Changes in timing of water uptake and phenology favours yield gain in terminal water stressed chickpea AtDREB1A transgenics
Krithika Anbazhagan A B , Pooja Bhatnagar-Mathur A , Kiran K. Sharma A , Rekha Baddam A , P. B. Kavi Kishor B and Vincent Vadez A CA International Crops Research Institute for the Semiarid Tropics, Patancheru, Greater Hyderabad 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India.
B Department of Genetics, Osmania University, Hyderabad 500 007, Andhra Pradesh, India.
C Corresponding author. Email: v.vadez@cgiar.org
Functional Plant Biology 42(1) 84-94 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP14115
Submitted: 15 April 2014 Accepted: 10 July 2014 Published: 26 August 2014
Abstract
Terminal drought causes major yield loss in chickpea, so it is imperative to identify genotypes with best suited adaptive traits to secure yield in terminal drought-prone environments. Here, we evaluated chickpea (At) rd29A:: (At) DREB1A transgenic events (RD2, RD7, RD9 and RD10) and their untransformed C235 genotype for growth, water use and yield under terminal water-stress (WS) and well-watered (WW) conditions. The assessment was made across three lysimetric trials conducted in contained environments in the greenhouse (2009GH and 2010GH) and the field (2010F). Results from the greenhouse trials showed genotypic variation for harvest index (HI), yield, temporal pattern of flowering and seed filling, temporal pattern of water uptake across crop cycle, and transpiration efficiency (TE) under terminal WS conditions. The mechanisms underlying the yield gain in the WS transgenic events under 2009GH trial was related to conserving water for the reproductive stage in RD7, and setting seeds early in RD10. Water conservation also led to a lower percentage of flower and pod abortion in both RD7 and RD10. Similarly, in the 2010GH trial, reduced water extraction during vegetative stage in events RD2, RD7 and RD9 was critical for better seed filling in the pods produced from late flowers in RD2, and reduced percentage of flower and pod abortion in RD2 and RD9. However, in the 2010F trial, the increased seed yield and HI in RD9 compared with C235 came along only with small changes in water uptake and podding pattern, probably not causal. Events RD2 (2010GH), RD7 (2010GH) and RD10 (2009GH) with higher seed yield also had higher TE than C235. The results suggest that DREB1A, a transcription factor involved in the regulation of several genes of abiotic stress response cascade, influenced the pattern of water uptake and flowering across the crop cycle, leading to reduction in the percentage of flower and pod abortion in the glasshouse trials.
Additional keywords: conservative water use, flower abortion, lysimeter, pod abortion, terminal drought stress.
References
Ahmed FE, Hall AE (1993) Heat injury during early floral bud development in cowpea. Crop Science 33, 764–767.| Heat injury during early floral bud development in cowpea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Belko N, Zaman MA, Diop NN, Cisse N, Ehlers JD, Ndoye O, Zombre G, Vadez V (2012) Lower soil moisture threshold for transpiration decline under water deficit correlates with lower canopy conductance and higher transpiration efficiency in drought tolerant cowpea. Functional Plant Biology 39, 306–322.
| Lower soil moisture threshold for transpiration decline under water deficit correlates with lower canopy conductance and higher transpiration efficiency in drought tolerant cowpea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Berger JD, Ali M, Basu PS, Chaudhary BD, Chaturvedi SK, Deshmukh PS, Dharmaraj PS, Dwivedi SK, Gangadhar GC, Gaur PM, Kumar J, Pannu RK, Siddique KHM, Singh DN, Singh DP, Singh SJ, Turner NC, Yadava HS, Yadav SS (2006) Genotype by environment studies demonstrate the critical role of phenology in adaptation of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to high and low yielding environments of India. Field Crops Research 98, 230–244.
| Genotype by environment studies demonstrate the critical role of phenology in adaptation of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to high and low yielding environments of India.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bhatnagar-Mathur P, Vadez V, Sharma KK (2008) Transgenic approaches for abiotic stress tolerance in plants: retrospect and prospects. Plant Cell Reports 27, 411–424.
| Transgenic approaches for abiotic stress tolerance in plants: retrospect and prospects.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXhvFygt7k%3D&md5=8b099d668cd254e1b7c3ede74d8aa01eCAS | 18026957PubMed |
Boote KJ, Stansell JR, Schubert AM, Stone JF (1982) Irrigation, water use, and water relations. In ‘Peanut science and technology’. (Eds HE Pattee, CT Young) pp. 164–205. (American Peanut Research and Education Society: Yoakum, TX, USA)
Boyer JS, Westgate ME (2004) Grain yields with limited water. Journal of Experimental Botany 55, 2385–2394.
| Grain yields with limited water.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXovVOisr8%3D&md5=a6db814bb84a44508fc2fd6bf43800c9CAS | 15286147PubMed |
Chew YH, Halliday KJ (2010) A stress-free walk from Arabidopsis to crops. Current Opinion in Biotechnology 22, 1–6.
