guest ::
| Home > Publications database > Development of a standardized protocol for phenotyping of genotypic variation in sunflower root traits in response to drought stress |
| Home > Publications database > Development of a standardized protocol for phenotyping of genotypic variation in sunflower root traits in response to drought stress |
| Conference Presentation (After Call) | FZJ-2024-06075 |
; ; ; ; ; ;
2024
This record in other databases:
Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.34734/FZJ-2024-06075
Abstract: Sunflower is a globally grown oilseed crop, but yield is increasingly affected in many growing regions by drought periods. In the EU funded project CROPINNO, we aim to identify drought tolerance traits of sunflower, to facilitate breeding of drought tolerant cultivars. In a first experiment using the novel automated GrowScreen-Rhizo III phenotyping facility with soil-filled rhizotrons, we developed a standardized protocol to study sunflower root and shoot traits of inbred lines and commercial hybrids under control and drought conditions. Control plants were grown in well-watered peat substrate and watered daily. Drought plants were grown in predried substrate, and only watered once initially to facilitate germination. Plants were imaged daily to monitor root and shoot growth development non-invasively. After two weeks, stomatal conductance (gs) was measured and biomass, leaf area and total root length were destructively quantified. We hypothesized, that the drought stress protocol allows to reliably quantify differences in root traits in response to different soil water conditions, and to identify genotypic variation under drought conditions. Predried substrate and initial watering allowed establishment of most plants, but severely hampered plant growth. Drought stress of all lines was indicated by reduced root growth rate and lower biomass and gs compared to control plants. Hybrids were very similar in all quantified root traits, but showed a much faster growth compared to inbred lines. Inbred lines varied in root traits, including a wider root system of lines known for superior drought tolerance in the field. The results indicate the suitability of the applied protocol to monitor sunflower root growth under drought conditions, and demonstrate genotypic variation in root traits. Future experiments will include more genotypes to identify genomic and epigenetic markers which will facilitate breeding of cultivars with enhanced drought tolerance.
|
The record appears in these collections: |
PDF
Fulltext