The effect of water stress on the growth, landscape performance, and plant-water relations of four ornamental ground cover species (gray santolina, Santolina chamaecyparissus; dwarf rosemary, Rosemarinus officinalis; Chihuahuan Desert lantana, Lantana velutina; and prostrate germander, Teucrium chamaedrys) was investigated for a twoyear period. Plants were established in a drip irrigated field and subjected to four soil moisture regimes (-1, -5, -10, and -15 bars), monitored by neutron probe. While water stress reduced vegetative covers, shoot growths, heights, and fresh and dry weights of the plants, species response to water deficit varied greatly. Minimum amounts of water required for growing each species were determined. Germander was found to be the most drought tolerant, followed by santolina, rosemary, and lantana in decreasing order. In earlier treatment period, adequately watered plants showed better aesthetic appeal and landscape performance than the plants grown under a high soil moisture tension. However, the effect of water stress on plants' landscape performance was less evident as plants became more established. In all species tested, with an exception of germander, leaf water, osmotic, and turgor potentials of nonstressed plants were higher than those of severely stressed plants. Using the pressure-volume technique, apoplastic water was found to contribute a significant proportion of the total tissue water content. The dilution of symplastic water by apoplastic water during osmotic potential determinations was found to be the major cause of the frequently observed negative turgidity. Methods for correcting for these apoplastic dilution effects were suggested. Osmotic potentials at full and zero turgor, symplastic water contents, changes in water, osmotic, and turgor potentials relative to changes in cell water content (Blifler diagrams), and cell wall elasticity varied significantly with species and treatments. Water stress caused a reduction in total chlorophyll and carotenoids concentrations and in the chlorophyll/ carotenoids ratio, without changing chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b ratio in plant tissues. Leaf reflectances to incident light as measured at 400 to 700 nm were found to differ substantially by species but not by treatments. No consistent correlations were found to exist between leaf pigment content and each of dominant wavelength, brightness, and the purity of leaf color.

No description available.

Summer drought is a major factor limiting the regrowth of perennial ryegrass seed crops. This phase of crop development has a strong influence on seed yield because most of the tillers that contribute towards next season's seed crop are produced or regrown during this period. In recent years many seed fields have exhibited premature decline probably because of extensive drought after harvesting. Therefore, this study was undertaken to (i) assess how post-harvest leaf and tiller development is impacted by the timing and severity of water stress and (ii) identify potential relationships of water stress to flowering and seed yield. Rain-out shelters were used to exclude rainfall from two cultivars which received either no irrigation or 2.5 cm of simulated rainfall in mid-August or mid-September or both. These were compared to an ambient treatment. No rainfall decreased total tiller production by approximately 30% in 1995 and 50% in 1996. There were also moderate reductions in tiller dry weight, tiller height, and slight decreases in number of leaves and the basal diameters. The trend showed that the cultivar Affinity responded quicker to an early irrigation whereas the cultivar Buccaneer had a longer period of summer dormancy. Total soluble sugars concentrations increased as tiller number decreased suggesting the potential for rapid compensatory growth upon alleviation of drought. Limited irrigation during the post-harvest period of regrowth did not generally affect fertile tiller number nor seed yields. Fewer vegetative tillers as the stands aged, together with other changes in plant parameters, may mark the beginning of the dieback problem. In greenhouse studies, four cultivars were rapidly stressed using vermiculite as a growth medium. Though little differences were observed among cultivars when physiological responses were evaluated, stomata' diffusive resistance and leaf temperatures increased, whereas plant water potential and leaf transpiration decreased as stress was prolonged. Plant survival following water stress was largely dependent on cultivar and gravimetric water content of vermiculite. This technique did not reasonably simulate natural drought conditions in terms of plant physiological performances nor soil characteristics, but it was useful to differentiate the ability of different genotypes to survive a drought-induced dieback. / Graduation date: 1998

Population based association studies in crops that were established by domestication and early breeding can be a valuable basis for the identification of QTLs. A case control design in a population is an ideal way to identify maximum candidate sites contributing to a complex polygenic trait such as drought. In the current study, marker loci associated with drought related QTLs were identified in sugarcane (Saccharum spp), one of the most complex crop genomes, with its polyploid nature (>8), chromosome number (>100) and interspecific origin. The objectives of this investigation were: 1) development of genic markers, which can be used for marker-assisted selection of drought tolerant genotypes of sugarcane. 2) genotypic characterization of sugarcane population at drought related loci using EST-SSR markers. Using 55 microsatellite markers, 56 polymorphisms were scored among 80 modern sugarcane genotypes. Homogeneity of the population was confirmed by determining the distribution of allele frequencies obtained by random genomic microsatellite markers. This analysis was conducted in the STRUCTURE program and the population was divided in 3 subgroups based on the allelic distribution. Phenotypic data to evaluate drought tolerance among the genotypes was collected by measuring chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence, leaf temperature and leaf relative water content. A generalized linear model in SPSS was used to find association between marker loci and phenotypic data. Markers with significant association (P 0.001 level) with the trait were subjected to linear regression to screen the spurious associations. Based on the results, 21 EST-SSR markers and 11 TRAP markers related to drought-defining physiological parameters were considered as genuine associations in this study. Fifty-six polymorphisms produced by 13 EST-SSR primers were used to produce genetic similarity matrix for 80 genotypes. Dendrogram prepared from this genetic similarity matrix will be useful in selecting parents carrying diversity at drought specific loci.

Evapotranspiration rates (ET) and consumptive water use (CWU) were measured for three desert turfgrasses using weighing lysimeters with a calcined clay growth medium. Water use rates were compared over a two-year study for 'Sea Isle I' seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum) and A138 desert saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), along with 'Tifway' bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon x Cynodon transvaalensis). Saltgrass showed elevated leaf canopy temperatures for extended periods before exhibiting visible wilt symptoms while 'Tifway' bermudagrass and seashore paspalum wilted readily, even at relatively high soil water contents. Saltgrass transpired for 11.9 d on average before drought stress was observed. Seashore paspalum maintained leaf turgor, on average 5.6 d without irrigation, whereas 'Tifway' bermudagrass averaged 4.0 d before requiring irrigation. The two-year average Kc values for three grasses before self-imposed drought was expressed by visible leaf wilting were 0.85, 0.79, and 0.74, for A138 saltgrass, 'Sea Isle I' seashore paspalum, and 'Tifway' bermudagrass, respectively.

Plants have evolved numerous strategies for the adaptation to drought. Although many investigations reported on the potential value of proline accumulation during environmental stress, it is still unknown whether or not a constitutive higher level of proline accumulation enhances plant tolerance. Thus, it was investigated if underproduction and overproduction of proline will influence the susceptibility to drought stress in soybean plants. This was made possible with the transformation of soybean plants with an L-Δ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (P5CR) gene. First, an Agrobacterium-mediated vacuum infiltration transformation system, using partially germinating Carnia 2233 soybean seed, was established through the assessment of several conditions that can affect transformation efficiency with the use of β-glucuronidase reporter genes. Transformation was confirmed with PCR and Southern blot analysis and results indicated that stable transgenic soybean plants were obtained within one generation with a transformation rate of± 30%. This technique was used in the transformation of Carnia 2233 soybean seed with the P5CR gene in the antisense orientation under the control of an inducible heat shock gene promoter (IHSP). It was confirmed that the P5CR-IHSP gene construct was integrated into the soybean cells and was conserved over three generations. Physiological screening of the antisense P5CR transgenic plants in the greenhouse proved that, with activation of the promoter, an under-expression of the P5CR gene and subsequent inhibition of the accumulation of proline were experienced during drought and osmotic stress. The decline of the viability of the transgenics with prolonged drought stress, as monitored with a woodenbox screening test, is an indication that proline is needed for survival of soybean plants under drought stress conditions. The transgenic plants demonstrated a sensitive reaction in contrast to the control plants that displayed a tolerant reaction to osmotic stress in a TTC assay. The underexpression of the P5CR gene resulted in a decline protein synthesis due to proline