Effects of gibberellic acid application after anthesis on seed vigor of indica hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

Gibberellic acid (GA3) application after anthesis is an important practice in hybrid rice seed production, and it plays diverse roles in seed quality and seed yield. The main objective of this study was to determine (1) the effects of GA3 application after anthesis on seed vigor and (2) the optimal GA3 dosage applied to Indica hybrid rice seed production. Field experiments of different GA3 dosages (15 g hm−2 and 30 g hm−2, respectively) after anthesis were conducted in 2016 and 2017, and seed vigor parameters, stigma vigor index, and seed yield were determined. We found that significant differences in seed vigor parameters by a standard germination test and a cool germination test were observed among different GA3 dosages after anthesis. Compared with the water spraying treatment, the germination percentage (GP) increased by 2.5–6.3%, and the vigor index (VI) increased by 8.9–19.8% from GA3 application after anthesis, respectively. Moreover, the stigma vigor index of the female parent was enhanced with an increasing GA3 dosage, and there were significant increases (7.5–16.0%) between the water spraying treatment and GA3 spraying treatments. There were positive significant relationships between the VI and stigma vigor index. Additionally, the seed yield of the GA3 application with 30 g hm−2 was 3.9% higher on average than that of the water spraying treatment. Therefore, our study suggests that seed vigor can be increased by GA3 application after anthesis, and GA3 application should be applied at a rate of 30 g hm−2 to improve seed vigor and maintain seed yield in Indica hybrid rice seed production.