Yield loss in rice by acute ozone pollution could be recovered

Rising concentration of surface O₃ threatens crop production and food security. To improve the evaluation and develop efficient adaptations, it is essential to study the effects of acute O₃ pollution. We adopted this study by open-top chamber (OTC) method and found that the fumigation of elevated O₃ (NF40) for short (tillering and jointing, heading and ripening) and long periods during rice growth reduced the grain yield by 17, 19 and 25%, respectively, showing that both of the acute and chronic O₃ pollution reduce rice production. Moreover, in comparison with the plants under chronic O₃ pollution, grain yield was increased when O₃ was removed at different stages: 32% increment at tillering and jointing and 34% increment at heading and ripening. These results suggest a possibility to recover the yield loss in rice under O₃ pollution.