Register      Login
Crop and Pasture Science Crop and Pasture Science Society
Plant sciences, sustainable farming systems and food quality
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Cell membrane stability and chlorophyll content variation in wheat (Triticum aestivum) genotypes under conditions of heat and drought

Shoaib Ur Rehman A , Muhammad Bilal A , Rashid Mehmood Rana A , Muhammad Naveed Tahir B , Muhammad Kausar Nawaz Shah A , Habtamu Ayalew C D and Guijun Yan C E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics Faculty of Crop and Food Sciences, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Muree Road, Rawalpindi, Punjab, 60000, Pakistan.

B Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Crop and Food Sciences, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Muree Road, Rawalpindi, Punjab, 60000, Pakistan.

C School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science and The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.

D Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.

E Corresponding author. Email: guijun.yan@uwa.edu.au

Crop and Pasture Science 67(7) 712-718 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP15385
Submitted: 20 November 2015  Accepted: 23 February 2016   Published: 28 July 2016

Abstract

Heat and drought are among the major obstacles confronting crop production under climate change. The present study was conducted to evaluate 50 diverse wheat genotypes for cell membrane stability (CMS) and chlorophyll content at seedling and anthesis stages under heat and drought stress conditions, to understand the effect of the two abiotic factors and to find promising genotypes for future breeding. Experiments were conducted in the glasshouse (seedling stage) and the field (anthesis stage). Analysis of variance showed significant variation (P ≤ 0.05) for all of the traits at seedling and anthesis stages. High levels of broad-sense heritability and genetic advance at 5% selection intensity indicated the presence of a high genetic component of variation and potential for genetic improvement through selection among the existing genetic variation. CMS showed a significant positive correlation with 1000-grain weight (TGW) under heat and drought conditions at both seedling and anthesis stages. Chlorophyll a/b ratio at seedling stage exhibited a significant negative correlation (r = –0.39, P < 0.05) with TGW under heat stress. Total chlorophyll content was significantly (r = 0.42, P < 0.05) correlated with TGW under heat stress at anthesis. Genotypes ETAD248 and ETAD7 showed the highest CMS and TGW values, whereas their chlorophyll a/b values were lowest, at both seedling and anthesis stages under heat and drought stress conditions. Higher CMS and total chlorophyll content, and lower chlorophyll a/b, were found to be useful indicators to identify genotypes with high TGW under heat and drought stress conditions. This study indicated the possibility of using seedling resistance as an indicator for later stage response in breeding for heat and drought resistance. The resistant genotypes identified can be used as potential germplasm in breeding programs.

Additional keywords: abiotic stress, crop improvement, dryland cropping, genetic variability.


References

Abd-El-Haleem S, Reham M, Mohamed S (2009) Genetic analysis and RAPD polymorphism in some durum wheat genotypes. Global Journal of Biotechnology and Biochemistry 4, 01–09.

Almeselmani M, Deshmukh PS (2012) Effect of high temperature stress on physiological and yield parameters of some wheat genotypes recommended for irrigated and rain fed condition. Jordan Journal of Agricultural Science 8, 66–78.

Almeselmani M, Deshmukh PS, Chinnusamy V (2012) Effect of prolonged high temperature stress on respiration, photosynthesis and gene expression in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties differing in their thermotolerance. Plant Stress 6, 25–32.

Arabzadeh N (2013) The impact of drought stress on photosynthetic quantum yield in Haloxylon aphyllum and Haloxylon persicum. African Journal of Plant Science 7, 185–189.
The impact of drought stress on photosynthetic quantum yield in Haloxylon aphyllum and Haloxylon persicum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXpsFelsrY%3D&md5=438d47939b14ce1871f52f364d420e55CAS |

Araus JL, Amaro T, Voltas J, Nakkoul H, Nachit MM (1998) Chlorophyll fluorescence as a selection criterion for grain yield in durum wheat under Mediterranean conditions. Field Crops Research 55, 209–223.
Chlorophyll fluorescence as a selection criterion for grain yield in durum wheat under Mediterranean conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Arnon DI (1949) Copper enzymes in isolated chloroplasts. Polyphenoloxidase in Beta vulgaris. Plant Physiology 24, 1–15.
Copper enzymes in isolated chloroplasts. Polyphenoloxidase in Beta vulgaris.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaH1MXhtFaqtg%3D%3D&md5=9ca4988abce8654f63de392159d5bf6aCAS | 16654194PubMed |

Ayalew H, Ma X, Yan G (2015) Screening wheat (Triticum spp.) genotypes for root length under contrasting water regimes: Potential sources of variability for drought resistance breeding. Journal of Agronomy & Crop Science 201, 189–194.
Screening wheat (Triticum spp.) genotypes for root length under contrasting water regimes: Potential sources of variability for drought resistance breeding.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2MXmtlCksbY%3D&md5=f4fdb216df3a261683feb86d344f6ed5CAS |

Biber PD (2007) Evaluating a chlorophyll content meter on three coastal wetland plant species. Journal of Agricultural. Food and Environmental Sciences 1, 1–11.

Bilal M, Rashid RM, Rehman SU, Iqbal F, Ahmed J, Abid MA, Ahmed Z, Hayat A (2015) Evaluation of wheat genotypes for drought tolerance. Journal of Green Physiology, Genetics and Genomics 1, 11–21.

Blum A (2011) Drought resistance – is it really a complex trait? Functional Plant Biology 38, 753–757.
Drought resistance – is it really a complex trait?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Blum A, Ebercon A (1981) Cell membrane stability as a measure of drought and heat tolerance in wheat. Crop Science 21, 43–47.
Cell membrane stability as a measure of drought and heat tolerance in wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Blum A, Klueva N, Nguyen H (2001) Wheat cellular thermotolerance is related to yield under heat stress. Euphytica 117, 117–123.
Wheat cellular thermotolerance is related to yield under heat stress.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bolhar-Nordenkampf HR, Hofer M, Lechner EG (1991) Analysis of light-induced reduction of the photochemical capacity in field-grown plants. Evidence for photoinhibition. Photosynthesis Research 27, 31–39.
Analysis of light-induced reduction of the photochemical capacity in field-grown plants. Evidence for photoinhibition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3MXhtFykur4%3D&md5=bdf6ab581dbe4b2a8c091eba2b776784CAS | 24414443PubMed |

Comas L, Becker S, Cruz VMV, Byrne PF, Dierig DA (2013) Root traits contributing to plant productivity under drought. Frontiers in Plant Science 4, 442
Root traits contributing to plant productivity under drought.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24204374PubMed |

Cossani CM, Reynolds MP (2012) Physiological traits for improving heat tolerance in wheat. Plant Physiology 160, 1710–1718.
Physiological traits for improving heat tolerance in wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhvVKmt7rM&md5=db3febc6774769bf993f2e1a489df5a0CAS | 23054564PubMed |

Cui L, Li J, Fan Y, Shen XU, Zhang Z (2006) High temperature effects on photosynthesis, PSII functionality and antioxidant activity of two Festuca arundinacea cultivars with different heat susceptibility. Botanical Studies 47, 61–69.

Dhyani K, Ansari MW, Rao YR, Verma RS, Shukla A, Tuteja N (2013) Comparative physiological response of wheat genotypes under terminal heat stress. Plant Signaling & Behavior 8, e24564
Comparative physiological response of wheat genotypes under terminal heat stress.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dias de Oliveira EA, Siddique KHM, Bramley H, Stefanova K, Palta JA (2015) Response of wheat restricted-tillering and vigorous growth traits to variables of climate change. Global Change Biology 21, 857–873.
Response of wheat restricted-tillering and vigorous growth traits to variables of climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25330325PubMed |

FAO (2012) Cereal Supply and Demand Brief. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Available at: www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/csdb/en/ (accessed 12 July 2016).

FAO (2015) Crop Prospects and Food Situation. No. 1. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Available at: www.fao.org/3/a-i4410e.pdf (accessed 12 July 2016).

Fleury D, Jefferies S, Kuchel H, Langridge P (2010) Genetic and genomic tools to improve drought tolerance in wheat. Journal of Experimental Botany 61, 3211–3222.
Genetic and genomic tools to improve drought tolerance in wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXptVymsLc%3D&md5=d3787f1957d32ad78b7d659cf831f8d2CAS | 20525798PubMed |

Fokar M, Nguyen HT, Blum A (1998) Heat tolerance in spring wheat. I. Estimating cellular thermotolerance and its heritability. Euphytica 104, 1–8.
Heat tolerance in spring wheat. I. Estimating cellular thermotolerance and its heritability.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Jenner C (1994) Starch synthesis in the kernel of wheat under high temperature conditions. Functional Plant Biology 21, 791–806.

Keyvan S (2010) The effects of drought stress on yield, relative water content, proline, soluble carbohydrates and chlorophyll of bread wheat cultivars. The Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences 8, 1051–1060.

Khakwani AA, Dennett MD, Munir M, Baloch MS (2012) Wheat yield response to physiological limitations under water stress condition. The Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences 22, 773–780.

Khan FZ, Rehman SU, Abid MA, Malik W, Hanif CM, Bilal M, Qanmber Q, Latif A, Ashraf J, Farhan U (2015) Exploitation of germplasm for plant yield improvement in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Journal of Green Physiology, Genetics and Genomics 1, 1–10.

Kilic H, Yagbasanlar T (2010) The effect of drought stress on grain yield, yield components and some quality traits of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum) cultivars. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca 38, 164–170.

Lichtenthaler HK, Babani F, Langsdorf G, Buschmann C (2001) Measurement of differences in red chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic activity between sun and shade leaves by fluorescence imaging. Photosynthetica 38, 521–529.
Measurement of differences in red chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic activity between sun and shade leaves by fluorescence imaging.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lidon FC, Dias AS (2010) Bread and durum wheat tolerance under heat stress: A synoptical overview. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture 22, 412–436.

Lobell DB, Hammer GL, Chenu K, Zheng B, McLean G, Chapman SC (2015) The shifting influence of drought and heat stress for crops in northeast Australia. Global Change Biology 21, 4115–4127.
The shifting influence of drought and heat stress for crops in northeast Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26152643PubMed |

Ma F, Li D, Cai J, Jiang D, Cao WX, Dai TB (2012) Responses of wheat seedlings root growth and leaf photosynthesis to drought stress. The Journal of Applied Ecology 23, 724–730.

Mafakheri A, Siosemardeh A, Bahramnejad B, Struik PC, Sohrabi Y (2010) Effect of drought stress on yield, proline and chlorophyll contents in three chickpea cultivars. Australian Journal of Crop Science 4, 580–585.

McKay H (1998) Root electrolyte leakage and root growth potential as indicators of spruce and larch establishment. Silva Fennica 32, 241–252.
Root electrolyte leakage and root growth potential as indicators of spruce and larch establishment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mohammadi M (2012) Effects of kernel weight and source-limitation on wheat grain yield under heat stress. African Journal of Biotechnology 11, 2931–2937.

Noohi K, Fatahi E, Kamali GHA (2009Heat stress effects analysis on wheat crop in southern provinces. In 313 ‘Geophysical Research Abstracts’. Vol. 11. EGU2009-4441. (European Geosciences Union))

Passioura JB (2012) Phenotyping for drought tolerance in grain crops: when is it useful to breeders? Functional Plant Biology 39, 851–859.
Phenotyping for drought tolerance in grain crops: when is it useful to breeders?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rana RM, Rehman SU, Junaid A, Bilal M (2013) A comprehensive overview of recent advances in drought stress tolerance research in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Asian Journal of Agriculture and Biology 1, 29–37.

Seidler-Łożykowska K, Bandurska H, Bocianowski J (2010) Evaluation of cell membrane injury in caraway (Carum carvi L.) genotypes in water deficit conditions. Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae 79, 95–99.
Evaluation of cell membrane injury in caraway (Carum carvi L.) genotypes in water deficit conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Shibghatallah MAH, Khotimah SN, Suhandono S, Viridi S, Kesuma T (2013) Measuring leaf chlorophyll concentration from its color: A way in monitoring environment change to plantations. In ‘AIP Conference Proceedings: Padjadjaran International Physics Symposium 2013’. 7–8 May, Jatinangor, Indonesia. pp. 210–213. (AIP Publishing)

Singh B (1983) ‘Plant breeding: principles and methods.’ (Kalyani Publishers: New Delhi)

Steel RG, Torrie J, Dickey D (1997) ‘Principles and procedures of statistics: a biological approach.’ (McGraw-Hill Bill Company: New York)

Sullivan CY (1971) Techniques for measuring plant drought stress. In ‘Drought injury and resistance in crops’. Crop Science Society of America Special Publication. Vol. 2. pp. 1–18. (CSSA: Madison, WI, USA)

Swaminathan MS, Kesavan PC (2012) Agricultural research in an era of climate change. Agricultural Research 1, 3–11.
Agricultural research in an era of climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tardieu F (2012) Any trait or trait-related allele can confer drought tolerance: Just design the right drought scenario. Journal of Experimental Botany 63, 25–31.
Any trait or trait-related allele can confer drought tolerance: Just design the right drought scenario.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhs1yms73L&md5=974135d4963fec59d16b9a420d1b4276CAS | 21963615PubMed |