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Environmental factors can diminish the yield of Texas rice crops by affecting specific developmental processes or through longer-term effects on the rate of crop production. For example, high temperatures, as experienced in Texas, can potentially lower rice yields by increasing respiration rates and shortening the period of crop development. In Texas we can also have shorter periods of high nighttime temperatures coinciding with and negatively impacting critical stages of rice development, such as pollen initiation. |
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A study utilizing rice plants grown in different night temperature regimes (ambient, ambient plus 2 and ambient plus 4°C) has been started to determine the effects of high nighttime temperatures on plant respiration, enzymatic activities, and metabolite profiles, with an eye on developing chemical practices to prevent or remediate the heat damage. This study will also facilitate development of indirect techniques to evaluate heat tolerance in rice. |
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Another study is evaluating the
effects of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on rice physiology with
special emphasis on tiller development of both the main and ratoon
crops. Previous studies indicate that enhanced UVB radiation
increased tillering in rice. The low levels of UV-B that can be
found below the canopy in densely planted rice fields might affect
ratoon tillering. Plants will be grown under control, ambient and
twice ambient UV-B conditions to study its impact on tillering.
Our previous results showed low tillering with sub-ambient level,
but normal tillering with ambient and twice ambient levels of UV,
suggesting that UV can play an important role in tiller initiation
or early development. This research is generously funded by the
Texas Rice Belt Warehouse through support of Abdul Razack
Mohammed’s graduate studies. |