| Abstract Detail
Development and Structure Li, Xiang [1], Lowey, Daniel [2], Lessard, Jessica [2], Caicedo, Ana [2]. Characterization of the Abscission Zone of cultivated and weedy rice at population level. Seed shattering is a crucial trait of interest in agriculture. The reduced level of seed shattering in domesticated cereal crops lay the foundation for the development of agriculture. Low shattering ensures retention of seeds or fruits on cultivated plants, thus contributing to seed harvesting by humans. Conversely, weedy plants rely on high seed shattering to easily disperse and spread their seeds in crop fields, increasing their survival and competitiveness. Rice is an excellent system to explore the shattering trait as there exists both cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) with low seed shattering level and weedy rice (Oryza spp.) with high seed shattering, and they are closely related to each other. Evidence from the several studies shows that weedy rice has evolved multiple times independently and most often from crop cultivars. To understand the morphological basis of seed shattering in rice, we examine the abscission zone (AZ), one or multiple specialized cell layers where the seeds separates from the plant, in both cultivated and weedy rice populations. Partial to near complete AZ dominates in aus cultivated rice population; partial AZ is prevalent in indica cultivated rice population; and japonica cultivated rice shows different types of AZ: no AZ, partial AZ and discontinuous AZ. Despite separate origins, weedy rice populations all possess near complete or complete AZ. Our results not only reveal the relationship of AZ morphology with levels of seed shattering, but also illustrate the diversity and distribution of the AZ phenotype in the different populations of low seed shattering cultivated rice.
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1 - University of Massachusetts Amherst , Plant Biology Graduate Program
2 - University of Massachusetts Amherst , Biology Department
Keywords:
Seed Dispersal
Abscission Zone
rice
weed evolution.
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P1, Development and Structure Posters
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Monday, July 19th, 2021
Time: 5:00 PM(EDT)
Number: P1DS001
Abstract ID:641
Candidate for Awards:Developmental and Structural Section best poster,Developmental and Structural Section Graduate Student Registration Award |
