Pressure Induced Rice Mutation and Effects of High Hydrostatic Pressure on the Growth and Development of Rice

The grains of Yuexiangzhan, a new rice variety (Oryza sativa L.) with a high harvest index of 0.619, had been treated with high hydrostatic pressure and laboratory cultivated for three growth periods. Compared with the controls, germinating ability of high-pressure treated seeds and growth rates of the seedlings were lower. Significant difference was observed in between individuals of high-pressure treated samples. At the later stage of growth, laboratory raise showed that the high-pressure treated samples had a higher tillering capacity and a higher growth rate than the controls. The yields were stable and increased to some extents according to the treatments. Four new mutants with genetic characteristics stable for three generations had resulted from the high-pressure treatments. This suggested that high hydrostatic pressure might induce apparent rice mutation as well as exert significant effects on the physiological processes of rice.