Development Of Rice Seedlings Research Articles

Upland rice seedling performance promoted by multifunctional microorganisms

Multifunctional microorganisms can contribute to the development of plant root systems and positively affect the grain yield of crops. However, studies of the use of these microorganisms to benefit root development in rice plants are scarce. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of rhizobacterial inoculation of the seeds on the root development of upland rice seedlings. The experiment was carried out in the agricultural microbiology laboratory of Embrapa Rice and Beans, and we adopted a completely randomized design with eight replications. The treatments consisted of the inoculation of rice seeds with the rhizobacteria 1. Pseudomonas fluorescens (BRM 32111), 2. Burkholderia pyrrocinia (BRM 32113), 3. Serratia sp. (BRM 32114), 4. Bacillus sp. (1301), 5. Azospirillum brasilense (Ab-V5), 6. Azospirillum sp. (1381), and a 7. control treatment (without microorganisms). Treatment using the microorganism Azospirillum sp. (1381) provided the longest roots, greatest root volume and highest total dry mass of roots, at 86.34, 111.53 and 29.41%, respectively, significantly superior to the control treatment. In addition, treatments Ab-V5 and Bacillus sp. (1301) resulted in a root diameter of 13.81 and 13.06%, respectively, larger than that of the control treatment. The use of these multifunctional microorganisms was efficient for promoting the root development of rice seedlings.

A CCR4-associated factor 1, OsCAF1B, confers tolerance of low-temperature stress to rice seedlings

Rice is an important crop in the world. However, little is known about rice mRNA deadenylation, which is an important regulation step of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. The CCR4-NOT1 complex contains two key components, CCR4 and CAF1, which are the main cytoplasmic deadenylases in eukaryotic cells. Expression of OsCAF1B was tightly coupled with low-temperature exposure. In the present study, we investigated the function of OsCAF1B in rice by characterizing the molecular and physiological responses to cold stress in OsCAF1B overexpression lines and dominant-negative mutant lines. Our results demonstrate that OsCAF1B plays an important role in growth and development of rice seedlings at low temperatures. Rice is a tropical and subtropical crop that is sensitive to low temperature, and activates a complex gene regulatory network in response to cold stress. Poly(A) tail shortening, also termed deadenylation, is the rate-limiting step of mRNA degradation in eukaryotic cells. CCR4-associated factor 1 (CAF1) proteins are important enzymes for catalysis of mRNA deadenylation in eukaryotes. In the present study, the role of a rice cold-induced CAF1, OsCAF1B, in adaptation of rice plants to low-temperature stress was investigated. Expression of OsCAF1B was closely linked with low-temperature exposure. The increased survival percentage and reduced electrolyte leakage exhibited by OsCAF1B overexpression transgenic lines subjected to cold stress indicate that OsCAF1B plays a positive role in rice growth under low ambient temperature. The enhancement of cold tolerance by OsCAF1B in transgenic rice seedlings involved OsCAF1B deadenylase gene expression, and was associated with elevated expression of late-response cold-related transcription factor genes. In addition, the expression level of OsCAF1B was higher in a cold-tolerant japonica rice cultivar than in a cold-sensitive indica rice cultivar. The results reveal a hitherto undiscovered function of OsCAF1B deadenylase gene expression, which is required for adaptation to cold stress in rice.

STIMULATING AND TOXIC EFFECTS OF COPPER AND COBALT NANOPOWDERS ON RICE SEEDLINGS

Metal nanopowders have a stimulating effect on the growth and development of plants. The biological activity of nanoparticles depends on size, concentration, and chemical composition. Nanoparticles require further study because they have a wide range of applications in medicine and agriculture. Being biocompatible, copper and cobalt can play the role of growth stimulant, are not toxic and can be used for contact with living systems. The object of study was rice, as an economically important culture. The study addressed the effect of cobalt and copper nanoparticles on the germination and development of rice seedlings. The optimal concentration of ultrafine solutions of these nanopowders for pre-sowing treatment of seeds was determined. Although copper and cobalt have different chemical nature, the nanoparticles show similar impact and doze-dependent effect. Minimum concentrations of the nanoparticles had a positive effect on the morphological and biometric indicators of sprouts. The activity of oxidase enzymes was measured and it showed a reversible nature of oxidative stress. An increase in superoxide dismutase activity and a decrease in catalase activity by less than 30% indicates the stress resistance of rice sprouts and the absence of phytotoxic effects of the nanopowders. The presence of these metals in the seedling homogenate was determined to define the toxic effect. The electron microscopic analysis of the partition of metals in the tissues of experimental plants did not reveal significant deviations from control values. The experiments were performed using scientific equipment of Regional Center for Collective Use of Probe Microscopy in Ryazan State Radio Engineering University.

Physiological and Molecular Responses of the Aboveground Part of Indica–Japonica Intersubspecific Tetraploid Rice Seedlings to Ion Beam Stress

Low-energy ion beam bombardment can induce various biological effects on plants, including stimulation, damage, and mutation. However, the physiological and molecular mechanisms of the biological effects of ion implantation are not fully understood. In this article, ion beam implantation was performed on Indica–Japonica intersubspecific tetraploid rice seeds to explore the responses of their seedlings. The investigation found that the aboveground part development of rice seedlings was inhibited, radiation damage was induced, and the metabolic accumulation and expression of abscisic acid (ABA) was disturbed by implantation with large doses of the low-energy $\text{N}^{+}$ beam. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes and proline (Pro) content were also increased by low-dose ion implantation induction. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content in seedlings under ion implantation was markedly higher than those of controls, and increased with the increase of ion beam irradiation doses. Transcriptional expression analysis of selected genes revealed that partly ABA anabolism genes associated with ABA production were significantly upregulated in seedlings in response to ion implantation. The aforementioned results will be useful for further research on the physiological and molecular mechanisms of Indica–Japonica intersubspecific tetraploid rice to ion beam stress.

Effects of applying ramie fiber nonwoven films on root-zone soil nutrient and bacterial community of rice seedlings for mechanical transplanting

Raising rice seedlings in flat trays has become the main method for mechanized transplanting of rice in China. However, seedling blocks raised by this method were easily cracked in practice, and this problem can be solved by padding a thin ramie fiber nonwoven film on the bottom surface of seedling tray. This study was conducted to determine the effects of this film on root-zone environment of rice seedlings. The results showed that on the 10th day after sowing, the soil inorganic nitrogen, especially nitrate nitrogen, content in the root-zone of the film treatment were considerably higher than in the no-film treatment, in contrast, the soil organic matter content was lower in the film treatment, and by the 20th day, the gap between treatments was enlarged. After applying the film, the Chao 1 index and Shannon index values for the soil bacterial community diversity decreased, and the rice seedlings were shorter, had higher root/shoot ratios, lower nitrate contents, and higher soluble sugar contents. We conclude that application of the ramie fiber nonwoven film resulted in substantial changes in the soil nutrient and bacterial community in root-zone in a short time, which significantly impacted the growth and development of rice seedlings.

Effects of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles on the Growth of Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Seedlings and the Relevant Physiological Responses.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.), a major staple food for billions of people, was assessed for its phytotoxicity of copper oxide nanoparticle (CuO NPs, size < 50 nm). Under hydroponic condition, seven days of exposure to 62.5, 125, and 250 mg/L CuO NPs significantly suppressed the growth rate of rice seedlings compared to both the control and the treatment of supernatant from 250 mg/L CuO NP suspensions. In addition, physiological indexes associated with antioxidants, including membrane damage and antioxidant enzyme activity, were also detected. Treatment with 250 mg/L CuO NPs significantly increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content and electrical conductivity of rice shoots by 83.4% and 67.0%, respectively. The activity of both catalase and superoxide dismutase decreased in rice leaves treated with CuO NPs at the concentration of 250 mg/L, while the activity of the superoxide dismutase significantly increased by 1.66 times in rice roots exposed to 125 mg/L CuO NPs. The chlorophyll, including chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, and carotenoid content in rice leaves decreased with CuO NP exposure. Finally, to explain potential molecular mechanisms of chlorophyll variations, the expression of four related genes, namely, Magnesium chelatase D subunit, Chlorophyll synthase, Magnesium-protoporphyrin IX methyltransferase, and Chlorophyllide a oxygenase, were quantified by qRT-PCR. Overall, CuO NPs, especially at 250 mg/L concentration, could affect the growth and development of rice seedlings, probably through oxidative damage and disturbance of chlorophyll and carotenoid synthesis.

