Methyl jasmonate increases aluminum tolerance in rice by augmenting the antioxidant defense system, maintaining ion homeostasis, and increasing nonprotein thiol compounds.

Aluminum (Al) stress is known as a serious threat to the growth and production of crops in acidic soils. Here, the effects of different concentrations of methyl jasmonate (MJ, 0.5 and 1 µM) on rice plants were investigated hydroponically under different concentrations of Al (0.5 and 1 mM). Aluminum treatments injured membrane lipids and photosynthetic apparatus by reducing the leaf contents of mineral nutrients and increasing the accumulation of free radicals (hydrogen peroxide, methylglyoxal, and superoxide anion), resulting in reduced growth and biomass of rice. In comparison to control plants, 0.5 and 1 µM Al treatments lowered height by 21 and 37% and total dry weight by 24 and 41%, respectively. Exogenously added methyl diminished the inhibitory effects of Al stress on growth and photosynthetic apparatus by restoring ion homeostasis and improving chlorophyll metabolism. The application of MJ, by inducing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the glyoxalase cycle, lessened the levels of the toxic compounds hydrogen peroxide, methylglyoxal, and superoxide anion and, as a result, dwindled the toxic Al-induced oxidative stress. Methyl jasmonate enhanced the leaf accumulation of nonprotein thiol compounds and improved plant tolerance under Al stress by increasing the activity of enzymes involved in the synthesis of thiol compounds. Methyl jasmonate increased the leaf accumulation of glutathione and phytochelatins in Al-stressed plants by increasing the expression of GSH1, PCS, and ABCC1, which reduced the toxicity of toxic Al accumulated in leaves by sequestering toxic Al in vacuoles. Together, the results revealed that MJ increased the tolerance of rice under Al toxicity by maintaining ion homeostasis, improving the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the glyoxalase system, and increasing the level of non-protein thiol compounds. This research adds to our understanding of how MJ may be used in the future to improve Al stress tolerance in sustainable agriculture.

Methyl jasmonate alleviates arsenic toxicity in rice.

KEY MESSAGE: Methyl jasmonate improved yield of both rice varieties under arsenic toxicity by alleviating oxidative stress through increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and decreasing arsenic accumulation by modulating arsenic transporters. Human health and rice cultivation are threatened by arsenic (As) contamination. Methyl jasmonate (MJ), as a regulator of plant growth, plays an important role in response to environmental stresses. In the present study, the effects of MJ (0, 0.5 and 1 µM) on yield, biochemical and molecular traits of two rice varieties (T. hashemi and Fajr) under As treatments (0, 25 and 50 µM) were investigated. The results showed that As decreased chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence and biomass production; however, MJ improved photosynthetic pigments and plant growth. As also induced oxidative stress (H2O2 and MDA) in both rice varieties; however, MJ reduced the As-induced oxidative stress by regulating the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the ASA-GSH cycle. As treatment increased As accumulation in the roots and leaves, which is in line with the increased expression of Lsi1, Lsi2 and Lsi6 genes. However, MJ reduced As accumulation by decreasing the expression of Lsi1, Lsi2 and Lsi6. Fe translocation to leaves reduced under As treatments; while, MJ increased Fe accumulation in the leaves by increasing expression of FRDL1 and YSL2 transporters under As toxicity. As treatments, especially 50 µM, decreased yield and yield components of both rice varieties; however, MJ improved yield and yield components of both rice varieties. The findings of the present study indicate that MJ improved the growth and yield of both rice varieties under As toxicity by alleviating oxidative stress through increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and ASA-GSH cycle and decreasing As accumulation by modulating As transporters.

Life cycle assessment of rice production systems in different paddy field size levels in north of Iran.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) had proven to be an appropriate assessment tool for analysis of agro-ecosystems by identifying, quantifying, and evaluating the resources consumed and released into the environment. In order to assess the relevant environmental impacts of rice agro-ecosystems due to a specific process, using LCA method, two factors concerned with resource utilization and contaminant emissions were calculated in north of Iran during 2016 and 2017. All the management practices/inputs were monitored and recorded with the help of local experts without interference in farmer's practices. After preliminary evaluation, 100 paddy fields were selected in three planting systems (low input, conventional, and high input) which were predicted in two planting methods (semi-mechanized and traditional) in small, medium, and large farm size levels. Functional unit was considered as one ton paddy yield. The finding revealed that in both regions, all the impact categories and environmental pollutant were almost same and farmer's management practices are close to each other. Also, climate change (CC) in Amol and Rasht regions was 277.21 and 275.79 kg CO2 eq., respectively. The most CC, global warming potential (GWP 100a), and cumulative energy demand (CED) in both regions were observed in high-input system for semi-mechanized method. Furthermore, the result for the impact categories of terrestrial acidification (TA), freshwater eutrophication (FE), marine eutrophication (ME), agricultural land occupation (ALO), water depletion (WD), metal depletion (MD), and fossil depletion (FD) was similar to the CC, GWP, and CED where the highest amounts in both regions statistically went to high-input system, traditional planting method, and small farms. Moreover, in both regions, high-input and conventional systems emitted higher heavy metals than low-input system. Furthermore, the most heavy metal emission in the air was achieved in small farm, and medium farm got the next rank. Additionally, the high consumption of chemical inputs, such as fossil fuels and fertilizers, in the high-input and conventional systems led to an increase of environmental pollutant in comparison with low-input systems. Therefore, to increase the sustainability of agro-ecosystems, as well as to reduce the environmental impacts of pollutant, reforming the pattern of chemical input consumption and reducing the use of non-renewable energy sources are essential.

Investigation the growth, yield and yield components of rice varieties in rotation with garlic, Faba bean, lettuce, pea and fallow in north of Iran.

In order to investigating the effects of second crop cultivation on growth, yield and yield components of rice, a field experiment was conducted at the Rice Research Institute of Iran-Deputy of Mazandaran (Amol) during 2004 and 2005. Tarom as a traditional variety and Fajr as a improved variety were used in this research. Faba, pea, Lettuce and garlic were used as a second crop in rotation with rice. Second crop cultivation, variety and interaction between them had a significant effect on tiller number at 0.01 probability level. Results showed that rice yield after lettuce and garlic rotation was lower than with Faba bean, pea and fallow rotation. These results indicated that rice varieties had different reaction to second crop cultivation. For example, Tarom variety in rotation with lettuce and garlic had higher yield deficiency than Fajr variety. These results suggested that Lettuce and garlic can not be a permanent second crop in paddy field. According to results, pea and faba bean in rotation with rice for the best performance of yield attributes of rice varieties were recommended.

Effect of planting density on agronomical characteristics of rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties in north of Iran.

In order to study the effects of plant density on agronomical characteristics of rice varieties a field experiment was carried out in field of Ghaemshahr Azad University in 2006. This experiment was laid out in split plot in basis of Randomized Completely Block Design with three replications. Main factor was rice variety in three levels (Hashemi Tarom, Fajr, Neda) and minor factor was planting density (Including 10 x 8.3, 10 x 10, 12.5 x 10, 16.6 x 10, 16.6 x 15 and 25 x 20 cm or 120, 100, 80, 60, 40 and 20 plant m(-2), respectively). Results showed that planting density had significant effect on plant height, total spikelets, total tillers, fertile tillers, panicle per m2, grain yield and harvest index. Days number till to 50% flowering stage and growth period length were maximum in Neda variety. Also these characteristics were not influenced by different planting densities. Maximum plant height and maximum panicle length were obtained in Hashemi Tarom variety and minimum of these characteristics were produced in Neda variety. Plant height was decreased significantly with increase of planting density.