Rice Quality Research Articles

Natural variation of WBR7 confers rice high yield and quality by modulating sucrose supply in sink organs.

Grain chalkiness is an undesirable trait that negatively regulates grain yield and quality in rice. However, the regulatory mechanism underlying chalkiness is complex and remains unclear. We identified a positive regulator of white-belly rate (WBR). The WBR7 gene encodes sucrose synthase 3 (SUS3). A weak functional allele of WBR7 is beneficial in increasing grain yield and quality. During the domestication of indica rice, a functional G/A variation in the coding region of WBR7 resulted in an E541K amino acid substitution in the GT-4 glycosyltransferase domain, leading to a significant decrease in decomposition activity of WBR7A (allele in cultivar Jin23B) compared with WBR7G (allele in cultivar Beilu130). The NIL(J23B) and knockout line NIL(BL130)KO exhibited lower WBR7 decomposition activity than that of NIL(BL130) and NIL(J23B)COM, resulting in less sucrose decomposition and metabolism in the conducting organs. This caused more sucrose transportation to the endosperm, enhancing the synthesis of storage components in the endosperm and leading to decreased WBR. More sucrose was also transported to the anthers, providing sufficient substrate and energy supply for pollen maturation and germination, ultimately leading to an increase rate of seed setting and increased grain yield. Our findings elucidate a mechanism for enhancing rice yield and quality by modulating sucrose metabolism and allocation, and provides a valuable allele for improved rice quality.

Perception and Attitude of Consumer Patronage of Ghana-Grown Rice: Evidence from Kumasi, Ghana

Increasing human population, urbanization, and changing consumer trends have contributed to the emergence of rice as the leading staple food in Ghana. Despite its importance in the Ghanaian diet, patronage and consumption of locally grown rice are not yet widespread. This study investigates consumer patronage of locally grown rice in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana, and fills a critical gap in understanding the specific factors that influence consumer preferences in urban settings. Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of 120 respondents across different income categories using a multistage sampling technique and analyzed using descriptive statistics, a Probit model, and Kendall's coefficient of concordance. The study found that cooking quality, palatability, colour, and fragrance were the primary attributes that influenced consumer preferences. Probit analysis revealed that income and the frequency of rice consumption significantly influenced the likelihood of purchasing locally grown rice. Specifically, a higher income decreases, while frequent rice consumption increases the likelihood of choosing local rice. Key constraints identified include perceived high cost, limited availability, and concerns about the quality of rice. This study recommends that local rice producers, agricultural organizations, and government bodies should make efforts to improve the sensory and culinary qualities of locally grown rice through improved processing techniques, increased promotion, and campaigns to ensure the commodity is readily available to consumers. These strategies aim to boost local rice consumption and support agricultural sustainability and food security in Ghana.

Genetic Loci Mining and Candidate Gene Analysis for Determining Fatty Acid Composition in Rice

Fatty acid composition and its proportions are critical to the nutritional value and storage quality of rice (Oryza sativa L.) as the third major nutrient component in this staple food. This study involved crossing an indica rice variety, Huazhan (HZ), as the male parent, with a japonica variety, Nekken2, as the female parent, to produce the F1 generation. Subsequently, a population of 120 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was developed through multiple generations of self-breeding. By utilizing a high-density molecular genetic linkage map and phenotypic data of four fatty acid components, we identified a total of 14 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to fatty acid composition across chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 9. These included two QTLs for C14 content, three for C16:0 content, six for C18:1 content, and three for C18:2 content. Notably, the QTL qCOPT4.2 exhibited a high LOD score of 5.22. Within QTL intervals, genes such as OsACX3 and SLG affecting grain length were identified. The expression of candidate genes within these intervals was assessed and further analyzed by using quantitative real-time PCR. Genes such as LOC_Os01g15000, LOC_Os04g47120, LOC_Os04g49194, LOC_Os06g22080, LOC_Os06g23870, LOC_Os06g24704, LOC_Os06g30780, LOC_Os08g44840, and LOC_Os09g36860 were found to regulate fatty acid synthesis or metabolic pathways, potentially enhancing fatty acid content in rice. These QTLs are indispensable for breeding rice varieties with improved fatty acid profiles, offering new genetic resources for enhancing the nutritional and storage qualities of rice.

Plant Photosynthetic and Respiration Rates Are Key Populational Traits to Improve Yield and Quality for Good-Tasting Double-Cropped Rice

Improving the yield and quality for tasty rice varieties is a great challenge. In the present study, different nitrogen rates and plant density were utilized to form differential rice populational structures, which were determined to clarify key traits determining grain yield and quality for tasty rice varieties in a double-cropped rice system in subtropical China. The present results showed that the plant photosynthetic rate, leaf area index and plant respiration rate had important and significant impacts on the grain yields of both early and late rice, though the late rice yield was also significantly affected by the canopy temperature. In addition, among the studied populational traits, plant photosynthetic and/or respiration rates had significant effects on all quality traits. Consistently, grain yield and quality were significantly improved with the increasing plant photosynthetic and respiration rates through correlative analysis, which was also observed in principal components analysis. Overall, the present study suggests that both the grain yield and milling and appearance qualities could be improved through the optimal management of nitrogen and plant density through increasing plant photosynthetic and respiration rates.

Application of additional dose of N could sustain rice yield and maintain plant nitrogen under elevated ozone (O3) and carbon dioxide (CO2) condition

IntroductionGlobal food security is challenged by the increasing levels of air pollutants like ozone (O3) through their impacts on crop productivity. The present study was conducted to quantify the interactive effect of elevated ozone (O3) and carbon dioxide (CO2), on different rice varieties in northern India.MethodsAn experiment was conducted in Genetic H field, Environment science, IARI for two consecutive years (2020 and 2021) during the kharif season, to quantify the impact of elevated O3 and CO2 interaction on productivity, and plant N in three rice varieties (Pusa basmati 1121, Nagina 22, IR64 Drt1) under different nitrogen (N) management practices. Rice crop was grown in Free Air Ozone-Carbon dioxide Enrichment rings (FAOCE) rings with two levels of O3 (elevated 60 ±10ppb and ambient) and two levels of CO2 (elevated, 550±25 ppm and ambient) concentration and their interaction with two N fertilizer treatments i.e., 100% RDN (recommended dose of N) and 125% RDN.Results and discussionElevated O3 significantly decreased physiological parameters like photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of the crop. Grain yield reduced by 7.2-7.5%, in Pusa Basmati 1121 and from 6.9-9% in IR64 Drt1 varieties in elevated O3 treatment as compared to ambient treatment. Yield reduction in Nagina 22 variety was not significant in elevated O3 treatment. Elevated CO2 concentration of 550 ppm was able to fully compensate the yield loss in Nagina 22 variety and partially compensate (3.9-8.0%) in Pusa Basmati 1121 and IR64 Drt1 varieties. Grain N concentration in rice varieties decreased by 10.8-14.7% during first year and by 7.8-20.6% during second year in elevated O3 plus CO2 interaction treatment than ambient. Grain N uptake also decreased (13.2-17.1% in first year and 4.5-22.8% in second year) in elevated O3 plus CO2 interaction treatment as compared to ambient. Application of additional 25% of recommended dose of N improved grain N concentration, grain N uptake as well as available N of soil as compared to 100% RDN treatment in elevated O3 plus CO2 interaction treatment. Additional 25% N dose could help in sustaining rice productivity and quality under elevated O3 and CO2 condition.

Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus application on starch characteristics and quality of rice with different nitrogen efficiency

IntroductionThe application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers is an important factors affecting the quality of rice, and different nitrogen-efficient rice varieties show significant differences in their response to nitrogen and phosphorus application.MethodsIn this experiment, a low-nitrogen-high efficiency variety (Deyou 4727) and a high-nitrogen-high efficiency variety (Jingyou 781) were selected, and the changes in rice quality and differences in starch structure under nitrogen–phosphorus interaction treatments were determined.ResultsAppearance, flavor, starch content and thermodynamic properties, endosperm cell arrangement, and starch granule morphology and size were significantly influenced by variety, nitrogen-phosphorus interactions, and their interaction effects. The effect of nitrogen fertilizer on quality was greater than that of phosphorus fertilizer. The whiteness and chalkiness rates of Deyou 4727 first decreased and then increased with increasing nitrogen fertilizer application, wheras the appearance quality of Jingyou 781 increased with increasing nitrogen fertilizer application. Starch crystallinity in Deyou 4727 first increased and then decreased with increasing nitrogen fertilizer application, whereas starch crystallinity in Jingyou 781 increased continuously with increasing nitrogen fertilizer application. The application of phosphorus fertilizer led to an increase in starch crystallinity in both nitrogen-efficient rice varieties, consistent with the response of different rice varieties to nitrogen and phosphorus in terms of appearance and chalkiness. With the increasing application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, the differences in the physicochemical properties and structure of starch became more significant.DiscussionHigh-nitrogen-efficient rice varieties can significantly improve appearance quality under high nitrogen conditions, and the interactions of medium-high nitrogen and low-medium phosphorus can lead to a significant decrease in starch thermal parameters and retention rate, thus improving rice cooking quality. Low-nitrogen-efficient rice varieties can also improve the quality of rice under low-medium-nitrogen conditions with appropriate application of phosphorus fertilizer.

Grain quality attributes of an on-farm Thailand's highland rice germplasm directly beneficial to the farming households

Rice (Oryza sativa) from the highlands of Northern Thailand where the crop is predominantly planted with local varieties was examined for grain quality features having direct benefits for the local population. Un-husked rice seed provided by farmers of 10 minority groups had large grains, in contrast to the slender grain type found in the lowlands. The highland-grown rice directly benefits the local population by providing a higher dietary intake of Fe but not of Zn. The highlands have been identified as a rich source of pigmented rice with a high anthocyanin content and an environment favouring the production of premium quality rice. On-farm experiments confirmed the effects of genotype (G) and environment (E) and the G × E interaction on grain quality. The local rice with high grain Zn exhibited higher concentrations under the upland conditions, while the high anthocyanin variety produced greater levels under wetland conditions. The pigmented rice had a higher anthocyanin content at high altitudes than at lower altitudes. The information concerning the value of local rice germplasm benefits the local population and should facilitate more sustainable on-farm conservation efforts than rewards offered to the farmers from external funding sources.

GW3, encoding a member of the P450 subfamily, controls grain width by regulating the GA4 content in spikelets of rice (Oryza sativa L.).

A stable QTL, GW3, controlling grain width was identified in two populations. Its causal gene LOC_Os03g04680 was verified by gene-based haplotype analysis, expression analysis, gene knockout and complementation transgenic tests. Grain width (GW) is one of the key traits affecting grain size and determines grain yield and appearance quality in rice. Mining gene loci and elite alleles controlling GW is necessary. The GW phenotypes of the two populations were investigated in three environments, which showed abundant phenotypic variation. GW3, encoding a P450 subfamily protein, was identified and validated as a causal gene by gene-based haplotype analysis, expression analysis, gene knockout and complementation transgenic tests. The accessions with large GW values had high gene expression levels. In addition, the GW of the accessions with the GG allele was significantly greater than that of the accessions with the AA allele. The Hap 1 and Hap 3 were identified as elite haplotypes, which can increase GW. The expression levels of OsKO1, OsGA3ox1, OsGA20ox1 and OsGA20ox2 in the young panicle of A7444 were significantly greater than those in the young panicle of the mutants, indicating that GW3 may be involved in the gibberellins (GA) biosynthesis pathway to regulate GW. GA4 content detection and electron scanning analysis revealed that GA4 regulates GW by affecting glume cell size. These results provide new insights for studying the genetic mechanism of rice GW and provide a material basis for breeding high-yield rice varieties.

