Pravat K. Mohapatra

Potassium deficiency affects water status and photosynthetic rate of the vegetative sink in green house tomato prior to its effects on source activity

The potassium requirement of green house tomatoes is very high for vegetative growth and fruit production. Potassium deficiency in plants takes long time for expression of visible symptoms. The objective of this study is to detect the deficiency early during the vegetative growth and define the roles of aquaporin and K-channel transporters in the process of regulation of water status and source-sink relationship. The tomato plants were grown hydroponically inside green house of Hiroshima University, Japan and subjected to different levels of K in the rooting medium. Potassium deficiency stress decreased photosynthesis, expansion and transport of ¹⁴C assimilates of the source leaf, but the effects became evident only after diameter expansion of the growing stem (sink) was down-regulated. The depression of stem diameter expansion is assumed to be associated with the suppression of water supply more than photosynthate supply to the organ. The stem diameter expansion is parameterized by root water uptake and leaf transpiration rates. The application of aquaporin inhibitor (AgNO₃) decreased leaf water potential, stem expansion and root hydraulic conductance within minutes of application. Similar results were obtained for application of the K-channel inhibitors. These observations suggested a close relationship between stem diameter expansion and activities of aquaporins and K-channel transporters in roots. The deficiency of potassium might have reduced aquaporin activity, consequently suppressing root hydraulic conductance and water supply to the growing stem for diameter expansion and leaf for transpiration. We conclude that close coupling between aquaporins and K-channel transporters in water uptake of roots is responsible for regulation of stem diameter dynamics of green house tomato plants.

High temperature effects on photosynthate partitioning and sugar metabolism during ear expansion in maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes

Short hot and dry spells before, or during, silking have an inordinately large effect on maize (Zea mays L.; corn) grain yield. New high yielding genotypes could be developed if the mechanism of yield loss were more fully understood and new assays developed. The aim here was to determine the effects of high temperature (35/27 degrees C) compared to cooler (25/18 degrees C) temperatures (day/night). Stress was applied for a 14 d-period during reproductive stages prior to silking. Effects on whole plant biomass, ear development, photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism were measured in both dent and sweet corn genotypes. Results showed that the whole plant biomass was increased by the high temperature. However, the response varied among plant parts; in leaves and culms weights were slightly increased or stable; cob weights decreased; and other ear parts of dent corn also decreased by high temperature. Photosynthetic activity was not affected by the treatments. The (13)C export rate from an ear leaf was decreased by the high temperature treatment. The amount of (13)C partitioning to the ears decreased more than to other plant parts by the high temperature. Within the ear decreases were greatest in the cob than the shank within an ear. Sugar concentrations in both hemicellulose and cellulose fractions of cobs in sweet corn were decreased by high temperature, and the hemicellulose fraction in the shank also decreased. In dent corn there was no reduction of sugar concentration except in the in cellulose fraction, suggesting that synthesis of cell-wall components is impaired by high temperatures. The high temperature treatment promoted the growth of vegetative plant parts but reduced ear expansion, particularly suppression of cob extensibility by impairing hemicellulose and cellulose synthesis through reduction of photosynthate supply. Therefore, plant biomass production was enhanced and grain yield reduced by the high temperature treatment due to effects on sink activity rather than source activity. Heat resistant ear development can be targeted for genetic improvement.

Hormonal regulation of tiller dynamics in differentially-tillering rice cultivars

Tiller number can contribute significantly to yield potential of rice, but little knowledge is available on hormonal regulation of tillering and tiller dynamics. In the present study, Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), kinetin (6-furfuryl amino purine) and Gibberellic acid (GA3) treatments have been applied at the early tillering stage to two rice cultivars that contrast for tiller number. The responses of the hormones were studied on growth, development, grain yield, senescence patterns, assimilate concentration of the panicle and ethylene production in different classes of tillers. The leaf area, panicle grain number, fertility percentage and grain yield of tillers were higher in the low-tillering cultivar than that of high-tillering cultivar; the treatment of kinetin was more effective in the latter than in the former. High ethylene production was responsible for reduction of growth duration and grain yield of the tillers. Kinetin application reduced ethylene production of the late-tillers significantly for the benefit of grain yield.

Physiology of Spikelet Development on the Rice Panicle: Is Manipulation of Apical Dominance Crucial for Grain Yield Improvement?

