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Nitrogen and α-Ketoglutaric Acid Application Modulate Grain Yield, Aroma, Nutrient Uptake and Physiological Attributes in Fragrant Rice

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Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the effects of nitrogen (N) and α-ketoglutaric acid application morpho-physiological attributes, aroma regulations and nutrient uptake in fragrant rice. Two fragrant rice cultivars i.e., Yungengyou14 and Yuxiangyouzhan were grown under two N levels i.e., LN: 0 g pot−1 and HN: 1.75 g pot−1 and two α-ketoglutaric acid levels i.e., − A: 0 mg l−1 and + A: 100 mg l−1, applied at 25 ml pot−1. Results showed that the HN − A and HN + A treatments significantly improved the panicle number per pot in Yuxiangyouzhan and Yungengyou14 as compared with LN − A treatment. The HN + A treatment led to substantial improvements in grain yield owing to increased panicle number per pot, grain number per pot, and grain weight. Significant effects of HN + A treatment on agronomic traits such as plant height, leaf dry weight, steam sheath dry weight, panicle dry weight and total dry weight were also noted. Compared with LN − A treatment, the HN − A and HN + A treatments significantly increased the 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP) contents in grains of Yuxiangyouzhan (7.0% and 15.7%) and Yungengyou14 (47.3% and 43.4%). Under HN + A treatment, the 2AP content in grains as well as the 2AP content in leaves at the heading stage and P5CS activity in leaves increased at the maturity stage as compared with LN − A treatment. Furthermore, the grain 2AP content was significantly and positively related to P5CS activity, as well as Mn and Ca contents in plants. Overall, the application of N and α-ketoglutaric acid modulated the growth, yield, and aroma in fragrant rice, whereas N tends to have more prominent effects on the investigated parameters than α-ketoglutaric acid.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Mr. Haolin Jiang, Mr. Yuzhan Li and Miss. Wenjun Xie for helping us to conduct the sampling and measurement. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31601244) and China Scholarship Council (File No. 201908440176).

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Author notes

  1. Xiaomeng Fu, Runfei Gui, Wu Li, and Zifeng Gao have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China

    Xiaomeng Fu, Runfei Gui, Zifeng Gao, Jiangtao Tan, Qiuyi Ye, Jiale Chen, Huijia Xie & Zhaowen Mo

  2. Crop Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Wu Li

  3. Department of Botany, Division of Science and Technology, University of Education, Lahore, Punjab, 54770, Pakistan

    Umair Ashraf

  4. Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Crop Cultivation in South China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou, 510642, China

    Zhaowen Mo

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  1. Xiaomeng Fu
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Contributions

ZM conceived and supervised the project. XF, ZG and RG contributed to do the pot experiments. WL, XF, ZG, JT, QY, JC and HX performed the sampling and observation of the rice material. XF and UAs analyzed the data. XF, ZG, RG and ZM wrote the first draft. All authors made a substantial, direct and intellectual contribution to this work. All of the authors approve the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Zhaowen Mo.

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Fu, X., Gui, R., Li, W. et al. Nitrogen and α-Ketoglutaric Acid Application Modulate Grain Yield, Aroma, Nutrient Uptake and Physiological Attributes in Fragrant Rice. J Plant Growth Regul 40, 1613–1628 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-020-10215-z

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