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The relay intercropping system for cultivating direct-seeding rice and winter cereal is a low-cost method particularly for double cropping, because it eliminates the steps of raising seedlings, paddling, and transplanting. However, in this system, the seedling establishment rate (SER) of rice is low and unstable. The objective of this study was to identify the factors affecting SER to highlight the ways to improve SER. Experiments were conducted in experimental fields in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture in 2015 and 2016. To determine the time of rice seed death and to calculate seed survival rates, ‘Akidawara’ seeds were embedded in soil (depth: 3 cm) and dug up after defined periods. We then analyzed the correlation between SER and meteorological factors at two sites (Ibaraki Prefecture and Gunma Prefecture) over the same two years. Based on mean air temperature (MT), we divided the period from seeding to June 20 (when irrigation had been initiated in almost all the fields) into four phases. In Phase 1, the number of days with rainfall (≥5 mm) and soil-wetting days (water potential ≥ −100 kPa) were significantly and negatively correlated with SER. We found that most of the seed deaths occurred after germination, and the germination rates were presumably affected by water absorption during the low temperature phase. Further investigations are needed to understand the occurrences during the seedling emergence period. This study contributes to a better understanding of the factors affecting variations in the SER of direct-seeded rice grown in the relay-intercropping system. List of Abbreviations: DSR: direct-seeded rice; SER: seedling establishment rate; TT: thiuram treatment; SSR: seed survival rate; DS: dead seeds; AGS: already germinated seeds; DSRI: direct-seeding of rice in the inter-row spaces of winter cereals; VWC: volume water content; WP: water potential

We investigated changes in the developmental duration of rice cultivars with a wide range of maturities in response to late planting. Elucidating the relationship between cropping season and the progress of growth stages is important for establishing direct-seeded cultivation and creating growth models. Late planting of the intermediate to late maturing cultivars Akidawara and Hoshijirushi decreased the time from emergence to panicle formation and decreased the cumulative effective temperature (CET) and cumulative effective soil temperature (CEST). In the very early maturing cultivars Ichibanboshi and Fusakogane, the changes in number of days, CET, and CEST from emergence to panicle formation with late planting were small. From emergence to heading and maturity, the number of days, CET, and CEST of many cultivars tended to increase until mid-May and then decreased. The changes in the number of days, CET, and CEST caused by late planting were greater for the intermediate to late maturing cultivars than for the very early maturing cultivars. The differences between cultivars were greatest with early May sowing, and then decreased with later planting. Short-day condition revealed significant differences in the duration of vegetative growth and CET among cultivars, but long-day condition erased these differences. These results demonstrate that the photosensitivity and thermosensitivity of cultivars are especially important in crop planning and for creating growth models of direct-seeded rice.

Growth, yield and quality of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in a rotational paddy field were compared with those in an upland field. In the rotational paddy field the growth was significantly suppressed and the seed and oil yields were significantly lower than those in the upland field. In the maturing period, oil accumulated in seeds until about 25 d after flowering (DAF) in both fields, but less in the rotational paddy field than in the upland field. Differences in oil contents (per seed) between the fields were seen from about 25 DAF onward. The fatty acid in seeds changed with maturing of plants. In mid-oleic hybrids, oleic acid increased remarkably until about 25 DAF and then decreased slightly; linoleic acid content decreased until about 14 DAF and then tended to increase. In linoleic acid hybrids, oleic acid increased until about 14 DAF and then decreased; the linoleic acid content tended to be low until about 14 DAF and then increased. Although the temporal patterns of fatty acid compositions during seed maturation were similar in both fields, the oleic acid content tended to be lower in the rotational paddy field even under the same climatic conditions and ripening periods. The differences between the fields were seen clearly from around 25 DAF. We discuss our findings with regard to physiological changes in developing seeds and the effects of high or changeable soil moisture content on sunflower growth and quality.