Clarke HJ, Siddique KHM (2004) Response of chickpea genotypes to low temperature stress during reproductive development. Field Crops Research 90, 323–334.
| Response of chickpea genotypes to low temperature stress during reproductive development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Croser JS, Clarke HJ, Siddique KHM, Khan TN (2003) Low‐temperature stress: Implications for chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in a short‐season Mediterranean‐type environment. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 22, 185–219.
| Low‐temperature stress: Implications for chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in a short‐season Mediterranean‐type environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Davies SL, Turner NC, Siddique KHM, Plummer JA, Leport L (1999) Seed growth of desi and kabuli chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in a short season Mediterranean-type environment. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 39, 181–188.
| Seed growth of desi and kabuli chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in a short season Mediterranean-type environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Davies SL, Turner NC, Palta JA, Siddique KHM, Plummer JA (2000) Remobilization of carbon and nitrogen supports seed filling in chickpea subjected to water deficit. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 51, 855–866.
| Remobilization of carbon and nitrogen supports seed filling in chickpea subjected to water deficit.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Downes RW, Gladstones JS (1984) Physiology of growth and seed production in Lupinus angustifolius (L.) effects on pod and seed set of controlled short duration high temperatures at flowering. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 35, 493–499.
| Physiology of growth and seed production in Lupinus angustifolius (L.) effects on pod and seed set of controlled short duration high temperatures at flowering.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Duc G, Gates P, Ney B, Rowland GG, Telaye A (1994) Reproductive physiology as a constraint to seed production in cool season food legumes. In ‘Expanding the production and use of cool season food legumes’. (Eds FJ Muehlbauer, WJ Kaiser) pp. 791–808. (Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, The Netherlands)
Eser D, Ukur A, Adak MS (1991) Effect of seed size on yield and yield components in chickpea. International Chickpea Newsletter 25, 13–15.
Fang X, Turner NC, Yan G, Li F, Siddique KHM (2010) Flower numbers, pod production, pollen viability, and pistil function are reduced and flower and pod abortion increased in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under terminal drought. Journal of Experimental Botany 61, 335–345.
| Flower numbers, pod production, pollen viability, and pistil function are reduced and flower and pod abortion increased in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under terminal drought.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXktlGltQ%3D%3D&md5=bc8128ab32f276f382f8816926bd3cdaCAS | 19854801PubMed |
Jordan WR, Dugas WA Jordan WR, Dugas WA (1983) Strategies for crop improvement for drought-prone regions. Agricultural Water Management 7, 281–299.
| Strategies for crop improvement for drought-prone regions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kashiwagi J, Krishnamurthy L, Upadhyaya HD, Krishna H, Chandra S, Vadez V, Serraj R (2005) Genetic variability of drought-avoidance root traits in the mini-core germplasm collection of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Euphytica 146, 213–222.
| Genetic variability of drought-avoidance root traits in the mini-core germplasm collection of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kato Y, Kamoshita A, Yamagishi J (2008) Preflowering abortion reduces spikelet number in upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) under water stress. Crop Science 48, 2389–2395.
| Preflowering abortion reduces spikelet number in upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) under water stress.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kholova J, Hash CT, Kakkera A, Kocova M, Vadez V (2010) Constitutive water-conserving mechanisms are correlated with the terminal drought tolerance of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.). Journal of Experimental Botany 61, 369–377.
| Constitutive water-conserving mechanisms are correlated with the terminal drought tolerance of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXktlGnsg%3D%3D&md5=6460e452da7f070a9472f6e214400a97CAS | 19861657PubMed |
Kumar J, Abbo S (2001) Genetics of flowering time in chickpea and its bearing on productivity in semi-arid. Advances in Agronomy 72, 107–138.
| Genetics of flowering time in chickpea and its bearing on productivity in semi-arid.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXivV2nsbo%3D&md5=705291be7205efda5d6d0747635c7824CAS |
Leport L, Turner NC, French RJ, Barr MD, Duda R, Davies SL, Tennant D, Siddique KHM (1999) Physiological responses of chickpea genotypes to terminal drought in Mediterranean-type environment. European Journal of Agronomy 11, 279–291.
| Physiological responses of chickpea genotypes to terminal drought in Mediterranean-type environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Leport L, Turner NC, Davies SL, Siddique KHM (2006) Variation in pod production and abortion among chickpea cultivars under terminal drought. European Journal of Agronomy 24, 236–246.
| Variation in pod production and abortion among chickpea cultivars under terminal drought.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ludlow MM, Muchow RC (1990) A critical evaluation of traits for improving crop yields in water limited environments. Advances in Agronomy 43, 107–153.
| A critical evaluation of traits for improving crop yields in water limited environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Merah O (2001) Potential importance of water status traits for durum wheat improvement under Mediterranean conditions. Journal of Agricultural Science 137, 139–145.
| Potential importance of water status traits for durum wheat improvement under Mediterranean conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moud AM, Yamagishi T (2007) Gas exchange responses of different wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars to water stress condition. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology 9, 102–105.
