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The remobilization of non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) in the stem is essential for rice grain filling so as to improve grain yield. We conducted a two-year field experiment to deeply investigate their relationship. Two large-panicle rice varieties with similar spikelet size, CJ03 and W1844, were used to conduct two treatments (removing-spikelet group and control group). Compared to CJ03, W1844 had higher 1000-grain weight, especially for the grain growth of inferior spikelets (IS) after removing the spikelet. These results were mainly ascribed to the stronger sink strength of W1844 than that of CJ03 contrasting in the same group. The remobilization efficiency of NSC in the stem decreased significantly after removing the spikelet for both CJ03 and W1844, and the level of sugar signaling in the T6P-SnRK1 pathway was also significantly changed. However, W1844 outperformed CJ03 in terms of the efficiency of carbon reserve remobilization under the same treatments. More precisely, there was a significant difference during the early grain-filling stage in terms of the conversion of sucrose and starch. Interestingly, the sugar signaling of the T6P and SnRK1 pathways also represented an obvious change. Hence, sugar signaling may be promoted by sink strength to remobilize the NSCs of the rice stem during grain filling to further advance crop yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain chalkiness is a key quality trait of the rice grain, whereas its underlying mechanism is still not thoroughly understood because of the complex genetic and environmental interactions. We identified a notched-belly (NB) mutant that has a notched-line on the belly of grains. The line dissects the endosperm into two distinct parts, the upper translucent part, and the bottom chalky part in the vicinity of the embryo. Using this mutant, our previous studies clued the negative influence of embryo on the biochemical makeup of the endosperm, suggesting the need for the in-depth study of the embryo effect on the metabolome of developing endosperm. This study continued to use the NB mutant to evolve a novel comparison method to clarify the role of embryo in the formation of a chalky endosperm. Grain samples of the wild-type (WT) and NB were harvested at 10, 20, and 30 days after fertilization (DAF), and then divided into subsamples of the embryo, the upper endosperm, and the bottom endosperm. Using non-targeted metabolomics and whole-genome RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), a nearly complete catalog of expressed metabolites and genes was generated. Results showed that the embryo impaired the storage of sucrose, amino acid, starch, and storage proteins in the bottom endosperm of NB by enhancing the expression of sugar, amino acids, and peptide transporters, and declining the expression of starch, prolamin, and glutelin synthesis-related genes. Importantly, the competitive advantage of the developing embryo in extracting the nutrients from the endosperm, transformed the bottom endosperm into an "exhaustive source" by diverting the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) metabolism from synthetic storage to secondary pathways, resulting in impaired filling of the bottom endosperm and subsequently the formation of chalky tissue. In summary, this study reveals that embryo-induced metabolic shift in the endosperm is associated with the occurrence of grain chalkiness, which is of relevance to the development of high-quality rice by balancing the embryo–endosperm interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study examined the effect of wheat pearling on distribution of phytase, phytic acid, iron, and zinc in wheat fractions derived from pearling and roller milling. Grains of four wheat varieties were first pearled by a rice polisher at four levels, i.e. non-pearling (unpearled), 5% pearling (∼5% of the original sample weight was pearled), 10% pearling, and 15% pearling, to produce pearling fines (PF) and pearled grains. The unpearled and pearled grains were then milled through a Bühler MLU-202 laboratory mill, producing eight milling fractions. Results showed that pearling had a positive effect on flour yield, which may be attributed to the reduced yield of coarse bran and the improved yield of first and second reduction fractions. PF had high levels of all the four components, indicating that they could be a valuable source of iron and zinc. In addition, the differences between flours from the pearled and unpearled wheat were slight in terms of these four components. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Climate change threatens rice production by increasing the frequency of extreme temperatures during grain-filling stage (T GF). Nitrogen application can significantly affect rice yield and quality. However, the effects of interaction between T GF and nitrogen application rate on yield and quality of rice remains unclear. The objectives of this study were to comprehensively evaluate the quantitative regulatory mechanism between T GF and nitrogen application rate on rice yield and quality formation. A two-year field experiment with three varieties, five sowing dates, and three nitrogen application rates was conducted at four ecological sites in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China in 2019 and 2020. Grain yield, milling, appearance, and eating quality were quantified for each treatment. This study demonstrated that T GF varied from 17.8 ℃ to 31.4 ℃ in different sites and sowing dates and decreased by an average of 2.1 ℃ for every 15 days the sowing date was delayed. The grain yield, head rice rate, chalky grain rate, chalkiness and taste value were all related to T GF through a quadratic function. The optimum T GF for both yield and quality of indica hybrid rice was 24.2–26.5 ℃. In terms of grain yield, nitrogen agronomic efficiency increased linearly with T GF , and nitrogen application could only confer a small increase in yield or even reduce yield under extreme low T GF. Nitrogen application alleviated the adverse effects of high T GF on rice quality, but exacerbated the deterioration of quality under low T GF. For milling and appearance quality and eating quality, the critical T GF leading to such opposite regulatory effect were identified as 23.4 ± 0.4 ℃ and 29.5 ± 0.5 ℃, respectively. The variations of the ratio of amylopectin to amylose and protein content altered texture and starch gelatinization properties, mainly explaining the differences in eating quality caused by T GF and nitrogen application rate. The present study suggests that T GF should be considered when formulating nitrogen management strategies for high-quality rice, which is crucial for alleviating the deterioration of rice quality caused by extreme T GF under global climate change. [Display omitted] • The optimum temperature during grain filling stage (T GF) for indica hybrid rice was 24.2–26.5 ℃. • Nitrogen agronomic efficiency was significantly positively correlated with T GF. • Nitrogen application could alleviate the adverse effects of high T GF on rice quality. • Nitrogen application exacerbated the deterioration of quality under low T GF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the effect of nitrogen on amino acid composition of leaf and grain for japonica rice during the grain filling stage, using pot experiments with three N rate treatments. Dynamic changes of free amino acids (FAA) and protein amino acids (PAA) in leaves and grains were monitored. Results showed that FAA in leaves decreased with the progress of grain filling. FAA in grains increased at first 14 days after anthesis and then decreased to a nearly constant level. PAA in leaves showed a diminishing trend as leaf senesced after anthesis. Conversely, PAA in grain exhibited an increasing trend with the progress of grain filling. N had significantly positive effect on contents of FAA and PAA in leaves and grains. There was no obvious trend of the variation of FAA in leaves and grains with N rates. PAA in leaves was more sensitive to N fertilization. By contrast, PAA in grains was more stable across N rates, especially at the late stage of grain filling. In addition, composition of leaf PAA was different from that of grain, indicating the reconstruction of amino acids during the process of translocation of N compounds from leaves to grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We investigated the dynamics of internode dry matter (DM) from 21 days before anthesis to maturity for japonica rice. • We found a sharp reduction of internode DM between 20 and 30 days after anthesis (DAA). • Non-structural carbohydrates in internodes were significantly remobilized between 20–30 DAA. • A marked increase in internode DM at maturity was detected. • Internode DM can be viewed as an integrative index for source-sink balance. Storage of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in internode parenchyma before anthesis functions as a major carbon source for rice grain filling. In this study, two-year field and pot experiments with three japonica cultivars and two nitrogen (N) fertilization modes were performed, and dynamics of dry matter (DM) in internodes were quantified from 21 day before anthesis (DBA) to 60 day after anthesis (DAA; maturity). Results showed that in comparison to leaves and sheaths, DM in internodes varied dramatically, with a clear pattern of increasing at 21 DBA, peaking at 10 DAA, then dramatically dropping until 20 or 30 DAA, and finally refilling at maturity. The sharp reduction of dry matter in the internodes corresponded with the fastest rate of grain filling, indicating the importance of internode reserves for yield formation. On the other hand, the high rate of refilling in internodes at late stage implies the excess production of leaf photosynthetic assimilates. Similarly, starch content in internodes showed a pattern of decreasing at 20–30 DAA. To clarify the indicative meaning of internode reserves, we calculated their remobilization rate at 20 DAA and refilling rate at 60 DAA. Genotypic variations existed for the three cultivars, with a range of 15.17 %–36.37 % for remobilization rate and 54.36 %–104.33 % for refilling rates in 2018. Overall, N topdressing significantly increased the translocation of internode reserves for all three cultivars. Furthermore, our calculation showed that only about 10 % of the grain yield was formed during the second month of rice grain filling, indicating this period is less important for grain yield. Our findings help to clarify the significance of internode DM dynamics for rice management and should be beneficial to enhance our knowledge of source and sink relations, the fundamental component of crop yield formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]