Dissecting wheat above-ground architecture for enhanced water use efficiency and grain yield in the subtropics
Hakeem S. Ali Z. Saddique M.A.B. Habib-ur-Rahman M. Wiehle M.
December 2024Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Botanical Studies
2024#65Issue 1
Background: Growing wheat under climate change scenarios challenges, scientists to develop drought and heat-tolerant genotypes. The adaptive traits should therefore be explored and engineered for this purpose. Thus, this study aimed to dissect surface traits and optimizing the leaf architecture to enhance water use efficiency (WUE) and grain yield. Twenty-six wheat genotypes were assessed for five novel leaf traits (NLTs: leaf prickle hairs, groove type, rolling, angle and wettability) under normal, drought and heat conditions following triplicated factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD). The data for NLTs, physiological traits (stomatal conductance, WUE, transpiration, and photosynthesis), and standard morphological and yield traits were recorded. Leaves were sampled at the stem elongation stage (Zadoks 34) to measure the leaf water content (%), contact angle, and to obtain pictures through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The air moisture harvesting efficiency was evaluated for five selected genotypes. The ideotype concept was applied to evaluate the best-performing genotypes. Results: The correlation analysis indicated that long leaf prickle hairs (> 100 μm), short stomatal aperture and density (40–60 mm− 2), inward to spiral leaf rolling, medium leaf indentation, low contact angle hysteresis (< 10°), and cuticular wax were positively associated with WUE. This, in turn, was significantly correlated to grain yield. Thus, the genotypes (E-1) with these traits and alternate leaf wettability had maximum grain yield (502 g m− 2) and WUE supported with high photosynthesis rate, and relative water content (94 and 75% under normal and stress conditions, respectively). However, the genotype (1-hooded) with dense leaf hairs on edges but droopy leaves, spiral leaf rolling, and lighter groove, also performed better in terms of grain yield (450 g m− 2) under heat stress conditions by maintaining high photosynthesis and WUE with low stomatal conductance and transpiration rate. Conclusion: The SEM analysis verified that the density of hairs on the leaf surface and epicuticular wax contributes towards alternate wettability patterns thereby increasing the water-use efficiency and yield of the wheat plant. This study paves a way towards screening and and developing heat and drought-tolerant cultivars that are water-saving and climate-resilient.
Climate change , Drought , Heat stress , Leaf morphologys , Scanning electron microscopy , Triticale , Triticum aestivum , Triticum durum
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Institute of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Programs and Projects Department, Islamic Organization for Food Security, Mangilik Yel Ave. 55/21 AIFC, Unit 4, C4.2, Astana, Kazakhstan
Crop Science Group, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
Organic Plant Production and Agroecosystems Research in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Kassel, Steinstrasse 19, Witzenhausen, D-37213, Germany
Centre for International Rural Development, University of Kassel, Steinstraße 19, Witzenhausen, Germany
Institute of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics
Programs and Projects Department
Crop Science Group
Organic Plant Production and Agroecosystems Research in the Tropics and Subtropics
Centre for International Rural Development
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