Abstract Cultivated rice, Oryza sativa L., originated in the flood plains of Asia with their variable environmental conditions. Heterogeneous architecture, leading to intergrain apical dominance in spikelet development, was an important strategy for plant survival under such uncertain conditions. When inclement weather conditions coincide with the sensitive stage of spikelet development, the plant sacrifices some spikelets while preserving the rest to enable some grains to fill to provide seed for the next generation. The nature of the interaction between a genotype and its environment determines the ultimate spikelet number. This heterogeneous architecture was considered a liability for the increased demand for food. Innovative breeding efforts have changed the plant type in favor of extra-heavy panicles bearing a large number of spikelets, mostly in a homogeneous distribution. However, the reduced intergrain apical dominance decreased the strength of the sink for assimilate partitioning to the spikelets, much to the detriment of increased grain production. The metabolic control of assimilate partitioning and the genes controlling starch synthesis are reviewed and the importance of hormonal control of grain filling is emphasized. A model has been constructed to project the role of metabolites, hormones, and other factors in intergrain apical dominance. The panicle architecture of rice is amenable to modification by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and there is extensive variation of panicle structure among genotypes. Therefore, we suggest that an architecture with controlled intergrain apical dominance, amounting to production of a greater number of responsive sinks, which is a compromise between heterogeneous and homogeneous architecture of the inflorescence, should benefit spikelet filling in rice with large panicles.

High ethylene production slackens seed filling in compact panicled rice cultivar.

Change of plant type in rice resulting in increased compactness of the panicle, allows space for accommodation of a larger number of spikelets, but grain yield does not increase proportionately because of limitations in grain filling. The objective of this study was to evaluate potential causes of poor filling of spikelets by comparing the physiological processes that influence source and sink activities between a compact- (OR-1920-7) and a loose-panicled (Lalat) rice cultivars growing in the open field conditions in the farm of Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Chiplima, India during dry season of 2007. Although grain number per unit length of the branches was higher in the compact-panicled cultivar than the loose-panicled cultivar, average grain weight was lower on the primary and secondary branches at top, middle and basal positions of the panicle in the former compared to the corresponding positions of the panicle in the latter. Compared to Lalat, ethylene production rate was considerably higher in the boot of the flag leaf sheath of OR-1920-7 during the pre-anthesis period. Ethylene evolution rate correlated negatively with growth and cell division rates and starch concentration of the juvenile endosperm. Because spikelet growth was slower in OR-1920-7 than in Lalat, unused carbohydrates accumulated in the endosperm. The stomatal conductance of the flag leaf during this period was also lower in the former than that of the latter and it correlated negatively with ethylene evolution rate of the boot. It is concluded that high ethylene production slackened grain filling of compact-panicled rice cultivar OR-1920-7 because of its adverse influence on both source and sink activities.

Apoplasmic assimilates and grain growth of contrasting rice cultivars differing in grain dry mass and size

Apical dominance in assimilate filling impacts grain growth in basal spikelets of rice panicle. In this study, organic materials of the pericarp, apoplasmic space and endosperm of the apical and basal caryopses, and photosynthesis of the flag leaf were measured during early part of grain development in three types of rice cultivars with similar phenology, but difference in grain weight and size in the dry and wet seasons of 2006 and 2007, respectively. Photosynthetic activity of the flag leaf was consistently low in small-seeded cultivars. Rates of grain filling and cell division of endosperm and concentration of assimilates, starch, proteins and chlorophylls of the caryopsis were lower, but spikelet ethylene production and peroxidase activity were higher in a small-seeded cultivar compared to a big-seeded cultivar. Similar disparities in grain filling and other attributes were noticed for the inferior basal spikelets of the panicle compared to the superior apical spikelets, except the assimilate concentration of the pericarp and endosperm. Temporal fluctuation in assimilate concentration of the organs were similar between the cultivars. Concentration of apoplasmic assimilates mostly exhibited negative correlation with that of pericarp and endosperm. Compared to the apical spikelets, correlation was more negative for the basal spikelets. Conversely, correlation was positive between the concentration of apoplasmic assimilates and endosperm cell number and grain weight of the cultivars. Ethylene released from the spikelets at anthesis affected growth and cell division rates of endosperm and enhanced protein and chlorophyll degradation and peroxidase activity of the caryopsis. It was concluded that variation in spikelet ethylene production may be responsible for differences in size or weight of grains among rice cultivars and spikelets at different locations of the panicle. The concentration of apoplasmic assimilates could be an indicator for grain filling capacity, and ethylene regulated the concentration by affecting pericarp activity for assimilate unloading.

Differences in the responses of stem diameter and pod thickness to drought stress during the grain filling stage in soybean plants.

