Soil salinity threatens crop yields, but the molecular basis of crop tolerance to salt stress remain not fully understood currently. This study establish OsWRKY72 enhances salt tolerance in rice via SKC1-mediated Na+ regulation. As a group IIc WRKY transcription factor, OsWRKY72 does not possess canonical transcriptional activation domains, and demonstrates nucleus-specific localization. RT-qPCR analysis revealed that OsWRKY72 was expressed in the roots, leaves, leaf sheaths and panicles​​ of rice, and its expression was induced by salt stress in most rice varieties. Promoter analysis combined with RT–qPCR data indicates OsWRKY72 is involved in various abiotic stress response processes, including salt, ABA, and drought. The oswrky72 mutant exhibited heightened salt sensitivity, evidenced by reduced biomass, chlorophyll content, and lower K+/Na+ in shoots under salinity compared to wild-type (WT). Mechanistically, OsWRKY72 directly binds the W-box in the SKC1 promoter to regulate Na+ transport, as demonstrated by promoter binding and ion content analyses. These findings not only establish OsWRKY72 as a pivotal transcriptional regulator in rice salt tolerance but also provide a theoretical foundation for the molecular genetic breeding of salt-tolerant rice.

Rice, as a vital food crop, faces persistent challenges in breeding programs aimed at achieving stable high yield under environmental stresses due to intrinsic trade-off mechanisms. This study functionally characterizes NARROW AND LONGER GRAIN 14 (NLG14), which encodes a spermine synthase. Loss-of-function nlg14 mutants exhibit slender grains due to enhanced cell expansion and proliferation, alongside significantly improved grain quality-manifested as reduced chalkiness, lower amylose/protein content, higher gel consistency, and superior taste value. These improvements correlate with decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and programmed cell death (PCD) in developing endosperm. Crucially, nlg14 confers enhanced salt tolerance by elevating the K+/Na+ ratio and antioxidant enzyme activities. Mechanistically, disrupted spermine biosynthesis in nlg14 redirects metabolic flux toward ethylene synthesis, activating ethylene signaling to enhance ROS scavenging and ion homeostasis. Furthermore, the transcription factor OsMYB2 directly binds to the promoter of NLG14 and represses its expression via the abscisic acid (ABA) pathway. Haplotype analysis identifies natural NLG14 variants (Class A) associated with longer grains, improved quality, and higher salt tolerance, demonstrating breeding potential. Collectively, NLG14 integrates grain morphology, quality, and stress adaptation through polyamine-ethylene-ABA crosstalk. Our results provide useful gene and germplasm resources for rice molecular breeding and shed insights for understanding yield and salt tolerance trade-off mechanisms.

Salt stress poses a severe threat to global rice productivity, and developing salt-tolerant cultivars represents a critical strategy to address this challenge. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying salt tolerance in rice remain elusive. This study focuses on NGY1, a crossbred offspring between YF47 and SN9903, which showed superior salt tolerance compared to its parent lines during the seedling stage. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of seedlings harvested at distinct temporal stages of salt stress identified over 10,000 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Functional enrichment analyses (GO and KEGG) revealed that NGY1 uniquely mobilized a broader repertoire of stress-responsive genes within shorter timeframes than its parents lines, particularly those associated with redox homeostasis, phytohormone signaling, and MAPK cascades. Meanwhile, NGY1 can rapidly upregulate genes related to salt tolerance compared to its parent during the initial stress phase. Additionally, differences in salt tolerance between NGY1 and its parents were linked to variations in alternative splicing and the high expression of certain NBS-LRR protein genes early in salt stress exposure. These findings not only provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of salt tolerance, but also provide a theoretical basis for genetic improvement of salt tolerance in rice.

