Interrelationship Among Rice Grain Arsenic, Micronutrients Content and Grain Quality Attributes: An Investigation From Genotype × Environment Perspective

Abstract

Arsenic contamination in the rice agro-ecosystem, its consequent spread into the food chain, and its adverse impact are a global concern. However, assessment of the impact of arsenic contamination on the qualitative aspect of rice in the post-harvest phase has not been attempted. We laid down this particular experiment with the aim to assess how arsenic contamination influences the grain quality attributes and other elemental profiles of four popular rice varieties. The entire field study was conducted in the lower Indo-Gangetic plain from genotype (four) and environment (14 locations) interaction point of view, using the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model. Our findings indicate that grain arsenic content can influence the grain quality attributes and other elemental profiles in a low to highly significant manner. Amylose content (r = 0.753), cooking time (r = 0.706), and gruel solid loss (r = 0.672, 0.721) were found to be positively correlated with grain arsenic content in high-yielding varieties. Noteworthy variations in micronutrient content like iron (6.63–9.23 mg kg−1), zinc (3.15–5.54 mg kg−1), and copper (2.04–3.86 mg kg−1) as well as soil properties are also visible. Moreover, indigenous rice varieties respond differently than high-yielding varieties. Besides these, a pronounced impact of gene/variety and environment interaction can be seen. The findings clearly indicate that the qualitative aspect of rice is also prone to As contamination. These outcomes will attract the attention of policy-makers and researchers to develop rice varieties that have desirable quality attributes appropriate for the arsenic-contaminated regions of the world for sustainable rice production.

Sustainable irrigation reduces arsenic bioavailability in fluvio-alluvial soils promoting microbial responses, high rice productivity and economic profit

“…S6). The results establish the fact that irrespective of geographic locations and seasonal changes, AWD can deliver high rice productivity, hence minimizing the crisis of food supply to the market, especially in arid countries 1 . With higher productivity, AWD also ensures greater economic benefit to the farmers and a cost-effective cultivation process (Fig.…”

“…In the soil-water-rice agro-ecosystem, both geogenic as well as anthropogenic factors contribute to arsenic (As) build-up in paddy fields [1][2][3] . However, the As-hotspot areas spread across the globe, where the As content was reportedly exceeding permissible limits 4,5 .…”

Phenotypic Variations, Environmental Effects and Genetic Basis Analysis of Grain Elemental Concentrations in Rice (<i>Oryza sativa </i>L.) for Improving Human Nutrition

“…Mg/K ratio of brown rice grains showed significant relationships with cooking quality. As concentration in rice grain was positively related to amylose content, cooking time, and gruel solid loss [152]. These relationships assist selection of appropriate rice varieties for specific desired nutritional contents.…”

An In Vitro and In Silico Perspective Study of Seed Priming with Zinc on the Phytotoxicity and Accumulation Pattern of Arsenic in Rice Seedlings

“…Arsenic contamination of the rice agro-ecosystem is a major challenge for researchers from various domains working on it. In comparison to other cereals, rice is highly efficient in accumulating significantly higher levels of arsenic in its aerial parts and grains, thus altering the rice grain quality and mineralogical profile [ 12 , 63 ]. This poses a direct threat of arsenic poisoning in humans and animals due to the consumption of arsenic-tainted rice grains and animal fodder [ 1 , 52 ].…”