Alien cytoplasm effects on phytosiderophore release in two spring wheats (Triticum aestivum L.)

Iron (Fe) deficiency is a difficult nutrient problem particularly in crop plants grown on calcareous soils. Recently, phytosiderophore (PS) release has been linked to the ability of graminaceous species and genotypes to withstand Fe-deficiency chlorosis. So enhancing PS release is a critical step to improve iron efficiency of plants grown on iron stressed soils. The effects of alien cytoplasm on PS release in spring wheat were studied by analyzing PS release from twenty wheat genotypes, including two spring wheat 881 and 352-35, and their 18 alloplasmic lines with the participation of cytoplasms from the Aegilops and Triticum species. Different genotypes were grown in iron sufficient and deficient nutrient solution under controlled environmental conditions. PS release rates were determined at two or three days intervals after onset of iron deficiency symptoms by the measurement of iron mobilizing capacity of root exudates from freshly precipitated Fe^III hydroxide. High amounts of phytosiderophores were released from roots of all wheat genotypes without iron supplied, and the amount progressively increased with the development of iron deficiency chlorosis. The results revealed that (1) the release rate of phytosiderophores from roots of common wheat could be considerably influenced by alien cytoplasms. Some alien cytoplasms exerted positive effects, some ones did negative effects, and the other ones had no significant effects. (2) the same alien cytoplasm could affect similarly or oppositely the phytosiderophores release from different wheat. (3) some alien cytoplasms, such as Chinese Spring, Ae. speltoides Tausch and Ae. cylindrica Host showed promising and potential in improving the rate of phytosiderophore release in common wheat. These cytoplasms which showed the desired effect should be given priority in interspecific and intergeneric hybridization to develop and reconstruct the needed wheat cultivars.