Understanding physiological and morphological traits contributing to drought tolerance in barley

Drought stress is a major limiting factor for crop production in the arid and semi‐arid regions. Here, we screened eighty barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes collected from different geographical locations contrasting in drought stress tolerance and quantified a range of physiological and agronomical indices in glasshouse trails. The experiment was conducted in large soil tanks subjected to drought treatment of eighty barley genotypes at three‐leaf stage and gradually brought to severe drought by withholding irrigation for 30 days under glasshouse conditions. Also, root length of the same genotypes was measured from stress‐affected plants growing hydroponically. Drought tolerance was scored 30 days after the drought stress commenced based on the degree of the leaf wilting, fresh and dry biomass and relative water content. These characteristics were related to stomatal conductance, stomatal density, residual transpiration and leaf sap Na, K, Cl contents measured in control (irrigated) plants. Responses to drought stress differed significantly among the genotypes. The overall drought tolerance was significantly correlated with relative water content, stomatal conductance and leaf Na⁺ and K⁺ contents. No significant correlations between drought tolerance and root length of 6‐day‐old seedling, stomatal density, residual transpiration and leaf sap Cl^? content were found. Taking together, these results suggest that drought‐tolerant genotypes have lower stomatal conductance, and lower water content, Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl^? contents in their tissue under control conditions than the drought‐sensitive ones. These traits make them more resilient to the forthcoming drought stress.     

Inter‐relationship between photosynthetic efficiency, Δ13C,antioxidant activity and sugarcane yield under drought stress in field conditions

Drought is one of the major climatic factors that reduce crop yields in cultivated areas around the world, and studies on physiological responses may help in the selection of drought tolerant genotypes. Thus, this work aimed to correlate gas exchange, photosynthetic efficiency, carbon isotope discrimination (Δ¹³C) and antioxidant activity in sugarcane varieties submitted to water stress under field conditions. Six sugarcane varieties were submitted to drought stress in three development stages: tillering, intense growth and ripening. In all varieties, the photosynthetic apparatus was severely affected by drought, with a reduction in photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content. During the tillering stage, reductions in gas exchange and increase in Δ¹³C and bundle sheath leakiness (φ) were observed. In the intense growth stage, water stress caused increases in leaf temperature, intrinsic water use efficiency, antioxidant enzyme activity and lipid peroxidation, and reductions in stomatal conductance and transpiration in the RB72454, RB855113 and RB855536 varieties. However, the RB92579 variety maintained a better physiological homeostasis at all development stages and presented higher stalks yielding when submitted to drought. This work suggests that screen sugarcane genotype to drought stress should be performed during the intense growth stage, when plants are more sensitive to drought conditions.     

Variation in morphophysiological characters of fruits of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trigonobalanus doichangensis</Emphasis> (Fagaceae) according to individual trees,populations and years

Trigonobalanus doichangensis is recognized as a rare and endangered plant of China. The morphological and physiological traits of fruits were investigated in one population over 2 years (2006–2007) and in four populations during 2007 in order to facilitate ex-situ conservation and eventual reforestation through planting of propagules. The results indicated that morphological traits including fruit length, fruit width and 1,000-fruit weight showed significant variation among individual trees within populations (P < 0.01), however, not among populations. And each of them had significant positive correlation with each other (P < 0.01). Seed abortion occurred, and there was significant variation in percentage of fruit fill among populations and among individual trees within populations, whereas, percentage of fruit fill showed no correlation with the morphological traits. As for fruit germination, germination percentage, germination index and vigor index presented significant variation among populations and among individual trees within populations. The three germination-related indices had significant positive correlations with each other (r ≥ 0.9, P < 0.01) and with percentage of fruit fill (r > 0.86, P < 0.01), however, possessing weak correlations with morphological traits. It was also found that each of the traits mentioned above showed significant variation among individual trees within years, however, not between years. In addition, more than 48% of the variation occurred among individual trees both within populations and within years in all the fruit characters. We suggest that collecting fruits from various individuals at each of populations will be the preferred strategy to conserve the most genetic diversity of the species.     

Low temperature tolerance of biomass and pollen germination in potato clones of Andean and European origin

Summary The temperature-related performances of six tetraploid potato clones, two Andean, three European, and one hybrid, were compared by cultivating them in growth chambers under one of two temperature regimes: 10°C day/4°C night or 20°C day/10°C night. Preformance was measured in terms of biomass production and pollen germinability.For dry matter yield at second harvest, the temperature-related performance ratios (performance at 10°C/4°C divided by performance at 20°/10°C) were highest for the Andean clones, intermediate for the Andean/European hybrid clone 201₅×S₁₂, and lowest for the European cultivars. The ability of the European cultivars to maintain their normal rates (i.e. rates at 20/10°C) of biomass production when cultivated at low temperatures varied greatly, with clone S₃ performing most poorly at 10/4°C.For pollen germinability in vitro, performance ratios were highest for the hybrid clone 201₅×S₁₂ and lowest for the European clones.The high tuber yield of hybrid 201₅×S₁₂ at 10/4°C can be attributed to its low-temperature tolerance and it being daylength neutral.     

干旱胁迫下不同基质对佛甲草生理生化的影响

探索在干旱胁迫下佛甲草对不同基质的适应能力,旨在为现代人工屋顶轻型基质的选择提供参考。本研究以佛甲草为试材,采用不同基质栽培,研究干旱胁迫下4种基质中佛甲草生理生化指标的变化。结果表明：随着干旱胁迫时间的延长,不同基质上佛甲草相对含水量(RWC)呈下降趋势;叶绿素含量、过氧化物酶(POD)活性呈先增后降的趋势;细胞膜透性、丙二醛(MDA)含量呈上升趋势。4种基质以在腐叶土:壤土:珍珠岩:蛭石=4:3:2:1配比的基质上佛甲草的生长状况良好,其RWC、叶绿素含量、POD活性最高,降幅最低;细胞膜透性及MDA含量最低,增幅最小。在干旱胁迫下,上述栽培基质表现出了较强的抗旱特性,更能适应屋顶较干旱的环境,为最佳栽培基质。     

An evaluation of seed and seedling drought tolerance screening tests in wheat

Summary A series of experiments was performed in order to evaluate the significance of seed germination and seedling growth in osmotic media as screening methods for drought tolerance.Ten spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell.) and one durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) were tested under controlled environments, using polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG) solutions as the moisture stress inducing media.Tolerance in the rate of endosperm utilization, under stress, prior to the onset of germination varied among cultivars.Germination rate or injury to germination at various concentrations of PEG differed significantly among cultivars. Cultivar rating with respect to injury to germination changed with stress levels. Injury to germination did not correlate with endosperm utilization rate in PEG or in water.Germinating seedlings were tolerant to extreme desiccation up to the stage of emergence of the first leaf from the coleoptile.Growth of photosynthesizing seedlings was monitored as they were carried through an increasing concentration gradient of PEG solutions, ranging from –5.9 to –11.3 bars of water potential. Cultivars significantly differed in seedling growth tolerance to increasing levels of water stress. Seedling growth tolerance across cultivars was not correlated with their germination responses under srress.It is concluded that tolerance to water stress in growing seedlings can be screened for by using PEG-containing nutrient solutions. It can not be predicted from germination tests in osmotica.Work was done under a US-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) Grant no. 1654/78.Contribution from Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel, No. 192-E, 1979 series.     

高温胁迫对蝴蝶兰幼苗形态和生理特性的影响

在40℃/30℃(d/n)高温条件下分别进行0d、2d、4d、6d 的处理,观察了蝴蝶兰幼苗的形态变化,研究了蝴蝶兰兰幼苗叶片某些生理生化指标的变化。结果表明,随胁迫时间的延长,超氧阴离子自由基(O2-.)产生速率加快,丙二醛（MDA）含量增加,细胞膜脂过氧化作用明显加强;可溶性糖含量、脯氨酸含量逐渐增加;高温胁迫2d,可溶性蛋白质含量、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性迅速上升,但相对电导率的增加并不大,叶绿素含量的下降也较小,与对照处理的相比差异不显著,说明蝴蝶兰幼苗可通过增加可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖、脯氨酸含量以及SOD、POD、CAT活性来提高其耐热性。之后可溶性蛋白含量、叶绿素含量以及SOD、POD、CAT活性显著下降,相对电导率急剧上升。     

Genotype selection for physiological responses of drought tolerance using molecular markers in polycross hybrids of orchardgrass

