Morphology of Rice Seed Development and Its Influence on Grain Quality

Various quality attributes of rice seed are affected by the wide array of biochemical products accumulated during the course of reproductive development and the environmental conditions which impact the grain composition. The staging of rice plant reproductive development is needed in experiments to define phase transitions of seed biology. The application of the nomenclature and criteria of the rice growth staging system can facilitate recording the reproductive development by distinct stages. The meaningful progression from one stage to another in time can then be evaluated in a tabular or graphic manner. In order to determine the developmental stages of rice in experiments, it is desirable to select a representative group of plants and to record the development of those plants. We provide procedures for efficiently (1) observing and recording development of rice plants and (2) collecting, storing and seperating seed by developmental stages. It is necessary to divide seeds into differing groups to track development from fertilization until maturity. The earliest seeds to be fertilized on a panicle are superior grains and the latter seeds to develop are inferior grains. In some cases, it is necessary to divide individual seeds into the aforementioned groups and the different stages of development for various analyses. A procedure for dividing seeds into differing stages of development is presented to more appropriately select seeds for further analysis. The developmental record can then be statistically and graphically analyzed to better understand responses to treatments and interactions among treatments, years, and locations.