Research was conducted to determine individual suitability of native and Canadian-bred selected plants in terms of growth and survivability for local extensive green roofs. The experiment was single-factor (species) with 12 levels (two Sedum spp. [controls]; 10 Canadian-bred or native plant species) in a randomized complete block design with three blocks. Variables measured were percent survival and cover, height, fresh and dry weights, stomatal conductance, transpiration, photosynthetic rate, soil temperature, soil moisture, and reflectance. Artemisia stelleriana contributed more to cooling through transpiration than Sedum floriferum, and maintained similar soil moisture to Sedum acre. Lotus corniculatus was similar to the controls in photosynthetic rate and had higher reflectance than Sedum acre in July. With high biomass and photosynthetic rates, Aster novi-belgii may contribute more to carbon sequestration and insulation than the controls. Artemisia stelleriana , Lotus corniculatus, and Aster novi-belgii are suitable species for extensive green roofs in northern Nova Scotia.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a atividade das enzimas redutase do nitrato (RN) e glutamina sintetase (GS) em mudas de Coffea arabica L cv Obatã IAC 1669-20 em função dos atributos ecofisiológicos. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação no Laboratório de Biotecnologia Agrícola do Departamento de Ciências Biológicas da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo. Para a realização do experimento adotou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado com dois tratamentos: T1 (100% de luz) e T2 (50% de luz) e cinco repetições. As determinações das atividades enzimáticas foram feitas às 07:00 h; 12:00 h; 17:00 h e 22:00 h, bem como dos atributos ecofisiológicos: temperatura atmosférica; temperatura foliar; radiação fotossinteticamente ativa; condutância estomática; taxa de fotossíntese líquida; taxa de transpiração e proteína total solúvel. O nível de exposição à luminosidade altera a atividade da redutase do nitrato (RN), cujo valor foi menor nas plantas a pleno sol às 12:00 h e 17:00 h. A saturação lumínica e a maior temperatura foliar em relação ao ambiente, às 12:00 h, diminuiu as trocas gasosas (CO2 e vapor d’água) e a atividade da RN. Ao longo do período luminoso, independentemente do nível de exposição à luminosidade, decresceu a atividade da glutamina sintetase (GS). A disponibilidade de amônio proveniente da ação da RN no período noturno elevou a atividade da GS, enquanto a fotorrespiração, por hipótese, forneceu o substrato (NH4 +) para a atividade dessa enzima (GS) nas plantas a pleno sol ao meio dia. A inibição da redutase do nitrato (RN) no cafeeiro proporcionada pela fotorrespiração se dá, por hipótese, em resposta a produção de glutamina por meio da atividade da glutamina sintetase (GS). / The aim of this work was to evaluate the activity of the enzymes nitrate reductase (RN) and glutamine synthetase (GS) in seedlings of Coffea arabica L cv Obatã IAC 1669 - 20 in face of the eco-physiological attributes. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology in the Biological Science Department of the Superior School of Agriculture "Luiz de Queiroz", São Paulo University. The completely randomized experimental design was utilized for the experiment with two treatments: T1 (100% of light) e T2 (50% of light), each on made up of five replicates. The enzymatic activities and eco-physiological attributes determinations such as air temperature, leaf temperature, photosynthetically active radiation, stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate and total soluble protein were made at 7:00 AM, 12:00 AM, 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM. The level of radiation exposition changes the nitrate reductase activity, whose value was smaller in plants at full sun at 12:00 AM and 5:00 PM. The light saturation and the higher leaf temperature in relation to the environment, at 12:00 AM, reduced the gas exchanges (CO2 and water vapor) and RN activity. Along the light period, independently of radiation exposition level, the activity of the glutamine synthetase decreased. The availability of ammonium provided by RN during dark period, independently of the treatments, increase the GS activity, while photorespiration, hypothetically, supplied the substrate (NH4+) to the GS action in plants under full sun at 12:00 AM. The RN inhibition in coffee plants provides the photorespiration occurred in response to the glutamine production through the GS activity.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a atividade das enzimas redutase do nitrato (RN) e glutamina sintetase (GS) em mudas de Coffea arabica L cv Obatã IAC 1669-20 em função dos atributos ecofisiológicos. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação no Laboratório de Biotecnologia Agrícola do Departamento de Ciências Biológicas da Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”, Universidade de São Paulo. Para a realização do experimento adotou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado com dois tratamentos: T1 (100% de luz) e T2 (50% de luz) e cinco repetições. As determinações das atividades enzimáticas foram feitas às 07:00 h; 12:00 h; 17:00 h e 22:00 h, bem como dos atributos ecofisiológicos: temperatura atmosférica; temperatura foliar; radiação fotossinteticamente ativa; condutância estomática; taxa de fotossíntese líquida; taxa de transpiração e proteína total solúvel. O nível de exposição à luminosidade altera a atividade da redutase do nitrato (RN), cujo valor foi menor nas plantas a pleno sol às 12:00 h e 17:00 h. A saturação lumínica e a maior temperatura foliar em relação ao ambiente, às 12:00 h, diminuiu as trocas gasosas (CO2 e vapor d’água) e a atividade da RN. Ao longo do período luminoso, independentemente do nível de exposição à luminosidade, decresceu a atividade da glutamina sintetase (GS). A disponibilidade de amônio proveniente da ação da RN no período noturno elevou a atividade da GS, enquanto a fotorrespiração, por hipótese, forneceu o substrato (NH4 +) para a atividade dessa enzima (GS) nas plantas a pleno sol ao meio dia. A inibição da redutase do nitrato (RN) no cafeeiro proporcionada pela fotorrespiração se dá, por hipótese, em resposta a produção de glutamina por meio da atividade da glutamina sintetase (GS). / The aim of this work was to evaluate the activity of the enzymes nitrate reductase (RN) and glutamine synthetase (GS) in seedlings of Coffea arabica L cv Obatã IAC 1669 - 20 in face of the eco-physiological attributes. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology in the Biological Science Department of the Superior School of Agriculture “Luiz de Queiroz”, São Paulo University. The completely randomized experimental design was utilized for the experiment with two treatments: T1 (100% of light) e T2 (50% of light), each on made up of five replicates. The enzymatic activities and eco-physiological attributes determinations such as air temperature, leaf temperature, photosynthetically active radiation, stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate and total soluble protein were made at 7:00 AM, 12:00 AM, 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM. The level of radiation exposition changes the nitrate reductase activity, whose value was smaller in plants at full sun at 12:00 AM and 5:00 PM. The light saturation and the higher leaf temperature in relation to the environment, at 12:00 AM, reduced the gas exchanges (CO2 and water vapor) and RN activity. Along the light period, independently of radiation exposition level, the activity of the glutamine synthetase decreased. The availability of ammonium provided by RN during dark period, independently of the treatments, increase the GS activity, while photorespiration, hypothetically, supplied the substrate (NH4+) to the GS action in plants under full sun at 12:00 AM. The RN inhibition in coffee plants provides the photorespiration occurred in response to the glutamine production through the GS activity.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T17:37:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tiago_Luan_Hachmann.pdf: 1649541 bytes, checksum: 8e937bb39bf1fdae7f31d4186d79cc60 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This work was conducted in the period from April, 11th, 2014 until September, 9th, 2014 aiming studying the influence of the number of stems and the way of establishing these stems in productivity and quality characteristics of the tomato cultivars, and evaluate the daily course of gas exchange indexes of the tomato cultivars in the leaves exposed to solar radiation from the east (morning) or the west (afternoon). The experimental design used in the first experiment was a randomized block design with factorial 3 x 2 x 2, with four replications. Three numbers of stem per plant were tested (one, two and four steams) two forms of establishment (maintaining and removing the main stem) and two cultivars (Caniles and Rubi F1 hybrid). The total number of fruits, number of normal fruits, non-commercial and blossom-end rot was evaluated; percentage of unmarketable fruits and blossom end rot; average mass, longitudinal and transversal diameter of the normal fruits; fruit mass, transversal and longitudinal diameter, average fruit mass and productivity of the first four clusters; total mass of fruit and fruit normal mass; and was calculated productivity of normal fruits, non-commercial, with blossom end rot and total fruit yield. It was also evaluated pH, soluble solids, titratable acidity and soluble solids/titratable acidity ("ratio"). In the second experiment the experimental design was a randomized block design, factorial 2 x 2 x 6, with four replications. The first factor was composed of two evaluation positions in the plant (East and West), the second of two tomato cultivars (Caniles and Rubi) and finally six times evaluation throughout the day (8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 18:00). It was measured the rate of CO2 net assimilation (A), leaf transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (gs), internal CO2 concentration (Ci) and leaf temperature (°C) and vapor pressure deficit. It was also calculated the water use efficiency (WUE) (A/E), intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi) (A/gs) and the instantaneous efficiency of carboxylation (A/Ci). The conduction of plants with four steams is more favorable to productivity and the quality characteristics. The establishment of steams number keeping the main stem is best suited for providing greater productivity. The cultivar Caniles is the most suitable for driving on growing conditions, due to its higher yield and fruits with better "ratio". The values of net assimilation rate of CO2, leaf transpiration, stomatal conductance, leaf temperature, water use efficiency, intrinsic water use efficiency and instantaneous carboxylation efficiency on the east side are larger than on the west side. The cultivar Caniles has a higher net assimilation rate of CO2, leaf transpiration, leaf temperature and instantaneous carboxylation efficiency under conditions of high temperature and luminosity / Este trabalho foi conduzido no período de 11/04/2014 a 16/09/2014, tendo como objetivo estudar a influência do número de hastes e da forma de estabelecimento dessas hastes nas características produtivas e qualitativas de duas cultivares de tomateiro, e avaliar o curso diário dos índices de trocas gasosas de duas cultivares de tomateiro, em folhas expostas à radiação solar proveniente do quadrante leste (período da manhã) ou do quadrante oeste (período da tarde). O delineamento experimental utilizado no primeiro experimento foi de blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial de 3 x 2 x 2, com quatro repetições. Foram testados três números de haste por planta (uma, duas e quatro hastes), duas formas de condução (mantendo a haste principal e retirando a haste principal) e duas cultivares (híbrido F1 Rubi e híbrido Caniles). Foi avaliado o número total de frutos, número de frutos normais, não comerciais e com podridão apical; porcentagem de frutos não comerciais e com podridão apical; massa média, diâmetro longitudinal e transversal dos frutos normais; massa de frutos, diâmetro transversal e longitudinal, massa média por fruto e produtividade dos quatro primeiros cachos; massa total de frutos e massa de frutos normais; e foi calculada a produtividade de frutos normais, não comerciais, com podridão apical e produtividade total de frutos. Também foi avaliado o pH, teor de sólidos solúveis, acidez titulável e a relação sólidos solúveis/acidez titulável ( ratio ). No segundo experimento o delineamento experimental utilizado foi de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 2 x 2 x 6, com quatro repetições. O primeiro fator foi composto de duas posições de avaliação na planta (Leste e Oeste), o segundo de duas cultivares de tomate (Caniles e Rubi) e por fim seis horários de avaliação ao longo do dia (8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 e 18:00). Foi mensurada a taxa de assimilação líquida de CO2 (A), taxa de transpiração foliar (E), condutância estomática (gs), concentração interna de CO2 (Ci), temperatura foliar (°C) e déficit de pressão de vapor. Também foi calculada a eficiência no uso da água (WUE) (relação A/E), eficiência intrínseca no uso da água (WUEi) (relação A/gs) e a eficiência instantânea da carboxilação (A/Ci) (relação A/Ci). A condução das plantas com quatro hastes é mais favorável para a produtividade e para as características de qualidade. O estabelecimento do número de hastes mantendo a haste principal é mais adequado por proporcionar obtenção de maior produtividade. A cultivar Caniles é a mais adequada para a condução nas condições de cultivo, por apresentar maior produtividade e por apresentar frutos com maior ratio . Os valores de taxa de assimilação líquida de CO2, taxa de transpiração foliar, condutância estomática, temperatura foliar, eficiência no uso da água, eficiência intrínseca no uso da água e eficiência instantânea de carboxilação no quadrante leste são maiores que no quadrante oeste. A cultivar Caniles apresenta maior taxa de assimilação líquida de CO2, taxa de transpiração foliar, temperatura foliar e eficiência instantânea de carboxilação sob condições de temperatura e luminosidade elevadas

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / The Australian cotton industry has developed high yielding and high quality fibre production systems and attributes a significant contribution of this achievement to highly innovative breeding programs, specifically focused on the production of premium quality lint for the export market. Breeding programs have recently shifted attention to the development of new germplasm with superior stress tolerance to minimise yield losses attributed to adverse environmental conditions and inputs such as irrigation, fertilisers and pesticides. Various contributors to yield, such as physiology, biochemistry and gene expression have been implemented as screening tools for tolerance to high temperatures under growth cabinet and laboratory conditions but there has been little extension of these mechanisms to field based systems. This study evaluates tools for the identification of specific genotypic thermotolerance under field conditions using a multi-level ‘top down’ approach from crop to gene level. Field experiments were conducted in seasons 1 (2006) and 3 (2007) at Narrabri (Australia) and season 2 (2006) in Texas (The United States of America) and were supplemented by growth cabinet experiments to quantify cultivar differences in yield, physiology, biochemical function and gene expression under high temperatures. Whole plants were subjected to high temperatures in the field through the construction of Solarweave® tents and in the growth cabinet at a temperature of 42 oC. The effectiveness of these methods was then evaluated to establish a rapid and reliable screening tool for genotype specific thermotolerance that could potentially improve the efficiency of breeding programs and aid the development to high yielding cultivars for hot growing regions. Cotton cultivars Sicot 53 and Sicala 45 were evaluated for thermotolerance using crop level measurements (yield and fibre quality) and whole plant measurements (fruit retention) to determine the efficacy of these measurements as screening tools for thermotolerance under field conditions. Sicot 53 was selected as a relatively thermotolerant cultivar whereas Sicala 45 was selected as a cultivar with a lower relative thermotolerance and this assumption was made on the basis of yield in hot and cool environments under the CSIRO Australian cotton breeding program. Yield and fruit retention were lower under tents compared with ambient conditions in all 3 seasons. Yield and fruit retention were highly correlated in season 1 and were higher for Sicot 53 compared to Sicala 45 suggesting that fruit retention is a primary limitation to yield in a hot season. Thus yield and fruit retention are good indicators of thermotolerance in a hot season. Temperature treatment and cultivar differences were determined for fibre quality in seasons 1 and 3; however, quality exceeded the industry minimum thereby indicating that fibre quality is not a good determinant of thermotolerance. Physiological determinants of plant functionality such as photosynthesis, electron transport rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were determined for cultivars Sicot 53 and Sicala 45 under the tents and an index of these parameters was also analysed to determine overall plant physiological capacity in the field. Physiological capacity was also determined under high temperatures in the growth cabinet using a light response curve at various levels of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Photosynthesis and electron transport rate decreased, whilst stomatal conductance and transpiration rate increased under the tents as well as under high temperatures in the growth cabinet. Photosynthesis and electron transport rate were higher for Sicot 53 but stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were higher for Sicala 45 under the tents. No cultivar differentiation was evident for plants grown under high temperatures in the growth cabinet. Temperature treatment and cultivar differences in physiological function were greater in a hot year (season 1), thereby indicating the importance of cultivar selection for thermotolerance in the presence of stress. Electron transport rate was correlated with yield in season 1, thus suggesting the suitability of this method for broad genotypic screening for thermotolerance under field conditions. Biochemical processes such as membrane integrity and enzyme viability were used to determine cultivar specific thermotolerance under high temperature stress in the laboratory, field and growth cabinet. Electrolyte leakage is an indicator of decreased membrane integrity and may be estimated by the relative electrical conductivity or relative cellular injury assays. The heat sensitivity of dehydrogenase activity, a proxy for cytochrome functionality and capacity for mitochondrial electron transport, may be quantified spectrophotometrically. Cellular membrane integrity and enzyme viability decreased sigmoidally with exposure to increasing temperatures in a water bath. Membrane integrity was higher for Sicot 53 compared with Sicala 45 under the tents and under high temperatures in the growth cabinet. No temperature treatment or cultivar differences were found for enzyme viability under the tents; however, enzyme viability for Sicala 45 was higher in the growth cabinet compared with Sicot 53. Relative electrical conductivity was strongly correlated with yield under ambient field conditions and under the tents, suggesting impairment of electron flow through photosynthetic and/or respiratory pathways, thus contributing to lower potential for ATP production and energy generation for yield contribution. Thus, the membrane integrity assay was considered to be a rapid and reliable tool for thermotolerance screening in cotton cultivars. Gene expression was examined for cultivars Sicot 53 and Sicala 45 grown under high (42 oC) temperatures in the growth cabinet. Rubisco activase expression was quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis and was decreased under high temperatures and was lower for Sicala 45 than Sicot 53. Maximum cultivar differentiation was found after 1.0 h exposure to high temperatures and hence, leaf tissue sampled from this time point was further analysed for global gene profiling using cDNA microarrays. Genes involved in metabolism, heat shock protein generation, electron flow and ATP generation were down-regulated under high temperatures in the growth cabinet and a greater number of genes were differentially expressed for Sicala 45, thereby indicating a higher level of heat stress and a greater requirement for mobilisation of protective and compensatory mechanisms compared with Sicot 53. Cultivar specific thermotolerance determination using gene profiling may be a useful tool for understanding the underlying basis of physiological and biochemical responses to high temperature stress in the growth cabinet. There is future opportunity for profiling genes associated with heat stress and heat tolerance for identification of key genes associated with superior cultivar performance under high temperature stress and characterisation of these genes under field conditions. This research has identified cultivar differences in yield under field conditions and has identified multiple physiological and biochemical pathways that may contribute to these differences. Future characterisation of genes associated with heat stress and heat tolerance under growth cabinet conditions may be extended to field conditions, thus providing the underlying basis of the response of cotton to high temperature stress. Electron transport rate and relative electrical conductivity were found to be rapid and reliable determinants of cultivar specific thermotolerance and hence may be extended to broad-spectrum screening of a range of cotton cultivars and species and under a range of abiotic stress. This will enable the identification of superior cotton cultivars for incorporation into local breeding programs for Australian and American cotton production systems.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / The Australian cotton industry has developed high yielding and high quality fibre production systems and attributes a significant contribution of this achievement to highly innovative breeding programs, specifically focused on the production of premium quality lint for the export market. Breeding programs have recently shifted attention to the development of new germplasm with superior stress tolerance to minimise yield losses attributed to adverse environmental conditions and inputs such as irrigation, fertilisers and pesticides. Various contributors to yield, such as physiology, biochemistry and gene expression have been implemented as screening tools for tolerance to high temperatures under growth cabinet and laboratory conditions but there has been little extension of these mechanisms to field based systems. This study evaluates tools for the identification of specific genotypic thermotolerance under field conditions using a multi-level ‘top down’ approach from crop to gene level. Field experiments were conducted in seasons 1 (2006) and 3 (2007) at Narrabri (Australia) and season 2 (2006) in Texas (The United States of America) and were supplemented by growth cabinet experiments to quantify cultivar differences in yield, physiology, biochemical function and gene expression under high temperatures. Whole plants were subjected to high temperatures in the field through the construction of Solarweave® tents and in the growth cabinet at a temperature of 42 oC. The effectiveness of these methods was then evaluated to establish a rapid and reliable screening tool for genotype specific thermotolerance that could potentially improve the efficiency of breeding programs and aid the development to high yielding cultivars for hot growing regions. Cotton cultivars Sicot 53 and Sicala 45 were evaluated for thermotolerance using crop level measurements (yield and fibre quality) and whole plant measurements (fruit retention) to determine the efficacy of these measurements as screening tools for thermotolerance under field conditions. Sicot 53 was selected as a relatively thermotolerant cultivar whereas Sicala 45 was selected as a cultivar with a lower relative thermotolerance and this assumption was made on the basis of yield in hot and cool environments under the CSIRO Australian cotton breeding program. Yield and fruit retention were lower under tents compared with ambient conditions in all 3 seasons. Yield and fruit retention were highly correlated in season 1 and were higher for Sicot 53 compared to Sicala 45 suggesting that fruit retention is a primary limitation to yield in a hot season. Thus yield and fruit retention are good indicators of thermotolerance in a hot season. Temperature treatment and cultivar differences were determined for fibre quality in seasons 1 and 3; however, quality exceeded the industry minimum thereby indicating that fibre quality is not a good determinant of thermotolerance. Physiological determinants of plant functionality such as photosynthesis, electron transport rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were determined for cultivars Sicot 53 and Sicala 45 under the tents and an index of these parameters was also analysed to determine overall plant physiological capacity in the field. Physiological capacity was also determined under high temperatures in the growth cabinet using a light response curve at various levels of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Photosynthesis and electron transport rate decreased, whilst stomatal conductance and transpiration rate increased under the tents as well as under high temperatures in the growth cabinet. Photosynthesis and electron transport rate were higher for Sicot 53 but stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were higher for Sicala 45 under the tents. No cultivar differentiation was evident for plants grown under high temperatures in the growth cabinet. Temperature treatment and cultivar differences in physiological function were greater in a hot year (season 1), thereby indicating the importance of cultivar selection for thermotolerance in the presence of stress. Electron transport rate was correlated with yield in season 1, thus suggesting the suitability of this method for broad genotypic screening for thermotolerance under field conditions. Biochemical processes such as membrane integrity and enzyme viability were used to determine cultivar specific thermotolerance under high temperature stress in the laboratory, field and growth cabinet. Electrolyte leakage is an indicator of decreased membrane integrity and may be estimated by the relative electrical conductivity or relative cellular injury assays. The heat sensitivity of dehydrogenase activity, a proxy for cytochrome functionality and capacity for mitochondrial electron transport, may be quantified spectrophotometrically. Cellular membrane integrity and enzyme viability decreased sigmoidally with exposure to increasing temperatures in a water bath. Membrane integrity was higher for Sicot 53 compared with Sicala 45 under the tents and under high temperatures in the growth cabinet. No temperature treatment or cultivar differences were found for enzyme viability under the tents; however, enzyme viability for Sicala 45 was higher in the growth cabinet compared with Sicot 53. Relative electrical conductivity was strongly correlated with yield under ambient field conditions and under the tents, suggesting impairment of electron flow through photosynthetic and/or respiratory pathways, thus contributing to lower potential for ATP production and energy generation for yield contribution. Thus, the membrane integrity assay was considered to be a rapid and reliable tool for thermotolerance screening in cotton cultivars. Gene expression was examined for cultivars Sicot 53 and Sicala 45 grown under high (42 oC) temperatures in the growth cabinet. Rubisco activase expression was quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis and was decreased under high temperatures and was lower for Sicala 45 than Sicot 53. Maximum cultivar differentiation was found after 1.0 h exposure to high temperatures and hence, leaf tissue sampled from this time point was further analysed for global gene profiling using cDNA microarrays. Genes involved in metabolism, heat shock protein generation, electron flow and ATP generation were down-regulated under high temperatures in the growth cabinet and a greater number of genes were differentially expressed for Sicala 45, thereby indicating a higher level of heat stress and a greater requirement for mobilisation of protective and compensatory mechanisms compared with Sicot 53. Cultivar specific thermotolerance determination using gene profiling may be a useful tool for understanding the underlying basis of physiological and biochemical responses to high temperature stress in the growth cabinet. There is future opportunity for profiling genes associated with heat stress and heat tolerance for identification of key genes associated with superior cultivar performance under high temperature stress and characterisation of these genes under field conditions. This research has identified cultivar differences in yield under field conditions and has identified multiple physiological and biochemical pathways that may contribute to these differences. Future characterisation of genes associated with heat stress and heat tolerance under growth cabinet conditions may be extended to field conditions, thus providing the underlying basis of the response of cotton to high temperature stress. Electron transport rate and relative electrical conductivity were found to be rapid and reliable determinants of cultivar specific thermotolerance and hence may be extended to broad-spectrum screening of a range of cotton cultivars and species and under a range of abiotic stress. This will enable the identification of superior cotton cultivars for incorporation into local breeding programs for Australian and American cotton production systems.

Pour répondre à la demande mondiale croissante en huile et en protéines, le tournesol apparaît comme une culture très compétitive grâce à la diversification de ses débouchés et son attractivité environnementale et nutritionnelle. Pourtant, les teneurs en huile et protéines sont soumises à des effets génotypiques et environnementaux qui les rendent fluctuantes et difficilement prédictibles. Nous argumentons qu’une meilleure connaissance des effets les plus importants et leurs interactions devrait permettre de mieux prédire ces teneurs. Deux approches de modélisation ont été développées. Dans la première, trois modèles statistiques ont été construits puis comparés à un modèle simple existant. L’approche dynamique est basée sur l’analyse des relations source-puits au champ et en serre (2011 et 2012) pendant le remplissage. Les performances et domaines de validité des deux types de modélisation sont comparés. / Considering the growing global demand for oil and protein, sunflower appears as a highly competitive crop, thanks to the diversification of its markets and environmental attractiveness and health. Yet the protein and oil contents are submitted to genotypic and environmental effects that make them fluctuating and hardly predictable. We argue that a better knowledge of most important effects and their interactions should permit to improve prediction. Two modeling approaches are proposed: statistical one, where we compared three types of statistical models with a simple existing one. The dynamic approach is based on source-sink relationships analysis (field and greenhouse experiments in 2011 and 2012) during grain filling. Performances of both modeling types and their validity domain are compared.

Introducing effective irrigation management in arid and semi-arid regions, like most areas of South Africa, is an indispensable way of maximising crop yield and enhancing productivity of scarce freshwater resources. Holistic improvements in agricultural water management could be realised through integrating the knowledge of crop-specific water requirements. In order to develop effective irrigation schedules for rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium capitatum x P. radens), greenhouse and field experiments were conducted at the Hatfield Experimental Farm of the University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, from 28 October 2004 to 2006. Results from 20, 40, 60 and 80% maximum allowable depletion (MAD) levels of the plant available soil water (ASW) indicated that plant roots extracted most of the soil water from the top 40 cm soil layer, independent of the treatment. Both essential oil yield and fresh herbage mass responded positively to high soil water content. Increasing the MAD level to 60% and higher resulted in a significant reduction in herbage mass and essential oil yields. An increase in the degree of water stress apparently increased the essential oil concentration (percentage oil on fresh herbage mass basis), but its contribution to total essential oil yield (kg/ha oil) was limited. There was no significant relationship between MAD level and essential oil composition. For water saving without a significant reduction in essential oil yield of rose-scented geranium, a MAD of 40% of ASW is proposed. Response of rose-scented geranium to a one-month irrigation withholding period in the second or third month of regrowth cycles showed that herbage mass and oil yield were positively related. Herbage yield was significantly reduced when the water stress period was imposed during the third or fourth month of regrowth. A remarkable essential oil yield loss was observed only when the plants were stressed during the fourth month of regrowth. Essential oil content (% oil on fresh herbage mass basis) was higher in stressed plants, especially when stressed late, but oil yield dropped due to lower herbage mass. The relationship between essential oil composition and irrigation treatments was not consistent. Water-use efficiency was not significantly affected by withholding irrigation in the second or in the third month of regrowth. With a marginal oil yield loss, about 330 to 460 m3 of water per hectare per regrowth cycle could be saved by withholding irrigation during the third month of regrowth. The overall results highlighted that in water-scarce regions withholding irrigation during either the second or the third month of regrowth in rose-scented geranium could save water that could be used by other sectors of society. In greenhouse pot experiments, rose-scented geranium was grown under different irrigation frequencies, in two growth media. Irrigation was withheld on 50% of the plants (in each plot) for the week prior to harvesting. Herbage and essential oil yields were better in the sandy clay soil than in silica sand. Essential oil content (% oil on fresh herbage mass basis) apparently increased with a decrease in irrigation frequency. Both herbage and total essential oil yields positively responded to frequent irrigation. A one-week stress period prior to harvesting significantly increased essential oil content and total essential oil yield. Hence, the highest essential oil yield was obtained from a combination of high irrigation frequency and a one-week irrigation-withholding period. In the irrigation frequency treatments, citronellol and citronellyl formate contents tended to increase with an increase in the stress level, but the reverse was true for geraniol and geranyl formate. Leaf physiological data were recorded during the terminal one-week water stress in the glasshouse pot trial. Upon rewatering, stomatal conductance (Gs) and transpiration rate (Rt) were significantly lower in the less often irrigated than in the more often irrigated treatments, while leaf water potential (yw) and relative water content (RWC) were the same for all plants, indicating that water stress had an after-effect on Gs and Rt. At the end of the stress period, Gs, Rt, yw and RWC were lower in the plants from the more often irrigated than from the less often irrigated treatments. Irrespective of irrigation treatment, one type of non-glandular and two types (different in shape and size) of glandular trichomes were observed. In water stressed-conditions, stomata and trichome densities increased, while the total number of stomata and trichomes per leaf appeared to remain more or less the same. Water stress conditions resulted in stomatal closure. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted