Genotypic Variation for Tolerance to Transient Drought During the Reproductive Phase of Brassica rapa

Brassica rapa L. is a genetically diverse parent species of the allotetraploid species, oilseed rape (B. napus) and a potential source of drought tolerance for B. napus. We examined the effect of a 13‐day drought stress period during the early reproductive phase, relative to a well‐watered (WW) control, on subsequent growth and development in nine accessions of B. rapa and one accession of Brassica juncea selected for their wide morphological and genetic diversity. We measured leaf water potential, stomatal conductance, water use, and leaf and bud temperatures during the stress period and aboveground dry weight of total biomass at maturity. Dry weight of seeds and reproductive tissue were not useful measures of drought tolerance due to self‐incompatibility in B. rapa. The relative total biomass (used as the measure of drought tolerance in this study) of the 10 accessions exposed to drought stress ranged from 47 % to 117 % of the WW treatment and was negatively correlated with leaf‐to‐air and bud‐to‐air temperature difference when averaged across the 13‐day stress period. Two wild‐type (B. rapa ssp. sylvestris) accessions had higher relative total and non‐reproductive biomass at maturity and cooler leaves and buds than other types. We conclude that considerable genotypic variation for drought tolerance exists in B. rapa and cooler leaves and buds during a transient drought stress in the early reproductive phase may be a useful screening tool for drought tolerance.     

Physiological Response of Multiple Contrasting Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivars to Suboptimal Temperatures

The physiological response of multiple rice cultivars, eighteen initially and eight cultivars later on, to suboptimal temperatures (ST) conditions was investigated in laboratory and outdoor experimental conditions. Treatment with ST decreased growth in different extents according to the cultivar and affected the PSII performance, determined by chlorophyll fluorescence fast‐transient test, and stomatal conductance, regardless the experimental condition. Two groups of cultivars could be distinguished on the base of their growth and physiological parameters. The group of cultivars presenting higher growths displayed optimal JIP values, and higher instantaneous water use efficiency (WUE_i), due to a lower Gs under ST, unlike cultivars showing lower growth values, which presented worse JIP values and could not adjust their Gs and hence their WUE_i. In this work, we detected at least two cultivars with superior tolerance to ST than the cold tolerant referent Koshihikari. These cultivars could be used as parents or tolerance donors in breeding for new crop varieties. On other hand, positive and significant correlations between data obtained from laboratory and outdoor experiments suggest that laboratory measurements of most of the above mentioned parameters would be useful to predict the response of rice cultivars to ST outdoor.     

Modelling Wheat Stomatal Resistance in Hourly Time Steps from Micrometeorological Variables and Soil Water Status

An accurate estimation of stomatal resistance (r_S) also under drought stress conditions is of pivotal importance for any process‐based prediction of transpiration and the energy budget of real crop canopies and quantification of drought stress. A new model for r_S was developed and parameterized for winter wheat using data from field experiments accounting for the influences of net radiation (R_Net), air temperature (T_Air) and vapour pressure deficit of the atmosphere (VPD) interacting with an average water potential in the rooted soil (ψ_RootedSoil). r_S is simulated with a limiting factor approach as maximum of the metabolic (related to photosynthesis) and hydraulic (related to drought stress) acting influences assuming that, if drought stress occurs, it will dominate stomatal control: r_S = max(r_S(T_Air), r_S(R_Net), r_S(VPD, ψ_RootedSoil)). This transitional approach is suited to reproduce measured daily time courses of r_S with a varying accuracy for the single measurement dates but performed satisfactorily for the whole data set (r² = 0.63, RMSE = 59 s m^?1, EF = 0.60). This new semi‐empiric approach calculates r_S directly from external environmental conditions. Therefore, it can be easily implemented in existing model frameworks as link between operational crop growth models that use the concept of radiation use efficiency instead of mechanistic photosynthesis modelling and soil–vegetation–atmosphere transport models.     

