The interaction of nitrogen application and temperature during reproductive stage on spikelet sterility in field-grown rice
T. A. Gunawardena A B and S. Fukai AA School of Land and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: Thusitha.Gunawardena@nrm.qld.gov.au
Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 56(6) 625-636 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR04099
Submitted: 3 May 2004 Accepted: 19 April 2005 Published: 24 June 2005
Abstract
Increased grain yield in response to high rates of application of nitrogen (N) fertiliser is often limited by increased spikelet sterility, particularly under low temperature conditions in the New South Wales (NSW) rice industry. In 3 field experiments, different N rates were applied for different sowing dates to investigate the interaction between N rate and temperature during microspore development on spikelet sterility and grain yield. In one experiment the effect of water depth on spikelet sterility was also investigated. Engorged pollen production, spikelet sterility, and yield and its components were recorded. Application of N affected a few different processes that lead into spikelet sterility. Application of N at both pre-flood (PF) and panicle initiation (PI) significantly reduced the number of engorged pollen grains per anther, which was negatively correlated with spikelet sterility. Application of N and low temperature during microspore development with the absence of deep water also decreased pollen engorgement efficiency (the percentage of pollen grains that were engorged). Application of N further increased spikelet density, which, in turn, increased both spikelet sterility and grain yield. The combined effect of spikelet density and low temperature during microspore development explained the 44% of variation in the number of engorged pollen grains per anther. Grain yield was decreased by low temperature during microspore development in the shallow water when N was applied. Spikelet sterility as a result of late sowing was strongly correlated with minimum temperature during flowering. It is concluded that N application reduced pollen number per anther as a result of increased spikelet density, and this made the spikelets more susceptible to low temperature, causing increased spikelet sterility.
Additional keywords: rice (Oryza sativa L.), engorged pollen, engorgement efficiency, low temperature.
Acknowledgment
This work was funded by the CRC for Sustainable Rice Production.
Amano T, Moriwaki R
(1984) Studies on cool injuries with special reference to cultural improvements in rice plants. II. Critical nitrogen content in leaf blade in relation to sterility caused by cooling temperature at the booting stage (English summary). Nihon Sakumotsu Gakkai Kiji 53, 7–11.
Boerema EB
(1974) Climatic effect on growth and yield of rice in the Murrumbidgee Valley of New South Wales, Australia. Riso 23, 385–397.
Gunawardena TA, Farrell TC, Fukai S, Blamey FPC, Williams RL
(2002) Research on cold tolerance in Australia: focusing on nitrogen-cold interactions and genotypic variation. ‘Proceedings of the 2nd Temperate Rice Conference’. (Ed. JE Hill ,
B Hardy )
pp. 195–200. (International Rice Research Institute: Manila, Philippines)
Gunawardena TA, Fukai S, Blamey P
(2001) Nitrogen decreases deep irrigation efficacy in reducing low temperature damage in rice. ‘Proceedings of the 10th Australian Agronomy Conference’. (Australian Society of Agronomy)
www.regional.org.au/au/asa/2001/3/a/gunawardena.htm
Gunawardena TA, Fukai S, Blamey FPC
(2003) Assessing the likelihood of the occurrence of low temperature damage in the NSW rice industry. ‘Proceedings of the 11th Australian Agronomy Conference’. (Australian Society of Agronomy:
)
www.regional.org.au/au/asa/2003/c/5/gunawardena.htm
Gunawardena TA,
Fukai S, Blamey P
(2003b) Low temperature induced spikelet sterility in rice. I. Nitrogen fertilisation and sensitive reproductive period. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 54, 937–946.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gunawardena TA,
Fukai S, Blamey P
(2003c) Low temperature induced spikelet sterility in rice. II. Effects of panicle and root temperature. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 54, 947–956.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ham YS,
Lee JH,
Vergara BS,
Visperas RM, Kim SY
(1983) Environment and its influence. International Rice Research Newsletter 8, 22.
Haque MZ
(1988) Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on spikelet sterility induced by low temperature at the reproductive stage of rice. Plant and Soil 109, 31–36.
Heenan DP
(1984) Low temperature induced floret sterility in the rice cultivars Calrose and Inga as influenced by nitrogen supply. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 34, 917–919.
Heenan DP, Lewin LG
(1982) Response of Inga rice to nitrogen fertilizer rate and timing in New South Wales. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 22, 62–66.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Isbell, RF (1996).
Satake T
(1969) Research on cold injury of paddy rice plants in Japan. Japanese Agricultural Research Quarterly 4, 5–10.
Satake T
(1991) Male sterility caused by cooling treatment at the young microspore stage in rice plants. XXX. Relation between fertilization and the number of engorged pollen grains among spikelet cooled at different pollen developmental stages. Nihon Sakumotsu Gakkai Kiji 60, 523–528.
Satake T,
Lee SY, Koike S
(1988) Male sterility caused by cooling treatment at the young microspore stage in rice plants. XXVIII. Prevention of cool injury with the newly devised water management practices — effects of the temperature and depth of water before the critical stage. Nihon Sakumotsu Gakkai Kiji 57, 234–241.
Watanabe T, Takeichi Y
(1991) Floral impotency due to cool weather in paddy rice plants in the early season culture area. I. Relationship between light intercepting characteristics and sterility (English summary). Nihon Sakumotsu Gakkai Kiji 60, 225–233.
Williams RL, Angus JF
(1994) Deep floodwater protects high nitrogen rice crops from low temperature damage. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 34, 927–932.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
