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The role of small molecules in restricting rice accumulation of dimethylarsinic acid

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Abstract

Aims

Dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), an organic arsenic compound found in rice grain, is a causal agent of straighthead disorder, which can decimate yields. To minimize rice accumulation of DMA, we tested 9 molecules for antagonistic effects with DMA. We also tested whether the source of nitrogen is able to affect DMA uptake, as DMA is a weak acid and different nitrogen sources have differing effects on rhizospheric pH.

Methods

We grew rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Lemont) hydroponically to maturity in two different experiments. First, 9 potential competitors (boric acid, calcium, glycerol, glycine, lactic acid, phosphoric acid, serine, silicic acid, and urea) were included in the hydroponic solution at a molar ratio ≥ 100:1 competitor:DMA. Second, rice receiving 5 μM DMA was grown under ammonium, nitrate, or a 1:1 mix of ammonium and nitrate. Yield metrics and plant elemental concentrations were measured after harvest.

Results

Of the potential competitors, only silicic acid was able to alleviate straighthead disorder and no competitors were able to reduce grain As by ≥30%. Under differing nitrogen sources, nitrate decreased plant concentrations of As relative to ammonium, but not in the grain.

Conclusions

While Si can alleviate DMA uptake, there remains uncertainty in how most DMA enters the plant.

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Abbreviations

DMA:

Dimethylarsinic acid

DCB:

Dithionite citrate bicarbonate.

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Acknowledgements

M.A.L. acknowledges support from National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2016-67012-24673. The authors also thank Ayofela Dare and Julia O’Brien for assistance with hydroponic work and Caroline Golt and the UD Soil Testing Laboratory for assistance with ICP analysis.

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  1. Department of Plant & Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, 531 S. College Ave, Newark, DE, 19716, USA

    Matt A. Limmer & Angelia L. Seyfferth

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  1. Matt A. Limmer
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  2. Angelia L. Seyfferth
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Correspondence to Angelia L. Seyfferth.

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Limmer, M.A., Seyfferth, A.L. The role of small molecules in restricting rice accumulation of dimethylarsinic acid. Plant Soil 447, 599–609 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-019-04414-1

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