Improving Rice Zinc Biofortification Success Rates Through Genetic and Crop Management Approaches in a Changing Environment.

Though rice is the predominant source of energy and micronutrients for more than half of the world population, it does not provide enough zinc (Zn) to match human nutritional requirements. Moreover, climate change, particularly rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, reduces the grain Zn concentration. Therefore, rice biofortification has been recognized as a key target to increase the grain Zn concentration to address global Zn malnutrition.

Elevated atmospheric [CO2 ] can dramatically increase wheat yields in semi-arid environments and buffer against heat waves.

Wheat production will be impacted by increasing concentration of atmospheric CO2 [CO2 ], which is expected to rise from about 400 μmol mol(-1) in 2015 to 550 μmol mol(-1) by 2050. Changes to plant physiology and crop responses from elevated [CO2 ] (e[CO2 ]) are well documented for some environments, but field-level responses in dryland Mediterranean environments with terminal drought and heat waves are scarce. The Australian Grains Free Air CO2 Enrichment facility was established to compare wheat (Triticum aestivum) growth and yield under ambient (~370 μmol(-1) in 2007) and e[CO2 ] (550 μmol(-1) ) in semi-arid environments.

Intraspecific variation in leaf growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum) under Australian Grain Free Air CO Enrichment (AGFACE): is it regulated through carbon and/or nitrogen supply?

Underlying physiological mechanisms of intraspecific variation in growth response to elevated CO2 concentration [CO2] were investigated using two spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars: Yitpi and H45. Leaf blade elongation rate (LER), leaf carbon (C), nitrogen (N) in the expanding leaf blade (ELB, sink) and photosynthesis (A) and C and N status in the last fully expanded leaf blade (LFELB, source) were measured.

Intraspecific variation in growth and yield response to elevated CO in wheat depends on the differences of leaf mass per unit area.

In order to investigate the underlying physiological mechanism of intraspecific variation in plant growth and yield response to elevated CO2 concentration [CO2], seven cultivars of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were grown at either ambient [CO2] (~384μmolmol-1) or elevated [CO2] (700μmolmol-1) in temperature controlled glasshouses. Grain yield increased under elevated [CO2] by an average of 38% across all seven cultivars, and this was correlated with increases in both spike number (productive tillers) (r=0.

Will intra-specific differences in transpiration efficiency in wheat be maintained in a high CO₂ world? A FACE study.

This study evaluates whether the target breeding trait of superior leaf level transpiration efficiency is still appropriate under increasing carbon dioxide levels of a future climate using a semi-arid cropping system as a model. Specifically, we investigated whether physiological traits governing leaf level transpiration efficiency, such as net assimilation rates (A(net)), stomatal conductance (g(s)) or stomatal sensitivity were affected differently between two Triticum aestivum L. cultivars differing in transpiration efficiency (cv.

Next generation of elevated [CO2] experiments with crops: a critical investment for feeding the future world.

A rising global population and demand for protein-rich diets are increasing pressure to maximize agricultural productivity. Rising atmospheric [CO(2)] is altering global temperature and precipitation patterns, which challenges agricultural productivity. While rising [CO(2)] provides a unique opportunity to increase the productivity of C(3) crops, average yield stimulation observed to date is well below potential gains.

Physiological mechanisms of tolerance to high boron concentration in Brassica rapa.

Tolerance to high boron concentration in Brassica rapa was primarily due to low net boron uptake by the roots. However, in the two tolerant genotypes, 39-43% of boron uptake was retained in the tap roots, which limited boron accumulation in the leaves, and also contributed to boron tolerance. In the sensitive genotype, 99% of the increase in boron uptake caused by high soil boron accumulated in the leaves, particularly in the leaf margins.