Atmospheric humidity and genotype are key determinants of the diurnal stomatal conductance pattern

Great understanding of the genotypic difference in diurnal stomatal conductance (g_s) pattern and the key determinants of the pattern is important for saving water by adopting cultivars appropriately. Fifteen wheat genotypes were studied under different soil conditions and various meteorological conditions with pot cultivation in rain shelter for two years. Genotype and air humidity were found to be key determinants of diurnal g_s pattern. All genotypes under low relative humidity (LRH) and most genotypes under high relative humidity (HRH) displayed a gradual decline pattern from morning through the afternoon. Under moderate relative humidity (MRH), all genotypes present a single-peak curve pattern, but they differed in peak time, which may lead to unreliable g_s comparison between genotypes and get ostensible contrasting materials. The stomatal conductance was significantly different among genotypes under LRH and the increased g_s magnitude is also significantly different when it was compared between LRH and HRH. The present results provide new thinking for selecting and adopting appropriate cultivars with specific stomata traits for the area with various meteorological conditions.     

Effects of CO2 Enrichment and Drought on Photosynthesis,Growth and Yield of an Old and a Modern Barley Cultivar

Susceptibility of crops to drought may change under atmospheric CO₂ enrichment. We tested the effects of CO₂ enrichment and drought on the older malting barley cultivar Golden Promise (GP) and the recent variety Bambina (BA). Hypothesizing that CO₂ enrichment mitigates the adverse effects of drought and that GP shows a stronger response to CO₂ enrichment than BA, plants of both cultivars were grown in climate chambers. Optimal and reduced watering levels and two CO₂ concentrations (380 and 550 ppm) were used to investigate photosynthetic parameters, growth and yield. In contrast to expectations, CO₂ increased total plant biomass by 34 % in the modern cultivar while the growth stimulation was not significant in GP. As a reaction to drought, BA showed reduced biomass under elevated CO₂, which was not seen in GP. Grain yield and harvest index (HI) were negatively influenced by drought and increased by CO₂ enrichment. BA formed higher grain yield and had higher water‐use efficiency of grain yield and HI compared to GP. CO₂ fertilization compensated for the negative effect of drought on grain yield and HI, especially in GP. Stomatal conductance proved to be the gas exchange parameter most sensitive to drought. Photosynthetic rate of BA showed more pronounced reaction to drought compared to GP. Overall, BA turned out to respond more intense to changes in water supply and CO₂ enrichment than the older GP.     

The Alleviating Effect of Elevated CO2 on Heat Stress Susceptibility of Two Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cultivars

This study analysed the alleviating effect of elevated CO₂ on stress‐induced decreases in photosynthesis and changes in carbohydrate metabolism in two wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) of different origin. The plants were grown in ambient (400 μl l^?1) and elevated (800 μl l^?1) CO₂ with a day/night temperature of 15/10 °C. At the growth stages of tillering, booting and anthesis, the plants were subjected to heat stress of 40 °C for three continuous days. Photosynthetic parameters, maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (F_v/F_m) and contents of pigments and carbohydrates in leaves were analysed before and during the stress treatments as well as after 1 day of recovery. Heat stress reduced P_N and F_v/F_m in both wheat cultivars, but plants grown in elevated CO₂ maintained higher P_N and F_v/F_m in comparison with plants grown in ambient CO₂. Heat stress reduced leaf chlorophyll contents and increased leaf sucrose contents in both cultivars grown at ambient and elevated CO₂. The content of hexoses in the leaves increased mainly in the tolerant cultivar in response to the combination of elevated CO₂ and heat stress. The results show that heat stress tolerance in wheat is related to cultivar origin, the phenological stage of the plants and can be alleviated by elevated CO₂. This confirms the complex interrelation between environmental factors and genotypic traits that influence crop performance under various climatic stresses.     

