title: Potential for increased photosynthetic performance and crop productivity in response to climate change: role of CBFs and gibberellic acid.
abstract: We propose that targeting the enhanced photosynthetic performance associated with the cold acclimation of winter cultivars of rye (Secale cereale L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and Brassica napus L. may provide a novel approach to improve crop productivity under abiotic as well as biotic stress conditions. In support of this hypothesis, we provide the physiological, biochemical, and molecular evidence that the dwarf phenotype induced by cold acclimation is coupled to significant enhancement in photosynthetic performance, resistance to photoinhibition, and a decreased dependence on photoprotection through non-photochemical quenching which result in enhanced biomass production and ultimately increased seed yield. These system-wide changes at the levels of phenotype, physiology, and biochemistry appear to be governed by the family of C-repeat/dehydration-responsive family of transcription factors (CBF/DREB1). We relate this phenomenon to the semi-dwarf, gibberellic acid insensitive (GAI), cereal varieties developed during the "green revolution" of the early 1960s and 1970s. We suggest that genetic manipulation of the family of C-repeat/dehydration-responsive element binding transcription factors (CBF/DREB1) may provide a novel approach for the maintenance and perhaps even the enhancement of plant productivity under conditions of sub-optimal growth conditions predicted for our future climate.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department and the Biotron Centre for Experimental Climate Change Research, University of Western Ontario London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Norman P A
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Hüner
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough Scarborough, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Keshav
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dahal
authors.affiliation: Biology Department and the Biotron Centre for Experimental Climate Change Research, University of Western Ontario London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Leonid V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Kurepin
authors.affiliation: Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Leonid
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Savitch
authors.affiliation: Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Jas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Biology Department and the Biotron Centre for Experimental Climate Change Research, University of Western Ontario London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Alexander G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ivanov
authors.affiliation: Départment des Sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal Montréal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Khalil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.affiliation: Départment des Sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal Montréal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Fathey
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sarhan
keywords: CBFs; climate change; crop productivity; gibberellic acid; phenotypic plasticity; photosynthetic performance