Effect of adding various supplements on physicochemical properties and starch digestibility of cooked rice

This study investigated the physicochemical modifications of cooked rice caused by adding various supplements (rapeseed oil, dried wasabi powder, and dried chili pepper powder). The physicochemical and digestive properties of treated cooked rice were analyzed using multiple techniques to determine the impact of supplements on the rice quality, including its starch digestibility. All samples with added supplements showed an increase in surface firmness (0.77–0.95 kg·m/s2 (N)) and a decrease in thickness (2.23–2.35 mm) and surface adhesiveness (1.43–7.22 J/m3). Compared to the control group, two absorption peaks at 2856 and 1748 cm−1 and new signals at 1683 and 1435 cm−1 appeared in the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Analysis of FTIR results revealed that the interaction force was mainly through noncovalent interactions. Moreover, adding supplements increased the resistant starch (RS) levels in all samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) suggested that oil-enriched phases, proteins, and polyphenols could cause large agglomeration and loose gel structure. These results suggested the formation of amylose-guest molecule complexes, which may influence starch functionality. Our work could provide insight into the starch–supplement interactions and the key factors affecting starch digestibility.

The Effect of Reduced Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on japonica Rice Based on Volatile Metabolomics Analysis.

Nitrogen is critical for rice yield and quality, but its overuse can be detrimental to efficiency and the environment. To identify changes in the quality of rice in response to the reduced application of nitrogen fertilizer, we carried out a comprehensive metabolomics study of SuiJing 18 using volatile metabolomics methods. Our results showed that SuiJing 18 had a total of 358 volatile metabolites, mainly lipids (16.25%), terpenoids (15.41%), heterocyclic compounds (15.13%), and hydrocarbons (13.45%). SuiJing 18 underwent significant changes in response to the reduced application of nitrogen fertilizer. Key sweet volatile compounds such as 4-methyl-benzeneacetaldehyde, hexyl acetate, and 2-methylnaphthalene were present at significantly higher levels when nitrogen fertilizer was applied at a rate of 68 kg of pure nitrogen per hectare, and their flavor characteristics also differed significantly from the compounds resulting from the other two treatments. Focusing on 16 differential volatile metabolites, we further investigated their effects on flavor and quality, thus laying the foundation for a greater understanding of the biomarkers associated with changes in rice quality. This study contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying changes in rice quality after reduced nitrogen fertilizer application.

Phosphine Sorption on Paddy Rice: Effects on Fumigation and Grain Quality Parameters.

During storage, infestation by insect pests occurs, causing quantitative and qualitative losses in grains, which requires the control of these insects with phosphine gas. Rice husk has a high phosphine adsorption capacity, influencing the gas concentration during fumigation and potentially leading to inefficient fumigation. Additionally, the high sorption of rice husk results in a higher residue of phosphine in the grain. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the phosphine sorption and phosphine residue in rice husk, paddy rice, and brown rice, as well as the industrial quality (head rice yield, rehydration capacity, cooking time, colorimetric profile) of brown and white rice during storage. To achieve this, fumigation of paddy rice, brown rice, and rice husks with 3.0 g·m-3 of phosphine was carried out for 240 h (recommended duration in the industry). A high sorption rate was observed in the rice husk (94.77%), paddy rice (97.61%), and, lastly, brown rice (35.17%). Due to the high sorption rate, only brown rice maintained a concentration above the recommended level for effective pest control (400 ppm for 120 h). Higher phosphine residues than permitted were observed in the rice husk (0.25 ppm). Lower rice head yields were observed in non-fumigated rice samples when analyzing the brown rice samples (66.21% for paddy rice and 65.01% for brown rice). A greater rehydration capacity was observed in fumigated samples at the beginning of storage when analyzing the brown rice samples (1.21 for paddy rice, 1.23 for brown rice), reducing the cooking time (24.00 for paddy rice, 23.80 for brown rice). More studies should be carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of fumigation on paddy rice, considering the high sorption rate of the paddy.

