Role of UV-absorbing Compounds in Genetic Differences in the Resistance to UV-B Radiation in Rice Plants.

Abstract

Parental cultivars (Oryza sativa L. Japanese lowland cultivars Sasanishiki and Norin 1), F2 plants, and F3 Iines were grown under visible light with or without supplemental UV-B radiation in a phytotron, to determine whether the accumulation of UV-absorbing compounds plays a role in the difference in UV-B resistance between these rice cultivars. The level of UV-absorbance per unit leaf area increased with the UV-B treatuent in all the leaves of these two rice cultivars, but was higher in Sasanishiki than in Norin 1 irrespective of UV-B treatment. An analysis by thin-layer chromatography and the UV-absorption spectra of the extracts did not show any qualitative difference in UV-absorbing compounds in leaf tissues between these two cultivars. There was a significant positive correlation between the level of UV-absorbance per unit leaf area and the fresh weight of aerial parts in the F2 plants exposed to UV-B radiation. Furthermore, the level of UV-absorbance per unit leaf area tended to be higher in the F3 Iines resistant to UV-B radiation than in those sensitive to such radiation regardless of whether these F3 lines were exposed to supplemental UV-B radiation. These results suggest that the differences in UV-B resistance between Sasanishiki and Norin 1 are associated with genetic differences in the level of accumulation of UV-B absorbing compounds in leaf tissues. Based on these results we suggest that the accumulation of UV-B absorbing compounds is an important factor contributing to UV-B resistance in rice cultivars. Since the accumulation of UV-absorbing compounds in leaves appears to minimize the latent negative impact of UV-B radiation on rice production, it may be a useful character to select in ordinary breeding.