• Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.75-82
• /
• 2008

Functional stay-green is a beneficial trait that may increase grain yield through the sustained photosynthetic competence during monocarpic senescence in cereal crops. The temporal changes of photosynthesis and related characteristics throughout the grain filling period of a stay-green japonica rice "SNU-SG1" was compared in growth chamber conditions with three high-yielding cultivars(HYVs) and their $F_1$ hybrids with SNU-SG1. SNU-SG1 exhibited a typical characteristic of functional stay-green in terms of chlorophyll degradation and photosynthetic competence during grain filling. According to the photosynthesis-light response curve measured at 10 and 35 d after heading for the flag leaf, SNU-SG1 exhibited higher initial light conversion efficiency and thus higher gross photosynthetic rate at light saturation compared to HYVs. Light saturation point was not different among genotypes, ranging from 1000 to 1500 ${\mu}mol$ photon $m^{-2}s^{-1}$. Net photosynthetic rate at light saturation($P_{max}$) of the upper four leaves in SNU-SG1 was much higher and sustained longer throughout grain-filling than HYVs and $F_1$ hybrids. The sustained high photosynthetic competence of SNU-SG1 during grain filling was ascribed to the longer maintenance of high mesophyll conductance that resulted from not only high chlorophyll content and its delayed degradation but also the slow degeneration of photosystem II(PS II) as judged by chlorophyll fluorescence($F_v/F_m$) of flag leaves. $F_1$ hybrids showed slow degeneration of photosystem II similar to the male parent SNU-SG1 while chlorophyll degradation pattern close to female parents, thus exhibiting a little higher $P_{max}$ than female parents. These results suggest that SNU-SG1 has a typical functional stay-green trait that can be utilized for increasing rice yield potential through the improved dry matter production during grain filling.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.216-223
• /
• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the varietal differences in leaf senescence and the relationship between leaf senescence and photosynthesis during ripening stage of rice. During grain filling period, leaf senescence was evaluated by SPAD readings (an indirect indicator of chlorophyll content) for 3 rice varieties (SNU-SG1, Hwaseongbyeo, Nampungbyeo). SPAD value of flag leaf and 2nd leaf of SNU-SG1 were much higher than the other varieties and the leaves of SNU-SG1 also showed a tendency of delayed senescence as compared to the other varieties. Photosynthesis at light saturation (Pmax) of flag, 2nd and 3rd leaf in SNU-SG1 during grain filling period were much higher than Hwaseongbyeo and Nampungbyeo. The Pmax of the flag leaf in SNU-SG1 was especially higher over 20% than the other varieties. It was due to its higher mesophyll conductance and stomatal conductance as compared to the other varieties. Pmax, stomatal conductance and mesophyll conductance had positive correlation with SPAD value and nitrogen concentration of leaves. In conclusion, the stay green characteristics of SNU-SG1 would contribute to increasing the grain yield through the improved photosynthesis during grain filling.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.83-94
• /
• 2007

During monocarpic senescence in higher plants, functional stay-green delays leaf yellowing, maintaining photosynthetic competence, whereas nonfunctional stay-green retains leaf greenness without sustaining photosynthetic activity. Thus, functional stay-green is considered a beneficial trait that can increase grain yield in cereal crops. A stay-green japonica rice 'SNU-SG1' had a good seed-setting rate and grain yield, indicating the presence of a functional stay-green genotype. SNU-SG1 was crossed with two regular cultivars to determine the inheritance mode and identify major QTLs conferring stay-green in SNU-SG1. For QTL analysis, linkage maps with 100 and 116 DNA marker loci were constructed using selective genotyping with $F_2$ and RIL (recombinant inbred line) populations, respectively. Molecular marker-based QTL analyses with both populations revealed that the functional stay-green phenotype of SNU-SG1 is regulated by several major QTLs accounting for a large portion of the genetic variation. Three main-effect QTLs located on chromosomes 7 and 9 were detected in both populations and a number of epistatic-effect QTLs were also found. The amount of variation explained by several digenic interactions was larger than that explained by main-effect QTLs. Two main-effect QTLs on chromosome 9 can be considered the target loci that most influence the functional stay-green in SNU-SG1. The functional stay-green QTLs may help develop low-input high-yielding rice cultivars by QTL-marker-assisted breeding with SNU-SG1.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.224-231
• /
• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the varietal differences in leaf senescence during ripening stage and its relation to grain yield of rice. During grain filling period leaf senescence was evaluated by SPAD readings (an indirect indicator of chlorophyll content) for 74 varieties including local, improved domestic, and introduced varieties in the field condition. Leaf senescence was varied greatly among 74 varieties. Jodongji and Dadajo known as local rice varieties had significantly lower SPAD value than the other varieties and became senescent rapidly. However, SPAD value of the flag leaf and 2nd leaf of SNU-SG1 were much higher than the other varieties and leaves of SNU-SG1 also showed a tendency of delayed senescence compared to the other varieties. There were significantly positive correlation between cumulated SPAD value of upper leaf(flag leaf and 2nd leaf) during 35 days after heading and grain yield divided by sunshine hour during 40 days of grain filling and compensated for temperature effect, and cumulated SPAD value of the 4th leaf showed negative correlation with the yield. That is, the delayed senescence of the upper leaves and the rapid senescence of lower leaves were positively associated with grain yield increase.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.149-160
• /
• 2014

Plant breeders have focused on improving plant architecture as an effective means to increase crop yield. Here, we identify the main-effect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for plant shape-related traits in rice (Oryza sativa) and find candidate genes by applying whole genome re-sequencing of two parental cultivars using next-generation sequencing. To identify QTLs influencing plant shape, we analyzed six traits: plant height, tiller number, panicle diameter, panicle length, flag leaf length, and flag leaf width. We performed QTL analysis with 178 $F_7$ recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from a cross of japonica rice line 'SNU-SG1' and indica rice line 'Milyang23'. Using 131 molecular markers, including 28 insertion/deletion markers, we identified 11 main- and 16 minor-effect QTLs for the six traits with a threshold LOD value > 2.8. Our sequence analysis identified fifty-four candidate genes for the main-effect QTLs. By further comparison of coding sequences and meta-expression profiles between japonica and indica rice varieties, we finally chose 15 strong candidate genes for the 11 main-effect QTLs. Our study shows that the whole-genome sequence data substantially enhanced the efficiency of polymorphic marker development for QTL fine-mapping and the identification of possible candidate genes. This yields useful genetic resources for breeding high-yielding rice cultivars with improved plant architecture.