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Identification of heat tolerant wheat lines showing genetic variation in leaf respiration and other physiological traits

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Abstract

A total of 140 diverse spring wheat lines were characterized for agronomic and physiological traits under hot field conditions, and a subset of thirteen were selected for dark leaf respiration studies (Rd). These genetic resources included synthetic-derived lines, landraces, landrace-derived lines, bread wheats, and durum wheats. Initial phenotyping showed that better heat-adapted genotypes (best yielding) exhibited high early biomass (assessed by normalized difference of vegetative index, NDVI), high grainfilling rates, and low canopy temperatures. As for other studies Rd increased as temperature increased (within the range of 15–40 °C), and decreased with plant age. Correlations between Rd and leaf temperature ranged between 0.50 and 0.85. Rd was negatively associated with yield when recorded at 30–35 °C during anthesis and grainfilling. Comparisons between wheat groups showed that synthetic-derived materials expressed lower leaf respiration rates and larger yields than the other groups at warm temperatures.

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Abbreviations

TGW:

Kernel weight

GM2:

Kernel number

GFR:

Grainfilling rate

GF:

Grainfilling duration

CTv:

Canopy temperature during the vegetative stage

CTg:

Canopy temperature during the grainfilling stage

CT:

Average canopy temperature during the vegetative and grainfilling stages

NDVIv:

Normalized difference in vegetative index during the vegetative stage

NDVIg:

Normalized difference in vegetative index during the grainfilling stage

NDVI:

Average normalized difference in vegetative index during the vegetative and grainfilling stages

WSC:

Water soluble carbohydrate content in stems

Bmm:

Dry biomass production at maturity

Rd :

Dark leaf respiration rate

CHLg:

Leaf chlorophyll content during grainfilling

T min :

Minimum air temperature

T max :

Maximum air temperature

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Author contribution statement

RSP conducted field experiments, performed data analysis, and led the write-up. GM contributed in field data collection and interpretation, as well as providing valuable advice in writing the manuscript. MPR designed the experiments and participated in all aspects of data analysis, interpretation, and writing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Ciudad Obregón, Mexico

    R. Suzuky Pinto, Gemma Molero & Matthew P. Reynolds

  2. Australian Centre for Plant and Functional Genomics (ACPFG), School of Agriculture Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

    R. Suzuky Pinto

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  1. R. Suzuky Pinto
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  2. Gemma Molero
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Correspondence to Matthew P. Reynolds.

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Pinto, R.S., Molero, G. & Reynolds, M.P. Identification of heat tolerant wheat lines showing genetic variation in leaf respiration and other physiological traits. Euphytica 213, 76 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-017-1858-8

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