shortage as was observed with the evaluation of the efficiency of protein synthesis. All these results suggest that a decrease in the proline level due to the antisense P5CR gene, yielded plants that are more osmotic and drought stress sensitive. Subsequently, the soybean cultivar Ibis was successfully transformed with the P5CR-IHSP construct in the sense and antisense directions in order to test the reproducibility of the transformation process and to assessed the link between the biochemical traits involved in the drought stress mechanism. Three different experiments were conducted: a mild heat and drought stress on "To" transgenic plants exploring changes in chlorophyll fluorescence transients, a mild heat stress on "T1" transgenic plants comparing proline accumulation and chlorophyll fluorescence transients and a severe drought and heat stress on the "T1" transgenic plants comparing proline accumulation NADP⁺synthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence transients. Chlorophyll fluorescence transients were successfully used as a screening method for transgenic soybean plants during this study. The sense transgenics responded to the mild stresses with a significant decrease in their electron transport, trapping and absorption compared to the antisense plants that displayed significant increases in electron transport and trapping. During the severe stress, the antisense transgenics experienced total photoinhibition indicated by the enormous loss of electron transport but the sense plants had the ability to overcome the stress as is revealed in the increase in the electron transport. It was demonstrated that although proline accumulation yielded no significant differences during the mild heat stress, the sense plants accumulated substantially more proline than the control and antisense plants during the severe heat and drought stress. It was demonstrated that proline plays an important role in the plant's response to a drought stress as well as in the recovery phase after drought, as the sense plants also had the ability to reduce the accumulated proline during the recovery period in contrast to the antisense transgenics that experienced protein degradation. The transgenics responded to a period of heat and drought stress with a reduction in NADP⁺ levels in the antisense plants and increasing levels in the sense plants. The sense plants were able to fully recover after the stress period, thus adaptation to drought may depend on different mechanisms, including the capacity to maintain high levels of proline and to regenerate them through the "reduction" of NADP⁺. It was possible to alter the drought tolerance of Ibis by transformation with antisense and sense P5CR gene constructs, which resulted in respectively more sensitive and more tolerant Ibis plants. It can be concluded that over-expression of P5CR during a drought stress resulted in higher proline levels, better photosynthetic efficiency, higher NADP⁺ production and thus a more drought tolerant plant. This study gave additional proof that a constitutively higher level of proline accumulation enhances drought tolerance in soybean. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.

There is a great deal of work currently being done in the field of desiccation tolerance. Generally workers studying desiccation-tolerant plant tissues have concentrated on the mechanisms of desiccation tolerance without concomitant studies on why most plants cannot survive desiccation. The present study considers both a desiccation-tolerant plant as well as a range of desiccation-sensitive plants. The work incorporates physiological, biophysical, biochemical and ultrastructural studies in an attempt to get a holistic picture of vegetative material as it dries and then rehydrates. The plant species used in this study are: Craterostigma nanum, a so-called resurrection plant; Garcinia livingstonei, a drought-tolerant small tree; Isoglossa woodii, an understorey shrub which shows a remarkable ability to recover from wilting; Pisum sativum seedlings, which have a very high water content at full turgor; and finally, Adiantum raddianum, the maiden hair fern, which wilts very quickly and does not recover from wilting. The desiccation-tolerant plant, C. nanum, had an unusual pressure-volume (PV) curve which indicated that while large volume changes were taking place there was little concomitant change in pressure or water potential. The unusual nature of this PV curve made it difficult to assess the relative water content (RWC) at which turgor was lost. The desiccation-sensitive plants exhibited standard curvi-linear PV curves. The amount of nonfreezable water in the five species was studied and found to show no correlation with the ability to withstand dehydration or with the lethal water content. There were no differences in the melting enthalpy of tissue water between the tolerant and most of the sensitive plants. Isoglossa woodii had a lower melting enthalpy than the tolerant and the other sensitive species. Survival studies showed that the desiccation-sensitive plants all had similar lethal RWCs. The tolerant plant survived dehydration to as low as 1% RWC, recovering on rehydration within 24 hours. Membrane leakage studies showed that the sensitive plants all exhibited membrane damage at different absolute water contents, but very similar RWCs and water potentials. The increase in leakage corresponded to the lethal RWC for all the sensitive species. The desiccation-tolerant plant recovered from dehydration to very low water contents and did not show an increase in membrane leakage if prior rehydration had taken place. Without prior rehydration this tolerant plant exhibited an increase in leakage at similar RWCs and water potentials to that of the sensitive species. There did not appear to be much difference in the RWC at which damage to membranes occurred whether the material was dried rapidly or slowly. Respiration and chlorophyll fluorescence were studied to determine what effect drying and rehydration have on the electron transport· processes of the leaf. The chlorophyll fluorescence studies gave an indication of damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. Both qualitative changes as well as quantitative changes in fluorescence parameters were assessed. Characteristics like quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm)remained fairly constant for a wide range of RWCs until a critical RWC was reached where there was a sharp decline in Fv/Fm. Upon rehydration, C. nanum recovered to pre-stress levels, I. woodii showed no recovery and no further damage on rehydration, whilst the other species exhibited even more damage on rehydration than they had on dehydration. Respiration remained fairly constant or increased slightly during drying until a critical RWC was reached at which it suddenly declined. The RWC at which this decline occurred ranged from 15% and 20% in P. sativum and C. nanum respectively, to 50% for G. livingstonei. On rehydration respiration exceeded the levels measured in dehydrated material for the sensitive species. Unsuccessful attempts were made to fix material anhydrously for ultrastructural studies so standard fIxation was used. The ultrastructural studies revealed that changes had occurred in the ultrastructure of leaves of the sensitive species dried to 30% RWC particularly in A. raddianum and P. sativum. Drying to 5% RWC revealed extensive ultrastructural degradation which was worsened on rehydration in the sensitive species. The tolerant species showed ultrastructural changes on drying but these were not as severe as occurred in the sensitive species. The cell walls of the tolerant species folded in on drying. This folding was possibly responsible for the unusual PV curves found in this species. At 5% RWC the cells were closely packed and very irregular in shape. The cell contents were clearly resolved and evenly spread throughout the cell. The large central vacuole appeared to have subdivided into a number of smaller vacuoles. On rehydration the cells regained their shape and the cell contents had moved towards the periphery as the large central vacuole was reformed. Beading of membranes, which was common in the sensitive species, was not found in the tolerant species suggesting that membrane damage was not as severe in the tolerant species. Western Blot analysis of the proteins present during drying was performed to determine whether a class of desiccation-induced proteins, called dehydrins, were present. These proteins have been suggested to play a protective role in desiccation-tolerant tissue. It was found that C. nanum did, in fact, possess dehydrins, but so did P. sativum. The other three sensitive species did not show any appreciable levels of dehydrin proteins. The presence of dehydrins alone is, therefore, not sufficient to confer desiccation tolerance. While physiologically the damage occurring in the sensitive plants was similar to that of the tolerant plant, at an ultrastructural level the damage appeared less in the tolerant plant. On rehydration from low RWCs damage appeared to become exacerbated in the sensitive plants. This was in contrast to the tolerant plant where damage was apparently repaired. There appears, therefore, to be a combination of protection and repair mechanisms responsible for the ability of C. nanum to tolerate desiccation. The lethal RWC of the sensitive species was higher than that at which protective mechanisms, such as water replacement, might come into play. So it is not just the possible ability to replace tightly bound water that set the tolerant plant aside. It must also have mechanisms to tolerate damage at the higher RWCs which were damaging and lethal to the sensitive plants. The lethal damage to sensitive species appeared to be related to a critical volume, thus it is concluded that the tolerant plant had the ability to tolerate or avoid this mechanical damage during drying as well as the ability to remain viable in the dry state. It is hypothesised that the ability of the walls to fold in and the unusual nature of the PV curve may provide some answers to the enigma of desiccation tolerance. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, 1995.

