Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #282662
Title: Phenotypic characterization and genetic analysis of rice (Oryza sativa L.) with pubescent leaves and glabrous hulls (plgh)

Author
item HU, BIAOLIN - Jiangxi Academy Of Agricultural Sciences
item WAN, YONG - Jiangxi Academy Of Agricultural Sciences
item Yan, Wengui
item XIE, JIANKUN - Jiangxi Agricultural University

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/14/2013
Publication Date: 9/1/2013
Citation: Hu, B., Wan, Y., Yan, W., Xie, J. 2013. Phenotypic characterization and genetic analysis of rice (Oryza sativa L.) with pubescent leaves and glabrous hulls (plgh). Crop Science. 53:1878-1886.

Interpretive Summary: Crop pubescence means short hairs which cover plant organs including leaves, hulls (glumes), roots, stems and flowers. The pubescence provides an advantage as a plant defense mechanism against insects but can be abrasive to field and processing equipment. All previous studies on the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of rice pubescence have used genetic materials that were pubescent or glabrous for both leaves and hulls. Two rice accessions were identified from the United States Department of Agriculture rice germplasm collection that had pubescent leaves and glabrous hulls (plgh). The hairs on the leaves of plgh were more in number, longer and softer than traditional pubescent materials. Genetic analysis demonstrated that the pubescent leaves in plgh were dominant and inherited as either one or two genes depending upon genetic background. Application of the plgh germplasm in rice breeding may take advantage of the reported association of pubescent leaves with plant defense mechanisms while avoiding the disadvantages of pubescent hulls in grain transportation and storage.

Technical Abstract: Crop pubescence (hairs or trichomes), the outermost cell layer covering plant organs, provides an advantage as a plant defense mechanism but can be abrasive to field and processing equipment. All previous studies on the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of rice pubescence have used genetic materials that were pubescent or glabrous for both leaves and hulls. Two rice accessions were identified from the United States Department of Agriculture rice germplasm collection that had pubescent leaves and glabrous hulls (plgh). The trichomes on the leaves of plgh were more in number, longer and softer than traditional pubescent materials. In two crosses of plgh with a genotype having glabrous leaves and hulls, pubescent leaves were dominant and inherited as a single gene with Chi-square values of 0.283 (p = 0.626) and 0.919 (p=0.338) indicating a 3:1 ratio in the F2 generations. However, in crosses of plgh with several genotypes having pubescent leaves and hulls, a ratio of 12:3:1 was found in most cases, suggesting two genes were involved in the inheritance. The phenotype of the trichomes of the plgh accessions differed from other pubescent genotypes and might be responsible for the difference in inheritance. Application of the plgh germplasm in rice breeding may take advantage of the reported association of pubescent leaves with plant defense mechanisms while avoiding the disadvantages of pubescent hulls in grain transportation and storage.