Effects of Growth Retardants on Lodging-related Traits in Direct Seeded Rice on Flooded Paddy Surface

This study examined the effects of growth retardants and midsummer drainage on lodging-related characters in direct seeding rice culture on flooded paddy surfaces. Treatments included in this study were continuous flooding, two time midsummer drainages (TTD), and inabenfide or trinexapac-ethyl application after TTD. Culm length was reduced most by 11.4cm in trinexapac-ethyl treatment after TTD, followed by 4.1cm in inabenfide treatment after TTD compared to TTD treatment. A significant reduction in culm length occurred at the 3rd internode in inabenfide treatment applied at 40 days before heading (DBH), while trinexapac-ethyl application at 8 DBH reduced the 3rd>2nd>1st internode. The culm diameter of the 4th internode was increased by the application of trinexapac-ethyl following TTD compared to TTD treatment. Thickness of culm wall was significantly increased by trinexapac-ethyl but not by inabenfide applications. Lodging index was the highest in continuous flooding and the lowest in trinexapac-ethyl treatment after TTD. Subsequently, field lodging did not occur in plots treated by trinexapac-ethyl. Rice plants subjected to midsummer drainage or growth retardants showed higher ripened grain ratio and 1000-grain weight, resulting in higher rice yield. These results indicate that trinexapac-ethyl, which can be applied at the relatively later growth stage after proper judgement of lodging occurrence, could be a useful tool for reducing lodging in direct seeding rice culture on flooded paddy fields.