Correlation of Nitrogen Concentration with Dry-Matter Partitioning to Spikelets and Total Husk Volume on the Panicle in Japonica Rice

A rice husk restricts the grain development physically. We examined the correlation of the total husk volume on a panicle, a parameter of yield capacity, with the nitrogen concentration (per dry weight) and the dry weight of the above-ground part of the plant, using single-stem-trained japonica rice (cv. Nipponbare) plants. The growth of rice plants was regulated by shading at two levels and nitrogen application at three levels from about 40 days before the heading (about 10 days before the panicle initiation). The number of spikelets per dry weight of the above-ground part of the plant at the end of the spikelet differentiation stage was linearly correlated with the nitrogen concentration at that time. The ratio of the spikelet dry weight at heading to the dry weight of the above-ground part of the plant at the end of the spikelet differentiation stage increased as the nitrogen concentration increased at a low nitrogen concentration, but the increase of the ratio slowed down at a nitrogen concentration of 2%. Decrease in dry weight of the spikelet resulted in a decrease of lemma size. Therefore, the ratio of the total husk volume on a panicle to the plant dry weight at the end of spikelet differentiation stage also increased as the nitrogen concentration increased at a low nitrogen concentration, but the increase stopped at a nitrogen concentration of 2% in contrast to the ratio of the spikelet number to the dry weight of the plant. These results suggest that, to increase the total husk volume on a panicle by nitrogen application, dry-matter production must be increased by the nitrogen application