Varietal Characteristics of Kernel Growth of Rice influenced by Different Temperature Regimes During Grain Filling

This experiment was conducted to know the characteristics of kernel growth as affected by various temperature regimes during grain filling using the varieties Hwaseongbyeo, Ilpumbyeo and Chucheongbyeo. The rice plants tested were grown in the natural condition at 1/5000a Wagner pots until flowering. After flowering, the rice plants were moved to controlled temperature conditions in a phytotron. The minimum/maximum daily temperature in the phytotron was controlled by 12/18, 15/21, 18/24, 21/27, and 24/$30^{\circ}C$, respectively. The grain weights were measured every three days after treatment. The mean daily kernel growth rate during active grain filling period showed different responses among varieties under various temperature regimes. The kernel growth rate of Chucheongbyeo was seriously reduced as temperature regimes were decreased. However, that of Ilpumbyeo was not influenced so critically. Ilpumbyeo showed some advantages in grain filling under low temperature regimes compared to Chucheongbyeo. The lag phase in grain filling of Chucheongbyeo was the longest among tested varieties, followed by Hwaseongbyeo under daily mean temperature regime of $15^{\circ}C$. Kernel weight of Ilpumbyeo increased fast in early grain filling phase under low temperature. This characteristic may be favorable for grain filling in temperate zone where the daily mean temperature is drastically dropped during grain filling period. Regression analysis with kernel growth rate and temperature showed the estimated critical low temperature for grain filling among varieties were $9^{\circ}C$, $12^{\circ}C$, $13^{\circ}C$ in Ilpumbyeo, Hwaseongbyeo and Chucheongbyeo, respectively. Under moderate temperature the duration of grain filling of Ilpumbyeo was longer than that of Chucheongbyeo. However, Under low temperature that of Ilpumbyeo was more favorable than Chucheongbyeo.