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Allan K. Fritz / Drought is known to be one of the most limiting abiotic stresses for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production, not only in the Midwest, but throughout the world. It is a complex issue and one that is difficult to screen for when breeding for new varieties. Hybrid wheat is one possible tool for breeders to use in order to make genetic gains towards better tolerance. The effectiveness of hybrid wheat as a tool to address regular periods of drought is a topic of continual discussion. The purpose of this study was to perform a comprehensive screening for drought tolerance comparing two different experimental hybrid entries to their parents. The hybrids were selected based on their good performance under drought in prior field trials. Plants were grown in PVC columns containing sensors that monitored growth media water content and matric potential. All plants were grown equally until heading. Drought treatment began 10 days post anthesis. Plants were observed until senescence/maturity. Several different agronomic characteristics were measured along with physiological traits that have previously been linked to drought tolerance. After completion of the screening, it was observed that the hybrid entries tended to fall between the two parents for a majority of the measurements. When comparing the hybrids to the parents overall, at least one parent outperformed its hybrid in every category. Parent line Parent B was one of the highest ranking genotypes for all measurements. Different drought mechanisms were observed across genotypes upon completion of the treatment. Further research is necessary to understand the hybrid response to drought when compared to pure line varieties.

Submitted by Irene Nascimento (irene.kessia@ufpe.br) on 2017-03-30T18:02:43Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) TESE COMPLETA.pdf: 2366892 bytes, checksum: a8267bdf80ed510e024b84bf700298d2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-30T18:02:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) TESE COMPLETA.pdf: 2366892 bytes, checksum: a8267bdf80ed510e024b84bf700298d2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-22 / CNPQ E FACEPE / Crescimento de plantas em Florestas Tropicais Sazonalmente Secas (FTSS) requer uma série de ajustes fisiológicos e morfológicos no metabolismo das plantas. Neste trabalho, foram avaliadas as variações sazonais e anuais nas trocas gasosas, no potencial hídrico foliar (Yf), no metabolismo primário, na concentração de pigmentos fotossintéticos e nos níveis endógenos de hormônios e anatomia foliar de Cynophalla flexuosa (sempre-verde) e Annona leptopetala (decídua), afim de compreender quais atributos são responsáveis pelo desencadeamento dos padrões fenológicos. Água no solo e déficit de pressão de vapor (DPV) foram fatores ambientais que mais induziram mudanças no metabolismo foliar em ambas as espécies, que também têm fechamento estomático como resposta primária à condição de seca. Na sempre-verde, o ácido jasmônico (AJ) apareceu como regulador endógeno da condutância estomática (gs), enquanto o ácido salicílico (AS) foi o principal regulador do Yf e eficiência no uso da água (EUA). Além disso, a trans-zeatina (tZ) e precursor do etileno (ACC) parecem ser importantes para o controle metabolismo primário e pigmentos. Essas respostas hormonais refletiram na capacidade dessa espécie de manter-se ativa mesmo durante períodos de seca severa. Por outro lado, na decídua foi observado maximização da gs e assimilação (A) nos períodos chuvosos. Maior EUA ocorreu na transição seca-chuva. Também, a sobrevivência e crescimento dessa espécie parecem estar relacionados à dinâmica entre acúmulo e consumo de compostos de carbono (carboidratos, amido, frutose e sacarose) e nitrogênio (proteína e aminoácidos). Três hormônios se destacaram na regulação das trocas gasosas e de parâmetros relacionados à fotossíntese nessa decídua: ACC, ABA e AS. Nossos dados sugerem que a interação entre ACC e ABA teve grande importância na regulação das trocas gasosas e metabolismo de A. leptopetala. Ainda, o AS mostrou-se especialmente importante no período de menor disponibilidade hídrica, aumentando a EUA e a remobilização de solutos. As espécies apresentaram anatomia foliar distinta: C.flexuosa apresentou cutícula espessa, epiderme com células papilhosas na face abaxial, pouco espaço de ar no parênquima lacunoso, parênquima paliçádico com 2-3 camadas de células, e os estômatos localizados na face abaxial encontram-se envolvidos por uma estrutura formada por ornamentação da parede periclinal que gera um microclima favorável às trocas gasosas. A. leptopetala, ao contrário, apresentou cutícula delgada, mas com ornamentações formadas pela cera epicuticular, maior espaço intercelular, tricomas e câmera subestomática. / Plant