Source and Strategy of Iron Uptake by Rice Grown in Flooded and Drained Soils: Insights from Fe Isotope Fractionation and Gene Expression

Rice can simultaneously absorb Fe2+ via a strategy I-like system and Fe(III)-phytosiderophore via strategy II from soil. Still, it remains unclear which strategy and source of Fe dominate under distinct water conditions. An isotope signature combined with gene expression was employed to evaluate Fe uptake and transport in a soil-rice system under flooded and drained conditions. Rice of flooded treatment revealed a similar delta Fe-56 value to that of soils (Delta Fe-56(rice-soil) = 0.05 parts per thousand), while that of drained treatment was lighter than that of the soils (Delta Fe-56(rice-soil )= -0.41 parts per thousand). Calculations indicated that 70.4% of Fe in rice was from Fe plaque under flooded conditions, while Fe was predominantly from soil solution under drained conditions. Up-regulated expression of OsNAAT1, OsTOM2, and OsYSL15 was observed in the root of flooded treatment, while higher expression of OsIRT1 was observed in the drained treatment. These isotopic and genetic results suggested that the Fe(III)-DMA uptake from Fe plaque and Fe2+ uptake from soil solution dominated under flooded and drained conditions, respectively.

Automated summary

Rice utilizes different strategies and sources to absorb iron depending on water conditions. Isotope signature combined with gene expression analysis revealed that under flooded conditions, rice predominantly absorbs Fe(III)-DMA from Fe plaque, while under drained conditions, it primarily absorbs Fe2+ from soil solution.