Nanjing series japonica rice varieties developed by the Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences in China have the characteristics of an excellent taste quality, high yield, and good resistance. They are widely promoted and applied in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China’s japonica rice planting areas. In response to the problem of the lack of coordination between nitrogen fertilizer management measures and variety characteristics in production, which makes it difficult to synergistically improve yield and quality, this study adopted a split-plot experimental design to study the effect of nitrogen fertilizer application on yield and rice quality of Nanjing series japonica rice varieties. In 2021, four nitrogen application rates of 0 (N1), 150 (N2), 300 (N3), and 450 (N4) kg hm−2 (all pure nitrogen) were set up, and in 2022, four treatments of 120 (N1), 180 (N2), 240 (N3), and 300 (N4) kg hm−2 were set up, all with nitrogen application rate as the main plot factor and variety as the sub-plot factor. The results showed that the differences between the different nitrogen fertilizer treatments were significant at the 5% or 1% level, except for the milled rice rate, head rice rate, peak viscosity, setback viscosity, and paste temperature in 2021 and panicle number, grain number per panicle, all Rapid Visco-analyzer (RVA) characteristic values, and amylose content in 2022. With an increase in the nitrogen application rate, the number of panicles, grain number per panicle, and yield increased. Either the rates of brown rice, milled rice, or head rice and chalky grains or chalkiness showed an increase trend. The peak viscosity, hot viscosity, final viscosity, and breakdown viscosity decreased, while the setback viscosity increased. For the quality of cooked rice, the hardness increased, appearance, viscosity, and balance decreased, protein content increased, and taste value decreased. The interaction between nitrogen application rate and variety was significant at p < 0.05 or p < 0.01 only for yield components, processing quality, and rice protein content in 2021 and for eating and cooking quality, appearance quality, and peak viscosity in 2022. Other traits were not significant. The comprehensive results from two years of experiments showed that, under the conditions of this experiment, a nitrogen application rate of 240–300 kg hm−2 could improve the quality of rice in the Nanjing series varieties while maintaining a high yield. The results of this experiment have a guiding significance for the high-yield and high-quality cultivation of excellent-tasting Nanjing series japonica rice.

Grain size in rice (Oryza sativa L.) shapes yield and quality, but the underlying molecular mechanism is not fully understood. We functionally characterized GRAIN NUMBER AND LARGE GRAIN SIZE 44 (GNL44), encoding a RING-type protein that localizes to the cytoplasm. The gnl44 mutant has fewer but enlarged grains compared to the wild type. GNL44 is mainly expressed in panicles and developing grains. Grain chalkiness was higher in the gnl44 mutant than in the wild type, short-chain amylopectin content was lower, middle-chain amylopectin content was higher, and appearance quality was worse. The amylose content and gel consistency of gnl44 were lower, and protein content was higher compared to the wild type. Rapid Visco Analyzer results showed that the texture of cooked gnl44 rice changed, and that the taste value of gnl44 was lower, making the eating and cooking quality of gnl44 worse than that of the wild type. We used gnl44, qgl3, and gs3 monogenic and two-gene near-isogenic lines to study the effects of different combinations of genes affecting grain size on rice quality-related traits. Our results revealed additive effects for these three genes on grain quality. These findings enrich the genetic resources available for rice breeders.

This study examined how silicon and zinc fertilizers affect the quality and aroma of Nanjing 46. We applied nine different fertilizer treatments, one involving soil topdressing at the top fourth leaf-age stage and one involving foliar spraying during the booting stage of the silicon and zinc fertilizers. We tested the effects of the nine treatments on grain quality and aroma. Silicon and zinc fertilizers significantly affected the brown rice rate, milled rice rate, head rice rate, amylose content, gel consistency, RVA characteristic value, taste value, and aroma but did not affect the chalky grain rate, chalkiness, protein content, rice appearance, hardness, stickiness, balance, peak time, or pasting temperature. Silicon fertilizer decreased the rate of brown rice and milled rice, whereas zinc fertilizer increased the rate of brown rice and milled rice. Silicon and zinc fertilizers improved the head rice rate. Compared to silicon fertilizer, the impact of zinc fertilizer on increasing the head rice rate was more pronounced. Although the effects of silicon and zinc fertilizers on the amylose content and RVA characteristic value varied depending on the treatment, their application could lower the amylose content, increase gel consistency, improve breakdown viscosity, decrease setback viscosity, increase aroma, and improve the taste value of rice.

