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Enhanced photosynthesis endows seedling growth vigour contributing to the competitive dominance of weedy rice over cultivated rice
Author(s) -
Dai Lei,
Song Xiaoling,
He Baoye,
Valverde Bernal E,
Qiang Sheng
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.4471
Subject(s) - weedy rice , seedling , photosynthesis , biology , agronomy , oryza sativa , dominance (genetics) , paddy field , competition (biology) , stomatal conductance , cultivar , weed , japonica , transpiration , upland rice , botany , ecology , biochemistry , gene
BACKGROUND Weedy rice, as one of the worst paddy field weeds worldwide, bears vigorous seedlings and dominantly competes with cultivated rice causing serious crop yield losses. To elucidate the causes of its stronger seedling vigour endowing its dominant competition with cultivated rice, comparative studies on seedling growth characteristics were conducted among six weedy rice biotypes and the two indica and japonica cultivars Shanyou‐63 ( SY ‐63) and Zhendao‐8 ( ZD ‐8), respectively, in the greenhouse. RESULTS Weedy rice emerged 2 to 3 days earlier, rapidly grew 1.3–1.7 cm taller daily, produced more secondary adventitious roots and greater aboveground fresh biomass than cultivated rice. Moreover, weedy rice exhibited greater photosynthetic pigment content, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO 2 concentration, transpiration rate, and chlorophyll fluorescence kinetic parameters. An enhanced overall photosynthetic activity in weedy rices was attributed to the combined action of a larger antenna, more active reaction centres and higher quantum yield for electron transfer beyond Q A . CONCLUSIONS Enhanced photosynthesis of weedy rice at the seedling stage should be the main factor for leading to strong competitive dominance over cultivated rice. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry