Variations of the vascular bundle system in Asian rice cultivars

The capacity of vascular bundle system transporting assimilates from source to sink is one of the limiting factors for rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield. Genetic variation in vascular bundle system should be investigated for improvement of transporting efficiency. A total of 531 Asian rice cultivars were studied for vascular bundles in the peduncle and its relation to spike morphology. A few difference was detected for the number-of primary rachis branches of the spike among the cultivars from various countries. However, the number of vascular bundles significantly differed among the cultivars; those from Nepal, Bangladesh and India bore more vascular bundles than those from Japan. Therefore, the ratio of vascular bundles to rachis branches (V/R ratio) was nearly 1.0 in cultivars from Japan, while those from Nepal, Bangladesh and India ranged from 1.3 to 2.2. Chinese and Indonesian cultivars incuded two types of high and low V/R ratios. Cultivars with high V/R ratio showed positive reactions to the phenol solution, while those with low V/R ratio were negative reactions, suggesting that the former cultivars are of Indica type and the latter of Japonica type. It was concluded that the relationship between vascular bundles and rachis branches differentiated among the ecotypes of Asian cultivated rice.