Phenotypic variation in photosynthetic traits in wheat grown under field versus glasshouse conditions

Cristina R. G. Sales, Gemma Molero, John R. Evans, Samuel H. Taylor, Ryan Joynson, Robert T. Furbank, Anthony Hall, Elizabete Carmo-Silva

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15 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Recognition of the untapped potential of photosynthesis to improve crop yields has spurred research to identify targets for breeding. The CO2-fixing enzyme Rubisco is characterized by a number of inefficiencies, and frequently limits carbon assimilation at the top of the canopy, representing a clear target for wheat improvement. Two bread wheat lines with similar genetic backgrounds and contrasting in vivo maximum carboxylation activity of Rubisco per unit leaf nitrogen (Vc,max,25/Narea) determined using high-throughput phenotyping methods were selected for detailed study from a panel of 80 spring wheat lines. Detailed phenotyping of photosynthetic traits in the two lines using glasshouse-grown plants showed no difference in Vc,max,25/Narea determined directly via in vivo and in vitro methods. Detailed phenotyping of glasshouse-grown plants of the 80 wheat lines also showed no correlation between photosynthetic traits measured via high-throughput phenotyping of field-grown plants. Our findings suggest that the complex interplay between traits determining crop productivity and the dynamic environments experienced by field-grown plants needs to be considered in designing strategies for effective wheat crop yield improvement when breeding for particular environments.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3221-3237
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of Experimental Botany
Volume73
Issue number10
Early online date10 Mar 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 May 2022

Keywords

  • Field
  • glasshouse
  • hyperspectral reflectance
  • photosynthesis
  • Rubisco
  • Triticum aestivum

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