Alleviating the adverse effects of deficit irrigation in Flame seedless grapevine via Paulsen interstock

Using interstock with a potential genetic base is considered more recent and sustainable strategy for mitigating the water deficit. This investigation was carried out on transplant of Flame seedless (Vitis vinifera) grapevine grafted onto two rootstocks namely; Freedom (Vitis champinii x 1613C) and 1103Paulsen (vitis berlandieri x Vitis rupestris) with or without 1103Paulsen as interstock to determine its performance under deficit irrigation condition (50% of field capacity). The results indicated that Paulsen as rootstock or as interstock significantly increased the growth vigor of Flame seedless scion as well as the leaf content of total proline, phenols and sugars. Paulsen rootstock has decreased stomatal conductance, leaf transpiration rate and increased diffusion resistance under 50% deficit irrigation compared with grafting on Freedom rootstock. Moreover, Paulsen as interstock for Flame seedless grafted onto Freedom rootstock significantly increased relative water content accompanied by an increase in thickness of leaf anatomical characters such as midvein, lamina, palisade, xylem and phloem tissue under deficit irrigation compared with grafts without Paulsen interstock. This study suggests that using Paulsen as interstock, can be an adaptation strategy for water stress through controlling in some morphological, chemical physiological and anatomical responses of scion.

Guard-Cell-Specific Expression of Phototropin2 C-Terminal Fragment Enhances Leaf Transpiration

Phototropins (phot1 and phot2) are plant-specific blue light receptors that mediate chloroplast movement, stomatal opening, and phototropism. Phototropin is composed of the N-terminus LOV1 and LOV2 domains and the C-terminus Ser/Thr kinase domain. In previous studies, 35-P2CG transgenic plants expressing the phot2 C-terminal fragment–GFP fusion protein (P2CG) under the control of 35S promoter showed constitutive phot2 responses, including chloroplast avoidance response, stomatal opening, and reduced hypocotyl phototropism regardless of blue light, and some detrimental growth phenotypes. In this study, to exclude the detrimental growth phenotypes caused by the ectopic expression of P2C and to improve leaf transpiration, we used the PHOT2 promoter for the endogenous expression of GFP-fused P2C (GP2C) (P2-GP2C) and the BLUS1 promoter for the guard-cell-specific expression of GP2C (B1-GP2C), respectively. In P2-GP2C plants, GP2C expression induced constitutive phototropin responses and a relatively dwarf phenotype as in 35-P2CG plants. In contrast, B1-GP2C plants showed the guard-cell-specific P2C expression that induced constitutive stomatal opening with normal phototropism, chloroplast movement, and growth phenotype. Interestingly, leaf transpiration was significantly improved in B1-GP2C plants compared to that in P2-GP2C plants and WT. Taken together, this transgenic approach could be applied to improve leaf transpiration in indoor plants.

A method to experimentally clamp leaf water content to defined values to assess its effects on apoplastic pH

Background Leaf hydration is controlled by feedback mechanisms, e.g. stomatal responses, adjustments of osmotic potential and hydraulic conductivity. Leaf water content thus is an input into related feedback-loops controlling the balance of water uptake and loss. Apoplastic alkalisation upon leaf dehydration is hypothesized to be involved in water stress related signaling on tissue level. When studying these mechanisms and their intermediate signaling steps, an experimenter has only poor means to actually control the central experimental variable, leaf water content (LWC), because it is not only dependent on external variables (e.g. air humidity), which are under experimental control, but is also governed by the biological influences controlling transpiration and water uptake. Those are often unknown in their magnitude, unpredictable and fluctuating throughout an experiment and will prevent true repetitions of an experiment. The goal of the method presented here is to experimentally control and manipulate leaf water content (LWC) of attached intact leaves enclosed in a cuvette. Results An experimental setup was developed where LWC is measured by a sensor based on IR-transmission and its signal processed to control a pump which circulates air from the cuvette through a cold trap. Hereby a feedback-loop is formed, which by adjusting vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and consequently leaf transpiration can precisely control LWC. This technique is demonstrated here in a combination with microscopic fluorescence imaging of apoplastic pH (pH apo ) as indicated by the excitation ratio of the pH sensitive dye OregonGreen. Initial results indicate that pH apo of the adaxial epidermis of Vicia faba is linearly related to reductions in LWC. Conclusions Using this setup, constant LWC levels, step changes or ramps can be experimentally applied while simultaneously measuring physiological responses. The example experiments demonstrate that bringing LWC under experimental control in this way allows better controlled and more repeatable experiments to probe quantitative relationships between LWC and signaling and regulatory processes.

