Grain Filling Characteristics and Their Relations with Endogenous Hormones in Large- and Small-Grain Mutants of Rice

PLoS One. 2016 Oct 25;11(10):e0165321. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165321. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

This study determined if the variation in grain filling parameters between two different spikelet types of rice (Oryza sativa L.) is regulated by the hormonal levels in the grains. Two rice mutants, namely, a large-grain mutant (AZU-M) and a small-grain mutant (ZF802-M), and their respective wild types (AZU-WT and ZF802-WT) were grown in the field. The endosperm cell division rate, filling rate, and hormonal levels: zeatin + zeatin riboside (Z+ZR), indo-3-acetic acid (IAA), polyamines (PAs), and abscisic acid (ABA) were determined. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the filling and endosperm cell division rates. These rates were synchronous between the superior and inferior spikelets for both mutants. However, the abovementioned parameters were significantly different between the two spikelet types for the two wild types. The superior spikelets filled faster and their filling rate was higher compared to the inferior ones. Changes in the concentrations of plant hormones were consistent with the observed endosperm cell division rate and the filling rate for both types of spikelets of mutant and wild type plants. Regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation between cell division and filling rates with the concentrations of the investigated hormones. Exogenous chemical application verified the role of ABA, IAA, and PAs in grain filling. The results indicate that poor filling of inferior spikelets in rice occurs primarily due to the reduced hormone concentrations therein, leading to lower division rate of endosperm cells, fewer endosperm cells, slower filling rate, and smaller grain weight.

MeSH terms

  • Abscisic Acid / analysis
  • Abscisic Acid / isolation & purification
  • Edible Grain / growth & development
  • Edible Grain / metabolism
  • Endosperm / drug effects
  • Endosperm / metabolism
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Mitoguazone / pharmacology
  • Oryza / growth & development
  • Oryza / metabolism*
  • Plant Growth Regulators / analysis*
  • Plant Growth Regulators / isolation & purification
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / growth & development
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / metabolism
  • Polyamines / analysis
  • Polyamines / isolation & purification
  • Putrescine / pharmacology
  • Spermidine / pharmacology
  • Zeatin / analysis
  • Zeatin / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Plant Growth Regulators
  • Polyamines
  • Abscisic Acid
  • Zeatin
  • Mitoguazone
  • Spermidine
  • Putrescine

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Basic Research Program (973 Program, 2015CB150404; 2012CB114306), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31271641; 31201155; 31371562; 31471438; 31461143105), the National Key Technology Support Program of China (2011BAD16B14; 2012BAD04B08; 2014AA10A605), the Ph.D. Programs Foundation of Ministry of Education of China (20123250120001), Top Talent Support Plan of Yangzhou University, Shenzhen Overseas Talents Innovation & Entrepreneurship Funding Scheme (The Peacock Scheme), the Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (15KJA210005), and the Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.