The present study aimed to assess the effect of contrasting levels of molecular and phenotypic diversity among polycross parents of orchardgrass on the performance of synthetic progeny with respect to physiological responses and drought tolerance. Four polycross groups each composed of six parental plants were evaluated under normal irrigation and drought stress conditions. A number of 923 inter simple sequence repeats and sequence related amplified polymorphism markers and several phenotypic traits were used to select contrasting levels of diversity (high and low) in parental genotypes. Highly significant correlation was observed between molecular distance and progeny performances at both normal irrigation and drought stress conditions. High molecular diversity among polycross parents led to a significant yield advantage of first generation progeny with averages of 34.40% for normal irrigation and 48.10% for drought stress conditions. Also crosses between genetically distant parents produced progeny with considerable drought tolerance and yield stability. Positive associations between phenotypic distance of parents and progeny performance were found for most physiological traits at both moisture regimes but phenotypic distances had weak association with forage yield, stress tolerance index and yield stability of progeny. Significant associations between drought tolerance index and some physiological traits confirmed the importance of these traits in conferring drought tolerance of orchardgrass. Our results underscore the effectiveness of marker‐assisted polycross breeding to improve drought tolerance and yield stability through physiological traits in orchardgrass.     

Morphological and biochemical responses of Balanites aegyptiaca to drought stress and recovery are provenance‐dependent

Balanites aegyptiaca is a drought‐tolerant tree naturally distributed in Africa and has a high potential for biofuel production and livelihood. To understand the plant tolerance to drought stress, B. aegyptiaca plants collected from five provenances were subjected for 4 weeks to drought stress through different regimes of soil volumetric water content (VWC, i.e. 25% control, 15% as moderate and 5% as a severe drought stress) followed by 2‐week recovery. Morpho‐physiological responses as well as the changes in antioxidant defences under water stress and recovery were investigated. Drought stress significantly reduced plant biomass‐related parameters, stomatal conductance, quantum efficiency and increased leaf temperature. Each provenance showed specific patterns of stress response reactions that were detected in a cluster analysis. The large leaf area and a high level of lipid peroxidation in Cairo provenance increased its sensitivity to severe drought. For provenances El‐Kharga and Yemen, the highest tocopherol contents and the highest catalytic activities of ascorbate peroxidase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) were recorded. These traits contributed to the high drought tolerance of these two provenances in comparison with the other provenances. All plants recovered from stress and showed specifically increased activity of glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) as a repair mechanism. Results showed that the drought tolerance level in B. aegyptiaca is provenance‐dependent.     

Summer drought decreases Leymus chinensis productivity through constraining the bud,tiller and shoot production

Extreme drought events can directly decrease productivity in perennial grasslands. However, for rhizomatous perennial grasses it remains unknown how drought events influence the belowground bud bank which determines future productivity. Ninety‐day‐long drought events imposed on Leymus chinensis, a rhizomatous perennial grass, caused a 41% decrease in the aboveground biomass and a 28% decrease in belowground biomass. Aboveground biomass decreased due to decrease in both the parent and the daughter shoot biomass. The decreases in daughter shoot biomass were due to reductions in both the shoot number and each individual shoot weight. Most importantly, drought decreased the bud bank density by 56%. In addition, drought induced a bud allocation change that decreased by 41% the proportion of buds that developed into shoots and a 41% increase in the buds that developed into rhizomes. Above results were supported by our field experiment with watering treatments. Thus, a 90‐day‐long summer drought event decreases not only current productivity but also future productivity, because the drought reduces the absolute bud number. However, plasticity in plant development does partly compensate for this reduction in bud number by increasing bud development into rhizomes, which increases the relative allocation of buds into future shoots, at the cost of a decrease in current shoots.     

等渗水分与盐分胁迫对烟草种子萌发的影响及外源甜菜碱的保护作用

在烟草（Nicotiana tabacum L.）种子萌发期,首先用0.5 mmol/L甘氨酸甜菜碱浸种,再用等渗的25％ PEG-6000和1.6％ NaCl溶液进行胁迫处理,研究了两种胁迫对烟草种子萌发的抑制以及外源甜菜碱对该抑制的缓解作用,并对其生理机制进行了探讨。结果表明,两种胁迫处理对烟草种子的萌发均产生抑制作用,均降低其发芽率、发芽势     

烯效唑对水稻种子萌发及秧苗生长的影响

以高产杂交稻新组合冈优94-11为材料,研究烯效唑及其复配产品的使用方式和浓度对水稻种子萌发和秧苗生长的影响。结果表明：与烯效唑浸种相比,干拌种的平均发芽时间和发芽指数分别下降0．04d和0．03,发芽势、发芽率和简化活力指数分别增加1．87％、0．56％和0．44;干拌种较浸种更能增加秧苗茎基宽和单株平均根数,但秧苗根活力、呼吸速率、可溶性糖含量及叶片叶绿素相对含量（SPAD）值极显著低于浸种;干拌种和浸种的适宜浓度分别为20mg／kg和10mg／L。烯效唑的药效强于矮多壮,两者不同使用方式对秧苗生长的影响相反。     

Growth,physiological, and biochemical responses in relation to salinity tolerance for In Vitro selection in oil seed crop Guizotia abyssinica Cass.

