Understanding distribution and transport of carbon assimilates and photosynthesis contribution to grain yield in wheat spike is important in assessing the photosynthetic process under stress conditions. In this study, photosynthetic characteristics were evaluated in a pot experiment. Transport of spike photosynthates to grain was demonstrated using 14C isotope tracer technique. Yield and key enzyme activities of C3 and C4 pathways were examined after anthesis in wheat cultivars of different drought resistance. The ear net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content of the spike bracts (glume, lemma, and palea), and relative water content slightly decreased under water deficit in drought resistant variety Pubing 143 (Pub) during the grain filling stage, whereas all parameters decreased significantly in drought sensitive variety Zhengyin 1 (Zhe). Grain 14C-photosynthate distribution rate fell by 3.8% in Pub and increased by 3.9% in Zhe. After harvest, the water-use efficiency of Zhe dropped by 18.7% under water deficit. Rubisco activity in ear organs declined significantly under water deficit, whereas activity of C4 pathway enzymes was significantly enhanced, especially that of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and NADP-malate dehydrogenase. Water deficit exerted lesser influence on spike photosynthesis in Pub. Ear organs exhibited delayed senescence. Accumulation of photosynthetic carbon assimilates in ear bracts occurred mainly during the early grain filling and photosynthates were transported in the middle of grain filling. C4 pathway enzymes seem to play an important function in ear photosynthesis. We speculate that the high enzyme activity of the C4 pathway and the increased capacity of photosynthetic carbon assimilate transport were the reasons for the drought tolerance characteristics of ears., S. Jia, J. Lv, S. Jiang, T. Liang, C. Liu, Z. Jing., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Jimai22 was used to evaluate the effect of ethylene evolution rate (EER) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) and their relations with photosynthesis and photochemical efficiency in plants well-watered (WW) and under a severe water deficit (SWD). SWD caused a noticeable reduction in the grain mass. The marked increases in both EER and the ACC concentration were observed under SWD; it was reversed effectively by exogenous spermidine (Spd) or amino-ethoxyvinylglycine (AVG). Thermal images indicated that SWD increased obviously the temperature of flag leaves, mainly due to the decrease in transpiration rate under SWD. Exogenous Spd or AVG decreased to some extent the temperature of the flag leaves. The strong decline in photosynthetic rate (PN) and stomatal conductance as well as the photodamage of PSII were also observed under SWD after 14 and 21 days after anthesis (DAA). Intercellular CO2 concentration was reduced at 7 DAA, but slightly increased at 14 and 21 DAA under SWD, indicating that the decreased PN at 7 DAA might result from stomatal limitations, while the decline after 14 and 21 DAA might be attributed to nonstomatal limitations. Correlation analysis suggested that EER and ACC showed negative relations to photosynthesis and photochemical efficiency. Data obtained suggested that the effects of SWD were mediated predominantly by the increase in EER and ACC concentration, which greatly decreased the leaf photosynthesis and photochemical efficiency, and, therefore, reduced the grain mass. Application of Spd or AVG reduced the EER and ACC, and thus positively influenced photosynthesis and photochemical efficiency under SWD., W. Yang, Y. Yin, W. Jiang, D. Peng, D. Yang, Y. Cui, Z. Wang., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Exposure of thylakoid membranes to high temperature in dark leads to the degradation of D1 protein. Maximum degradation of D1 protein occurred at 45 °C. Using N-terminal specific D1 antibody, a 23 kDa fragment of D1 protein was detected. The degradation of D1 protein could be prevented both by radical scavengers and inhibitors of serine protease and metallo-protease. These results suggest that degradation of D1 protein during exposure of thylakoid membranes to high temperature in dark is catalyzed by protease. and A. K. Singh, G. S. Singhal.
Parameters of the fast chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence induction (the O-J-I-P curve) of plants of winter wheat grown in the field canopy were statistically tested for Gaussian distribution. Five different statistical methods showed that the obtained values did not obey the Gaussian distribution law. The presentation of the parameters with the help of the mean and standard deviation masks the information about statistical properties of the values. Thus, we recommend to present the parameters by means of median, quartiles, and minimum and maximum values rather than by means of the mean and standard deviation. and D. Lazár, J. Nauš.
Wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L.) develop plastids (etioplasts and chloroplasts) which exhibit alterations in inner membrane organisation after treatment with Norflurazon (NF), an inhibitor of carotenoid biosynthesis. In dark-grown plants, it results in a decreased amount of partitions (contact zones) between prothylakoids. Under weak red radiation (WRR), plants contain chloroplasts devoid of grana. Using the fluorescent probe 9-amino acridine (9-AA), the average surface charge density of isolated prothylakoids (PTs) was -21.8±3.2 mC m-2 and -27.4±2.6 mC m-2 in the control and after treatment, respectively. Thylakoid membranes isolated from plants grown under WRR exhibited slightly more negative values, -23.5±2.9 mC m-2 and -29.0±2.1 mC m-2, in control and after NF treatment, respectively. The surface charge density of de-stacked thylakoids from greenhouse-grown untreated plants, containing extensive grana stacking, was -34.3±2.5 mC m-2. Assays using the fluorescent probe of DPH (1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene) showed a higher polarisation value when incorporated into thylakoids from NF-treated plants compared to untreated plants grown under WRR. The highest polarisation value was found in untreated plants grown in the greenhouse. This indicates a lower rotation transition of the probe in the lipid environment of thylakoids after NF treatment, which can be interpreted as more rigid membranes. Hence the surface charge density and the mobility of membrane components may play a major role for the formation of partitions in dark-grown plants and in the formation of grana in plants grown under WRR.
