Water deficits in wheat: fructan exohydrolase (1-FEH) mRNA expression and relationship to soluble carbohydrate concentrations in two varieties.
Terminal drought is a risk for wheat production in many parts of the world. Robust physiological traits for resilience would enhance the preselection of breeding lines in drought-prone areas. Three pot experiments were undertaken to characterize stem water-solublecarbohydrate (WSC), fructan exohydrolase expression, grain filling and leaf gas exchange in wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties, Kauz and Westonia, which are considered to be drought-tolerant.Water deficit accelerated the remobilization of stem WSC in Westonia but not in Kauz. The profile of WSC accumulation and loss was negatively correlated with them RNA concentration of 1-FEH, especially 1-FEH w3 (1-FEH-6B). Under water deficit, Westonia showed lower concentrations of WSC than Kauz but did not show a corresponding drop in grain yield. The results from pot experiments suggest that stem WSC concentration is not, on its own, a reliable criterion to identify potential grain yield in wheat exposed to water deficits during grain filling. The expression of 1-FEH w3 may provide a better indicator when linked to osmotic potential and green leaf retention, and this requires validation in field-grown plants.
Zhang
Jingjuan
J
Faculty of Sustainability, Environmental and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, WA, Australia, 6150.|Molecular Plant Breeding CRC, Murdoch University, South Street, WA, Australia, 6150.
Dell
Bernard
B
Faculty of Sustainability, Environmental and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, WA, Australia, 6150.
Conocono
Elisabeth
E
Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, 3 Baron Hay Court, South Perth, WA, Australia, 6151.
Waters
Irene
I
Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, 3 Baron Hay Court, South Perth, WA, Australia, 6151.
Setter
Tim
T
Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, 3 Baron Hay Court, South Perth, WA, Australia, 6151.
Appels
Rudi
R
Centre for Comparative Genomics, Murdoch University, South Street, WA, Australia, 6150.
D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D055864:Droughts; D005838:Genotype; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D010788:Photosynthesis; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012995:Solubility; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014908:Triticum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*
D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014867:Water; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; C044118:fructan beta-fructosidase