ABSTRACT
Investigations on the mechanisms of Zn acquisition and potential trade-offs between different mechanisms of Zn acquisition by new aerobic rice varieties are therefore needed for further genetic improvement of aerobic rice. In this chapter, the authors focus on processes involved in the transfer of Zn from soil to plants. Similar to the trade-off between root surface area and mycorrhizas, they recently reported a significantly negative correlation between Zn uptake of six aerobic rice genotypes under nonmycorrhizal conditions and their MZnR. As a conclusion from a pot experiment with six aerobic rice genotypes growing on a low Zn soil, the people reported that Zn uptake was significantly increased by inoculation with AMF, but only in genotypes with a low inherent Zn uptake when non-mycorrhizal. In view of breeding, a combination of maximum mycorrhizal responsiveness and most efficient nutrient uptake capacity in one genotype seems unrealistic.