The heterotrimeric G protein \u03b2 subunit RGB1 is required for seedling formation in rice

BackgroundThe heterotrimeric G protein β subunit RGB1 plays an important role in plant growth and development. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of rice growth by RGB1 remain elusive.ResultsHere, the rgb1 mutants rgb1–1 (+ 1 bp), rgb1–2 (− 1 bp), and rgb1–3 (− 11 bp) were isolated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and they were arrested at 1 day after germination and ultimately exhibited seedling lethality. The dynamic anatomical characteristics of the embryos of the rgb1 seedlings and WT during early postgermination and according to TUNEL assays showed that the suppressed growth of the rgb1 mutants was caused by cell death. In addition to the limited shoot and root development, the development of the embryo shoot-root axis was suppressed in the rgb1 mutants. RGB1 was expressed mainly in the root epidermal and vascular tissues of the embryo. Moreover, transcript profiling analysis revealed that the expression of a large number of auxin-, cytokinin-, and brassinosteroid-inducible genes was upregulated or downregulated in the rgb1 mutant compared to the wild type during seedling development.ConclusionsOverall, the rgb1 mutants provide an ideal material for exploring the molecular mechanism underlying rice seedling formation during early postgermination development by G proteins.Significance statementThe heterotrimeric G protein β subunit RGB1 acts as a crucial factor in promoting early postgermination seedling development in rice.

Liquid assisted pulsed laser ablation synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) and their differential impact on rice seedlings

Hydroponic experiments were conducted to investigate impact of laser ablated copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) on rice seedlings. The present work demonstrates that exposure of lower concentrations (5, 10, 20, and 50 µM) of CuO-NPs enhance growth (in terms of fresh and dry weight and length), of rice seedlings. However, at higher concentrations (100, 200, and 500 µM) of CuO-NPs, growth (in terms of length, fresh weight and dry weight) decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Further, photosynthetic pigments (total chlorophyll and carotenoids) and protein contents were also found to be in accordance with the results of growth. This had occurred due to enhanced level of CuO-NPs accumulation at higher doses which also enhanced the level of oxidative stress markers such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters (Fv/Fm and qP and except NPQ) and amount of some minerals (Ca, Mg, Na, and K) increased at lower concentrations of CuO-NPs. In contrast, the levels of Fv/Fm and qP were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced at higher concentration of CuO-NPs, which might be due to enhanced accumulation of Cu and oxidative stresses markers. Our results showed that lower dosages of pulsed laser ablated CuO-NPs (5, 10, 20, and 50 µM) might be beneficial for growth and development of rice seedlings.

Incidence and Molecular Identification of Cochliobolus carbonum as Causal Organism of Rice Seedling Blight

During last few years, seedling blight and black lesions along culm of rice seedlings have been appearing frequently in nurseries. Identification of the causal organism was the objective of this research. The identification was done based on morpho-pathological characteristics and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region sequencing analysis. The pathogen effects on germination and development of rice seedlings were studied under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Based on the morphological examination, 10 isolates were identified as Cochliobolus carbonum fungus. This organism recorded different levels of pathogenicity, and most of the isolates showed high virulence, up to 56% as seedling infection with isolate ECC-5. The germination percentage was reduced to 73% for cultivar Sakha 101. Sakha 101 recorded highest infected seedlings percentage (44%) under artificial inoculation. The isolates’ reaction was more variable on seedlings than on leaves of Egyptian rice cultivars. Infection severity on leaves of isolate ECC-5 recorded highest average for infection, while isolate ECC-3 did not exhibit any infection. Most of C. carbonum isolates were induced severe infection on rice seedlings. Therefore, the identified isolates were recorded as a novel pathogen causing seedling blight disease on rice. Soaking in crude extract filtrate of C. carbonium isolates culture reduced germination percentage to 1.55% with Sakha101 and inhibit the shoots and roots growth. The molecular variation using ISJ markers reflected a high level of genetic variation between isolates. The ITS region sequencing of two isolates ECC-7 and ECC-9 was successfully analyzed, and alignment with 19 isolates of Bipolaris zeicola worldwide with 97% identity. Phylogenetic analyses of sequences resulted in a well-resolved phylogeny. The data suggested that ITS region analysis was a potential tool for phylogenetic reconstruction of the new isolates and as was DNA barcode for identification of the fungal species. It confirmed that this organism is a rice seed-borne pathogen that causes seedling blight disease.

