Progress on Physiological Mechanisms of Rice Spikelet Degeneration at Different Panicle Positions Caused by Abiotic Stress

Rice yield is heavily reliant on the number of spikelets per panicle, a factor determined by the processes of spikelet differentiation and degeneration. In rice cultivars with large panicles, spikelet degeneration negates the advantages of large panicle and constrains yield potential. Environmental...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wang Jingqing, Wang Yaliang, Chen Yulin, Chen Huizhe, Xiang Jing, Zhang Yikai, Wang Zhigang, Zhang Yuping
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Rice Science
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1672630824000842
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850187627050827776
author Wang Jingqing
Wang Yaliang
Chen Yulin
Chen Huizhe
Xiang Jing
Zhang Yikai
Wang Zhigang
Zhang Yuping
author_facet Wang Jingqing
Wang Yaliang
Chen Yulin
Chen Huizhe
Xiang Jing
Zhang Yikai
Wang Zhigang
Zhang Yuping
author_sort Wang Jingqing
collection DOAJ
description Rice yield is heavily reliant on the number of spikelets per panicle, a factor determined by the processes of spikelet differentiation and degeneration. In rice cultivars with large panicles, spikelet degeneration negates the advantages of large panicle and constrains yield potential. Environmental stress-induced metabolic disorders in plants aggravate spikelet degeneration, with the sensitive period for this process commencing approximately 15‒20 d before panicle heading. Notable positional variations occur within the panicle, with significantly higher spikelet degeneration rates at the basal than at the upper positions. An imbalance of carbon and nitrogen metabolism represents the primary physiological basis for aggravated spikelet degeneration under abiotic stress. Impaired carbon and nitrogen metabolism leads to disordered energy metabolism and disrupted respiratory electron transport, which accelerates the apoptosis of young spikelets through excessive reactive oxygen species accumulation. Sucrose serves as the main carbohydrate source for spikelet development, demonstrating an apical dominance pattern that favors spikelet formation. However, under abiotic stress, the inhibition of sucrose decomposition, rather than sucrose transport impairment, predominantly contributes to aggravated spikelet degeneration at the basal panicle positions. Brassinolide and auxin have a significant relationship with spikelet formation, potentially mediating apical dominance. Specifically, brassinolide enhances sucrose accumulation and utilization, thereby alleviating spikelet degeneration. At present, the mechanisms underlying rice spikelet degeneration have not been fully revealed, and the joint effects of hormones, carbohydrates, and carbon and nitrogen metabolism on this process require further investigation. To reduce the spikelet degeneration, the strategic application of water and fertilizer to establish a stable rice population can enhance the rice plants’ resilience to abiotic stress. An effective approach to reducing spikelet degeneration is to increase the dry matter occupancy of each spikelet during the panicle initiation period.
format Article
id doaj-art-7d5429c3e871496fa912a47bf2059d64
institution OA Journals
issn 1672-6308
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Rice Science
spelling doaj-art-7d5429c3e871496fa912a47bf2059d642025-08-20T02:16:03ZengElsevierRice Science1672-63082025-03-0132219320210.1016/j.rsci.2024.09.002Progress on Physiological Mechanisms of Rice Spikelet Degeneration at Different Panicle Positions Caused by Abiotic StressWang Jingqing0Wang Yaliang1Chen Yulin2Chen Huizhe3Xiang Jing4Zhang Yikai5Wang Zhigang6Zhang Yuping7State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 310006, ChinaCorresponding authors.; State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 310006, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 310006, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 310006, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 310006, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 310006, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 310006, ChinaCorresponding authors.; State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 310006, ChinaRice yield is heavily reliant on the number of spikelets per panicle, a factor determined by the processes of spikelet differentiation and degeneration. In rice cultivars with large panicles, spikelet degeneration negates the advantages of large panicle and constrains yield potential. Environmental stress-induced metabolic disorders in plants aggravate spikelet degeneration, with the sensitive period for this process commencing approximately 15‒20 d before panicle heading. Notable positional variations occur within the panicle, with significantly higher spikelet degeneration rates at the basal than at the upper positions. An imbalance of carbon and nitrogen metabolism represents the primary physiological basis for aggravated spikelet degeneration under abiotic stress. Impaired carbon and nitrogen metabolism leads to disordered energy metabolism and disrupted respiratory electron transport, which accelerates the apoptosis of young spikelets through excessive reactive oxygen species accumulation. Sucrose serves as the main carbohydrate source for spikelet development, demonstrating an apical dominance pattern that favors spikelet formation. However, under abiotic stress, the inhibition of sucrose decomposition, rather than sucrose transport impairment, predominantly contributes to aggravated spikelet degeneration at the basal panicle positions. Brassinolide and auxin have a significant relationship with spikelet formation, potentially mediating apical dominance. Specifically, brassinolide enhances sucrose accumulation and utilization, thereby alleviating spikelet degeneration. At present, the mechanisms underlying rice spikelet degeneration have not been fully revealed, and the joint effects of hormones, carbohydrates, and carbon and nitrogen metabolism on this process require further investigation. To reduce the spikelet degeneration, the strategic application of water and fertilizer to establish a stable rice population can enhance the rice plants’ resilience to abiotic stress. An effective approach to reducing spikelet degeneration is to increase the dry matter occupancy of each spikelet during the panicle initiation period.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1672630824000842Oryza sativaspikelet degeneration characteristicphysiological mechanismcultivation alleviation approach
spellingShingle Wang Jingqing
Wang Yaliang
Chen Yulin
Chen Huizhe
Xiang Jing
Zhang Yikai
Wang Zhigang
Zhang Yuping
Progress on Physiological Mechanisms of Rice Spikelet Degeneration at Different Panicle Positions Caused by Abiotic Stress
Rice Science
Oryza sativa
spikelet degeneration characteristic
physiological mechanism
cultivation alleviation approach
title Progress on Physiological Mechanisms of Rice Spikelet Degeneration at Different Panicle Positions Caused by Abiotic Stress
title_full Progress on Physiological Mechanisms of Rice Spikelet Degeneration at Different Panicle Positions Caused by Abiotic Stress
title_fullStr Progress on Physiological Mechanisms of Rice Spikelet Degeneration at Different Panicle Positions Caused by Abiotic Stress
title_full_unstemmed Progress on Physiological Mechanisms of Rice Spikelet Degeneration at Different Panicle Positions Caused by Abiotic Stress
title_short Progress on Physiological Mechanisms of Rice Spikelet Degeneration at Different Panicle Positions Caused by Abiotic Stress
title_sort progress on physiological mechanisms of rice spikelet degeneration at different panicle positions caused by abiotic stress
topic Oryza sativa
spikelet degeneration characteristic
physiological mechanism
cultivation alleviation approach
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1672630824000842
work_keys_str_mv AT wangjingqing progressonphysiologicalmechanismsofricespikeletdegenerationatdifferentpaniclepositionscausedbyabioticstress
AT wangyaliang progressonphysiologicalmechanismsofricespikeletdegenerationatdifferentpaniclepositionscausedbyabioticstress
AT chenyulin progressonphysiologicalmechanismsofricespikeletdegenerationatdifferentpaniclepositionscausedbyabioticstress
AT chenhuizhe progressonphysiologicalmechanismsofricespikeletdegenerationatdifferentpaniclepositionscausedbyabioticstress
AT xiangjing progressonphysiologicalmechanismsofricespikeletdegenerationatdifferentpaniclepositionscausedbyabioticstress
AT zhangyikai progressonphysiologicalmechanismsofricespikeletdegenerationatdifferentpaniclepositionscausedbyabioticstress
AT wangzhigang progressonphysiologicalmechanismsofricespikeletdegenerationatdifferentpaniclepositionscausedbyabioticstress
AT zhangyuping progressonphysiologicalmechanismsofricespikeletdegenerationatdifferentpaniclepositionscausedbyabioticstress