Rice is the staple food for over half of the world’s population. Infestation of Schizotetranychus oryzae (Acari: Tetranychidae) causes great losses in rice productivity. To search for rice genotypes that could better tolerate S. oryzae infestation, we evaluated morphological and production parameters in Brazilian cultivars, and identified two cultivars with contrasting responses. Leaf damage during infestation was similar for all cultivars. However, infestation in Puitá INTA-CL resulted in reduction in the number of seeds per plant, percentage of full seeds, weight of 1,000 seeds, and seed length, whereas infestation in IRGA 423 increased weight of 1,000 seeds and seed length. Reduction in seed weight per plant caused by infestation was clearly higher in Puitá INTA-CL (62%) compared to IRGA 423 (no reduction detected), thus Puitá INTA-CL was established as susceptible, and IRGA 423 as tolerant to S. oryzae infestation. Photosynthetic parameters were less affected by infestation in IRGA 423 than in Puitá INTA-CL, evidencing higher efficiency of energy absorption and use. S. oryzae infestation also caused accumulation of H2O2, decreased cell membrane integrity (indicative of cell death), and accelerated senescence in leaves of Puitá INTA-CL, while leaves of IRGA 423 presented higher levels of total phenolics compounds. We performed proteomics analysis of Puitá INTA-CL and IRGA 423 leaves after 7 days of infestation, and identified 60 differentially abundant proteins (28 more abundant in leaves of Puitá INTA-CL and 32 in IRGA 423). Proteins related to plant defense, such as jasmonate synthesis, and related to other mechanisms of tolerance such as oxidative stress, photosynthesis, and DNA structure maintenance, together with energy production and general metabolic processes, were more abundant in IRGA 423. We also detected higher levels of silicon (as amorphous silica cells) in leaves of infested IRGA 423 plants compared to Puitá INTA-CL, an element previously linked to plant defense, indicating that it could be involved in tolerance mechanisms. Taken together, our data show that IRGA 423 presents tolerance to S. oryzae infestation, and that multiple mechanisms might be employed by this cultivar. These findings could be used in biotechnological approaches aiming to increase rice tolerance to mite infestation.

A adoção do sistema de semeadura direta de arroz em sucessão a espécies de cobertura de solo no inverno é uma importante alternativa para possibilitar o cultivo em uma mesma área todos os anos. Com o objetivo de avaliar espécies de cobertura do solo no inverno mais apropriadas para participarem de um sistema de sucessão de culturas com semeadura direta de genótipos de arroz irrigado, conduziu-se um experimento na Estação Experimental do Arroz do Instituto Rio Grandense do Arroz, em Cachoeirinha, RS, nas estações de crescimento de 1996/97, 1997/98 e 1998/99. Os tratamentos constaram de quatro genótipos de arroz irrigado (BRS6, BR-IRGA 409, IRGA 416 e IRGA 417) instalados em semeadura direta, sobre parcelas com as coberturas de aveia-preta (Avena strigosa Scheib), aveia-branca (Avena sativa L.), azevém (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), serradela nativa [Ornithopus micranthus (Benth.) Arechavaleta] e de vegetação espontânea e com solo desnudo (testemunha). Quanto ao rendimento de grãos, houve interação entre sistemas de cobertura de solo e estações de crescimento. Nas três estações de crescimento, somente o arroz cultivado em sucessão à leguminosa serradela nativa apresentou rendimento de grãos similar ao obtido no sistema de cultivo convencional. Por outro lado, o arroz cultivado em sucessão ao azevém foi o único a apresentar rendimento de grãos inferior em relação ao sistema de cultivo convencional nas três estações de crescimento.

