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Involvement of polyamines in the post-anthesis development of inferior and superior spikelets in rice

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Abstract

Early-flowered superior spikelets usually exhibit a faster grain filling rate and heavier grain weight than late-flowered inferior spikelets in rice (Oryza sativa L.). But the intrinsic factors responsible for the variations between the two types of spikelets are unclear. This study investigated whether and how polyamines (PAs) are involved in regulating post-anthesis development of rice spikelets. Six rice genotypes differing in grain filling rate were field grown, and PA levels and activities of the enzymes involved in PA biosynthesis were measured in both superior and inferior spikelets. The results showed that superior spikelets exhibited higher levels of free spermidine (Spd) and free spermine (Spm) and higher activities of arginine decarboxylase (ADC, EC 4.1.1.19), S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC, EC 4.1.1.50) and Spd synthase (EC 2.5.1.16) than inferior spikelets at the early endosperm cell division and grain filling stage. The maximum concentrations of free Spd and free Spm and the maximum activities of ADC, SAMDC and Spd synthase were significantly correlated with the maximum cell division and grain filling rates, maximum cell number and grain weight. Application of Spd and Spm to panicles resulted in significantly higher rates of endosperm cell division and grain filling in inferior spikelets along with the activities of sucrose synthase (EC 2.4.1.13), ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase (EC 2.7.7.27) and soluble starch synthase (EC 2.4.1.21), suggesting that these PAs are involved in the sucrose–starch metabolic pathway. The results indicate that the poor development of inferior spikelets is attributed, at least partly, to the low PA level and its low biosynthetic activity.

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Abbreviations

ACC:

1-Aminocylopropane-1-carboxylic acid

ADC:

Arginine decarboxylase

AGPase:

ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase

DPA:

Days post anthesis

MGBG:

Methylglyoxal-bis(guanylhydrazone)

ODC:

Ornithine decarboxylase

PA/PAs:

Polyamine/polyamines

Put:

Putrescine

SAMDC:

S-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase

Spd:

Spermidine

Spm:

Spermine

SSSase:

Soluble starch synthase

SuSase:

Sucrose synthase

Z + ZR:

Zeatin + zeatin riboside

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful for grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project No. 30671225, 30771274), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK2006069, BK 2007071), Research Grant Council of Hong Kong (HKBU 2465/05M), Hong Kong University Grants Committee (AOE/B-07/99), and Hong Kong Baptist University Matching Research Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China

    Jianchang Yang, Cao Yunying, Hao Zhang & Lijun Liu

  2. Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China

    Jianhua Zhang

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  1. Jianchang Yang
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  2. Cao Yunying
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Correspondence to Jianhua Zhang.

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Yang, J., Yunying, C., Zhang, H. et al. Involvement of polyamines in the post-anthesis development of inferior and superior spikelets in rice. Planta 228, 137–149 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-008-0725-1

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