Salt stress affects the growth of rice, which reduces grain yield. However, the mechanism of the rice response to salt stress is not fully understood. The rice salt tolerance 31 (rst31) mutant exhibits longer shoots and greater dry weight than wild-type (WT) plants under salt stress conditions. Through map-based cloning and genetic complementation methods, we determined that RST31 encodes a half-size ABCG transporter protein, ABCG18. We showed that mutation of RST31 reduces DNA damage under salt stress, with less accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The deficiency of RST31 suppressed the root-to-shoot transport of cytokinin, which resulted in a decrease in cytokinin content in the shoot and an increase in cytokinin content in the root. ROS accumulated abundantly in WT and rst31 mutant plants after exogenous treatment with trans-zeatin, reducing rst31 tolerance of salt stress. Collectively, our results suggest that high cytokinin level in shoots leads to an increase in ROS content and severe DNA damage under salt stress, which lead to sensitivity to salt stress. These findings enhance our understanding of plant responses to salt stress through cytokinin pathways.

>Seed storage proteins and their abundance are closely related to the formation of rice quality and grain size. A better understanding of the molecular basis of seed storage proteins will provide important information for developing new rice breeding strategies. In this study, we report that a seed storage protein albumin, named OsRAL5, positively regulates rice quality and grain size.

Amylose content, the key determinant of rice eating and cooking quality, is regulated primarily by the Waxy (Wx) gene. We adjusted the amylose content and transparency of semi-glutinous japonica rice carrying the Wxmp allele by genome editing of upstream open reading frame 6 (uORF6) of Wx.

机插水稻肥料侧位深施是一项高效环保的施肥技术,但肥料减施对水稻产量和米质的影响尚不明确.试验以优良食味超级稻品种南粳3908为材料,设置常规施氮(总施氮量300 kg/hm2),同时在基肥(施氮量180 kg/hm2)侧位深施条件下设置不同穗肥减氮处理,包括穗肥不减、穗肥减氮10％、穗肥减氮20％、穗肥减氮30％、穗肥减氮40％,共6个处理,研究不同施肥处理对水稻产量形成和稻米品质的影响效应.结果表明,基肥侧位深施穗肥不减的处理产量水平最高(10.8 t/hm2),但较常规施氮并不能显著提高水稻产量,基肥侧位深施可以在减少氮肥用量10％ ～20％的同时确保水稻产量不降,主要是结实率的提高弥补了有效穗数和每穗粒数下降导致的库容量不足,同时促进干物质的转运,提高收获指数,有效弥补了生物产量的减少.减少穗肥施氮量不利于提高稻米加工品质和蛋白质含量,但有利于提高外观品质和食味值,随着穗肥施氮量的减少,南粳3908稻米淀粉黏性变优,其RVA谱特征值如峰值黏度、热浆黏度、冷胶黏度有上升趋势,而起始糊化温度降低.研究表明,应用基肥侧位深施技术,可以在氮肥用量减少10％ ～20％(即总施氮量240～270 kg/hm2)的条件下保证水稻产量,同时提高稻米外观品质和食味值,实现水稻优质高产高效生产.本研究为优良食味粳稻氮肥合理施用提供了科学依据.

南粳盐1号是江苏省农业科学院粮食作物研究所以沈农9903为母本、耐盐粳稻品种盐丰47为父本杂交,于2017年育成的一个优质、早熟、综合丰产性好的耐盐粳稻新品种.该品种株型紧凑,群体整齐度好,抗倒性较强,全生育期148.8 d,比对照盐稻12号早熟2.7 d.南粳盐1号株高88.1 cm,穗长15.4 cm,有效穗数19.0万个/667m2,总粒数123.3粒/穗,结实率86.8％,千粒质量25.5 g.2018-2019年2年的稻瘟病综合指数均为5.0,穗颈瘟损失率最高级均为5级,白叶枯病抗性2年最高级均为5级;2018年条纹叶枯病发病率为13.3％,表现为3级;2019年条纹叶枯病发病率为21.8％,表现为5级.2019年0.5％土壤盐浓度下苗期耐盐级别为5级,0.3％盐浓度下全生育期鉴定为3级.稻米品质达农业行业标准NY/T 593-2021《食用稻品种品质》2级.2021年通过国家农作物新品种审定委员会审定,审定编号为国审稻20210451,适宜在江苏省、山东省沿黄稻瘟病轻发的粳稻区土壤含盐量0.5％以下的盐碱地用淡水灌溉种植.