No abstract

A liberação de nitrogênio (N) de restos culturais depende dos processos de imobilização e mineralização microbiana, que são influenciados pelo ambiente. O objetivo do trabalho foi o de avaliar, em dois locais, os efeitos de dose e época de aplicação de N em milho (0-0; 0-160; 30-130 e 60-100kg/ha, respectivamente, na semeadura e em cobertura), em sistema de semeadura direta, implantado em duas épocas, após a dessecação (1 e aos 20 dias) de duas coberturas de solo no inverno (aveia preta e ervilhaca comum) e pousio invernal, sobre o rendimento de grãos. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos com suplementação hídrica, sendo um em Eldorado do Sul e outro em Passo Fundo, no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, no ano agrícola 1996/97. A resposta à aplicação de N dependeu do local, da cobertura de solo no inverno e da época de semeadura após a dessecação. Em Eldorado do Sul, a aplicação de N na semeadura aumentou o rendimento de grãos em relação ao tratamento com todo o N em cobertura, independentemente do tipo de planta de cobertura de solo no inverno. Em Passo Fundo, não houve diferença entre os tratamentos com N. O aumento na dose de N na semeadura de 30 para 60kg/ha não afetou o rendimento de grãos, independente do fator testado. O atraso em 20 dias na época de semeadura do milho em sucessão à aveia preta somente foi benéfico em Eldorado do Sul, aumentanto em 34% o rendimento de grãos.

Cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) is frequently exposed to multiple stresses, including Schizotetranychus oryzae mite infestation. Rice domestication has narrowed the genetic diversity of the species, leading to a wide susceptibility. This work aimed to analyze the response of two African rice species (Oryza barthii and Oryza glaberrima), weedy rice (O. sativa f. spontanea), and O. sativa cv. Nipponbare to S. oryzae infestation. Surprisingly, leaf damage, histochemistry, and chlorophyll concentration/fluorescence indicated that the African species present a higher level of leaf damage, increased accumulation of H2O2, and lower photosynthetic capacity when compared to O. sativa plants under infested conditions. Infestation decreased tiller number, except in Nipponbare, and caused the death of O. barthii and O. glaberrima plants during the reproductive stage. While infestation did not affect the weight of 1,000 grains in both O. sativa, the number of panicles per plant was affected only in O. sativa f. spontanea, and the percentage of full seeds per panicle and seed length were increased only in Nipponbare. Using proteomic analysis, we identified 195 differentially abundant proteins when comparing susceptible (O. barthii) and tolerant (Nipponbare) plants under control and infested conditions. O. barthii presents a less abundant antioxidant arsenal and is unable to modulate proteins involved in general metabolism and energy production under infested condition. Nipponbare presents high abundance of detoxification-related proteins, general metabolic processes, and energy production, suggesting that the primary metabolism is maintained more active compared to O. barthii under infested condition. Also, under infested conditions, Nipponbare presents higher levels of proline and a greater abundance of defense-related proteins, such as osmotin, ricin B-like lectin, and protease inhibitors (PIs). These differentially abundant proteins can be used as biotechnological tools in breeding programs aiming at increased tolerance to mite infestation.

6Infestation of Schizotetranychus oryzae (Acari: Tetranychidae) causes great losses in 3 7 rice productivity. Infestation in Puitá INTA-CL cultivar reduced the number of 3 8 seeds/plant, percentage of full seeds, 1,000 seeds weight, and seed length, whereas 3 9 infestation in IRGA423 increased 1,000 seeds weight and seed length. Reduction in 4 0 seed weight/plant caused by infestation was higher in Puitá INTA-CL than IRGA423. 4 1 Thus, Puitá INTA-CL was established as susceptible, and IRGA423 as tolerant to S. 4 2 oryzae infestation. Photosynthetic parameters were less affected by infestation in 4 3 IRGA423 than in Puitá INTA-CL. Infestation also caused accumulation of H 2 O 2 , 4 4 decreased cell membrane integrity and accelerated senescence in leaves of Puitá INTA-4 5 CL, while leaves of IRGA423 presented higher levels of phenolics compounds. Using 4 6 proteomic analysis, we identified proteins related to plant defense, such as jasmonate 4 7 synthesis, and related to other mechanisms of tolerance such as oxidative stress, 4 8 photosynthesis, and DNA structure maintenance, more abundant in IRGA423 after 4 9 7 1damage caused by arthropod pests can exceed 15% annually (Mitchell et al., 2016). In 7 2 order to quantify the pest resistance of the cultivars, the best tool does not seem to be 7 3 the increase of the arthropod population, but the measurement of the damages caused to 7 4 the plants, since the reduction of the leaf damage is followed by an increase in yield and 7 5 quality of the grain, and these are the ultimate objectives of most crop breeding 7 6 programs (Smith, 2005). Thus, the plant resistance/tolerance to arthropods is the sum of 7 7 genetically inherited traits that result in an adapted species that suffers less damage 7 8 compared to susceptible ones. These resistance/tolerance qualities should be measured 7 9 on a relative scale by comparing levels of damage and productivity with susceptible 8 0