Varieties and cooking conditions difference in quality of instant brown rice

Amylose content is an important indicator that determines the hardness and softness of rice, which depends on rice varieties. Three types of specialty colored rice in Vietnam were selected for research on instant rice production including DH6 brown rice (DH6), Huyet Rong rice (HR), and Cam Cai Lay rice (CL). Proximate compositions and antioxidant properties such as total anthocyanin and total phenolic content in three kinds of rice were analyzed and compared. In addition, the effect of varieties and ratios of rice and water on the cooking time, volume expansion, antioxidant compounds and sensory properties were observed. The results showed that varieties led to differences in the nutritional profile of rice. CL and HR have the highest anthocyanin content (54.9-56.5 mg/100 g). DH6 brown rice is considered as the low amylose rice, with the content of amylose about 4.6%. Besides, it was also found that using “Cam Cai Lay” rice could create products with good structure and high sensory value. The results also confirmed that the product is of good quality when using a ratio of rice: water 1:2 and a cooking time of 30 mins. Types of rice and cooking conditions remarkably affected the quality of instant rice, which could further optimize for the up-scale process.

Effects of Degree of Milling on Nutritional and Edible Quality of High-Resistant Starch Rice

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of milling degree on nutrient content, especially resistant starch (RS), and edible quality of starch rice variety Youtangdao3 (YTD3) with high RS. High RS rice variety YTD3 was processed with different milling times (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40s) to evaluate the effects on nutritional components, mineral content, vitamins, pasting properties, and cooking/eating quality. With the increase in milling time, the average milling reduction rate increased from 0 to 8.54, 11.81, 13.27, and 16%, which correlated with a decrease in the yield of head rice, crude fat, crude protein, and ash content. Minerals and vitamins, especially vitamin E and B vitamins, decreased significantly with increasing milling time. Sensory analysis revealed a decrease in rice hardness and an increase in viscosity with longer milling, suggesting improved palatability. However, excessive milling reduced the nutritional value of the rice. The study highlights the need for an optimal balance between the degree of milling (DOM) and the preservation of nutritional value to improve the overall quality of rice products. The results are important for guiding rice processing practices to maintain the health benefits of RS while preserving the sensory appeal of rice.

Differences in the Appearance Quality of Soft Japonica Rice with Different Grain Shapes in the Yangtze River Delta and Their Relationship with Grain-Filling

This study investigated the differences in appearance quality among different soft japonica rice varieties based on grain shape, with a particular focus on the broad-ovate soft japonica rice varieties Nanjing 9108 and Nanjing 5718, as well as the slender soft japonica rice varieties Shangshida 19 and Jiahe 218, all sourced from the Yangtze River Delta. The results showed that the slender soft japonica rice varieties exhibited significantly superior appearance quality compared to the broad-ovate varieties. In the case of superior grains, the chalky grain rate of the broad-ovate soft japonica rice was 4307.79 percent higher than that of the slender varieties, and the degree of chalkiness was 8275.00 percent higher. For inferior grains, the chalky grain rate of the broad-ovate soft japonica rice was 238.34 percent higher than the slender varieties, and the degree of chalkiness was 339.96 percent higher. In contrast to the slender soft japonica rice, the broad-ovate varieties had a lower percentage of high-weight grains and a higher percentage of low-weight grains. Compared to the broad-ovate soft japonica rice, the slender varieties exhibited a faster grain-filling rate and shorter effective grain-filling days. Correlation analysis revealed that chalkiness had a significant negative correlation with grain length and aspect ratio. Simultaneously, chalkiness also showed a positive correlation with the number of effective grain-filling days while demonstrating a negative correlation with both the maximum and average grain-filling rates. The slender soft japonica rice exhibited a lower likelihood of developing chalkiness and higher grain-filling efficiency and developed a favorable grain weight distribution. These distinctive attributes significantly contribute to the superior appearance quality of the slender japonica soft rice.

