Dissecting the meteorological and genetic factors affecting rice grain quality in Northeast China

Background The Northeast Plain of China, which is an important region for the production of high grain quality rice in China. However, the grain quality of the rice produced varies across this region, even for the same cultivar. Objective In order to explore the meteorological factors that have the greatest influence on quality and the transcriptional level differences between different cultivars and different locations at grain filling stage. Methods We grew eight rice cultivars in three locations in Northeast China during two growing seasons (2017 and 2018). We recorded meteorological conditions, including air temperature, air temperature range, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) during the grain-filling stage of each cultivar, and analyzed the grain quality of those eight cultivars. Results Across all eight cultivars, meteorological factors had a stronger effect on eating quality than genotype, while genotype had a stronger effect on milling quality. Of the three environmental factors assessed, PAR was significantly correlated with the most grain quality traits. Using RNA-sequencing analysis, we identified 573 environment-specific DEGs (Differentially Expressed Genes), and 119 genotype-specific DEGs; 11 DEGs were responsive to genotype × environment interactions. These DEGs were involved in many key metabolic processes. Conclusion Our results indicated that interactions among environmental factors, especially PAR, affected rice quality in Northeast China. Further analyses of the DEGs identified herein may provide useful information for future breeding programs aiming to develop high grain quality rice varieties suitable for cultivation across Northeast China.