Nayyar H, Singh S, Kaur S, Kumar S, Upadhaya HD (2006) Differential sensitivity of macrocarpa and microcarpa types of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to water stress: association of contrasting stress response with oxidative injury. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 48, 1318–1329.
| Differential sensitivity of macrocarpa and microcarpa types of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to water stress: association of contrasting stress response with oxidative injury.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28Xht12itrjO&md5=ff913b7d26591c5144eef05a622307b6CAS |
Ryan JG (1997) A global perspective on pigeonpea and chickpea sustainable production systems: present status and future potential. In ‘Recent advances in pulses research’. (Eds AS Asthana, M Ali) pp. 1–31. (Indian Institute of Pulse Research (IIPR): Kanpur, India)
Sharma KK, Bhatnagar-Mathur P, Vani G (2006) Genetic engineering of chickpea for tolerance to drought stress. Poster presented at Annual workshop of Indo-Swiss collaboration in Biotechnology and Pulse Network, ICRISAT.
Sinclair TR (1994) Limits to crop yield? In ‘Physiology and determination of crop yield’. (Eds KJ Boote, JM Bennet, TR Sinclair, GN Paulsen) pp. 509–532. (American Society of Agronomy: Madison, Wisconsin, USA)
Subbarao GB, Johansen C, Slinkard AE, Rao RCN, Saxena NP, Chauhan YS (1995) Strategies for improving drought resistance in grain legumes. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 14, 469–523.
| Strategies for improving drought resistance in grain legumes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Turner NC, Wright GC, Siddique KHM (2001) Adaptation of grain legumes (pulses) to water-limited environments. Advances in Agronomy 71, 193–231.
| Adaptation of grain legumes (pulses) to water-limited environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Turner NC, Davies SL, Plummer JA, Siddique KHM (2005) Seed filling in grain legumes under water deficits, with emphasis on chickpeas. Advances in Agronomy 87, 211–250.
| Seed filling in grain legumes under water deficits, with emphasis on chickpeas.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXitlahsLY%3D&md5=5de2af6984a10fd6810c8db8262045feCAS |
Vadez V, Rao JS, Bhatnagar-Mathur P, Sharma KK (2013a) DREB1A promotes root development in deep soil layers and increases water extraction under water stress in groundnut. Plant Biology 15, 45–52.
| DREB1A promotes root development in deep soil layers and increases water extraction under water stress in groundnut.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXjt1egt74%3D&md5=6dcaee0e1896321f0d34e232dd0db6f3CAS | 22672619PubMed |
Vadez V, Soltani A, Sinclair TR (2013b) Crop simulation analysis of phenological adaptation of chickpea to different latitudes of India. Field Crops Research 146, 1–9.
| Crop simulation analysis of phenological adaptation of chickpea to different latitudes of India.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yang S, Vanderbeld B, Wan J, Huang Y (2010) Narrowing down the targets: towards successful genetic engineering of drought-tolerant crops. Molecular Plant 3, 469–490.
| Narrowing down the targets: towards successful genetic engineering of drought-tolerant crops.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXmslWit7g%3D&md5=a90b5b641e23026dcb7f2a4ec3f5c492CAS | 20507936PubMed |
Zaiter HZ, Barakat SG (1995) Flower and pod abortion in chickpea as affected by sowing date and cultivar. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 75, 321–327.
| Flower and pod abortion in chickpea as affected by sowing date and cultivar.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zaman-Allah M, Jenkinson DM, Vadez V (2011a) A conservative pattern of water use, rather than deep or profuse rooting, is critical for the terminal drought tolerance of chickpea. Journal of Experimental Botany 62, 4239–4252.
| A conservative pattern of water use, rather than deep or profuse rooting, is critical for the terminal drought tolerance of chickpea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhtVeit7jJ&md5=18c999ca5c463a19fbaa50402c465e5aCAS | 21610017PubMed |
Zaman-Allah M, Jenkinson DM, Vadez V (2011b) Chickpea genotypes contrasting for seed yield under terminal drought stress in the field differ for traits related to the control of water use. Functional Plant Biology 38, 270–281.
| Chickpea genotypes contrasting for seed yield under terminal drought stress in the field differ for traits related to the control of water use.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |