How do weather extremes affect rice productivity in a changing climate? An answer to episodic lack of sunshine

Abstract

Here, we experimentally examined how an episodic lack of sunshine (ELS), as an extreme weather event, would affect rice productivity under warming with elevated [CO2 ]. In 2009 and 2010, rice plants were grown at two levels of [CO2 ] (ca. 390 and 650 μl l(-1) ) and three levels of warming (≈ambient, +1.2 °C, and +2.2/2.4 °C) in six independent temperature gradient field chambers (three each for ambient and elevated [CO2 ]). At panicle initiation (PI), booting (BT), or flowering (FL), rice plants were exposed to ELS (ca. 18% of full sunlight) for 10-14 days consecutively. As expected, ELS elicited a significant reduction in aboveground biomass (AGB) and yields. However, elevated [CO2 ] had the potential to relieve the ELS-induced reduction in AGB and yield, whereas warming had the reverse effect for yields, without a significant warming × [CO2 ] interaction. When ELS applied at PI, BT, and FL, the extents to which warming-reduced yields (averaged across [CO2 ] levels) ranged from 9 to 25%, 7 to 14, and 10 to 18% at +1.2 °C, and ranged from 24 to 56%, 22 to 55%, and 18 to 46% at +2.2/2.4 °C across two seasons, respectively. Meanwhile, under normal sunshine they ranged from 1 to 3% at +1.2 °C and 7 to 21% at +2.2/2.4 °C. Warming predisposed rice plants that had experienced ELS to be more sensitive to spikelet sterility and spikelet number per panicle, accounting for most of the yield reductions. These findings provide evidence that an expected warming could further exacerbate rice productivity if ELS occurs simultaneously during reproductive stages. Our results collectively suggest that it might be critically important to consider extreme events for a holistic evaluation of the potential impact of warming and [CO2 ] on crop productivity, when considering changing climate.

Spring Freeze Effect on Wheat Yield is Modulated by Winter Temperature Fluctuations: Evidence from Meta‐Analysis and Simulating Experiment

“…, Choi et al. ). Using an empirically validated energy balance model, comparison of experimental results from glasshouse and open‐top chambers (OTC) indicated that total light transmission and the reflectance of long wave radiation could affect the leaf temperatures, which do not accord with the natural environment (De Boeck et al.…”

“…To explore the reasons causing yield reduction by varied temperature scenarios, the simulating experiment with FATC system was performed. Substantial studies have been performed with infrared heaters and through a variety of closed or partially opened warming facilities to simulate effects of projected global warming on cereal crops ( Rehmani et al 2011, Tian et al 2012, Choi et al 2013).…”

“…Global warming affects large-scale atmospheric circulation, triggers and exacerbates more weather extreme events, including prolonged warm winter and delayed but frequent extreme low temperatures in spring (You et al 2010, Zhao et al 2010. These climate extremes are projected to occur in greater extent and higher frequency in East China, where it has exhibited more rapid warming trends (Ren et al 2008, Zhao et al 2010, Choi et al 2013, Liu et al 2014.…”

Rice panicle plasticity in Near Isogenic Lines carrying a QTL for larger panicle is genotype and environment dependent

“…At heading stage onwards, lower carbon availability to the plant like shading reduces shoot dry matter and grain filling percentage of Nipponbare rice (Kobata et al 2000 ) because sink capacity is already fixed. However, during panicle development, Choi et al ( 2013 ) reported that temporary lack of sunshine (10 – 14 days) adversely affects panicle morphogenesis (differentiated spikelet number, branch number, panicle length). According to the authors, the fact that this could be mitigated with elevated ambient [CO 2 ] indicates that panicle development is driven by carbon resources although the process itself consumes little assimilate.…”

Differences in cold hardiness, carbohydrates, dehydrins and related gene expressions under an experimental deacclimation and reacclimation in Prunus persica

“…According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) A1B emission scenario, the global mean temperature is expected to increase by 2.8°C by the end of the 21st century in conjunction with increased atmospheric CO 2 concentrations, (Parry et al ); the temperature in East Asia is projected to increase 3.3°C beyond the global mean (Choi et al ). Despite increases in atmospheric mean temperature, freezing injury in peaches has increased in recent years as a result of insufficient frost tolerance in this crop (Flore ).…”