We examined 50 cultivars of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) for their resistance to birds in a field experiment to find parental plants for breeding. Two cultivars, Armarvirskij3497 (from Russia) and Line-41 (from Myanmar), had bird-resistant characteristics. The laboratory bird feeding test indicated that the factors associated with bird resistance were globular seed shape and heavy seed coat, because the main bird feeding on sunflower, oriental greenfinch Carduelis sinica, is relatively small and have difficulty pecking large and globular seeds. Although the two cultivars had unfavorable characters such as low tolerance to lodging and late maturity, the oil contents of their seeds was not significantly lower than that in the susceptible cultivar (63M80). The present findings suggest that Armarvirskij3497 and Line-41 are candidate parental materials for breeding bird-resistant sunflower cultivars without losing seed oil productivity.

Sunflower, a major edible oil crop producing a high-quality and healthful oil for human consumption and also recycled for use as feedstock to produce biodiesel fuel, is recently being cultivated in rotation with rice in the paddy field. The oil of cultivars with a high oleic acid content has higher oxidation stability and better nutritional properties than the standard cultivars, which have a high linoleic acid content. In this study, we evaluated the effects of excess water on plant growth, seed yield, and oil quality. Seed yield, the major yield components, the oleic acid content and the total oil content were negatively affected by a shallow water table. In particular, waterlogging at the establishment stage decreased the growth and seed yield severely. In addition, waterlogging during the flowering and maturation stages tended to decrease the oleic acid content and to increase the linoleic acid content. These results will be useful for improving management practices to increase the seed yield and improve the oil quality of sunflower in rotation with upland paddy rice.

Double-low rapeseed cultivars that produce no erucic acid and have only a small amount of glucosinolates are widely used. However, the roots in mature plant residue and leaves and roots of these seedlings still contain a large amount of biologically active glucosinolates, and it is important to clarify the effect of rapeseed cultivation on the subsequent crops. We analyzed the biological activities of the tissues of double-low cultivar at harvest. The laboratory bioassays revealed that the seeds and roots of mature rapeseed plants contained some autotoxic components that were volatile and water-soluble. We also analyzed the effects of root exudates from growing rapeseed plants on rapeseed germination and growth using the stair-step method and found that the root exudates were autotoxic. In the field, we investigated the allelopathic effects of rapeseed plants on the growth, yield, and quality of the subsequent sunflower plant in the same field. The growth, yield and thousand kernel weight of sunflower were reduced by the preceding cultivation of rapeseed. There were many spontaneously germinated juvenile rapeseed plants in the sunflower field preceded by rapeseed cultivation. Analysis of the plant and soil nitrogen (N) indicated that the growth reduction of sunflower was not caused by the competition for N with the spontaneously germinated juvenile rapeseed plants. The main factors responsible for poor sunflower growth under field after the cultivation of rapeseed were suggested to be some non-volatile, water-soluble components produced by the roots of the spontaneously germinated juvenile rapeseed.

In crop rotations that include rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), the growth of the crops following rapeseed is sometimes inhibited. The aim of this study was to assess the role of glucosinolates (GSLs) in the inhibitory effect. Three cultivars with zero erucic acid content (Asakano-natane, Kizakino-natane, Nanashikibu: single-low cultivars) and one cultivar with zero erucic acid and low GSL contents (Kirariboshi: double-low cultivar) were grown. The GSL contents differed greatly depending on plant part, stage of development, and cultivar. Progoitrin and gluconapin were detected mainly in the seeds of the single-low cultivars. Their contents either did not change or increased slightly during the reproductive stage. The double-low cultivar Kirariboshi contained almost none of either progoitrin or gluconapin in any part during the reproductive stage. Glucobrassicanapin, glucobrassicin, and gluconasturtiin were detected, mainly in the roots, of all four cultivars, and tended either to decrease or to remain steady as plants matured. Dense stands of rapeseed seedlings that had germinated from seeds dropped at harvest grew together with the subsequent crop. The GSL contents in the leaves and roots of these seedlings were high. These results suggest that the GSLs in the seeds of single-low cultivars, in the roots of both types at harvest, and in the leaves and roots of volunteer seedlings are the candidate cause of the generally observed phenomenon of inhibited growth of the crop following rapeseed.