Nangeng 46 is a high-quality japonica rice variety developed by Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences and this variety shows good eating quality, resistance to stripe disease, and high yield. This study investigated a series of rice varieties derived from Nangeng 46 regarding to agronomic traits including yield, quality and disease resistance. Their allelotypes of important functional genes were genotyped based on single nucleotide polymorphism（SNP） markers. As the first good eating quality japonica variety in the middle and downstream valley of the Yangtze River, Nangeng 46, which serves as the parental line in the breeding programs, supported the development of 29 varieties in provinces Shanghai, Anhui, Hubei, Jiangsu, Liaoning, and Hebei, by 2022. The obvious variations on the appearance quality, physicochemical characteristics of grain and starch viscosity characteristics were observed among the offspring varieties, while the variations on the growth period, plant height, yield and processing quality were rather minor. The allelic analysis of important functional genes showed that Wx was the main gene affecting the taste of derived varieties rice. Along with the increase in the number of quality genes with different alleles from Nangeng 46, the taste quality gradually decreased. In the future, the breeding programs using Nangeng 46 as the parent, we would like to suggest the selection with attention on appearance quality, grain physicochemical characteristics and starch viscosity characteristics. In addition, the deployment and complementarity of blast resistance genes should draw an attention in the future.

【Objective】The objective of this study was to clarify the relationship of nutritional quality with eating and cooking quality and their difference of low glutelin semi-glutinous japonica rice varieties（lines） and other types of japonica rice, so as to lay a scientific basis for breeding nutritional and high quality japonica rice.【Method】The low glutelin semi-glutinous japonica rice lines were used as materials, and the semi-glutinous japonica rice and common japonica rice varieties were used as control. A total of 16 japonica rice varieties including the three types were planted under the same environment and cultivation conditions. The differences in contents of total protein and its components and physicochemical characteristics of amylose content, gelatinization temperature and gel consistency were analyzed, as well as the correlation of rice nutrition with eating and cooking quality. 【Result】The glutelin content of low glutelin semi-glutinous japonica rice was significantly lower than that of semi-glutinous japonica rice and common japonica rice,and the gliadin and albumin contents were significantly higher than those of semi-glutinous japonica rice and common japonica rice. The breakdown value of low glutelin semi-glutinous japonica rice was significantly lower than that of semi-glutinous japonica rice and common japonica rice, and the gel consistency and peak viscosity of semi-glutinous japonica rice were significantly higher than those of common japonica rice and low glutelin semi-glutinous japonica rice.In terms of rice taste index, there was no significant difference in appearance, viscosity, balance degree, taste value between low glutelin semi-glutinous japonica rice and common japonica rice, but they were significantly lower than those of semi-glutinous japonica rice. The results of correlation analysis showed that the contents of total protein and gliadin were significantly negatively correlated with peak viscosity, breakdown value, appearance, stickiness, balance degree and taste value, and significantly positively correlated with setback viscosity and hardness. The correlation of glutelin was quite the contrary.【Conclusion】 There were significant differences in glutelin content, amylose content and breakdown value among the three different types of japonica rice varieties, among which the low glutelin semi-glutinous rice varieties has low glutelin content and higher gliadin content. Semi-glutinous japonica rice varieties have lower protein content, amylose content, setback value and consistency value, higher gel consistency and breakdown value. Among the four protein components, gliadin content has the greatest negative impacts on the taste value of rice, and was significantly negatively correlated with the appearance, stickiness and balance degree of rice.

Nangengnuo 2 is a new late-maturing medium japonica glutinous rice variety, derived from the cross of the new rice line C08 and Zhennuo 19 with high quality and disease resistance, which was bred by Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Science, using the method of combination conventional breeding with marker assisted selection for blast resistance genes of Pi-ta and Pi-b. It has the characteristics of moderate plant height, lodging resistance, high and stable yield, fine grain quality,comprehensive resistance and good maturity performance. The average yield of Nangengnuo 2 in the regional test in Jiangsu Province was 672.4 kg/667 m~2, and the rice quality reached the agricultural industry standard level 1. It showed moderate susceptibility to rice blast disease and stripe disease and moderate resistance to bacterial blight. It was approved by Jiangsu Provincial Variety Approval Committee in 2021 and suitable to grow in the middle area and Ningzhenyang area of Jiangsu Province.

