title: Molecular and systems approaches towards drought-tolerant canola crops.
abstract: 1169 I. 1170 II. 1170 III. 1172 IV. 1176 V. 1181 VI. 1182 1183 References 1183 SUMMARY: Modern agriculture is facing multiple challenges including the necessity for a substantial increase in production to meet the needs of a burgeoning human population. Water shortage is a deleterious consequence of both population growth and climate change and is one of the most severe factors limiting global crop productivity. Brassica species, particularly canola varieties, are cultivated worldwide for edible oil, animal feed, and biodiesel, and suffer dramatic yield loss upon drought stress. The recent release of the Brassica napus genome supplies essential genetic information to facilitate identification of drought-related genes and provides new information for agricultural improvement in this species. Here we summarize current knowledge regarding drought responses of canola, including physiological and -omics effects of drought. We further discuss knowledge gained through translational biology based on discoveries in the closely related reference species Arabidopsis thaliana and through genetic strategies such as genome-wide association studies and analysis of natural variation. Knowledge of drought tolerance/resistance responses in canola together with research outcomes arising from new technologies and methodologies will inform novel strategies for improvement of drought tolerance and yield in this and other important crop species.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Mengmeng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
authors.forename: J Grey
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Monroe
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Yasir
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suhail
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20740, USA.
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Villiers
authors.affiliation: Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mullen
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, Cell and Developmental Biology Section, Food and Fuel for the 21st Century Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-016, USA.
authors.forename: Dianne
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4165-6941
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pater
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, Cell and Developmental Biology Section, Food and Fuel for the 21st Century Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-016, USA.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Byeong Wook
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.|School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Joel S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bader
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20740, USA.|Center for Plant Aging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Korea.
authors.forename: June M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, Cell and Developmental Biology Section, Food and Fuel for the 21st Century Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-016, USA.
authors.forename: Julian I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.affiliation: Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Assmann
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D029688:Brassica napus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D057231:Climate Change; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D055864:Droughts; D018745:Genome, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D013312:Stress, Physiological
keywords: Arabidopsis thaliana; Brassica napus; abscisic acid (ABA); canola; drought; natural variation; oilseeds; translational biology