1. Introduction
Rice (
Oryza sativa L., 2n=24) is an important cereal and the primary food source for over one-third of the world’s population [
1]. It is the second-largest crop grown globally, with 160 million hectares of rice cultivation worldwide [
2]. Rice is a staple crop in many countries, and over 90% of its production is consumed in Asia [
1]. Despite its significance as a food source, rice cultivation poses significant challenges, including high water usage. Irrigated agriculture accounts for 70-85% of global water usage, with rice being one of the most water-consuming crops [
3]. This excessive water usage in rice cultivation has resulted in the depletion of groundwater levels in many rice-growing regions worldwide, which could have catastrophic consequences for future global rice production. Hence, the development of a new ideotype of rice that demands less water than the existing cultivation system is very important.
The high-water requirement of rice poses a threat to future rice production, as the groundwater levels in many rice-growing regions are depleting [
4,
5]. Rice production in many high-yielding regions is at risk due to groundwater depletion, and there is a need to produce more rice with less water to sustain productivity [
4,
5]. Furthermore, the labor-intensive nature of transplanted rice has resulted in many farmers moving away from rice cultivation, necessitating a shift towards more efficient rice cultivation practices [
5]. Aerobic rice cultivation offers several advantages over traditional rice cultivation methods, such as increased water-use efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, lower cultivation costs, and decreased labor requirements [
6,
7]. Bouman [
8] suggested that aerobic rice could be grown under irrigated conditions, much like upland crops such as wheat and maize, by cultivating high-yielding rice varieties in direct-sown, non-puddled, aerobic soils with irrigation. This method of cultivation is known as direct-seeded aerobic rice and could potentially serve as an alternative to cope with depleting underground water and labor shortages in rice production [
9,
10].
Iron deficiency-induced chlorosis (IDIC) is a major constraint in aerobic rice cultivation, which significantly reduces crop yield and quality [
11,
12,
13,
14]. Although some studies have been conducted on IDIC in rice, there is still a lack of information on screening genotypes for IDIC under aerobic conditions in rice germplasm [
15]. Additionally, cultivated species have limited variation for these traits, making it difficult to develop iron-efficient cultivars. IDIC is a physiological disorder that affects the growth and yield of rice under aerobic conditions. In rice cultivated under aerobic conditions, the solubility of iron in the soil is limited due to its oxidation to the insoluble ferric form [
11,
12,
13,
14]. IDIC is characterized by the interveinal chlorosis of young leaves, reduced plant growth, and decreased yield [
5]. The mechanism of IDIC in rice under aerobic conditions involves the regulation of iron uptake, translocation, and utilization [
15,
16].
Wild rice species possess a vast array of desirable alleles for abiotic stress tolerance, including IDIC tolerance, as they have evolved under diverse environmental conditions [
17]. The
Oryza genus includes 21 wild and two cultivated species of rice, and over 70% of the genetic variation in this genus is attributed to wild species [
18].
O. sativa (L.), which originated from
O. nivara and
O. rufipogon, is grown worldwide, while
O. glaberrima (Steud.), which originated in West Africa from
O. barthii (A. Chev.), is grown on a limited scale [
19].
IDIC is a common problem in rice cultivation, particularly under aerobic conditions. However, limited research has been conducted to date on screening rice genotypes for IDIC tolerance under such conditions, and cultivated species exhibit limited variation for these traits [
11,
12,
13,
14]. Wild rice species have evolved under diverse environmental conditions and harbor desirable alleles for various biotic and abiotic stresses, making them a promising genetic resource for improving IDIC tolerance in cultivated rice. Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana, India, has a vast collection of wild rice species procured from the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines. The purpose of this study was to screen wild
Oryza species for IDIC tolerance at the tillering stage under direct-seeded aerobic conditions.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Climate
The experiment was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, utilizing both field and laboratory facilities. The study site has geographical coordinates of 30°56’ N latitude and 75°52’ E longitude, and a mean altitude of 247 meters above sea level. The area has a semi-arid sub-tropical climate with distinct seasonal variations. The summer season, which lasts from April to June, is hot and dry, while the monsoon season, from July to September, is hot and humid. The winter season can be divided into two parts, mild winter from October to November and cold winter from December to February. The soil was found to have a Fe content of 4.86 ppm.
2.2. Plant Materials
In this study, a total of 313 rice genotypes were used as plant material, consisting of six accessions of
O. glaberrima, 105 accessions of
O. rufipogon, 193 accessions of
O. nivara, one accession of
O. barthii, and 8 cultivated
O. sativa genotypes (
Figure 1). Most of these species were originated from India (271) followed by Myanmar (9) and Thailand (9). The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. Paired rows of 1.5m length were sown for each entry with a row spacing of 30 cm under dry direct seeded conditions.
2.3. Irrigation applied during experiment
During the rice season, the field was irrigated immediately after sowing and thereafter on a weekly basis, depending on the amount of rainfall, to maintain the required soil moisture levels. In instances where there was rainfall, the scheduled irrigation was skipped, and additional irrigations were applied at 7-day intervals after the water had drained from the field.
2.4. Screening method for IDIC tolerance of wild germplasm
To evaluate IDIC tolerance, the rice genotypes were evaluated on a 1-5 scale after 28 days of sowing. The ratings were based on the degree of chlorosis observed in the plants [
20]. A score of 1 indicated normal, green plants without any chlorosis, while a score of 2 indicated slight yellowing of the upper leaves. A score of 3 indicated interveinal chlorosis in the upper leaves without any stunting of growth or necrosis, and a score of 4 indicated interveinal chlorosis of the upper leaves with some stunting of growth or necrosis of plant tissue. A score of 5 indicated severe chlorosis with stunted growth and necrosis of the youngest leaves and growing point. The ratings were recorded in each plot to determine the IDIC tolerance of the rice genotypes.
2.5. Chlorophyll measurement and leaf area index
The SPAD meter was used to measure chlorophyll content in the leaf. The SPAD value of each entry was determined by after 28 days of sowing using a SPAD meter to measure the middle portion of the index leaf. Five randomly selected plants from each entry were measured to ensure accuracy, while wet leaves and plants that were widely spaced, tall, or short were avoided during the measurement process. Leaf Area Index (LAI) was recorded after four weeks at tillering using a digital plant canopy imager (Model CI-110/CI-120, CIDInc, USA).
2.6. Iron content in the leaves
After four weeks of sowing, leaves were collected, thoroughly washed twice with deionized water, and then dried in a hot air oven at 65°C for 3 days. The dried leaves were finely ground to analyze the Fe concentration. To analyze the total Fe, the dried samples were digested in a diacid mixture of HNO3 and HClO4 (3:1). The concentrations of Fe were determined using the atomic absorption spectrophotometry method described by Isaac and Kerber [
21].
2.7. Statistical analysis
Experiments were conducted in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. ANOVA was performed for all the recorded data using the python. The correlation analysis was carried out to investigate the correlation between IDIC rating, iron content, LAI and SPAD reading using the python.
4. Discussion
Iron deficiency is one of the major constraints in the adaptation of aerobic rice, affecting plant growth and yield. In the present study, a significant genetic variation was observed for IDIC tolerance across the Oryza wild germplasm. Our results indicate that wild rice germplasm, particularly O. nivara and O. rufipogon, have a higher IDIC tolerance than cultivated rice varieties. A moderate to high correlation was observed between IDIC, SPAD value, and iron content. The use of wild rice germplasm in breeding programs may lead to the development of IDIC tolerant rice varieties with higher yield potential and nutritional quality.
