Excessive Leaf Rolling Reduces Grain Yield by Disrupting Source-Sink Balance in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Guohui Li1,2,3,4, Jiahao Zhang1,2,3,4, Shunda Qiao1,2,3,4
1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Agricultural College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 26, 2026
Summary
Excessive leaf rolling in rice (Oryza sativa L.) reduces canopy photosynthesis and yield by creating a source-sink imbalance. Optimizing the source-sink ratio, rather than just sink size, is crucial for high-yield rice varieties.
Area of Science:
- Plant science
- Agronomy
- Crop physiology
Background:
- Optimizing rice (Oryza sativa L.) plant architecture is key for yield potential.
- The source-sink relationship significantly impacts crop productivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how excessive leaf rolling affects photosynthetic product accumulation and translocation.
- To determine the impact of leaf rolling on the source-sink balance in rice.
Main Methods:
- Field comparison of large-panicle (ST-12) and small-panicle (Nipponbare) rice varieties under varying nitrogen levels.
- Systematic evaluation of plant architecture, photosynthesis, biomass, carbohydrate dynamics, and yield traits.
Main Results:
- Nipponbare yielded higher than ST-12 due to more productive panicles and better grain filling.
- ST-12's rolled leaves reduced canopy photosynthesis, leading to lower biomass accumulation.
- ST-12 had a higher sink capacity but a weaker source capacity, resulting in a suboptimal source-sink ratio.
Conclusions:
- Excessive leaf rolling in rice impairs canopy photosynthesis, creating a "large sink, weak source" imbalance.
- A higher source-sink ratio, not just sink size or biomass, is critical for high yield in large-panicle rice varieties.
Keywords:
plant architectypericesource–sink relationshipstructural andnon-structural carbohydrateyieldMore Related Videos
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