The lignans, e.g., sesamin and sesamolin, are components of the functional food sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seed. This study aims to clarify the effects of environmental factors during ripening on the concentrations of these lignans to produce lignan-rich seeds. Here, we examined the effects of 4 factors (seeding time, day length, air and soil temperatures). The concentrations of sesamin and sesamolin in the seed from the capsule at different nodes on the stem were monitored using the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A low air-temperature (22/15°C) during ripening increased the concentrations in the seed at the full-ripe stage of individual capsules compared with a high air-temperature (30/23°C). A short day-length (10-hr) and high soil-temperature did not affect the concentrations. The concentrations showed a tendency to increase with delay of seeding time. Under natural air-temperature conditions, the concentrations in the seeds from the capsules at a higher position on the stem were higher than those at a lower position, mainly due to the air temperature during ripening. The contents per seed were affected by the environmental factors through the difference in seed weight. The concentrations increased with the increase in seed dry weight and decreased with the desiccation of seeds during maturity. Under a low air-temperature condition, the rate of decrease in sesamin concentration was low, the accumulation period was longer and the maximum concentration of sesamolin was higher, resulting in higher contents of these lignans.

Conventional seedling mats for rice transplanters in Japan are heavy to carry, and much labor is required to collect, wash and store the nursery boxes. In addition, seeding time overlaps with the labor peak in spring. To reduce such labor, we developed a “seed-mat” consisting of hardened rice seeds (Oryza sativa L.) glued onto a molded rice-hull mat with a cover of soil glued on. Seed hardening, which is done by soaking seeds in water at 15ºC for 5 d followed by drying, and heating of the seeds at 50ºC for 5 or 7 d, reduced the time to 50% germination (T50). In dormant seeds, the heating before the hardening enhanced the effect of the hardening more than the heating after the hardening. Seed hardening increased the dry weight of the shoots from the seed-mats. Covering the mat with soil also increased the percentage of seedling emergence, shoot length, number of leaves and shoot dry weight of the seed-mats. The hardened seeds maintained short T50 and 95% or higher germination for 120 d at room temperature. In the seed-mat, the hardened seeds maintained 95% or higher seedling emergence for 208 d. In conclusion, superior seed-mats could be produced using the procedure involving both seed hardening and cover of soil. The seed-mats can be prepared in winter and stored until seedling-raising period in spring. By the seed-mats, seedling mats can be prepared for the rice transplanter without using nursery boxes, which take up storage space and require much labor.

The effects of day length and air temperature on the growth and flowering of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) were examined to analyze the effect of seeding date on the seed yield. Short day (10-h light/14-h darkness) treatment decreased the final stem-length relative to natural day length (14.1∼13.4-h), although it hardly affected the length of the stem-elongation period. The short-day treatment shortened the duration to the first flower and lowered the first flowering-node. It prolonged the flowering period, but decreased the flowering-node number on the main stem resulting from the slower rate of increase in nodes with flowers. Under a low day/night temperature condition (23/18ºC), the stem growth was very slow and flowering did not occur. As compared with a high temperature (30/23ºC), a low temperature (22/15ºC) during 15 days after emergence suppressed the seedling growth temporarily, but the seedlings resumed growth after the temperature treatment. The growth and flowering behavior after the treatment were unaffected by a low temperature during the seedling stage. On the other hand, a low temperature during the flowering period decreased the flowering-node number resulting from the slower rate of increase in nodes with flowers, although it prolonged the flowering period. In this study, the decrease in the flowering-node number by short days and low temperature was smaller than that by delay of seeding date as observed in our previous study. Thus, the effects of day length and air temperature were not the sole factors responsible for the effect of seeding date on the flowering-node number.

Perilla (Lamiaceae) contains one tetraploid species, P. frutescens (L.) Britt. and three diploid species, P. citriodora (Makino) Nakai, P. hirtella Nakai and P. setoyensis G. Honda. Tetraploid species have been traditionally cultivated in Asia for their seed oil and for their fragrant leaves that are used as medicine or as a garnish for fish. The center of diversity is still obscure. To conserve the genetic resources, it is important to know the diversity of the tetraploid species. The three diploid species, which are possible parents of the tetraploid species, are all believed to be indigenous to Japan. Their distribution in China and Korea was clarified on the basis of herbarium and field surveys. The tetraploid species is assumed to have originated somewhere around the mid-to downstream area of the Changjiang River. Though Perilla is not cultivated as often in these areas as in northern China, Korea, the Himalayan region, or Myanmar, these areas should also be important for the conservation of genetic resources of tetraploid Perilla crops because of the expected high genetic diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]