Combined stress of low temperature and flooding affects physiological activities and insecticidal protein content in transgenic Bt cotton
Guisheng Zhou A E , Yonghui Wang B , Fuyan Zhai C , Shiyuan Lu A , A. E. Nimir D , Linlin Yu A , Hui Pan A and Dongmei Lv A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Physiology of Jiangsu Province, Agricultural College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, Jiangsu Province, China.
B Institute of Agricultural Sciences of Jiangsu Costal Area, Observation and Experimental Station of Saline Land of Costal Area, Ministry of Agriculture, Yancheng 224001, China.
C Joint Laboratory in Agricultural Sciences between AAFC and Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, Jiangsu Province, China.
D Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
E Corresponding author. Email: gszhou@yzu.edu.cn
Crop and Pasture Science 66(7) 740-746 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP14012
Submitted: 8 January 2014 Accepted: 17 January 2015 Published: 24 June 2015
Abstract
Low temperature and flooding are severe stresses to cotton plant growth and development in some parts of the world. This study was conducted to determine the interactive effects of low temperature and flooding on physiological and growth parameters of cotton plants, and yield of seed cotton. Transgenic Bt cotton plants at the boll-setting stage were treated with low temperature, flooding, and their combinations. The stresses decreased photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and intercellular CO2 concentration by up to 37%, 71%, 52%, and 60%, respectively. The content of soluble protein and insecticidal protein was also decreased by up to 65% and 53%, respectively. By contrast, malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased by up to 114%. The length of fruiting branch was shortened by combined low temperature and flooding stress. Boll number and weight were decreased by 3.2% and 28.1%, respectively. Seed cotton yield was decreased by up to 43.2%. Our results suggest that concurrent low temperature and flooding at the boll-setting stage negatively influenced leaf photosynthetic activities and insecticidal protein production, leading to poor protection and yield. We recommend that agronomic measures be designed to stabilise physiological activities and insecticidal protein production in Bt cotton plants under stress conditions.
Additional keywords: Bt cotton, flooding, insecticidal protein, low temperature, seed cotton yield.
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