Physiological responses of early-season rice to simulated root damage from mechanical transplanting
Abstract
Yield loss from mechanical transplanting in early-season rice is often attributed to root damage, yet the physiological mechanism remains poorly understood. A two-year field experiment was conducted in early-season rice with two varieties (Lingliangyou 211, hybrid; Zhongzao 39, conventional inbred) under three root damage treatments: no damage (CK), mild (roots trimmed to 2 cm, T1), and severe (roots trimmed to 1 cm, T2). Root regeneration, leaf water status, antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), soluble protein, and PSII maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) were measured at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after transplanting in 2022, whereas grain yield and yield components were evaluated in both 2021 and 2022. Results showed that T2 reduced grain yield by 8–9% across both years, whereas T1 had no significant effect. The two varieties exhibited consistent physiological responses to root damage. Both T1 and T2 stimulated compensatory new root proliferation, with significantly higher new root numbers at days 5–7 relative to CK. However, T2 induced sustained oxidative stress, as indicated by elevated MDA in roots throughout the recovery period and in leaves from day 5 onward. In contrast, T1 caused only a transient increase in root MDA. T2 reduced Fv/Fm by 23–26%, pre-heading biomass production by 13%, and highest tiller number by 10–21%. Conversely, T1 maintained all these parameters at control levels. Severe root damage reduced PSII photochemical efficiency and biomass in association with systemic oxidative stress, whereas mild damage was effectively contained. These findings indicate that, under the tested conditions, severe root trimming that leaves approximately 1 cm of intact roots was detrimental to grain yield, whereas retaining approximately 2 cm did not significantly compromise productivity.
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BibTeX
@article{fang2026physiological,
title = {{Physiological responses of early-season rice to simulated root damage from mechanical transplanting}},
author = {Xilin Fang and Hongyu Zhang and Xiaqin Luo and Wupeng Ji and Xuefei Tian and Wei Chen and Xiaoli Lin and Ting Zhong and Min Luo and Jingyi Peng and Yusheng Zhang and Guanghui Chen},
journal = {Frontiers in Plant Science},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fpls.2026.1994571},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1994571},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Physiological responses of early-season rice to simulated root damage from mechanical transplanting
AU - Xilin Fang
AU - Hongyu Zhang
AU - Xiaqin Luo
AU - Wupeng Ji
AU - Xuefei Tian
AU - Wei Chen
AU - Xiaoli Lin
AU - Ting Zhong
AU - Min Luo
AU - Jingyi Peng
AU - Yusheng Zhang
AU - Guanghui Chen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/02
JO - Frontiers in Plant Science
DO - 10.3389/fpls.2026.1994571
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1994571
AB - Yield loss from mechanical transplanting in early-season rice is often attributed to root damage, yet the physiological mechanism remains poorly understood. A two-year field experiment was conducted in early-season rice with two varieties (Lingliangyou 211, hybrid; Zhongzao 39, conventional inbred) under three root damage treatments: no damage (CK), mild (roots trimmed to 2 cm, T1), and severe (roots trimmed to 1 cm, T2). Root regeneration, leaf water status, antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), soluble protein, and PSII maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) were measured at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after transplanting in 2022, whereas grain yield and yield components were evaluated in both 2021 and 2022. Results showed that T2 reduced grain yield by 8–9% across both years, whereas T1 had no significant effect. The two varieties exhibited consistent physiological responses to root damage. Both T1 and T2 stimulated compensatory new root proliferation, with significantly higher new root numbers at days 5–7 relative to CK. However, T2 induced sustained oxidative stress, as indicated by elevated MDA in roots throughout the recovery period and in leaves from day 5 onward. In contrast, T1 caused only a transient increase in root MDA. T2 reduced Fv/Fm by 23–26%, pre-heading biomass production by 13%, and highest tiller number by 10–21%. Conversely, T1 maintained all these parameters at control levels. Severe root damage reduced PSII photochemical efficiency and biomass in association with systemic oxidative stress, whereas mild damage was effectively contained. These findings indicate that, under the tested conditions, severe root trimming that leaves approximately 1 cm of intact roots was detrimental to grain yield, whereas retaining approximately 2 cm did not significantly compromise productivity.
SN - 1664-462X
ER -