Identification of natural variants affecting chlorophyll content dynamics during rice seedling development

AbstractSeedling vigour is an important characteristic in relation to crop growth and yield. Traits such as photosynthetic capacity and chlorophyll content contribute significantly to seedling establishment at the early growth stage in various crop species, including rice. A diverse panel of 227 rice varieties from several countries was evaluated to determine chlorophyll contents at multiple time points during the seedling stage using a soil–plant analysis development (SPAD) meter, a non‐destructive portable device. Using new statistical approaches, several chromosomal regions associated with variations in chlorophyll content in the third leaf at 13, 16 and 19 days after imbibition were detected. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) cluster on the end of chromosome 11 was significantly associated with the onset of leaf senescence. This region was enriched with genes related to cell death and the stress response. We have identified rice germplasm showing delayed‐senescence phenotypes, these could be suitable donors and genetic resources for breeding, and the use of significant SNP markers associated with these traits could enhance the efficiency of their selection in breeding programmes.

Physiological Effects of Single- and Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on Rice Seedlings.

In this paper, single-walled carbon nano- tubes (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nano- tubes (MWCNTs) were found to accelerate leaf growth and development of rice seedlings at a low concentration (20 mg/L), accompanied with the increased chlorophyll content and net photosynthetic rate (PN). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction results indicated that both SWCNTs and MWCNTs significantly increased expression of genes associated with chloroplast development and cell sizes. Further analysis revealed that the abscisic acid content decreased and the gibberellin content increased while the content of [Formula: see text] and H2O2 was slightly elevated and the activities of antioxidative enzymes (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1, and POD, EC 1.11.1.7) were differently modulated after treatment with the carbon nanotube (CNT). These results suggest a possible link between reactive oxygen species and plant hormones under CNTs treatment to promote rice seedlings growth.

Seed-vectored endophytic bacteria modulate development of rice seedlings.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the removal of indigenous bacteria from rice seeds on seedling growth and development. Here we report the presence of three indigenous endophytic bacteria in rice seeds that play important roles in modulating seedling development (shoot and root lengths, and formation of root hairs and secondary roots) and defence against pathogens. Seed-associated bacteria were removed using surface sterilization with NaOCl (bleach) followed by antibiotic treatment. When bacteria were absent, growth of seedlings in terms of root hair development and overall seedling size was less than that of seedlings that contained bacteria. Reactive oxygen staining of seedlings showed that endophytic bacteria became intracellular in root parenchyma cells and root hairs. Roots containing endophytic bacteria were seen to stain densely for reactive oxygen, while roots free of bacteria stained lightly for reactive oxygen. Bacteria were isolated and identified as Enterobacter asburiae (VWB1), Pantoea dispersa (VWB2) and Pseudomonas putida (VWB3) by 16S rDNA sequencing. Bacteria were found to produce indole acetic acid (auxins), inhibited the pathogen Fusarium oxysporum and solubilized phosphate. Reinoculation of bacteria onto seedlings derived from surface-disinfected rice and Bermuda grass seeds significantly restored seedling growth and development. Rice seeds harbour indigenous bacterial endophytes that greatly influence seedling growth and development, including root and shoot lengths, root hair formation and disease susceptibility of rice seedlings. This study shows that seeds of rice naturally harbour bacterial endophytes that play key roles in modulation of seedling development.

Impact of TiO2 nanoparticles on lead uptake and bioaccumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are among the most widely used metal oxide nanoparticles, and their release into the environment is inevitable. The impact of this NPs release on the fate and toxicity of coexisting heavy metals is largely unknown. In this work, a series of hydroponic experiments were conducted to investigate impact of four types of TiO2 NPs, including one anatase (NAnT), one pristine rutile (NRuT) and two rutiles with hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces (NLRuT, NBRuT), as well as the bulk particles (BT), on the bioaccumulation of lead (Pb) by rice (Oryza sativa) seedlings. The results indicate that TiO2 NPs exposure at the levels of 10 and 1000mg/L had no significant adverse effects on the growth and development of rice seedlings. Due to its small crystallite size (252.2Å), only one type of TiO2 NPs (NAnT) entered rice seedling roots through an apoplastic route. However, NAnT particles were not translocated from roots to shoots, likely due to the obstruction effects of casparian strip in the root tissues. Both nano and bulk TiO2 reduced the bioaccumulation of Pb in rice at high TiO2 exposure levels (1000mg/L) but the extent of the reduction was TiO2-type dependent. NAnT, NRuT and NLRuT reduced the Pb concentration in rice roots by >80% and by 77–97% in shoots, likely due to the particles high sorption potential for Pb in the nutrient solution. NBRuT and BT reduced Pb levels by 45–61% in roots and 11–38% in shoots. Although NAnT was able to effectively reduce the bioaccumulation of Pb in rice tissues, this particle did accumulate in rice roots, which poses a potential risk to food safety. Accordingly, NAnT is not recommended for Pb pollution control. NRuT and NLRuT are more appropriate agents to reduce Pb contamination threats to rice plants, which in turn may mitigate health risk to humans through the food chain.