稻谷储藏过程的陈化变质对水稻生产和经营造成严重损失,开展稻谷耐储藏性研究对耐储藏水稻品种筛选具有重要意义.本研究利用197份半糯粳稻、117份普通粳稻和14份糯稻为试验材料,采用人工高温高湿陈化方法,以耐储藏指数陈化前后发芽率降低百分率(SDI)作为评价指标,分析了半糯粳稻与普通粳稻及糯稻间的耐储藏性差异.根据SDI高低,供试材料可分成4类:第Ⅰ类高耐储型23份,75％≤SDI＜100％,包含半糯粳稻8份和普通粳稻15份;第Ⅱ类较耐储型77份,50％≤SDI＜75％,包含半糯粳稻32份、普通粳稻44份和糯稻1份;第Ⅲ类较不耐储型118份,25％≤SDI＜50％,包含半糯粳稻82份、普通粳稻32份和糯稻4份;第Ⅳ类不耐储型110份,0≤SDI＜25％,包含半糯粳稻75份、普通粳稻26份和糯稻9份.结果表明半糯粳稻总体上的耐储藏性低于普通粳稻,而糯稻更不耐储.对材料生育类型间的耐储藏性分析显示半糯粳稻和普通粳稻中仅早熟中粳稻型表现较低.陈化前后稻谷新鲜度值降低百分率(RPFV)进一步验证半糯粳稻耐储藏性高于糯稻而低于普通粳稻.通过SDI和RPFV综合评价,筛选到高耐储藏的半糯粳稻4份(BG26、BG69、BG81和BG164),普通粳稻9份(南粳晴谷、CG10、CG23、CG25、CG28、CG32、CG38、CG49和CG71).研究将为改良水稻品种的耐储藏特性以及发掘耐储藏基因资源提供材料来源.

Grain size is controlled by many QTLs and/or genes. Despite intensive study, the genetic interactions between these QTLs/genes remain largely unclear. We previously found that the japonica large-grain rice cultivar TD70 with 1000-grain weight of 68.6 g carries superior alleles at the loci GW2, GS3, q GL3, GS5 and GW8, all of which are known to control grain size, while the indica rice variety Kasalath with 1000-grain weight of 19.1 g has normal alleles at these loci. In this study,

【Objective】In order to compare the effects of silicon and zinc fertilizer and their application methods on rice yield and quality characteristics of Nanjing 46，【Method】taking Nanjing 46， a good eating japonica rice variety， as materials， the methods of soil topdressing at the top 4th leaves stage and spraying silicon and zinc fertilizer on the leaves at booting stage （5～7 days before heading） were adopted， and the soil topdressing silicon fertilizer （Si-B）， soil topdressing zinc fertilizer （Zn-B） and Soil top dressing silicon fertilizer + foliar spraying silicon fertilizer （Si-B + Si-L）， soil top dressing zinc fertilizer + foliar spraying zinc fertilizer （Zn-B + Zn-L）， soil top dressing silicon fertilizer + soil top dressing zinc fertilizer （Si-B + Zn-B）， foliar spraying silicon fertilizer （Si-L）， foliar spraying zinc fertilizer （Zn-L）， foliar spraying silicon fertilizer + foliar spraying zinc fertilizer （Si-L + Zn-L） 8 treatments， with no silicon zinc fertilizer （CK） as the control， investigate and analyze the effects of different treatments on the grain yield and its components of Nanjing 46 processing quality， appearance quality， eating quality and the 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline （2-AP） content.【Result】The application of silicon zinc fertilizer had obvious yield increasing effect on Nanjing 46， with the yield increasing range of 0.8% ～ 11.9%. The main reason for yield increasing was the increase of 1000 grain weight and the number of grains per panicle. The application of silicon fertilizer decreased the rate of brown rice and milled rice， while the application of zinc fertilizer increased the rate of brown rice and milled rice. The application of silicon fertilizer and zinc fertilizer can improve the head rice rate. The effect of zinc fertilizer on improving the head rice rate is more obvious than that of silicon fertilizer. The effects of silicon and zinc fertilizer on amylose content and RVA characteristic value varied with different treatments， but the application of silicon zinc fertilizer can increase the breakdown viscosity， reduce the setback viscosity， significantly increase the gel consistency， improve the taste value， increase the 2-AP content of rice， and significantly thicken the flavor. 【Conclusion】The combination of soil topdressing silicon fertilizer and foliar spraying zinc fertilizer can not only increase the yield of Nanjing 46， but also improve the head rice rate， eating quality and flavor.