Variations in leaf temperature, plant internal resistance, photon requirement and transpiration of pigeonpea under bare and mulched soil conditions

ABSTRACT. The paper presents the results of an experiment conducted during 1992 and 1993 crop seasons at the farm of Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand on pigeonpea to determine variations in agro-meteorological characteristics of leaf transpiration leaf temperature plant diffusive resistance and quanta were considered at three levels within the crop canopy in mulched and unmulched fields. The anlilysis rewaled that leaf temperature is more in unmulched field where transpiration rates are lower than the mulched field. Stomatal resistance and the quantum requirements nearly match in both the treatments. Stomatal conductance attains large values in morning and evening hours.

Drought and Elevated CO2 Impacts Photosynthesis and Biochemicals of Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Drought-induced reduction in crop growth and productivity can be compensated by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), a significant contributor to climate change. Drought stress (DS) affects crops worldwide due to dwindling water resources and irregular rainfall patterns. The experiment was set up under a randomized complete block design within a three-by-two factorial arrangement. Six SPAR chambers represent three blocks (10 replications each), where each chamber has 30 pots in three rows. Each chamber was maintained with 30/22 (day/night) °C temperature, with either ambient (aCO2; 420 ppm) or elevated CO2 (eCO2; 720 ppm) concentrations. This experiment was designed to address the impact of DS on the physiological and biochemical attributes and study how the eCO2 helps alleviate the adversity of DS in basil. The study demonstrated that DS + eCO2 application highly accelerated the decrease in all forms of carotene and xanthophylls. eCO2 positively influenced and increased anthocyanin (Antho) and chlorophyll (LChl). eCO2 supplementation increased LChl content in basil under DS. Furthermore, DS significantly impeded the photosynthetic system in plants by decreasing CO2 availability and causing stomatal closure. Although eCO2 did not increase net photosynthesis (Pn) activity, it decreased stomatal conductance (gs) and leaf transpiration rate (E) under DS, showing that eCO2 can improve plant water use efficiency by lowering E and gs. Peroxidase and ascorbate activity were higher due to the eCO2 supply to acclimate the basil under the DS condition. This study suggests that the combination of eCO2 during DS positively impacts basil’s photosynthetic parameters and biochemical traits than aCO2.

Mesophyll conductance response to short-term changes in pCO2 is related to leaf anatomy and biochemistry in diverse C4 grasses

Mesophyll CO2 conductance (gm) in C3 species responds to short-term (minutes) changes in environment potentially due to changes in some leaf anatomical and biochemical properties and due to measurement artifacts. Compared to C3 species, there is less information about gm responses to short-term changes in environmental conditions like pCO2 across diverse C4 species and the potential determinants of these responses. Using 16 diverse C4-grasses we investigated the response of gm to short-term changes in pCO2 and how this response related to the leaf anatomical and biochemical traits. For all the measured C4-grasses gm increased as CO2 decreased; however, the percent change in gm varied (+13% to +250%) and significantly related to percent changes in leaf transpiration efficiency (TEi). The percent increase in gm was highest in grasses with thinner mesophyll cell walls and greater leaf nitrogen, activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), Rubisco, and carbonic anhydrase, and a higher affinity of PEPC for bicarbonate substrate. Our study demonstrates that CO2 response of gm varies greatly across diverse C4-grasses and identifies the key leaf anatomical and biochemical traits related to this variation. These findings have implications for improving C4 photosynthetic models, and in attempts to improve TEi through manipulation of gm.

