ORCID Profile
0000-0002-9670-0460
Current Organisation
Wageningen University & Research
Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the Feedback Form.
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 26-05-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.05.25.445664
Abstract: Rice feeds more than half of the world's human population. In modern rice farming, a major constraint for productivity is weed proliferation and the ecological impact of herbicide application. Increased weed competitiveness of commercial rice varieties requires enhanced shade casting to limit growth of shade-sensitive weeds and the need for herbicide. We aimed to identify traits that enhance rice shading capacity based on the canopy architecture and the underlying genetic components. We performed a phenotypic screen of a rice ersity panel comprised of 344 varieties, examining 13 canopy architecture traits linked with shading capacity in 4-week-old plants. The analysis revealed a vast range of phenotypic variation across the ersity panel. We used trait correlation and clustering to identify core traits that define shading capacity to be shoot area, number of leaves, culm and solidity (the compactness of the shoot). To simplify the complex canopy architecture, these traits were combined into a Shading Rank metric that is indicative of a plant's ability to cast shade. Genome wide association study (GWAS) revealed genetic loci underlying canopy architecture traits, out of which five loci were substantially contributing to shading potential. Subsequent haplotype analysis further explored allelic variation and identified seven haplotypes associated with increased shading. Identification of traits contributing to shading capacity and underlying allelic variation presented in this study will serve future genomic assisted breeding programmes. The investigated ersity panel, including widely grown varieties, shows that there is big potential and genetic resources for improvement of elite breeding lines. Implementing increased shading in rice breeding will make its farming less dependent on herbicides and contribute towards more environmentally sustainable agriculture.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-08-2023
DOI: 10.1002/PPP3.10419
Abstract: Rice farming is transitioning from transplanting rice seedlings towards the less labour‐intensive and less water‐demanding method of directly seeding rice. This, however, is accompanied by increased weed proliferation. To tackle this issue, this study seeks to identify how the crop itself can better suppress weeds, with a focus on light competition via shading. Using a rice ersity panel, traits were identified that contribute to enhanced shading capacity, and these traits were encapsulated into a single shading capacity metric. This was followed by the identification of the genetic loci underpinning variation in the core traits. The identified haplotypes can be used in breeding programmes to improve weed suppression by rice, thus contributing to sustainable agriculture. In modern rice farming, one of the major constraints is weed proliferation and the entailed ecological impact of herbicide application. This requires increased weed competitiveness in current rice varieties, achieved via enhanced shade casting to limit the growth of shade‐sensitive weeds. To identify traits that increase rice shading capacity, we exhaustively phenotyped a rice ersity panel of 344 varieties at an early vegetative stage. A genome‐wide association study (GWAS) revealed genetic loci underlying variation in canopy architecture traits linked with shading capacity. The screen shows considerable natural variation in shoot architecture for 13 examined traits, of which shading potential is mostly determined by projected shoot area, number of leaves, culm height and canopy solidity. The shading rank, a metric based on these core traits, identifies varieties with the highest shading potential. Five genetic loci were found to be associated with canopy architecture, shading potential and early vigour. Identification of traits contributing to shading capacity and underlying allelic variation will serve future genomic‐assisted breeding programmes. Implementing the presented genetic resources for increased shading and weed competitiveness in rice breeding will make its farming less dependent on herbicides and contribute towards more environmentally sustainable agriculture.
No related grants have been discovered for Martina Huber.