Abstract
KT95, a mutant of rice (cv. Koshihikari), shows a specific shape of upper leaves, i.e. curling leaf characteristic to water stress in upland rice. To characterize the metabolic feature of this mutant, tissue constituents in KT95 such as free amino acids, polyamines and minerals were compared with its parent Koshihikari.
In KT95, the leaves before 11th leaf were normal but 12th leaf and 13th leaf (flag leaf) apparently showed curling. Although the leaf shape in KT95 was similar to those subjected to water stress, water content was the same as those in Koshihikari. As regards proline and putrescine, biochemical markers of water stress, no significant differences were observed between KT95 and Koshihikari. However, spermidine/spermine ratio in KT95 was quite low, reflecting the slow growth of this mutant. Other specific trait of KT95 was very low Ca, Mn, Ba and Sr content in curling leaf.
