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Leaf hydraulic conductance is coordinated with leaf morpho-anatomical traits and nitrogen status in the genus Oryza.

ABSTRACT: Leaf hydraulic conductance (K leaf) is a major determinant of photosynthetic rate in plants. Previous work has assessed the relationships between leaf morpho-anatomical traits and K leaf with woody species, but there has been very little focus on cereal crops. The genus Oryza, which includes rice (Oryza sativa) and wild species (such as O. rufipogon cv. Griff), is ideal material for identifying leaf features associated with K leaf and gas exchange. Leaf morpho-anatomical traits, K leaf, leaf N content per leaf area, and CO2 diffusion efficiency were investigated in 11 Oryza cultivars. K leaf was positively correlated with leaf thickness and related traits, and therefore positively correlated with leaf mass per area and leaf N content per leaf area, and negatively with inter-veinal distance. K leaf was also positively correlated with leaf area and its related traits, and therefore negatively correlated with the proportion of minor vein length per area. In addition, coordination between K leaf and CO2 diffusion conductance in leaves was observed. We conclude that leaf morpho-anatomical traits and N content per leaf area strongly influence K leaf. Our results suggest that more detailed anatomical and structural studies are needed to elucidate the impacts of leaf feature traits on K leaf and gas exchange in grasses.

SUBMITTER: Xiong D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4321541 | biostudies-other | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Leaf hydraulic conductance is coordinated with leaf morpho-anatomical traits and nitrogen status in the genus Oryza.

Xiong Dongliang D Yu Tingting T Zhang Tong T Li Yong Y Peng Shaobing S Huang Jianliang J

Journal of experimental botany 20141126 3

Leaf hydraulic conductance (K leaf) is a major determinant of photosynthetic rate in plants. Previous work has assessed the relationships between leaf morpho-anatomical traits and K leaf with woody species, but there has been very little focus on cereal crops. The genus Oryza, which includes rice (Oryza sativa) and wild species (such as O. rufipogon cv. Griff), is ideal material for identifying leaf features associated with K leaf and gas exchange. Leaf morpho-anatomical traits, K leaf, leaf N c ...[more]

PMID: 25429002

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Drought stress is a major limiting factor of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production around the world. Soybean plants can ameliorate this stress with improved water-saving, sustained N2 fixation during water deficits, and/or limited leaf hydraulic conductance. In this study, carbon isotope composition (δ13C), which can relate to variation in water-saving capability, was measured. Additionally, nitrogen isotope composition (δ15N) and nitrogen concentration that relate to nitrogen fixation were evaluated. Decrease in transpiration rate (DTR) of de-rooted soybean shoots in a silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution compared to deionized water under high vapor pressure deficit (VPD) conditions was used as a surrogate measurement for limited leaf hydraulic conductance. A panel of over 200 genetically diverse soybean accessions genotyped with the SoySNP50K iSelect BeadChips was evaluated for the carbon and nitrogen related traits in two field environments (Athens, GA in 2015 and 2016) and for transpiration response to AgNO3 in a growth chamber. A multiple loci linear mixed model was implemented in FarmCPU to perform genome-wide association analyses for these traits. RESULTS:Thirty two, 23, 26, and nine loci for δ13C, δ15N, nitrogen concentration, and transpiration response to AgNO3, respectively, were significantly associated with these traits. Candidate genes that relate to drought stress tolerance enhancement or response were identified near certain loci that could be targets for improving and understanding these traits. Soybean accessions with favorable breeding values were also identified. Low correlations were observed between many of the traits and the genetic loci associated with each trait were largely unique, indicating that these drought tolerance related traits are governed by different genetic loci. CONCLUSIONS:The genomic regions and germplasm identified in this study can be used by breeders to understand the genetic architecture for these traits and to improve soybean drought tolerance. Phenotyping resources needed, trait heritability, and relationship to the target environment should be considered before deciding which of these traits to ultimately employ in a specific breeding program. Potential marker-assisted selection efforts could focus on loci which explain the greatest amount of phenotypic variation for each trait, but may be challenging due to the quantitative nature of these traits.

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Dataset Information

Leaf hydraulic conductance is coordinated with leaf morpho-anatomical traits and nitrogen status in the genus Oryza.

Publications

Leaf hydraulic conductance is coordinated with leaf morpho-anatomical traits and nitrogen status in the genus Oryza.

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