In our study, all
Oryza sativa cultivars showed IDIC under aerobic conditions suggesting lack of genes which can efficiently uptake Fe3+ form of iron. The domestication of lowland rice cultivars involved selecting plants that were well-suited for the lowland waterlogged environment, resulting in the loss of many alleles that were important for aerobic rice cultivation [
22,
23]. As a result of distinct adaptations to their respective environments, lowland and aerobic rice have differences in nutrient availability and uptake [
11,
12,
13,
14]. The availability of Fe (iron) and Zn (zinc) can become limited under aerobic conditions due to their oxidation [
11,
24]. Under anaerobic conditions, iron is available in its ferrous form, which is easily taken up by high-yielding cultivars developed for lowland cultivation [
25]. However, under aerobic conditions, iron is insoluble (Fe3+ form) and not available for uptake by rice. In response to iron deficiency stress, plants release iron chelating substances called phytosiderophores [
26]. These phytosiderophores solubilize inorganic Fe3+ compounds by chelation, and Fe3+- phytosiderophores complexes are taken up through a specific transport system in the root plasma membrane [
27]. Variations in amount of phytosiderophores synthesizing and iron transporter genes may play a role in IDIC tolerance in resistance lines. Wild species, which have evolved under varying environmental conditions, may possess desirable alleles for aerobic cultivation.
Wild rice germplasm has been extensively demonstrated as a source of stress resistance genes for rice breeding programs [
17]. Zhang [
28] demonstrated that the introduction of wild rice alleles into cultivated rice significantly improved yield under drought conditions. Similarly, Huang [
29] found that some wild rice species possess genes that confer resistance to bacterial blight. Yuan [
30] also showed that wild rice germplasm also contains genes related to cold tolerance. Furthermore, several studies have also shown that wild rice germplasm possesses a high level of genetic diversity, which is essential for the development of new rice cultivars with enhanced stress tolerance [
31]. Similar to these studies, a significant variation for IDIC tolerance was observed in wild germplasm in our study. Identification of twenty IDIC tolerant lines in our study suggests the presence of allelic variations in the phytosiderophores synthesis, and iron transporter genes which potentially can be transferred to high yielding lowland cultivars for aerobic cultivation.
The iron content in IDIC tolerant lines and cultivated susceptible rice varieties was estimated, and results showed significant differences in iron content among genotypes. IDIC tolerant wild genotypes had higher iron content compared to cultivated susceptible rice varieties, with
O. rufipogon and
O. nivara having the highest iron content among the wild rice germplasms. Moderately IDIC tolerant Lemont cultivar had the highest iron content among the cultivated varieties which congruent with SPAD value. High level of iron has been reported been reported with IDIC in rice [
32]. A significant variation in iron content was evident among the twenty IDIC-tolerant genotypes. It is possible that IDIC tolerance in selected lines may be controlled by different mechanisms, as wild germplasm is known to contain a rich diversity of genetic variations. This could be due to the fact that different lines have adapted to iron deficient conditions through various strategies, such as changes in root architecture, production of iron-chelating compounds, or increased expression of genes involved in iron metabolism. Therefore, the mechanisms underlying IDIC tolerance in different lines may vary depending on the specific genetic variations that have been selected for in each line. In addition to IDIC, we also measured SPAD values as an indicator of chlorophyll content and plant health. Our results showed significant differences in SPAD values among genotypes, with
O. nivara and
O. rufipogon having higher SPAD values than
O. glaberrima, O. barthii, and
O. sativa. The higher chlorophyll content in wild rice germplasm may be attributed to their ability to adapt to harsh environmental conditions, including iron deficient soils. it is important to take into account that cultivated varieties typically have higher levels of chlorophyll than wild genotypes under normal growth conditions. Therefore, any differences in SPAD values between wild and cultivated genotypes may not entirely indicate their tolerance to IDIC. The LAI of a plant is an important factor that determines its photosynthetic capacity and yield potential. Our results showed significant differences in LAI among genotypes, with
O. rufipogon having the highest LAI among the wild rice germplasm and PAU 201 having the highest LAI among the cultivated varieties. IDIC tolerance might contribute to high LAI, but there were genotypic differences for LAI even under normal conditions (data not shown), suggesting that LAI might not be good indicator of IDIC tolerance.
In conclusion, our study provides important insights into the genetic variation of IDIC tolerance, chlorophyll content, LAI, and iron content among rice genotypes. Our results indicate that wild rice germplasm, particularly O. nivara and O. rufipogon, have a higher tolerance to IDIC and higher chlorophyll content, LAI, and iron content than cultivated rice varieties. The use of wild rice germplasm in breeding programs may lead to the development of IDIC tolerant rice varieties with higher yield.