Nano-sized ZnO enhances photosynthetic parameters, yield and Zn content in rice (Oryza sativa)

A pot culture experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) season of 2021 at ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, Telangana to study the influence of the foliar application of various Zn sources such as nano ZnO, bulk ZnO, and ZnSO4 on rice crop. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with the following treatments, containing 3 concentrations of bulk ZnO (500 mg/litre, 1000 mg/litre, and 1500 mg/ litre), 3 concentrations of nano ZnO (50 mg/litre, 100 mg/ litre, and 150 mg/litre), 0.5% ZnSO4 and control with 3 replications. The findings revealed that ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) positively impacted rice grain yield, dry matter accumulation, and Zn content. Compared to the control (no zinc), ZnO NPs (150 mg/litre) and standard ZnSO4 treatments exhibited the highest plant height (83.3 cm and 73.7 cm, respectively), grain yield (5.97 g/pot and 6.03 g/pot), and straw yield (7.82 g/pot and 7.94 g/pot). The increased photosynthetic substances and higher dry matter accumulation throughout the rice growth stage contributed to the enhanced grain yield. Furthermore, supplementing Zn via nano ZnO (150 mg/litre) and 0.5% ZnSO4 resulted in significant Zn enrichment: 33,35; 77,87 and 21, 28% in straw, grain and soil, respectively over control plants. This study effectively demonstrates that ZnO nanoparticles have the potential to serve as high-performance fertilizers, benefiting both rice yield and quality.

Sludge-derived biostimulants promote glycosylation of tricin and luteolin in the flavone and flavonol biosynthesis to enhance anti-inflammatory activities of rice

Alkaline thermal hydrolysis of sewage sludge produces nutrients and biostimulants that enhance plant growth, attracting considerable interest in agriculture. However, the metabolic differences and regulatory mechanisms of sewage sludge-derived biostimulants (SS-BS) on the phenotypic traits, nutritional quality, and safety indicators of harvested crops remain unclear. This study investigates the impact of SS-BS on rice quality on an agricultural production scale. The research reveals that rice treated with SS-BS complies with safety standards comparable to premium rice. SS-BS significantly enhances nutrient enrichment in the endosperm, increasing protein, vitamin B1, dietary fiber, and vitamin E content by 7%, 7.2%, 23.2%, and 42.2%, respectively. Furthermore SS-BS upregulates the FG2 gene,leading to increased Nictoflorin content and activation of the gene expression of UGT73C6 and CYP75A, which catalyze O-glycosylation and promot glycosyl transfer. By inhibiting the synthesis of Trifolin, Scolymoside, and Swertiajaponin, SS-BS favors the synthesis of glycosylated derivatives of Tricin and Luteolin, which exhibit higher anti-inflammatory activity. Additionally, two novel genes, novel.2100 and novel.1300, and an uncharacterized gene, LOC9269295, are closely associated with the production of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds. This study provides new evidence for SS-BS application and insights into their regulatory mechanisms affecting crop quality, contributing to the development of functional foods and sustainable agriculture.

High-yield rice with rich nutrition and low toxicity can be obtained under potato-rice cropping system.

Rice is often rotated with dryland crops to produce sufficient foodstuff, as rice is the main food crop of humans. In order to verify whether under the intensive rice-based cropping system, high yield and good quality of rice can be achieved simultaneously to ensure food security. Five long-term paddy-upland rotations - wheat-rice (WR), rapeseed-rice (RR), garlic-rice (GR), broad beans-rice (BR) and potato-rice (PR) - were conducted from 2014 to investigate rice yield, along with the profiling of 24 elements in rice grain. Mg, Zn, Cu, As, Mo and Sb concentrations were highest in the aleurone layer, and Ag and Cd concentrations showed little variation among different parts of the rice grain. Al, Ti, V, Si, Fe and Tl concentrations in the endosperm under GR were higher, while the Se concentration under PR was the highest. Furthermore, the yield of GR and PR were higher than the other three rotations with N supplementation, and the sustainable yield index of PR and WR were larger than 0.8. When we consider the concentration of toxic (As, Cd and Pb) and nutrient elements (Ca, Fe, Zn, Se, Cu and Mg) in the endosperm and grain yields, PR can simultaneously achieve high yield, high nutrition and low toxicity with different nitrogen treatments. Here we provide novel insights regarding the selection of rice-based cropping systems, focused on producing nutritious and safe rice with high grain yield. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Genetic inheritance studies in rice (Oryza sativa L.) for grain protein, quality and yield

