Water scarcity can limit sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) production in dryland agriculture, but increased whole-plant transpiration efficiency (TEwp, biomass production per unit of water transpired) can enhance grain yield in such conditions. The objectives of this study were to quantify variation in TEwp for 27 sorghum genotypes and explore the linkages of this variation to responses of the underpinning leaf-level processes to environmental conditions. Individual plants were grown in large lysimeters in two well-watered experiments. Whole-plant transpiration per unit of green leaf area (TGLA) was monitored continuously and stomatal conductance and maximum photosynthetic capacity were measured during sunny conditions on recently expanded leaves. Leaf chlorophyll measurements of the upper five leaves of the main shoot were conducted during early grain filling. TEwp was determined at harvest. The results showed that diurnal patterns in TGLA were determined by vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and by the response of whole-plant conductance to radiation and VPD. Significant genotypic variation in the response of TGLA to VPD occurred and was related to genotypic differences in stomatal conductance. However, variation in TGLA explained only part of the variation in TEwp, with some of the residual variation explained by leaf chlorophyll readings, which were a reflection of photosynthetic capacity. Genotypes with different genetic background often differed in TEwp, TGLA and leaf chlorophyll, indicating potential differences in photosynthetic capacity among these groups. Observed differences in TEwp and its component traits can affect adaptation to drought stress.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/FP18177DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

whole-plant transpiration
12
stomatal conductance
12
photosynthetic capacity
12
leaf chlorophyll
12
genotypic variation
8
transpiration efficiency
8
variation tewp
8
variation
7
tewp
6
tgla
5

Similar Publications

Effects of continuous cropping and application of bio-organic fertilizer on photosynthetic performance, dry matter accumulation and distribution of sugar beet.

Sci Rep

January 2025

Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Zhao Ju Road Num. 22, Yu Quan District, Hohhot, 010031, China.

One of the major problem in the cultivation of sugar beets is continuous cropping obstacle in China. In order to evaluate the effects of continuous cropping year on the photosynthetic performance, dry matter accumulation, and distribution of sugar beet, this study was conducted in the 2020-2021 crop season at the Agriculture and Forestry Sciences of Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia. A split plot system arrangement with three replications was set up to carry out the field testing.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Aims: Since salinity stress may occur across stages of rice (Oryza sativa L.) crop growth, understanding the effects of salinity at reproductive stage is important although it has been much less studied than at seedling stage.

Methods: In this study, lines from the Rice Diversity Panel 1 (RDP1) and the 3000 Rice Genomes (3KRG) were used to screen morphological and physiological traits, map loci controlling salinity tolerance through genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and identify favorable haplotypes associated with reproductive stage salinity tolerance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In soybean (Glycine max ), limiting whole-plant transpiration rate (TR) response to increasing vapor pressure deficit (VPD) has been associated with the 'slow-wilting' phenotype and with water-conservation enabling higher yields under terminal drought. Despite the promise of this trait, it is still unknown whether it has a genetic basis in soybean, a challenge limiting the prospects of breeding climate-resilient varieties. Here, we present the results of a first attempt at a high-throughput phenotyping of TR and stomatal conductance response curves to increasing VPD conducted on a soybean mapping population consisting of 140 recombinant inbred lines (RIL).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Nitrogen Stress Memory in Quinoa: Maternal Effects on Seed Metabolism and Offspring Growth and Physiology.

Physiol Plant

November 2024

Laboratorio de Fisiología Vegetal, Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.

Plants have developed various strategies to deal with abiotic stresses throughout their lifetimes. However, environmental stresses can have long-lasting effects, positively modifying plant physiological responses to subsequent stress episodes, a phenomenon known as preconditioning or stress memory. Intriguingly, this memory can even be transmitted to offspring, referred to as "inter- or transgenerational memory".

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels enhance plant photosynthesis and increase productivity, but also reduce leaf transpiration by lowering stomatal conductance.
  • In a controlled study of perennial ryegrass, elevated CO2 led to a 38% decrease in whole-plant transpiration rates and a drop in evapotranspiration (ET), even with a slight increase in biomass.
  • These findings suggest that reduced ET could impact local water balance, potentially increasing soil moisture and groundwater recharge while raising risks of surface runoff and flooding.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!