This study investigated the factor of the physiological characteristics causing the reduction of yield of soybean plants (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) by drought stress, by monitoring changes in stem diameter and pod thickness, and photosynthetic activity, partitioning of 13C-labeled photosynthate. Drought stress reduced the whole plant dry weight due to the decrease in leaf and pod dry matter accumulation; however, this stress did not have a significant effect on stem growth. Leaf photosynthesis was also severely decreased by drought stress in the early stage of stress treatment as leaf water potential decreased. Imposition of stress decreased pod thickness, but stem diameter increased. The adverse effect of drought stress on pod thickness was more evident at night than during the day. The stem diameter also shrank during the day and expanded at night, but the nocturnal increase in stem diameter during drought stress treatment was greater for stressed plants compared with well-watered controls. Drought stress significantly promoted 13C partitioning from the fed leaf to other parts of the plant; the stem was the largest beneficiary. Soluble carbohydrates accumulated in various plant parts under the influence of the stress, but starch concentration declined in all organs except the stem. These results indicated that stem growth was promoted by drought stress compared to pod growth at the early grain-filling stage.

Ethylene control of seed coat development in low and high sterile semidwarf indica rice cultivars

Although basally positioned inferior spikelets of rice panicles emerge late from the flag leaf enclosure (boot), they mature early which precludes adequate grain filling. It is assumed that extended exposure to ethylene inside the boot restricts assimilate partitioning to the endosperm in basal spikelets by affecting the functions of seed coat. In the present study, ethylene concentration inside the boot was measured in two high yielding rice cultivars differing in percentage of spikelet sterility. To manipulate the concentration/action of ethylene, silver nitrate, aminoethoxyvinyl glycine and 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid were injected into the boot. The effect of these chemicals on the concentration of photosynthetic pigments, lipid peroxidation and peroxidase activity of the seed coat and lemma and palea were measured to monitor development. Ethylene reduced development during the juvenile phase but accelerated degradation of the photosynthetic tissues of the spikelets in the senescent phase. Boot ethylene correlated positively with number of barren spikelets in the panicle and negatively with concentration of photosynthetic pigments of the seed coat of inferior spikelets. The concentration of ethylene was higher in the high sterile cultivar Mahalaxmi than that of the low sterile Mahanadi. Inhibition of ethylene action or synthesis improved grain filling. The chemicals were most effective on the inferior spikelets. It was concluded that ethylene retarded seed coat development during the prestorage phase and reduced grain filling of basal spikelets.

Ethylene inhibitors promote male gametophyte survival in rice

Rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Lalat) was grown in pots under open field conditions during the wet season of 1997. Attempts were made to manipulate the growth and development of the male gametophyte, located on the basal region of the panicle, by exogenous application of chemicals regulating formation/action of ethylene and compare grain setting in the spikelets bearing few grain. Application of ethylene action (AgNO3) and synthesis inhibitor (Co(NO3)2; paclobutrazol and uniconazole) improved grain setting in the spikelets and the ethylene releasing substance 2-chloroethyle phosphonic acid (CEPA) depressed it compared to the control. The ethylene inhibitors promoted dry mass accumulation and concentrations of starch and reducing sugars in the anthers of the basal spikelets, while CEPA reduced the level of these carbohydrates significantly. The ethylene inhibitors helped in the survival of more numbers of pollen in these anthers, but CEPA depressed their number significantly. Promotion of growth of the basal anthers was accompanied by a concomitant reduction in the concentration of nonreducing sugars and enhanced activities of acid invertase and sucrose synthase enzymes. It is concluded that male gametophyte development of the basal spikelets of rice is susceptible to ethylene at the stage of pollen mitosis. The possibility of the hormone interfering in carbohydrate metabolism of the anther during this stage of development is discussed.

Leaf necrosis is a visual symptom of the shift from growth stimulation to inhibition effect of Al in Eucalyptus camaldulensis

Abstract Seedlings of Melaleuca cajuputi (M. caj) and Eucalyptus camaldulensis (E. cam) were grown in acidic (pH 4.2) solution culture medium. Half of the plants in each species were subjected to Al toxicity (160 μM {Al 3+ }) for 31 days, and the effects of this stress on root and shoot growth, uptake of Ca, K, P, Fe and Al, and leaf area were studied at intervals. In comparison to M. caj, E. cam was less tolerant to Al toxicity and exhibited symptoms of leaf necrosis after the first 10 days of exposure. The dry mass of various plant parts of E. cam increased during the pre-necrotic period and declined significantly in the post-necrotic period in response to Al toxicity. Al toxicity significantly reduced the Ca, Fe, P and K concentration in the roots of E. cam; the effect was more severe in the post-necrotic period compared with the pre-necrotic period. Although the shoot and roots of the Al-tolerant M. caj accumulated more Al, growth and mineral concentration in these organs were less affected in comparison to the sensitive E. cam. In the post-necrotic period, leaf area and number and chlorophyll concentration were reduced and peroxidation of lipid increased significantly in the newly developing leaves of Al-stressed E. cam. The mechanism of Al induced stress influence on E. cam has been discussed in the context of growth promotion due to relief from proton-induced stress in the pre-necrotic period and reduction of growth due to membrane damage in the post-necrotic period.