QTL-based physiological modelling of leaf photosynthesis and crop productivity of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under well-watered and drought environments

Key words: Drought, ecophysiological crop modelling, GECROS, genotype, G×E interaction, modelling, Oryza sativa L., photosynthesis, quantitative trait locus, rice. Improving grain yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) crop for both favourable and stressful environments is the main breeding objective to ensure food security. The objective of this study was to amalgamate crop modelling and genetic analysis, to create knowledge and insight useful in view of this breeding objective. Photosynthesis is fundamental to biomass production, but the process is very sensitive to abiotic stresses, including drought. Upland rice cv. Haogelao, lowland rice cv. Shennong265, and 94 of their introgression lines (ILs) were studied under drought and well-watered conditions to analyse the genetics of leaf photosynthesis. After correcting for microclimate fluctuations, significant genetic variation was found in this population, and 1-3 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected per photosynthesis-related trait. A major QTL was mapped near marker RM410 on Chromosome 9 and was consistent for phenotyping at flowering and grain filling, under drought and well-watered conditions, and across field and greenhouse experiments. These results suggest that photosynthesis at different phenological stages and under different environmental conditions is, at least to some extent, influenced by the same genetic factors. To understand the physiological regulation of genetic variation and resulting QTLs for photosynthesis detected in the first study, 13 ILs were carefully selected as representatives of the population, based on the QTLs for leaf photosynthesis. These 13 ILs were studied under moderate drought and well-watered conditions in the experiment where combined gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence data were collected to assess CO2 and light response curves. Using these curves, seven parameters of a photosynthesis model were estimated to dissect photosynthesis into stomatal conductance (gs), mesoph