A permanência de restos culturais sobre a superfície do solo altera os processos de imobilização e mineralização, diminuindo a disponibilidade de nitrogênio para o milho, principalmente, em sucessão a gramíneas. O objetivo do trabalho foi o de avaliar, em dois ambientes, os efeitos de dose e época de aplicação de N no milho (0-0; 0-160; 30-130 e 60-100kg/ha, respectivamente, na semeadura e em cobertura), em sistema de semeadura direta, implantado em duas épocas após a dessecação (1 e aos 20 dias) de duas coberturas de solo no inverno (aveia preta e ervilhaca comum) e da área em pousio invernal livre de plantas daninhas, sobre a absorção de N. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos com suplementação hídrica, sendo um em Eldorado do Sul e outro em Passo Fundo, no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, no ano agrícola 1996/97. Em Eldorado do Sul, a aplicação de N na semeadura foi benéfica, pois aumentou a absorção de N em relação ao tratamento com todo o N em cobertura, independentemente da cobertura de solo no inverno testada. Em Passo Fundo, somente no estádio de 3-4 folhas, houve vantagem da aplicação de N na semeadura em relação à aplicação total em cobertura sobre a absorção de N. Nos estádios de 6-7 folhas, 10-11 folhas e de pendoamento do milho, não houve diferença entre os tratamentos com N. O atraso na época de semeadura do milho, após a dessecação em 20 dias, mostra-se tecnicamente viável, principalmente quando em sucessão à aveia preta, pois aumentou na média dos sistemas de manejo de N 54 e 75% a absorção de N, no estádio de 3-4 folhas, respectivamente em Eldorado do Sul e em Passo Fundo. A absorção de N no tecido da planta de milho em sucessão à aveia preta foi menor em Eldorado do Sul do que em Passo Fundo, em todos os estádios avaliados. O aumento na dose de N, na semeadura, de 30 para 60kg/ha de N, não se constituiu em estratégia eficiente para aumentar a absorção de N, independentemente da cobertura de solo no inverno.

Cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) is frequently exposed to multiple stresses, including Schizotetranychus oryzae mite infestation. Rice domestication has narrowed the genetic diversity of the species, reducing the stress resistance and leading to a wide susceptibility. Therefore, wild rice species present an alternative to search for this lost variability. Aiming to observe the response of two wild rice species (Oryza barthii and Oryza glaberrima) and two Oryza sativa genotypes (cv. Nipponbare and O. sativa f. spontanea) to S. oryzae infestation, we used agronomic, physiological and molecular analyses. Surprisingly, analyses of leaf damage, histochemistry, chlorophyll concentration and chlorophyll fluorescence showed that the wild species present higher level of leaf damage, increased accumulation of H 2 O 2 and lower photosynthetic capacity when compared to O. sativa genotypes under infested conditions. Infestation did not affect plant height, but decreased tiller number, except in cv. Nipponbare, whose development was not affected. Infestation also caused the death of wild plants during the reproductive stage, unlike O. sativa genotypes, which were able to tolerate stress and produce seeds. While infestation did not affect the weight of 1,000 grains in both O. sativa genotypes, the number of panicles per plant was affected only in O. sativa f. spontanea, and the percentage of full seeds per panicle and seed length were increased only in cv. Nipponbare. Proteomic analysis allowed us to identify 195 differentially abundant proteins when comparing susceptible (O. barthii) and tolerant (O. sativa cv. Nipponbare) genotypes under control and infested conditions. We found that O. barthii has a less abundant antioxidant arsenal. In addition, it is unable to modulate proteins involved with general metabolism and energy production under infested condition. In Nipponbare we found high abundance of detoxification-related proteins, general metabolic processes and energy production, which allows us to suggest that, under infested condition, the primary metabolism is maintained more active compared to O. barthii. Also, Nipponbare presents a greater abundance of defense-related proteins, such as osmotin, ricin B-like lectin, and protease inhibitors of the Bowman Birk trypsin inhibitor family, as well as higher levels of the compatible osmolyte Proline under infested condition. Identification of these differentially abundant proteins can be used as an important biotechnological tool in breeding programs that aim increased tolerance to phytophagous mite infestation.