[目的]研究南粳晶谷高产的光合生理特性,总结高产品种的光合优势,为高产水稻品种的选育提供理论依据.[方法]以南粳晶谷及其父母本为材料,研究南粳晶谷及其父母本从孕穗期到开花后42 d植株地上部干物质积累与分配、叶片光合生理特性和叶绿体超微结构.[结果]南粳晶谷的每穗粒数显著多于父母本,单位面积总颖花量比父母本多14％～27％;剑叶面积显著大于父母本,抽穗后地上部分干物质量始终高于父母本,灌浆后期向穗部转运量高;剑叶净光合速率在生育后期显著高于父母本,且高光合速率持续时间长;剑叶电子传递和光合性能指数PSⅡ光能转化性能都显著优于父母本,核心天线蛋白CP43、CP47在强光高温下的稳定性和调整能力优于父母本;叶绿体基粒片层垛叠程度高,叶绿体结构稳定,叶绿体衰败速度慢.[结论]南粳晶谷高产的光合特性是光合面积大,叶绿体结构稳定,高光合性能持续时间长;叶片PSⅡ光化学效率高,光合机构能量分配合理;最终表现为净光合速率高,光合产物多,转运效率高.

南粳5758是江苏省农业科学院粮食作物研究所以台0206为母本,武育236为父本杂交,通过系谱法育成的优质高产粳稻新品种.区试平均结果显示,全生育期148.7 d,比对照武运粳27号短1.0 d,株高96.3 cm,分蘖性好,有效穗数达342.8万穗/hm2,穗型中等偏大,总粒数132.8粒/穗,结实率92.7％,千粒质量26.7 g.中感白叶枯病、稻瘟病和条纹叶枯病,感纹枯病.稻米品质达到农业行业《食用稻品种品质》标准一级,口感较软.2021年通过江苏省审定(苏审稻20210063),适宜在苏中及宁镇扬丘陵地区种植.

研究南粳系列品种产量及其构成因素对氮素的响应,为大面积绿色生产提供依据.以南粳系列7个粳稻品种为试验材料,研究4个氮肥水平[不施氮肥(N0:0 kg/hm2)、低氮(N1:150 kg/hm2)、中氮(N2:300 kg/hm2)、高氮(N3:450 kg/hm2)]对品种的影响.试验采用裂区设计,氮肥水平为主区,品种为裂区,3次重复,考察了剑叶性状、节间抗折力、产量及其构成因素对氮肥的响应及不同品种的氮肥利用特性.结果表明,施氮处理均提高了南粳系列品种的产量,7个品种呈不同程度的增产,增产范围从1.61 t/hm2到3.43 t/hm2,氮素偏生产力为59.61～66.61 kg/kg,氮素收获指数为60.29％～68.07％,氮素农学利用效率为9.82～18.98 kg/kg,氮素生理利用效率为41.31～58.20 kg/kg.南粳5818、南粳9036和南粳60为氮肥高效敏感型品种,南粳5818、南粳9036的氮肥贡献率、氮素农学利用效率较高,南粳60的氮素生理利用效率较高,这3个品种在生产中需要优化氮肥运筹方式以充分发挥氮肥的增产作用.对氮素反应较迟钝的品种,在生产中需要适当降低氮肥用量,进一步协调氮肥与产量的关系,以获得较高的氮肥利用率.在本研究中,南粳系列品种高产的关键是在稳定结实率和千粒质量的基础上,稳步提高群体颖花量.南粳5718和南粳9036高氮条件下具有较强的抗倒性,是江苏省高氮条件下种植水稻的良好选择.