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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #299679
Title: Genetic and field management strategies to for limiting accumulation of arsenic in rice grains

Author
item Pinson, Shannon
item TARPLEY, LEE - Texas Agrilife
item Yan, Wengui
item SALT, DAVIE - University Of Aberdeen

Submitted to: American Chemical Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2012
Publication Date: 4/7/2013
Citation: Pinson, S.R., Tarpley, L., Yan, W., Salt, D.E. 2013. Genetic and field management strategies to for limiting accumulation of arsenic in rice grains [abstract]. American Chemical Society Abstracts, April 7-11, 2013, New Orleans, Louisiana. p.324.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In 2002, high levels of arsenic were reported in rice produced in Bangladesh using soil and water naturally high in arsenic. Study of arsenic in rice produced in additional countries, including the USA, soon followed. Grain-arsenic is higher in rice than other crops because the flooding of rice paddies converts soil arsenic into forms more readily absorbed by plants. Rice offers unique opportunity to study the genes and physiological mechanisms controlling arsenic uptake and accumulation because the same varieties can be grown either flooded or flush-irrigated. In our multi-year, multi-location evaluation of several diverse rice populations, flooding increased grain-arsenic 10-fold. Of the 13 genetic loci identified as affecting grain-arsenic in progeny from a single bi-parental cross, 9 were effective in flooded rice, 6 in unflooded rice, with two loci affecting arsenic accumulation under both conditions. Nine of the 13 arsenic loci also affected accumulation of phosphorus, silica and/or sulfur, elements known to impact arsenic accumulation in plants. Grain-arsenic was not driven by plant height or grain shape, but arsenic increased with days-to-heading.