Potential risks of genetically modified (GM) crops must be identified before their commercialization, as happens with all new technologies. One of the major concerns is the proper risk assessment of adventitious presence of transgenic material in rice fields due to cross-pollination. Several studies have been conducted in order to quantify pollen-mediated gene flow from transgenic rice (Oryza s...

BACKGROUND Transgene flow through pollen and seeds leads to transgenic volunteers and feral populations in the nature, and consumer choice and economic incentives determine whether transgenic crops will be cultivated in the field. Transgenic and non-transgenic plants are likely to coexist in the field and natural habitats, but their competitive interactions are not well understood. METHODS Fi...

• Inorganic arsenic (As(i) ) in rice (Oryza sativa) grains is a possible threat to human health, with risk being strongly linked to total dietary rice consumption and consumed rice As(i) content. This study aimed to identify the range and stability of genetic variation in grain arsenic (As) in rice. • Six field trials were conducted (one each in Bangladesh and China, two in Arkansas, USA over 2...

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy season of 2008 and 2009 to use guttation fluid as a physiological marker for the screening of more nitrogen efficient rice genotypes on the basis of relationship between Guttation Fluid (GF) oozed by leaf tip and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), grain yield (GY) and biological yield (BY) amongst five rice (KRH-2hybrid, Kasturiaromatic, Krishna Ham...

The objective of this study was to determine predictive models of rice functionality from protein and starch chemistry data. One long-grain rice variety (Cocodrie) was harvested from two fields in Arkansas. Rice was harvested from 8 locations in each field. Samples were then stored at 21oC/50% RH until equilibrated to a storage moisture content of 12%. Texture properties were measured using a T...

Contamination of drainage channels and creeks with pesticides used in rice production is of concern in south-eastern Australia. Of major concern is the herbicide molinate that is detected in over 25% of water samples. This pesticide has been the focus of researchers and environmental protection authorities due to continuing frequent detection off-farm despite improved application methods and wa...

The accumulation of As in rice due to groundwater irrigation in paddy fields represents a serious health hazard in South and Southeast Asia. In Taiwan, the fate of As in long-term irrigated paddy fields is poorly understood. Groundwater, surface soil, and rice samples were collected from a paddy field that was irrigated with As-containing groundwater in southwestern Taiwan. The purpose of this ...

Cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) accumulation in rice grains is a great threat to its productivity, grain quality, and thus human health. Pot and field studies were carried out to unravel the effect of different water management practices (aerobic, aerobic-flooded, and flooded) on Cd and As accumulation in rice grains of two different varieties. In pot experiment, Cd or As was also added into the ...

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide for its low cost and high efficiency. However, it is rarely applied directly in rice field due to its toxicity to rice. Therefore, glyphosate-tolerant rice can greatly decrease the cost of rice production and provide a more effective weed management strategy. Although, several approaches to develop transgenic rice with glyphosate tolerance have been ...

Recent field studies in rice paddy fields in Japan and China have shown that N2O is emitted to the atmosphere not only after the application of nitrogen fertilisers under flooded conditions but also in a period from the final drainage to submergence in the following rice-growing season through nitrification or denitrification. Those results clearly indicate that CH4 and N2O emissions in rice pa...