The present study was undertaken to investigate the genetic parameters of yield component and quality traits of the F3 population from BPT 5204 and JAK-686 cross in rice. High heritability and high genetic advance as a percentage of the mean were recorded for productive tillers per plant, grains per panicle, panicle length and grain yield per plant indicating the effectiveness of direct phenotypic selection for improvement of these traits. For traits such as grains per panicle, 1000 grain weight, amylose content and grain protein content, the magnitude of additive (d) effects surpassed dominance (h) gene effects. This implies that phenotypic selection using methods like pureline selection, mass selection would be beneficial. Gel consistency exhibited complimentary gene interaction. Furthermore, duplicate gene interaction was prevalent in traits like days to 50% flowering, productive tillers per plant, plant height, panicle length, grain yield per plant, kernel length, kernel breadth, and kernel L/B ratio, making selection in later generations more effective. The inheritance studies highlighted the importance of selecting desired recombinants from the segregating population to enhance rice quality as well as grain yield. Keywords: Rice, Grain protein content, Quality, Variability, Heritability, Gene action

Study on Rice Origin and Quality Identification Based on Fluorescence Spectral Features

The origin of agricultural products significantly influences their quality and safety. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to analyse Japonica rice 830, grown in different areas of Jilin Province, by examining rice seed, brown rice, and rice flour from 12 origins. Fluorescence spectra were pre-processed through normalisation and smoothing to remove noise. These processed spectra were input into decision trees, support vector machines (SVMs), K-nearest neighbour (KNN), and neural network models for classification. The analysis revealed that the combined four models achieved an average classification accuracy of 98.05% with a computation time of 180 s, while the reduced-scale models improved accuracy to 98.36% and reduced computation time to 11.25 s. Additionally, prediction models using standard rice starch content values across different states achieved R² values over 0.8. This method provides a rapid, precise approach for assessing rice quality and origin, demonstrating significant potential for application in rice analysis.

Cadmium absorption and translocation in rice plants are influenced by lower air temperatures during grain filling stage

The increasing frequency and severity of low temperatures, and soil cadmium (Cd) pollution threaten food security. However, the interactive effects of Cd exposure and low temperatures on rice yield and quality, as well as the mechanisms of Cd absorption and translocation, remain unclear. In this study, two rice varieties were cultivated in soils with two Cd contamination levels (Cdhigh and Cdlow) and exposed to control (CT25) or lower temperatures of 20 °C (LT20) and 17 °C (LT17) during grain-filling stage. Results showed significant decreases in seed setting rate and grain weight, reduced head rice yield, and increased chalkiness due to low temperatures, particularly in Cdhigh soils. Compared to CT25, LT17 and LT20 increased Cd concentration by 37.6 % and accumulation by 14.8 % in grains grown in Cdhigh soils. Enhanced root activity and upregulation of OsNramp1 and OsNramp5 under both low-temperatures increased Cd levels in roots. Lower temperatures also decreased phytochelatins (PCs) and increased expression of OsHMA2 and OsCAL1, facilitating Cd transport and raising Cd levels in stems. Furthermore, upregulated OsHMA2, OsLCT1, and OsZIP7 in stems under low-temperatures promoted Cd transport to panicles. Overall, low temperatures during grain filling increased Cd uptake and translocation into rice grains, especially in high Cd contaminated soils, raising health risks. The study highlights the need to address climate change's impact on cadmium hazards in rice.