The calli cultures of Guizotia abyssinica (niger) cultivars IGP 76 and GA 10 were exposed to different levels of salt treatments (0, 30, 60, and 90 mM NaCl), in order to evaluate growth, physiological, and biochemical responses. A significant decrease in relative growth rate and tissue water content of GA 10 calli than IGP 76 under salt-stress conditions was associated with higher sodium ion accumulation. Osmotic adjustment revealed by the osmolytes (proline, glycine betaine, and total soluble sugars) accumulation was significantly higher in IGP 76 salt-stressed calli as compared to GA 10. The sustained growth and better survival of IGP 76 calli was correlated with lower malondialdehyde content and increased superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase activities and higher α-tocopherol content in comparison to GA 10. The higher osmolytes accumulation and presence of better antioxidant system suggested superior adaptation of IGP 76 calli on salt-containing medium for prolonged periods in comparison to GA 10. The regeneration frequency, organogenesis, and acclimatization response of the plants derived from salt-adapted calli was comparatively lower than the plants derived from control calli of IGP 76. The growth, physiological, and biochemical characterization of the salt-tolerant regenerated plants exposed to stepwise long-term 90 mM NaCl treatment revealed no significant changes in comparison to the control. Thus, our results suggests the development of an efficient protocol for in vitro selection and production of salt-tolerant plants in self-incompatible crop, niger, and an alternative to traditional breeding programs to increase the abiotic stress tolerance.     

Cd、Pb污染对油菜种子萌发及幼苗生物量的影响

本文采用了砂基培养方法研究了镉（Cd）、铅（Pb）及其复合污染对油菜种子萌发及幼苗生物量的影响。结果表明：低浓度的Cd2+（≤5 mg/kg）、Pb2+（≤5 mg/kg）单一处理及Cd2+、Pb2+（1 mg/kg+5 mg/kg）复合处理对油菜种子发芽率、发芽势等有一定的促进作用;随着处理浓度的提高,Pb2+单一及复合处理对活力指数、苗长及植株鲜重具有抑制作用,并且随着处理浓度的增加其抑制作用逐渐上升。复合处理对油菜种子萌发和幼苗生物量的毒性最大,其次是Cd2+单一处理,最小的是Pb2+单一处理。     

Genomic regions associated with grain yield and aspects of post-flowering drought tolerance in pearl millet across stress environments and tester background

A pearl millet mapping population from a cross between ICMB841 and 863B was studied for DNA polymorphism to construct a genetic linkage map, and to map genomic regions associated with grain and stover yield, and aspects of drought tolerance. To identify genomic regions associated with these traits, mapping population testcrosses of 79 F₃ progenies were evaluated under post-flowering drought stress conditions over 2 years and in the background of two elite testers. A significant genotype × drought stress treatment interaction was evident in the expression of grain and stover yield in drought environments and in the background of testers over the 2 years. As a result of this, genomic regions associated with grain and stover yield and the aspects of drought tolerance were also affected: some regions were more affected by the changes in the environments (i.e. severity and duration of drought stress) while others were commonly identified across the drought stress environments and tester background used. In most instances, both harvest index and panicle harvest index co-mapped with grain yield suggesting that increased drought tolerance and yield of pearl millet that mapped to these regions was achieved by increased partitioning of dry matter from stover to the grains. Drought stress treatments, years and testers interactions on genomic regions associated with grain and stover yield of pearl millet are discussed, particularly, in reference to genetic improvement of drought tolerance of this crop using marker-assisted selection.     

Heterosis and inheritance of drought tolerance in faba bean, Vicia faba L.