Multiplex knockout of trichome-regulating MYBs in poplar affects light sensitivity and triterpene accumulation

ABSTRACTHair-like trichomes cover the aerial organs of many plant species and act as a barrier between a plant and its environment. They function in defense against biotic and abiotic stresses, while also serving as sites for synthesis and storage of secondary metabolites. Previously, the transcription factor PtaMYB186 was identified as a positive regulator of trichome initiation during early stages of leaf development in Populus tremula x P. alba (IRNA 717-1B4). However, trichome regulation in poplar remains largely unexplored, as does the functional redundancy of duplicated poplar genes. Here, we employed CRISPR/Cas9 to target a consensus region of PtaMYB186 and its close paralogs for knockout. Regeneration of glabrous mutants suggested their essential roles in poplar trichome development. No apparent differences in growth and leaf transpiration rates between the mutants and the controls were observed, but trichomeless poplars showed increased insect pest susceptibility. RNA-seq analysis revealed widespread down-regulation of circadian- and light-responsive genes in the mutants. When exposed to a high light regime, trichomeless mutants accumulated significantly higher levels of photoprotective anthocyanins. Cuticular wax and whole leaf analyses showed a complete absence of triterpenes in the mutants, suggesting biosynthesis and storage of triterpenes in poplar occurs in the non-glandular trichomes. This work also demonstrates that a single gRNA with SNP-aware design is sufficient for multiplex targeting of paralogous genes in outcrossing and/or hybrid species with unexpected copy number variations.ONE SENTENCE SUMMARYNon-glandular trichomes in poplar have roles both as a physical barrier and a chemical factory to mediate plant interactions with the environment.

PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF COTTON CULTIVARS IN WEST PAULISTA

Cotton varieties develop differently because they present different physiological characteristics in production environments. This study aimed to know the physiological characteristics of cotton. The experiment was carried out at the São Paulo Agribusiness Technology Agency (APTA), Alta Paulista region. The experimental design used was Entirely Randomized (DIC), with six cotton cultivars: IMA5801B2RF; FM975WS; TMG47B2RF; TMG81WS; FM944GL and IACRDN. Where the following physiological parameters were determined: Assimilation rate CO2, leaf transpiration, stomatal conductance, internal concentration of CO2 in the substomatic chamber and efficient use of water. The cotton varieties showed different physiological characteristics, the IMA5801B2RF variety had the lowest performance, which may reflect low productivity. Further physiological studies are needed to understand the Cotton varieties behavior

The Effect of the Foliar Application of Biostimulants and Fertilisers on the Growth and Physiological Parameters of Maiden Apple Trees Cultivated with Limited Mineral Fertilisation

The article describes an experiment conducted on maiden apple trees of selected cultivars growing in a nursery. The aim of the study was to investigate how the foliar application of four biostimulants (Aminoplant 0.4%, Biamino Plant 0.2%, Bispeed 0.2% and Fylloton 0.4%) and two fertilisers (Basfoliar 6-12-6 and Basfoliar 12-4-6+S both at a concentration of 0.5%) affected the growth of the trees cultivated with the mineral fertilisation reduced by half. The plants were sprayed with the preparations and fertilisers four times at three-week intervals, between late May and late July. Selected parameters of the plants’ physiological processes were also assessed: net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (C) and intracellular CO2 (I). The foliar application of all the biostimulants and fertilisers significantly improved the growth of the maiden apple trees. The lowest values of the plant growth parameters were noted in the control combination, which was treated with a full dose of mineral fertiliser. The foliar spraying of the apple trees particularly improved the total length and number of side shoots and the fresh weight of maiden apple trees. The apple tree cultivars differed in their growth parameters, and the influence of individual foliar treatments was not conclusive. The foliar application of selected preparations intensified the leaf transpiration coefficient and the internal concentration of carbon dioxide, but it did not increase the net photosynthesis intensity or stomatal conductance.