Afforestation and reforestation programs utilizing available fields for biofuel production, carbon sequestration, and other uses linked to climate change are looking to tree physiologists to identify species and genotypes best-suited to their purposes. The ideal poplar genotype for use in Canadian programs would be drought-resistant, cold-climate adapted, and fast-growing, thus requiring an understanding of links between a variety of physiological traits linked to growth and productivity. This study examined the basis for variations in water-use efficiency within four selected populations of Populus trichocarpa and Populus balsamifera (2 provenances each). Each species included both a northern and a southern provenance. Correlations between water-use efficiency, nitrogen-use efficiency, ¹³C/¹²C isotope ratio, stomatal conductance, and overall productivity were evaluated. Gas exchange variables measured included net photosynthesis, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and intercellular CO₂ content. Water-use efficiency and ¹³C content across all genotypes were highly correlated. Results suggested that variation in water-use efficiency was primarily related to variation in stomatal conductance across all genotypes. Whereas differences in net photosynthesis in this study were not significant between species, P. balsamifera did reveal a higher average stem volume overall. Although variation in stomatal conductance was the major determinant of differences in water-use efficiency, positive correlations were found between ¹³C isotope abundance and net photosynthesis in both P. balsamifera provenances. In this regard, results for the northern P. balsamifera provenance are the most consistent across all gas-exchange and growth trait correlations, in terms of meeting expectations for sink-driven water-use efficiency. The findings in this study suggest the possibility of identifying poplar genotypes with an absence of trade-off between water-use efficiency and nitrogen-use efficiency, notably among genotypes from the northern P. balsamifera provenance, near Gillam.

Afforestation and reforestation programs utilizing available fields for biofuel production, carbon sequestration, and other uses linked to climate change are looking to tree physiologists to identify species and genotypes best-suited to their purposes. The ideal poplar genotype for use in Canadian programs would be drought-resistant, cold-climate adapted, and fast-growing, thus requiring an understanding of links between a variety of physiological traits linked to growth and productivity. This study examined the basis for variations in water-use efficiency within four selected populations of Populus trichocarpa and Populus balsamifera (2 provenances each). Each species included both a northern and a southern provenance. Correlations between water-use efficiency, nitrogen-use efficiency, ¹³C/¹²C isotope ratio, stomatal conductance, and overall productivity were evaluated. Gas exchange variables measured included net photosynthesis, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and intercellular CO₂ content. Water-use efficiency and ¹³C content across all genotypes were highly correlated. Results suggested that variation in water-use efficiency was primarily related to variation in stomatal conductance across all genotypes. Whereas differences in net photosynthesis in this study were not significant between species, P. balsamifera did reveal a higher average stem volume overall. Although variation in stomatal conductance was the major determinant of differences in water-use efficiency, positive correlations were found between ¹³C isotope abundance and net photosynthesis in both P. balsamifera provenances. In this regard, results for the northern P. balsamifera provenance are the most consistent across all gas-exchange and growth trait correlations, in terms of meeting expectations for sink-driven water-use efficiency. The findings in this study suggest the possibility of identifying poplar genotypes with an absence of trade-off between water-use efficiency and nitrogen-use efficiency, notably among genotypes from the northern P. balsamifera provenance, near Gillam.

Afforestation and reforestation programs utilizing available fields for biofuel production, carbon sequestration, and other uses linked to climate change are looking to tree physiologists to identify species and genotypes best-suited to their purposes. The ideal poplar genotype for use in Canadian programs would be drought-resistant, cold-climate adapted, and fast-growing, thus requiring an understanding of links between a variety of physiological traits linked to growth and productivity. This study examined the basis for variations in water-use efficiency within four selected populations of Populus trichocarpa and Populus balsamifera (2 provenances each). Each species included both a northern and a southern provenance. Correlations between water-use efficiency, nitrogen-use efficiency, ¹³C/¹²C isotope ratio, stomatal conductance, and overall productivity were evaluated. Gas exchange variables measured included net photosynthesis, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and intercellular CO₂ content. Water-use efficiency and ¹³C content across all genotypes were highly correlated. Results suggested that variation in water-use efficiency was primarily related to variation in stomatal conductance across all genotypes. Whereas differences in net photosynthesis in this study were not significant between species, P. balsamifera did reveal a higher average stem volume overall. Although variation in stomatal conductance was the major determinant of differences in water-use efficiency, positive correlations were found between ¹³C isotope abundance and net photosynthesis in both P. balsamifera provenances. In this regard, results for the northern P. balsamifera provenance are the most consistent across all gas-exchange and growth trait correlations, in terms of meeting expectations for sink-driven water-use efficiency. The findings in this study suggest the possibility of identifying poplar genotypes with an absence of trade-off between water-use efficiency and nitrogen-use efficiency, notably among genotypes from the northern P. balsamifera provenance, near Gillam. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / P.V. Vara Prasad / Grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important crop in the semi-arid regions of Africa, Asia and United States. Productivity of grain sorghum is limited by soil fertility, especially nitrogen (N). Sorghum genotypes are known to vary in their response to nitrogen, however, the information on nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is limited. The objectives of this research were to (a) determine the response of sorghum genotypes (hybrids and inbred lines) to nitrogen fertilizer (b) quantify genotypic differences in NUE; and (c) determine physiological and morphological basis of NUE. Field experiments were conducted at three locations in Kansas (Hays, Ottawa and Manhattan) during 2010 and 2011. Six hybrids and six inbred lines of grain sorghum were grown with 0, 45 and 90 kg N ha-1.The experimental design was a split-plot design with N regimes as main plots and genotypes as sub-plot, with four replications. Planting was done in May and June across all the locations, and nitrogen fertilizer (Urea, 46% N) was applied at emergence. Data on N concentration in the leaves, stems and grain were determined. NUE and components of N use were computed for Ottawa and Manhattan as follows: Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE): Grain weight / N supplied; Nitrogen utilization efficiency: Grain weight / N total in plant; Nitrogen uptake efficiency: N total in plant / N supplied; Percent fertilizer recovery = [uptake (fertilized plot) – N uptake (un- fertilized plot)] / [ N applied ] x 100; and Nitrogen harvest index (NHI) = Grain N / N total in plant. Where N supplied = Rate of N fertilizer applied + soil N supplied. Growth and yield data were collected at all locations. There were significant effects of genotypes (P < 0.05) and nitrogen (P < 0.05) on biomass and grain yield across all locations. Performance of hybrids was generally superior to the inbred lines of all traits. Sorghum hybrids 26506 and 99480 produced maximum grain yield across all locations. While inbred lines B35 and SC35 had the lowest grain yield. Maximum biomass and grain yield was obtained at 90 kg N ha-1, followed 45 kg N ha-1, and lowest in 0 N kg ha-1. There were significant differences among genotypes for all NUE traits at Ottawa and Manhattan. Across genotypes, total NUE ranged from 17.2 to 42.6 kg kg-1, utilization efficiency from 24.3 to 60.2 kg kg-1, N uptake efficiency ranged from 56.1 to 82.5%, recovery from 2 to 52%, and NHI from 43.6 to 81.3%. Among the genotypes, 99480 and 26506 both known to be post–flowering drought tolerance were high in NUE and component of N use. While genotypes B35 and SC35 were the lowest in NUE and components of N use. Overall, our data suggest that there were significant differences for NUE traits in sorghum hybrids and inbred lines. There are opportunities to breed for higher NUE in grain sorghum.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv Minaret) was grown long-term under CO₂ partial pressures of 36 and 70 or 100 Pa with various N applications (4 to 23 g m-2 N), to test hypotheses of N re-allocation: 1) a decrease in N from leaves to other organs, 2) a relative decrease in N from Rubisco to other photosynthetic components. Elevated CO₂ did not affect phenology, main stem leaf appearance, the pattern of N allocation throughout the plant, or the fraction of crop N in grain at harvest, but 1) stimulated biomass and yield by 5 to 20% over the N range used, and 2) caused a faster loss of N and components from flag leaves during grain-fill. Responses of photosynthesis to varying pCi were fitted, and rates of maximal carboxylation and non-photorespiratory respiration estimated. The former, was proportional to Rubisco content, and light-saturated photosynthetic rate at 70 Pa CO₂ was proportional to A TP-synthase. Potential photosynthetic rates at 70 Pa CO₂ were calculated, compared with observed, and used to estimate excess investment in Rubisco. The excess was greater in high N treatments than low, declining as leaves senesced. The fraction of Rubisco estimated to be in excess, was strongly dependent on leaf N content, increasing from - 5% in leaves with 1 g N m-2 to -40% in leaves with 2 g N m-2. Growth at elevated CO₂ usually decreased the excess somewhat, but only as a consequence of a general decrease in leaf N, given that relationships of components to leaf N content were independent of CO₂ and N treatment, demonstrating that no direct CO₂ effect on N allocation within leaves had occurred. It is concluded that there is scope for improving the N-use efficiency of C₃ crop plants in elevated CO₂ conditions, by genetic manipulation to decrease the amount of Rubisco.

No description available.

Studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of plant health protectants Pageant (pyraclobstrobin + boscalid), Regalia (extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis) and MBI-501 (an anti-transpirant) on drought, heat and cold tolerance. To measure effects on drought tolerance, Pageant, Regalia or MBI-501 were foliar applied to impatiens at four rates (0.0×, 0.5×, 1.0×, and 1.5×) based on the label rates of 0.228 g·L-1 (Pageant), 10 mL·L-1 (Regalia) and 2 mL·L-1 (MBI-501) and to tomato plants at two rates (0.0× and 1.0×) based on the label rates of 0.559 g·L-1 (Pageant), 10 mL·L-1 (Regalia) and 2 mL·L-1 (MBI-501) grown with different target substrate volumetric water contents (TVWC). Pageant applied at the 1.0× rate to well-watered impatiens, had greater shoot dry weight compared to water stressed plants. Regalia application increased root dry weight, leaf chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate of impatiens and tomato plants. However, results tended to be in the higher TVWC (Pageant and Regalia) to moderately stressed conditions (Regalia). To evaluate heat tolerance in Impatiens walleriana ‘Super Elfin XP White’ (impatiens), Pageant (0.228 g·L-1), Regalia (10 m·L-1) or MBI-501 (2 mL·L-1) were applied prior to the heat event. Photosynthetic rate was less with impatiens exposed to the heat event compared to plants not exposed to the heat event. However, there was no indication Pageant, Regalia or MBI-501 improved heat tolerance. To evaluate heat tolerance in Solanum lycopersicum ‘BHN 640’ (tomato) plants, Regalia was foliar applied at the 1.0× rate at 24 h or 1 h before the heat event. There was no indication Regalia improved heat tolerance. Fragaria ×ananassa ‘Camarosa’ (strawberry) plants were evaluated for chilling tolerance following application of Regalia at the 1.0× rate in a growth chamber. Results indicated no increase in chilling tolerance of strawberry plants compared to plants receiving no Regalia or chilling treatments. Citrus unshiu ‘Owari’ (satsuma) leaves were evaluated for freeze tolerance after application of Regalia at 1.0× (10 mL·L-1) rate in a programmable ultra-low freezer. Results indicated no increased freeze tolerance in satsuma leaves compared to leaves from plants receiving no Regalia or freezing treatment.

<p>Irrigation with saline waters is an agricultural practicethat is becoming increasingly common as competition for freshwater increases. In this thesis the mechanisms behind salinityand drought stress has been studied using data from fieldexperiments in combination with a modelling tool, theCoupModel. Measurements from field experiments on salinity,boron toxicity and drought stressed tomatoes grown during twoclimatically different seasons in the Arava desert, Israel,showed a linear relationship between relative growth andevapotranspiration, for all treatments and seasons. Data fromthe spring was used to concurrently simulate growth andtranspiration, hence accounting for feedback mechanisms betweenthe plant and the environment. Salinity stress was modelled asan osmotic effect (reduction of water uptake at high soilsalinities, W approach) or a toxicity effect (direct reductionof photosynthesis with soil salinity, G approach). Goodagreement between simulated growth and transpiration wasachieved with both salinity stress approaches, with twoexceptions. When growth and transpiration were simulated withthe W approach at different salinity levels, transpiration wasunderestimated at high stress. The G approach resulted in anunderestimation of growth at high water stress under moderatesalinity. A direct decrease of photosynthesis leads to adecreasing water-use efficiency with salinity while water-useefficiency remains constant with salinity when the salinitystress is modelled as a reduction in water uptake. Measurementsshowed decreasing water-use efficiency for the salinitygradient, explaining why the W approach was not applicable. Itwas not possible to detect any considerable differences betweenthree different approaches for water uptake tested in thestudy.</p><p><b>Keywords:</b>Water-use efficiency; osmotic effect; iontoxicity; semi-arid.</p>

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Peter J. Tomlinson / Growing cover crops (CCs) in rotation with cash crops has become popular in recent years for their many agroecosystem benefits, such as influencing nutrient cycling and reducing nutrient losses. This study aimed to (i) determine the long-term effects of no-till with CCs and varying nitrogen (N) rates on subsequent sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] yield and yield components, (ii) assess how CCs affect the N dynamic in the soil-crop relationship during the growing season and N use efficiency (NUE) of sorghum, and (iii) define and evaluate important periods of nitrous oxide (N₂O) losses throughout the cropping system. Field experiments were conducted during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 growing season in a three-year no-till winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) – sorghum – soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] rotation. Fallow management consisted of a chemical fallow (CF) control plus four CCs and a double-crop soybean (DSB) grown after wheat harvest. Nitrogen fertilizer was subsurface banded at five rates (0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 kg ha⁻¹) after sorghum planting. On average, DSB and late-maturing soybean (LMS) provided one-third and one-half of the N required for optimum economic grain yield (90 kg N ha⁻¹), respectively; resulting in increased grain yield when compared to the other CCs and CF with 0-N application. Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) and daikon radish (Raphanus sativus L.) had no or negative effects on sorghum yield and N uptake relative to CF across all N rates. Sorghum-sudangrass (SS) (Sorghum bicolor var. sudanese) significantly reduced N uptake and grain yield, even at higher N rates. Sorghum following CF had the lowest NUE at optimum grain yield when compared to all CC treatments, suggesting that CCs have a tendency to improve NUE. Cover crops reduced N₂O emissions by 65% during the fallow period when compared to CF; however, DSB and SS increased emissions when N was applied during the sorghum phase, indicating that N fertilization might be the overriding factor. Moreover, about 50% of the total N₂O emissions occurred within 3 weeks after N application, regardless of the cover crop treatment, indicating the importance of implementing N management strategies to reduce N₂O emissions early in the growing season. Overall, these results show that CC selection and N fertilizer management can have significant impacts on sorghum productivity and N₂O emissions in no-till cropping systems.

Dans le contexte du changement climatique global, il apparaît essentiel de prendre en compte l?adaptabilité des variétés cultivées à la modification de l?environnement. Dans le cas du peuplier, la sélection de ressources génétiques capables de produire du bois à moindre coût en eau devient alors un critère de choix qui peut être apprécié par l?efficience d?utilisation de l?eau (WUE). De façon à évaluer l?intérêt de développer un programme de sélection sur WUE, il convenait de juger si les variations génétiques de WUE observées sur de jeunes boutures, s?exprimaient encore sur des arbres cultivés en peupleraie sur des sols contrastés. Par ailleurs, afin d?initier une étude du déterminisme moléculaire de WUE, nous avons évalué le degré de variation génétique des protéomes foliaires de huit génotypes de peupliers contrastés pour leur WUE et cultivés dans des conditions d?alimentation en eau variées. Nos travaux ont permis de valider l?existence d?importantes variations génétiques de WUE chez des peupliers cultivés en peupleraie. Toutefois, le type de sol modifiait considérablement le classement des génotypes alors que celui établi sur les sols les plus propices à la populiculture était comparable au classement décrit précédemment en serre. Nos expériences ont également validé la possibilité de distinguer des génotypes contrastés pour WUE à partir de leur protéome foliaire. Nous avons montré que le protéome foliaire de huit génotypes différant par leur WUE présentait d?importantes variations génétiques en réponse à la sécheresse et qu?il existait des liens entre abondances de protéines foliaires et variations génétiques de WUE. / In the actual climate change context, the cultivated varieties will have to cope with the expected environmental modifications. In poplar, the breeding of genetic ressources able to grow with lower water costs becomes therefore, an essential criterion that can be evaluated from water-use efficiency (WUE). In order to assess the interest to develop a breeding program based on WUE, it was agreed to judge if the genetic variation of WUE observed on young cuttings, were still expressed on trees cultivated in poplar plantation on contrasted soils. In addition, in order to initiate a study of the molecular determinism of WUE, we evaluated the degree of genetic variation in the leaf proteome of eight poplar genotypes contrasted for their WUE and cultivated under varied water supply. Our work evidenced consistent genetic variations of WUE in poplars cultivated in a commercial plantation. However, the type of cultivated soil modified considerably the genotypic ranking, whereas ranking established on the most favourable soils for poplar growth, remained comparable with the one described previously in greenhouse. Our experiments also validated the possibility of distinguishing genotypes contrasted for WUE from their leaf proteome. We showed that leaf proteome of eight poplar genotypes differing by their WUE displayed consistent genetic variations in their drought response and that there were relationships between leaf protein abundances and genetic variations of WUE.