Carbon Nanotubes Filled with Different Ferromagnetic Alloys Affect the Growth and Development of Rice Seedlings by Changing the C:N Ratio and Plant Hormones Concentrations.

The aim of this study was to investigate the phytotoxicity of thin-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings. Three different CNTs, including hollow multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), Fe-filled carbon nanotubes (Fe-CNTs), and Fe-Co-filled carbon nanotubes (FeCo-CNTs), were evaluated. The CNTs significantly inhibited rice growth by decreasing the concentrations of endogenous plant hormones. The carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N ratio) significantly increased in rice roots after treatments with CNTs, and all three types of CNTs had the same effects on the C:N ratio. Interestingly, the increase in the C:N ratio in roots was largely because of decreased N content, indicating that the CNTs significantly decreased N assimilation. Analyses of the Fe and Co contents in plant tissues, transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis proved that the CNTs could penetrate the cell wall and the cell membrane, and then enter the root cells. According to the author's knowledge, this is the first time to study the relationship between carbon nanotubes and carbon nitrogen ratio and plant hormones.

Identification and physiological characterization of two sister lines of indica rice (Oryza sativa L.) with contrasting levels of cold tolerance

Exposure to low temperature during germination and vegetative growth is a limiting factor to the establishment and development of rice seedlings. Higher cold tolerance of japonica than indica subspecies is well documented. However, reports of cold tolerance in indica genotypes are rare. We screened a large number of indica rice genotypes for cold tolerance during germination and initial vegetative growth. The indica genotypes IRGA 959-1-2-2F-4-1-4-A and IRGA 959-1-2-2F-4-1-4-D-1-CA-1, derived from the same cross, were characterized, respectively, as tolerant and sensitive to low temperature. Indexes of photosynthetic performance during light absorption were heavily affected by cold in both genotypes, but recovered after cold exposure only in the tolerant genotype. Activities of the antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT (at the vegetative stage) and CAT and APX (at the germination stage) were higher in the tolerant than in the sensitive genotype. Expression of 20 genes previously related to cold response in rice was evaluated. Expression of OsLIP9 and OsWCOR413 were higher in the tolerant genotype upon or prior to cold exposure, respectively. The two sister lines show different molecular and physiological responses to low temperature stress. Further in-depth studies with these lines may help to identify new cold tolerance mechanisms in rice.

Enrichment and analysis of rice seedling ubiquitin-related proteins using four UBA domains (GST-qUBAs)

Protein ubiquitination is a common posttranslational modification that often occurs on lysine residues. It controls the half-life, interaction and trafficking of intracellular proteins and is involved in different plant development stages and responses to environment stresses. Four Ubiquitin-Associated (UBA) domains were sequentially fused with Glutathione S-transferase (GST) tag (GST-qUBA) as bait protein in this study. A two-step affinity protocol was successfully developed and the identification of ubiquitinated proteins and their interaction proteins increased almost threefold compared to methods that directly identify ubiquitinated proteins from crude samples. A total of 170 ubiquitin-related proteins were identified in GST-qUBAs enriched samples taken from rice seedlings. There were 134 ubiquitinated proteins, 5 ubiquitin-activating enzymes (E1s), 5 ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s), 19 ubiquitin ligases (E3s) and 7 deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), which all contained various key factors that regulated a wide range of biological processes. Moreover, a series of novel ubiquitinated proteins and E3s were identified that had not been previously reported. This study investigated a high-efficiency method for identifying novel ubiquitinated proteins involved in biological processes and a primary mapping of the ubiquitylome during rice seedling development, which could extend our understanding of how ubiquitin modification regulates plant proteins, pathways and cellular processes.

Gene Knockout Study Reveals That Cytosolic Ascorbate Peroxidase 2(OsAPX2) Plays a Critical Role in Growth and Reproduction in Rice under Drought, Salt and Cold Stresses

Plant ascorbate peroxidases (APXs), enzymes catalyzing the dismutation of H2O2 into H2O and O2, play an important role in reactive oxygen species homeostasis in plants. The rice genome has eight OsAPXs, but their physiological functions remain to be determined. In this report, we studied the function of OsAPX2 gene using a T-DNA knockout mutant under the treatment of drought, salt and cold stresses. The Osapx2 knockout mutant was isolated by a genetic screening of a rice T-DNA insertion library under 20% PEG-2000 treatment. Loss of function in OsAPX2 affected the growth and development of rice seedlings, resulting in semi-dwarf seedlings, yellow-green leaves, leaf lesion mimic and seed sterility. OsAPX2 expression was developmental- and spatial-regulated, and was induced by drought, salt, and cold stresses. Osapx2 mutants had lower APX activity and were sensitive to abiotic stresses; overexpression of OsAPX2 increased APX activity and enhanced stress tolerance. H2O2 and MDA levels were high in Osapx2 mutants but low in OsAPX2-OX transgenic lines relative to wild-type plants after stress treatments. Taken together, the cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase OsAPX2 plays an important role in rice growth and development by protecting the seedlings from abiotic stresses through scavenging reactive oxygen species.

Mitochondrial mutation impairs cytoplasmic male sterility rice in response to H2O2 stress

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a phenomenon widely observed in various plant species characterized with disrupted anther development caused by mitochondrial mutation. CMS is becoming a model system for the investigations of nucleus–cytoplasmic interaction. To reveal the possible effects of CMS genes on plant growth in adverse environment, plant development and biochemical characters of mitochondria from Honglian (HL)-CMS line Yuetai A and maintainer Yuetai B treated with H2O2 were analyzed. Results showed that 40–60mM H2O2 significantly inhibits rice seedling development and growth. When treated with H2O2, ATP content and mitochondrial membrane potential in Yuetai A decreased significantly faster than those of Yuetai B. These biochemical changes were accompanied by the severe nuclear DNA fragmentation and the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c in the leaf cells of Yuetai A. In addition, the antioxidative enzyme activities and mitochondrial electron transfer chain complexes were significantly down-regulated. Disturbance of the biochemical indexes indicate that HL-CMS line is more susceptible to H2O2 stress than the maintainer line, the deleterious effects caused by the CMS-related ORFH79 peptide compromises the adaptability of HL-CMS line to the adverse environment.

Development of rice seedlings grown from pre-hydrated seeds and irradiated with gamma rays

Techniques used to induce mutations, such as ionizing radiation, are an effective tool in increasing genetic variability in breeding programs of species of economic interest. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different doses of Co60 gamma radiation on previously soaked seeds on the emergence and early growth of seedlings of two rice cultivars. To do this, seeds (25% moisture) of BRS Querência and BRS Fronteira were irradiated with zero (control), 50, 100, 150 and 200 Gy, and then sown in trays containing soil and kept in a greenhouse. The results showed that gamma radiation affected seedling development, where the highest dose tested (200 Gy) significantly reduced the emergence and the index of emergence speed. Growth parameters were reduced greater reduction in cv. BRS Querência. For antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase expressed little variation for the periods evaluated. Already ascorbate peroxidase and catalase showed a significant increase in horsepower cv. BRS Fronteira at 14 DAS, followed by an increase in both cultivars ascorbate peroxidase activity at 28 DAS. The highest antioxidant capacity observed in cv. BRS Fronteira conferred greater tolerance to stress caused by gamma radiation.

Heterosis in rice seedlings: its relationship to gibberellin content and expression of gibberellin metabolism and signaling genes.

Despite the accumulation of data on the genetic and molecular understanding of heterosis, there is little information on the regulation of heterosis at the physiological level. In this study, we performed a quantitative analysis of endogenous gibberellin (GA) content and expression profiling of the GA metabolism and signaling genes to investigate the possible relationship between GA signaling and heterosis for seedling development in rice (Oryza sativa). The materials used were an incomplete diallele set of 3 × 3 crosses and the six parents. In the growing shoots of the seedlings at 20 d after sowing, significant positive correlations between the contents of some GA species and performance and heterosis based on shoot dry mass were detected. Expression analyses of GA-related genes by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that 13 out of the 16 GA-related genes examined exhibited significant differential expression among the F1 hybrid and its parents, acting predominantly in the modes of overdominance and positive dominance. Expression levels of nine genes in the hybrids displayed significant positive correlations with the heterosis of shoot dry mass. These results imply that GAs play a positive role in the regulation of heterosis for rice seedling development. In shoots plus root axes of 4-d-old germinating seeds that had undergone the deetiolation, mimicking normal germination in soil, the axis dry mass was positively correlated with the content of GA₂₉ but negatively correlated with that of GA₁₉. Our findings provide supporting evidence for GAs playing an important regulatory role in heterosis for rice seedling development.