减弱光照强度对水稻叶片气孔性状的影响

采用改良刮制法研究了典型粳稻，典型籼稻，偏籼型，偏粳型和陆稻等10个水稻品种的气孔性状，研究结果发现，剑叶的气孔密度在水稻类型间和品种间具有明显差异。是一个品种特性，光照强度减弱使各品种上三叶的气孔密度明显减少。其原因是由于叶面积增大，气孔行数减少和每一行中相邻气孔间距离增大共同作用的结果。品种不同，其气孔密度对光强变化的反应亦不同，光照强度减弱对剑叶气孔大小有显影响。     

水分胁迫下不同抗旱类型大豆叶片气孔特性变化研究

采用火棉胶印膜法,研究了不同程度干旱胁迫对不同抗旱类型大豆叶片气孔特性的影响.结果表明:经水分胁迫的大豆叶片气孔密度增加,气孔开口大小和单位叶面积气孔相对面积减小.但不同抗旱类型大豆品种间表现不同,气孔密度变化幅度大小顺序依次为:弱抗品种(A3)＞中抗品种(A2)＞抗旱品种(A1),调节气孔开张能力大小顺序依次为:抗旱品种(A1)＞中抗品种(A2)＞弱抗品种(A3).     

CO2浓度升高和磷素亏缺对黑麦草气孔特征及气体交换参数的影响

为深入理解未来大气CO2浓度升高背景下草地生态系统结构与功能响应土壤磷亏缺的潜在机理,该研究利用可精准控制CO2浓度的大型人工气候室,探讨了正常CO2浓度400 μmol/mol、升高CO2浓度800 μmol/mol和磷素供应水平（0.004、0.012、0.02、0.06、0.1和0.5 mmol/L）对黑麦草气孔特征及其气体交换过程的影响。结果表明,CO2浓度升高使供磷水平0.1和0.5 mmol/L的气孔密度增加约35%（P=0.012）和25%（P<0.001）,但却减小气孔开度13%（P=0.002）和12%（P=0.005）,且导致供磷水平为0.06 mmol/L的黑麦草气孔分布更加规则。同时,CO2浓度升高还导致供磷水平0.1和0.5 mmol/L的净光合速率显著增加8.6%（P=0.002）和15.8%（P<0.001）,从而提高黑麦草的水分利用效率。另外,不同供磷水平明显改变了植株生物量及其分配,且高浓度CO2对较高磷水平时地上生长产生更强的施肥效应。研究结果将为深入理解草地生态系统对大气CO2浓度升高和土壤磷素亏缺的响应机理提供理论依据和数据支撑。     

遮荫条件下O_3胁迫对冬小麦气孔导度影响的模拟

为了探究在遮荫条件下地表O3浓度增加对冬小麦气孔导度的影响,开展了两种不同强度遮荫与开顶式气室（OTC）相结合的大田试验,设置3个处理组：O3浓度为（100±9）nL.L-1结合（60±5）%遮荫的处理组（T1）;O3浓度为（100±9）nL.L-1结合（20±5）%遮荫的处理组（T2）;O3浓度为（100±9）nL.L-1不作遮荫的处理组（CK）。利用SC-1型气孔导度仪测定了3个处理组冬小麦不同生育期的气孔导度值。综合分析了生育期和O3胁迫,以及水汽压差（VPD）、温度（T）、光照（PAR）环境因子的变化对冬小麦气孔导度的影响,采用修正后的Jarvis非线性气孔导度模型模拟了3个处理组的气孔导度值。结果表明：遮荫对大田环境因子均产生了影响,其中,T1、T2处理组8：00—16：00点的平均温度和水汽压差较CK相比分别下降了5.6℃、4.1℃和0.84kPa、0.74kPa;用该模型得到的气孔导度模拟值与观测值进行了比较,R2=0.88,表明模型模拟效果良好;同时,根据O3吸收通量模型计算出T1、T2和CK处理组在整个O3熏蒸时期,冬小麦O3累积吸收通量分别为14.92、15.52、16.23mmolO3.m-2,并由此建立了O3吸收通量（x）与干物质损失（y）的关系分别为：y=1.0-0.038x和y=1.0-0.022x,表明在相同O3胁迫条件下,遮荫导致了冬小麦O3累积吸收通量的差异,在60%和20%遮荫条件下,O3吸收通量增加10mmol.m-2,与CK相比,其干物质累积损失分别为38.0%和22.0%。