Photoinhibition is a significant constraint for improvement of radiation-use efficiency and yield potential in cereal crops. In this work, attached fully expanded leaves of seedlings were used to assay the factors determining photoinhibition and for evaluation of tolerance to photoinhibition in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Our results showed that even 1 h under PPFD of 600 µmol(photon) m-2 s-1 could significantly reduce maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm) and performance index (PI) compared to low light [300 µmol(photon) m-2 s-1]. The decrease of Fv/Fm and PI was more noticeable with the increase of light intensity; irradiance higher than 800 µmol(photon) m-2 s-1 resulted in photoinhibition. Compared to 25°C, lower (20°C) or higher temperature (≥ 35°C) aggravated photoinhibition, while slightly high temperature (28°) alleviated photoinhibition. At 25°C, irradiance of 1,000 µmol(photon) m-2 s-1 for 1 h was enough to cause photoinhibition and a significant decrease of Fv/Fm, PI, trapped energy flux, electron transport flux, and density of reaction center as well as increase of dissipated energy flux per cross section were observed. In addition, seedlings at 21-32 days after planting showed a relatively stable phenotype, while the younger or older seedlings indicated an increased susceptibility to photoinhibition, especially in senescing leaves. Finally, six wheat varieties with relative tolerance to photoinhibition were identified from 22 Chinese winter wheat varieties by exposing attached leaves of the 25-d old seedlings for 1 h to 1,000 µmol(photon) m-2 s-1 at 25°C. Therefore, our work established a possible method for development of new wheat varieties with enhanced tolerance to photoinhibition., H. Li, Q. Zheng, J. Zhang, B. Li, Z. Li., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Physiological traits, which are positively associated with yield under salt-stress conditions, can be useful selection criteria in screening for salt tolerance. We examined whether chlorophyll (Chl) content can be used as screening criterion in wheat. Our study involved 5 wheat genotypes under both saline and nonsaline field conditions as well as in a sand-culture experiment. Salt stress reduced significantly biomass, grain yield, total Chl and both Chl a and b in all genotypes. In the sand-culture experiment, Chl accumulation was higher in PF70354/BOW, Ghods, and H499.71A/JUP genotypes at nonsaline control, moderate, and high salt concentrations, respectively. In the field experiment, genotype H499.71A/JUP belonged to those with the highest Chl density. The SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development) meter readings were linearly related to Chl content both in the sand-culture and in the field experiment. However, salt stress affected the calibration of SPAD meter. Therefore, separate Chl-SPAD equations were suggested for saline and nonsaline conditions. The correlation coefficients between the grain yield and SPAD were positive and significant both in the sand culture and in the field experiment. These findings suggested that SPAD readings could be used as a tool for rapid assessment of relative Chl content in wheat genotypes. It could be used for the indirect selection of high-yielding genotypes of wheat under saline condition in sand-culture and field experiments., A. Kiani-Pouya, F. Rasouli., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The tritrophic interactions between two different plant-host complexes, Avena sativa-Sitobion avenae, Triticum aestivum-S. avenae and the aphid parasitoid Aphidius rhopalosiphi were studied with respect to odour learning and recognition by the parasitoid. The orientation behaviour of females towards odours from either uninfested or aphid-infested oat or wheat plants was tested in a series of dual choice Y-tube olfactometer experiments. Female parasitoids had the opportunity to gain a single oviposition experience on either the oat-S. avenae or wheat-S. avenae complex before the experiment. In the first set of experiments, where A. rhopalosiphi was reared on the oat-S. avenae complex, eight odour-bait combinations were tested. The females did not discriminate between uninfested oat and wheat. After oat complex experience, females responded to odours from the oat complex, but not to odours from the wheat complex. Consequently, in a direct comparison the oat complex was preferred over the wheat complex. After wheat complex experience, the parasitoid's orientation responses gave a different picture. Both, the wheat complex and the oat complex, were then shown to be equally attractive. Hence, in direct comparison no preference was recorded between the oat and wheat complexes. In a second set of experiments, where A. rhopalosiphi was reared on the wheat- S. avenae complex, a possible influence of any pre-adult or emergence-related host plant experience could be excluded as the same results were obtained as before. At first glance the responses towards the different odour baits seem inconsistent. However, the results may be explained using a simple model with two key odour components.
High temperature is a common constraint during anthesis and grain-filling stages of wheat leading to huge losses in yield. In order to understand the mechanism of heat tolerance during monocarpic senescence, the present study was carried out under field conditions by allowing two well characterized Triticum aestivum L. cultivars differing in heat tolerance, Hindi62 (heat-tolerant) and PBW343 (heat-susceptible), to suffer maximum heat stress under late sown conditions. Senescence was characterized by measuring photosynthesis related processes and endoproteolytic activity during non-stress environment (NSE) as well as heat-stress environment (HSE). There was a faster rate of senescence under HSE in both the genotypes. Hindi62, having pale yellow flag leaf with larger area, maintained cooler canopy under high temperatures than PBW343. The tolerance for high temperature in Hindi62 was clearly evident in terms of slower green-leaf area degradation, higher stomatal conductance, higher stability in maximum PSII efficiency, Rubisco activity and Rubisco content than PBW343. Both the genotypes exhibited lower endopeptidase activity under HSE as compared to NSE and this difference was more apparent in Hindi62. Serine proteases are the predominant proteases responsible for protein degradation under NSE as well as HSE. Flag leaf of both the genotypes exhibited high-molecular-mass endoproteases (78 kDa and 67 kDa) isoforms up to full grain maturity which were inhibited by specific serine protease inhibitor in both the environments. In conclusion, the heat-tolerant Hindi62 exhibited a slower rate of senescence than the heat-susceptible PBW343 during HSE, which may contribute towards heat stability. and S. Chauhan ... [et al.].