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Wientjes E, Seijger C. Less water in agriculture? Potential and challenges in optimizing water use efficiency. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:3754-3757. [PMID: 38982746 PMCID: PMC11233778 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erae227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
This article comments on: Turc B, Sahay S, Haupt J, de Oliveira Santos T, Bai G, Glowacka K. 2024. Up-regulation of non-photochemical quenching improves water use efficiency and reduces whole-plant water consumption under drought in Nicotianatabacum. Journal of Experimental Botany 75, 3959-3972.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Wientjes
- Wageningen University and Research, Laboratory of Biophysics, 6703 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Chris Seijger
- Wageningen University and Research, Water Resources Management, 6700 AK Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Ponce de León MA, Bailey BN. Quantifying water-use efficiency in plant canopies with varying leaf angle and density distribution. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2024; 133:605-620. [PMID: 38362930 PMCID: PMC11037486 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcae018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Variation in architectural traits related to the spatial and angular distribution of leaf area can have considerable impacts on canopy-scale fluxes contributing to water-use efficiency (WUE). These architectural traits are frequent targets for crop improvement and for improving the understanding and predictions of net ecosystem carbon and water fluxes. METHODS A three-dimensional, leaf-resolving model along with a range of virtually generated hypothetical canopies were used to quantify interactions between canopy structure and WUE by examining its response to variation of leaf inclination independent of leaf azimuth, canopy heterogeneity, vegetation density and physiological parameters. KEY RESULTS Overall, increasing leaf area index (LAI), increasing the daily-averaged fraction of leaf area projected in the sun direction (Gavg) via the leaf inclination or azimuth distribution and increasing homogeneity had a similar effect on canopy-scale daily fluxes contributing to WUE. Increasing any of these parameters tended to increase daily light interception, increase daily net photosynthesis at low LAI and decrease it at high LAI, increase daily transpiration and decrease WUE. Isolated spherical crowns could decrease photosynthesis by ~60 % but increase daily WUE ≤130 % relative to a homogeneous canopy with equivalent leaf area density. There was no observed optimum in daily canopy WUE as LAI, leaf angle distribution or heterogeneity was varied. However, when the canopy was dense, a more vertical leaf angle distribution could increase both photosynthesis and WUE simultaneously. CONCLUSIONS Variation in leaf angle and density distributions can have a substantial impact on canopy-level carbon and water fluxes, with potential trade-offs between the two. These traits might therefore be viable target traits for increasing or maintaining crop productivity while using less water, and for improvement of simplified models. Increasing canopy density or decreasing canopy heterogeneity increases the impact of leaf angle on WUE and its dependent processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian N Bailey
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Zhi X, Tao Y, Jordan D, Borrell A, Hunt C, Cruickshank A, Potgieter A, Wu A, Hammer G, George-Jaeggli B, Mace E. Genetic control of leaf angle in sorghum and its effect on light interception. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:801-816. [PMID: 34698817 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Developing sorghum genotypes adapted to different light environments requires understanding of a plant's ability to capture light, determined through leaf angle specifically. This study dissected the genetic basis of leaf angle in 3 year field trials at two sites, using a sorghum diversity panel (729 accessions). A wide range of variation in leaf angle with medium heritability was observed. Leaf angle explained 36% variation in canopy light extinction coefficient, highlighting the extent to which variation in leaf angle influences light interception at the whole-canopy level. This study also found that the sorghum races of Guinea and Durra consistently having the largest and smallest leaf angle, respectively, highlighting the potential role of leaf angle in adaptation to distinct environments. The genome-wide association study detected 33 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with leaf angle. Strong synteny was observed with previously detected leaf angle QTLs in maize (70%) and rice (40%) within 10 cM, among which the overlap was significantly enriched according to χ2 tests, suggesting a highly consistent genetic control in grasses. A priori leaf angle candidate genes identified in maize and rice were found to be enriched within a 1-cM window around the sorghum leaf angle QTLs. Additionally, protein domain analysis identified the WD40 protein domain as being enriched within a 1-cM window around the QTLs. These outcomes show that there is sufficient heritability and natural variation in the angle of upper leaves in sorghum which may be exploited to change light interception and optimize crop canopies for different contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Zhi
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, QLD, Australia
| | - Yongfu Tao
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, QLD, Australia
| | - David Jordan
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew Borrell
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, QLD, Australia
| | - Colleen Hunt
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, QLD, Australia
- Agri-Science Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, QLD, Australia
| | - Alan Cruickshank
- Agri-Science Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, QLD, Australia
| | - Andries Potgieter
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - Alex Wu
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Graeme Hammer
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Barbara George-Jaeggli
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, QLD, Australia
- Agri-Science Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, QLD, Australia
| | - Emma Mace
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, QLD, Australia
- Agri-Science Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, QLD, Australia
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Ye T, Zhang J, Li J, Lu J, Ren T, Cong R, Lu Z, Li X. Nitrogen/potassium interactions increase rice yield by improving canopy performance. Food Energy Secur 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/fes3.295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tinghong Ye
- College of Resources and Environment Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
- Microelement Research Center Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
| | - Jianglin Zhang
- College of Resources and Environment Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
- Microelement Research Center Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
| | - Jing Li
- College of Resources and Environment Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
- Microelement Research Center Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
| | - Jianwei Lu
- College of Resources and Environment Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
- Microelement Research Center Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
| | - Tao Ren
- College of Resources and Environment Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
- Microelement Research Center Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
| | - Rihuan Cong
- College of Resources and Environment Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
- Microelement Research Center Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
| | - Zhifeng Lu
- College of Resources and Environment Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
- Microelement Research Center Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
| | - Xiaokun Li
- College of Resources and Environment Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
- Microelement Research Center Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
- Shuangshui Shuanglv Institute Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
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Araus JL, Sanchez-Bragado R, Vicente R. Improving crop yield and resilience through optimization of photosynthesis: panacea or pipe dream? JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:3936-3955. [PMID: 33640973 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Increasing the speed of breeding to enhance crop productivity and adaptation to abiotic stresses is urgently needed. The perception that a second Green Revolution should be implemented is widely established within the scientific community and among stakeholders. In recent decades, different alternatives have been proposed for increasing crop yield through manipulation of leaf photosynthetic efficiency. However, none of these has delivered practical or relevant outputs. Indeed, the actual increases in photosynthetic rates are not expected to translate into yield increases beyond 10-15%. Furthermore, instantaneous rates of leaf photosynthesis are not necessarily the reference target for research. Yield is the result of canopy photosynthesis, understood as the contribution of laminar and non-laminar organs over time, within which concepts such as canopy architecture, stay-green, or non-laminar photosynthesis need to be taken into account. Moreover, retrospective studies show that photosynthetic improvements have been more common at the canopy level. Nevertheless, it is crucial to place canopy photosynthesis in the context of whole-plant functioning, which includes sink-source balance and transport of photoassimilates, and the availability and uptake of nutrients, such as nitrogen in particular. Overcoming this challenge will only be feasible if a multiscale crop focus combined with a multidisciplinary scientific approach is adopted.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L Araus
- Integrative Crop Ecophysiology Group, Plant Physiology Section, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, and AGROTECNIO Center, Lleida, Spain
| | - Ruth Sanchez-Bragado
- Integrative Crop Ecophysiology Group, Plant Physiology Section, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, and AGROTECNIO Center, Lleida, Spain
| | - Rubén Vicente
- Plant Ecophysiology and Metabolism Group, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
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