Effects of Thickness Fraction Process on Physicochemical Properties, Cooking Qualities, and Sensory Characteristics of Long-Grain Rice Samples

A process of removing thinner kernels of rough rice, i.e., thickness fraction process, has been suggested as a method for increasing milling yields in the rice industry. This study aimed at determining whether physicochemical properties, cooking qualities, and sensory characteristics of rice samples could be changed by the addition of a thickness fraction into the rice process stream. Each of four long-grain rice cultivar lots was assigned into two groups: unfractionated and thickness-fractionated. For the thickness-fractionated group, thin rice kernels (<1.9 mm) of rough rice were discarded from unfractionated rice samples. Unfractionated and thickness-fractionated rice samples were compared with respect to physicochemical properties, cooking qualities, and sensory characteristics. The results showed that the removal of such thin kernels decreased the breakage and chalkiness rates and increased head rice yields. Fractionated rice samples exhibited lower amylose contents and crude protein contents but higher gelatinization temperatures than unfractionated rice samples. While the optimum cooking duration and width–expansion ratios of thickness-fractionated rice samples were higher than those of unfractionated ones, there was a negligible impact of the thickness fraction process on sensory characteristics of long-grain rice samples. In conclusion, the thickness fraction process affects physicochemical properties and cooking qualities more than the sensory characteristics of rice samples.

Influence of meteorological parameters on performance of rainfed cropping systems

Rainfall, its distribution along with distribution of temperature. relative humidity (RH), bright sunshine hours (SSH) suggest the possible growing season and crop performance in a given area. Field experiments on five economically feasible, sustainable, rainfed crop sequences viz. fallow (i.e. no crop) – rice-lentil, jute-rice-lentil, direct seeded rice-rice-lentil, mungbean-rice-lentil and sesame-rice-lentil were conducted at Kalyani Farm, W.B., during 1989-91. Mean monthly meteorological parameters viz. rainfall, potential evapotranspiration (PET), SSH, temperature (max. and min.) and RH (at 0700 and 1400 hrs LMT) were obtained from selected agrometeorological observatories (viz. Chinsurah, Haringhata and Barrackpore), adjacent to the Kalyani Farm located in Gangetic alluvial region. The relative yield performance of crops and sequences as influenced by meteorological parameters were studied. In Gangetic alluvial region early rain, moderate to high temperature with high RH during April/May resulted in good pre-kharif crop establishment. Heavy, well distributed precipitation during monsoon months along with moderate temperature and very high RH showed scope for rainfed transplanted kharif rice as the pivot of crop rotation. Kharif rice yields were high especially after jute or mungbean. Profile stored residual moisture along with low rainfall, low temperature and high RH during rabi season resulted in good performance of lentil. Among the five sequences studied, performance of' jute-rice-lentil and mungbean-rice-lentil were the best with sustainable production and net return.

Research on lncRNA Related to Drought Resistance of Shanlan Upland Rice

Background Drought has become the major abiotic stress that causes losses in rice yields and consequently is one of the main environmental factors threatening food security. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is known to play an important role in plant response to drought stress, while the mechanisms of competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) in drought resistance in upland rice have been rarely reported. Results In our study, a total of 191 lncRNAs, 2115 mRNAs and 32 miRNAs (microRNAs) were found by strand-specific sequencing and small RNA sequencing to be differentially expressed in drought-stressed rice. Functional analysis of results indicate that they play important roles in hormone signal transduction, chlorophyll synthesis, protein synthesis and other pathways. Construction of a ceRNA network revealed that MSTRG.28732.3 may interact with miR171 in the chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway and affect the ability of plants to withstand drought stress by regulating Os02g0662700, Os02g0663100 and Os06g0105350. The accuracy of the regulatory network was verified by qRT-PCR. Conclusion Our results provide a theoretical basis for future studies on the potential function of lncRNA in plant drought resistance, and they provide new genetic resources for drought-resistant rice breeding.

Efektivitas Cyhalofop-butyl Mengendalikan Gulma pada Budidaya Padi Sawah Tabela

High competition in the early growth phase will suppress growth and reduce rice yields. Presence of weeds in the rice field ecosystem needs to be controlled. Weed control with herbicides is more effective than other controls. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the herbicide Cyhalofop-butyl in controlling weeds in the cultivation of direct seeds rice cultivation. The research was conducted in Sekaran village, Wonosari sub-district, Klaten district, Central Java. The method used was randomized block with seven treatments and four replications. The treatment consisted of a dose of the herbicide Cyhalofop-butyl 100 g.L^-1with levels: (50, 75, 100, 125, 150, and 175 L.ha^-1), mechanical weeding and control (no weeding). The results showed that Cyhalofop-butyl at a dose of 50–175 L.ha^-1 was effective in controlling the weeds of <em>Echinochloa crus-galli, Leptochloa chinensis</em> and other weeds at 3 weeks after application up to 6 weeks after application, without causing phytotoxicity effect on rice plants, herbicide Cyhalofop-butyl does not affect the growth and production of rice but reduces competition between weeds and rice plans. Herbicide Cyhalofop-butyl applied at a dose of 50 - 175 L.ha^-1provide rice grain yield of 10,25 - 11,50 kg per plot.

Surveys of Weed Management on Flooded Rice Yields in Southern Brazil

One of the main limiting factors for high yields of flooded rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the presence of weeds, especially herbicide-resistant weeds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of weed management practices adopted by flooded rice farmers in the State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) to grain yield. For this purpose, 324 interview surveys were administered to farmers who supplied information about the history of weed management and yields. The answers to the survey indicated that weedy rice (Oryza sativa L.) and Echinochloa sp. were the most important weeds that occurred in flooded rice areas in RS. Advanced growth stage of weeds and inadequate environmental conditions such as air temperature and relative humidity were listed as the main reasons for the low weed control efficacy. Farmers achieved greater rice yields when adopted rice-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (9,140 kg ha−1 average yield) and herbicide site of action rotations (8,801 kg ha−1 average yield) along with tank-mixes (8,580 kg ha−1 average yield) as specific management practices for resistant weed control. The use of glyphosate with residual herbicides in tank-mix in rice spiking stage is the main factor related to greater yields. The postemergence applications and their relations with delaying of flooded rice is a factor that reduces rice yield when no spiking glyphosate applications was made. Identification of the most important weeds in terms of occurrence, as well as the knowledge of the main agronomic practices adopted by the farmers, are essential so that recommendations for integrated management practices can be adopted in an increasingly accurate and sustainable-flooded rice areas in Southern Brazil.

Climate Change in the Philippines

Impacts of Climate Change in the Philippines include threats to biodiversity such as coral loss, declining rice yields, more intense droughts, and higher sea-level rise. While there is a strong scientific consensus that human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are generating climate change that then contributes to stronger typhoons, the Filipinos have low responsibility for causing climate change. The struggle that is faced by the Philippines, as well as other developing countries, is more than just an environmental problem, it is an example of climate injustice.