hyperspectral remote sensing data are widely used in nutrient management, crop yield forecasting and stress monitoring. These data can be acquired with satellites, drones and handheld spectrometers. In this research, handheld spectrometer data were validated by chlorophyll-a fluorescence measurements under natural cold [...] Read more.

Nowadays, hyperspectral remote sensing data are widely used in nutrient management, crop yield forecasting and stress monitoring. These data can be acquired with satellites, drones and handheld spectrometers. In this research, handheld spectrometer data were validated by chlorophyll-a fluorescence measurements under natural cold stress. The performance of 16 rice cultivars with different origins and tolerances was monitored in the seedling stage. The studies were carried out under field conditions across two seasons to simulate different temperature regimes. Twenty-four spectral indices and eleven rapid chlorophyll-a fluorescence parameters were compared with albino plants. We identified which wavelengths are affected by low temperatures. Furthermore, the differences between genotypes were characterized by certain well-known and two newly developed (AAR and RAR) indices based on the spectral difference between the genotype and albino plant. The absorbance, reflectance and transmittance differences from the control are suitable for the discrimination of tolerant-sensitive varieties, especially based on their shape, peak and shifting distance. The following wavelengths are capable of determining the tolerant varieties, namely 548–553 nm, 667–670 nm, 687–688 nm and 800–950 nm in case of absorbance; above 700 nm for reflectance; and the whole spectrum (400–1100 nm) for transmittance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Rice and Rice Breeding)

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15 pages, 4476 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Overexpression of Rice Histone H1 Gene Reduces Tolerance to Cold and Heat Stress

by Jiale Wan, Jia Zhang, Xiaofei Zan, Jiali Zhu, Hao Chen, Xiaohong Li, Zhanmei Zhou, Xiaoling Gao, Rongjun Chen, Zhengjian Huang, Zhengjun Xu and Lihua Li

Plants 2023, 12(13), 2408; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12132408 - 22 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1235

Abstract

Temperature stresses, including low- and high-temperature stresses, are the main abiotic stresses affecting rice yield. Due to global climate change, the impact of temperature pressure on rice yield is gradually increasing, which is also a major concern for researchers. In this study, an [...] Read more.

Temperature stresses, including low- and high-temperature stresses, are the main abiotic stresses affecting rice yield. Due to global climate change, the impact of temperature pressure on rice yield is gradually increasing, which is also a major concern for researchers. In this study, an H1 histone in Oryza sativa (OsHis1.1, LOC_Os04g18090) was cloned, and its role in rice’s response to temperature stresses was functionally characterized. The GUS staining analysis of OsHis1.1 promoter-GUS transgenic rice showed that OsHis1.1 was widely expressed in various rice tissues. Transient expression demonstrated that OsHis1.1 was localized in the nucleus. The overexpression of OsHis1.1 reduces the tolerance to temperature stress in rice by inhibiting the expression of genes that are responsive to heat and cold stress. Under stress conditions, the POD activity and chlorophyll and proline contents of OsHis1.1-overexpression rice lines were significantly lower than those of the wild type, while the malondialdehyde content was higher than that of the wild type. Compared with Nip, OsHis1.1-overexpression rice suffered more serious oxidative stress and cell damage under temperature stress. Furthermore, OsHis1.1-overexpression rice showed changes in agronomic traits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Rice and Rice Breeding)

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