High nitrogen （N） input features China＇s intensive rice production system. To elucidate N and genotype effects on accumulation of macronutrients and micronutrients in grains of japonica rice, and to discuss its significance in rice production, a three-year field experiment involving six japonica rice varieties and seven N treatments were performed. Macronutrients （Ca, Mg, K, and Na） and micronutrients （Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn） concentrations in brown and milled rice were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. For macronutrients, no consistently significant effect of N was detected in both brown and milled rice. For micronutrients, N showed significant effect, especially in lowering Zn accumulation in brown and milled rice. In addition, N tended to increase Fe concentration in milled rice. Genotype showed larger effect on distribution of minerals in milled rice than N. The high-yielding variety, Wuyunjing 7, accumulated larger proportion of Mg, K, and Zn in the milled rice as compared with the other five varieties and could be of value for rice breeding programs aiming at high nutritional quality. The results demonstrated differences in response to N between macronutrients and micronutrients, and are of significance for coping with ＇hidden hunger＇ both in humans and crops through agronomical practices.
LIN Zhao-miaoNING Hui-fengBI Jun-guoQIAO Jiang-fangLIU Zheng-huiLI Gang-huaWANG Qiang-shengWANG Shao-huaDING Yan-feng
This study aims to investigate the variation in occurrence of white-belly rice kernel（WBRK） and white-core rice kernel（WCRK） among different positions within a panicle. Twenty-four M4 mutants involved in four panicle types, namely the compact, intermediate, loose, and chicken foot panicle were used. They derived from a japonica rice cultivar Wuyujing 3. Considerable differences in morphological characters existed among the four types of panicle, especially in panicle length, the secondary branch number and ratio of grain number to total branch length. Marked differences were found in WBRK and WCRK among different positions within a panicle for all types of panicle. In general, grains located on the primary rachis and top rachis branches had higher WBRK and WCRK percentage than those on the secondary rachis and bottom rachis branches. WCRK exhibited larger variation among grain positions than WBRK did. Moreover, there was a significant difference in WCRK/WBRK among grain positions within a panicle, with primary rachis and top rachis branches having higher values than the secondary and bottom rachis. In addition, panicle type showed no significant effect on the pattern of WBRK and WCRK occurrence within a panicle. The results indicated the difference in mechanism of WBRK and WCRK formation in grain position within a panicle, and are valuable for breeding and agronomic practices aimed at lowering chalky grain rate.
Northeast of China and Jiangsu Province are major production areas of japonica rice in China.Rice from northeast of China is well-known for its good-eating and appearance quality,and that from Jiangsu Province is viewed as inferior.However,little is known concerning the difference in physicochemical and sensory properties of rice between the major two production areas.Analysis of 16 commercial rice samples showed marked differences in physicochemical properties,including chalky grain rate,contents of amylose and protein and pasting properties between the two main areas.Northeastern rice contained more shortchain amylopectin as compared with Jiangsu rice.However,Jiangsu rice is comparable to northeastern rice in terms of sensory quality including overall acceptability and textural properties of springiness,stickiness and hardness as evaluated by trained panel.Our results indicated the limitation of conventional index of physicochemical properties,and suggested the necessity of identification of new factors controlling rice sensory property.In addition,the taste analyzer from Japan demonstrates limitation in distinguishing the differences between northeastern and Jiangsu rice,and therefore needs localization to fit China.
YANG Xiao-yuLIN Zhao-miaoLIU Zheng-huiMd A AlimBI Jun-guoLI Gang-huaWANG Qiang-shengWANG Shao-huaDING Yan-feng