Twelve parental lines of faba beans and 27 F₁ hybrids derived from them were field-tested under a dry and a well-watered treatment, at two German locations (Göttingen, Hohenheim) in two years (1995, 1996). Drought was artificially induced using rain shelters from anthesis until maturity. Data were collected on yield under dry (Yd) and well-watered (Yw) conditions. Drought tolerance was assessed as Yd/Yw. The mid-parent heterosis was significant for Yd and Yw, but not for Yd/Yw. Relative heterosis for Yd (52.0%) was greater than for Yw (39.3%). Parental heritability was greater for Yw (0.86) than for Yd (0.61). However, it was similar for both traits in F₁ hybrids (0.65 and 0.66). Principal component analysis showed that F₁ hybrids exhibited the same pattern of adaptation as their parents. The heritability of drought tolerance was 0.48 in F₁ hybrids and 0.70 in parents. Attention should be paid to its negative correlation with yield. Several hybrids combined high tolerance, a favourable pattern of adaptation and appropriate performance.     

Effect of drought stress on content and composition of seed alkaloids in narrow-leafed lupin, Lupinus angustifolius L.

The effect of drought stress at three growth stages on seed alkaloid content in two sweet (W26 and Polonez) and one bitter variety (Zubr) of spring sown Lupinus angustifolius L. was investigated in a lysimeter experiment on sandy soil in Denmark. Full irrigation resulted in medium alkaloid content. Drought stress during the vegetative phase increased alkaloid content to 0.094, 0.192 and 2.55% of seed dry matter, respectively. At the flowering stage alkaloid content decreased to 0.070, 0.152 and 1.99%, while drought stress during pod-filling increased alkaloid content for the determinate variety W26 to 0.097%, but decreased it to 0.161 and 1.98% for the two indeterminate varieties Polonez and Zubr, respectively. Drought during either flowering or pod-filling resulted in an increased mean seed weight and a reduced number of seed per square metre. Alkaloid content was negatively correlated to seed weight. The alkaloid composition differed for the three genotypes, and was affected by drought treatment. Compared to the bitter variety the sweet varieties were characterized by reduced concentrations of lupanin, 13-hydroxylupanin and angustifolin, whereas spartein, isolupanin and isoangustifolin were little affected.     

Evaluation of drought tolerance for Atlas fescue,perennial ryegrass,and their progeny

Primitive cottons (Gossypium spp.) represent resources for genetic improvement. Most primitive accessions are photoperiod sensitive; they do not flower under the long days of the U.S. cotton belt. Molecular markers were used to locate quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for node of first fruiting branch (NFB), a trait closely related to flowering time in cotton. An F₂ population consisted of 251 plants from the cross of a day neutral cultivar Deltapine 61, and a photoperiod sensitive accession Texas 701, were used in this study. Segregation in the population revealed the complex characteristics of NFB. Interval mapping and multiple QTL mapping were used to determine QTLs contributing to NFB. Three significant QTLs were mapped to chromosome 16, 21, and 25; two suggestive QTLs were mapped to chromosome 15 and 16. Four markers associated with these QTLs accounted for 33% of the variation in NFB by single and multiple-marker regression analyses. Two pairs of epistasis interaction between markers were detected. Our results suggested that at least three chromosomes contain factors associated with flowering time for this population with epistasis interactions between chromosomes. This research represent the first flowering time QTL mapping in cotton. Makers associated with flowering time may have the potential to facilitate day neutral conversion of accessions. Contribution of USDA-ARS in cooperation with the Mississippi Agric. and Forestry Exp. Stn. Journal paper J-11131 of Mississippi Agric. and Forestry Exp. Stn. Mention of trademark, proprietary product, or vendor does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by USDA, ARS and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products or vendors that may also be suitable.     

Methyl Jasmonate‐Induced Alteration in Lipid Peroxidation,Antioxidative Defence System and Yield in Soybean Under Drought

Methyl jasmonate (MeJA), a plant‐signalling molecule, is involved in an array of plant development and the defence responses. This study was conducted to explore the role of exogenous MeJA application in alleviating the adversities of drought stress in soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill.). Soybean plants were grown under normal conditions until blooming and were then subjected to drought by withholding irrigation followed by foliar application of (50 μm ) MeJA. Drought stress substantially suppressed the yield and yield‐related traits, whereas it accelerated the membrane lipid peroxidation. Nonetheless, substantial increase in activities of enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT)), proline, relative water contents (RWC) with simultaneous decrease in membrane lipid peroxidation was observed in MeJA‐treated plants under drought. These beneficial effects led to improvement in biological and grain yield, and harvest index under drought. Interestingly, MeJA application was also useful under well‐watered conditions. These results suggest the involvement of MeJA in improving the drought tolerance of soybean by modulating the membrane lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activities.