growth in Seasonally Tropical Dry Forests (STDF) requires physiological and morphological adjustments in plant metabolism. In this work, the seasonal and annual variations were evaluated in gas exchange, in leaf water potential (Yf), in primary metabolism, in photosynthetic pigments contents, in endogenous hormone levels and leaf anatomy of Cynophalla flexuosa (evergreen) and Annona leptopetala (deciduous), in order to understand which traist are responsible for the onset of phenological patterns. Soil water and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) were environmental factors that induced changes in foliar metabolism in both species, which also have stomatal closure as a primary response to drought conditions. In the evergreen species, jasmonic acid (JA) appeared as an endogenous regulator of stomatal conductance (gs), while salicylic acid (SA) was the main regulator of Yf and water use efficiency (WUE). Furthermore, trans-zeatin (tZ) and the ethylene precursor (ACC) seem to be important for the primary metabolism and pigments control. These hormonal responses reflected in the ability of this species to remain active even during periods of severe drought. Moreover, in the deciduous species a maximization of gs and CO2 assimilation (A) was observed in the rainy periods. Most WUE occurred in the transition drought-rainy season. Also, the survival and growth of this species appear to be related to the dynamics of accumulation and consumption of carbon compounds (carbohydrates, starch, fructose and sucrose) and nitrogen (proteins and aminoacids). Three hormones stood out in the regulation of gas exchange and parameters related to photosynthesis in the deciduous species: ACC, ABA and SA. Our data suggest that the interaction between ACC and ABA played an important role in the regulation of gas exchange and metabolism in A. leptopetala. In addition, SA has proved especially important in periods of low water availability, increasing the WUE and solutes´ remobilization. The species showed distinct leaf anatomy: C.flexuosa showed thick cuticle, epidermis with papillose cells in the abaxial surface, little quantity of air space in the spongy parenchyma, palisade parenchyma with 2-3 layers of cells and stomata located on the abaxial surface are engaged by a structure formed by the ornamentation of periclinal wall which generates a favorable microclimate for gas exchange. A. Leptopetala, presented thin cuticle, with ornamentation formed by epicuticular wax, increased intercellular space, trichomes and substomatal space.

The effect of moisture stress conditioning on the drought tolerance and performance of three open-pollinated families of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda I.) during water stress were investigated. Seedlings were subjected to prolonged sublethal drought treatments which included a watered control, a moderate stress treatment (MWS, seedlings watered only when needle water potential reached -0.8 MPa) and a severe stress treatment (SWS, seedlings watered only when water potential reached -1.4 MPa). After the conditioning period, numerous physiological and morphological parameters were measured, and performance of seedlings during water stress evaluated. Significant decreases in needle osmotic potential occurred in moisture stress conditioned seedlings. As a result, turgor in conditioned seedlings was equal to or greater than control seedlings even at lower needle water potentials. Photosynthesis vas decreased greatly with reduced needle water potential. However, the MWS and SWS seedlings maintained photosynthesis to water potentials 0.15 and 0.45 MPa lower than control seedlings, respectively. This response is likely the result of both osmotic adjustment, and an acclimation of the photosynthetic process resulting in less non-stomatal inhibition of photosynthesis at low needle water potentials. Initial needle conductance and transpiration, but not photosynthesis, were reduced greatly by the conditioning treatments, and resulted in improved water-use efficiency in conditioned seedlings. The response of stomata to changing vapor pressure deficit was increased through moisture stress conditioning. Boot growth was affected more by moisture stress than shoot growth, causing a decrease in root/shoot ratio. Changes in root morphology as a result of conditioning are not likely to improve the drought tolerance of loblolly pine seedlings. SWS conditioning significantly improved the height growth increment and resulted in slightly greater shoot and root biomass of outplanted, containerized seedlings after the first growing season, despite these seedlings being much smaller at the time of planting. Differences between seed sources did occur in the experiments, with a source from Texas generally showing the least response to moisture stress conditioning. / Ph. D.