Drought tolerance improvement in crop plants: An integrated view from breeding to genomics

doi:10.1016/J.FCR.2007.07.004

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Drought tolerance improvement in crop plants: An integrated view from breeding to genomics

Journal Article•DOI•

Drought tolerance improvement in crop plants: An integrated view from breeding to genomics

Luigi Cattivelli, Fulvia Rizza, Franz-W. Badeck¹, Elisabetta Mazzucotelli, Anna M. Mastrangelo, Enrico Francia, Caterina Marè, Alessandro Tondelli, A. Michele Stanca - Show less +5 more•Institutions (1)

Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research¹

02 Jan 2008-Field Crops Research (Elsevier)-Vol. 105, Iss: 105, pp 1-14

TL;DR: Breeders are asked to blend together all knowledge on the traits sustaining yield under drought and to accumulate the most effective QTLs and/or transgenes into elite genotypes without detrimental effects on yield potential, which will lead to new cultivars with high yield potential and high yield stability, that will result in superior performance in dry environments.

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About: This article is published in Field Crops Research.The article was published on 2008-01-02. It has received 1281 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Drought tolerance & Plant breeding.

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Journal Article•DOI•

Plant drought stress: effects, mechanisms and management

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Muhammad Farooq¹, Muhammad Farooq², Abdul Wahid¹, Nobuya Kobayashi², Daisuke Fujita², Shahzad M. A. Basra¹ - Show less +2 more•Institutions (2)

University of Agriculture, Faisalabad¹, International Rice Research Institute²

01 Jan 2009-Agronomy for Sustainable Development

TL;DR: The effects of drought stress on the growth, phenology, water and nutrient relations, photosynthesis, assimilate partitioning, and respiration in plants, and the mechanism of drought resistance in plants on a morphological, physiological and molecular basis are reviewed.

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Abstract: Scarcity of water is a severe environmental constraint to plant productivity. Drought-induced loss in crop yield probably exceeds losses from all other causes, since both the severity and duration of the stress are critical. Here, we have reviewed the effects of drought stress on the growth, phenology, water and nutrient relations, photosynthesis, assimilate partitioning, and respiration in plants. This article also describes the mechanism of drought resistance in plants on a morphological, physiological and molecular basis. Various management strategies have been proposed to cope with drought stress. Drought stress reduces leaf size, stem extension and root proliferation, disturbs plant water relations and reduces water-use efficiency. Plants display a variety of physiological and biochemical responses at cellular and whole-organism levels towards prevailing drought stress, thus making it a complex phenomenon. CO2 assimilation by leaves is reduced mainly by stomatal closure, membrane damage and disturbed activity of various enzymes, especially those of CO2 fixation and adenosine triphosphate synthesis. Enhanced metabolite flux through the photorespiratory pathway increases the oxidative load on the tissues as both processes generate reactive oxygen species. Injury caused by reactive oxygen species to biological macromolecules under drought stress is among the major deterrents to growth. Plants display a range of mechanisms to withstand drought stress. The major mechanisms include curtailed water loss by increased diffusive resistance, enhanced water uptake with prolific and deep root systems and its efficient use, and smaller and succulent leaves to reduce the transpirational loss. Among the nutrients, potassium ions help in osmotic adjustment; silicon increases root endodermal silicification and improves the cell water balance. Low-molecular-weight osmolytes, including glycinebetaine, proline and other amino acids, organic acids, and polyols, are crucial to sustain cellular functions under drought. Plant growth substances such as salicylic acid, auxins, gibberrellins, cytokinin and abscisic acid modulate the plant responses towards drought. Polyamines, citrulline and several enzymes act as antioxidants and reduce the adverse effects of water deficit. At molecular levels several drought-responsive genes and transcription factors have been identified, such as the dehydration-responsive element-binding gene, aquaporin, late embryogenesis abundant proteins and dehydrins. Plant drought tolerance can be managed by adopting strategies such as mass screening and breeding, marker-assisted selection and exogenous application of hormones and osmoprotectants to seed or growing plants, as well as engineering for drought resistance.

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3,488 citations

Cites background from "Drought tolerance improvement in cr..."

...Such an approach may complement conventional breeding programs and hasten yield improvement (Cattivelli et al., 2008)....
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...Nonetheless, it is well established that drought tolerance is a complex phenomenon involving the concerted action of many genes (Agarwal et al., 2006; Cattivelli et al., 2008)....
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...ically ear and kernel number per plant (Cattivelli et al., 2008)....
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...The progressive cloning of many stress-related genes and responsive elements, and the proof of their association with stress-tolerant quantitative trait loci suggests that these genes may represent the molecular basis of stress tolerance (Cattivelli et al., 2002, 2008)....
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...approach may complement conventional breeding programs and hasten yield improvement (Cattivelli et al., 2008)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Plant tolerance to high temperature in a changing environment: scientific fundamentals and production of heat stress-tolerant crops

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Craita E. Bita¹, Tom Gerats¹•Institutions (1)

Radboud University Nijmegen¹

31 Jul 2013-Frontiers in Plant Science

TL;DR: There is a differential effect of climate change both in terms of geographic location and the crops that will likely show the most extreme reductions in yield as a result of expected extreme fluctuations in temperature and global warming in general.

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Abstract: Global warming is predicted to have a general negative effect on plant growth due to the damaging effect of high temperatures on plant development. The increasing threat of climatological extremes including very high temperatures might lead to catastrophic loss of crop productivity and result in wide spread famine. In this review, we assess the impact of global climate change on the agricultural crop production. There is a differential effect of climate change both in terms of geographic location and the crops that will likely show the most extreme reductions in yield as a result of expected extreme fluctuations in temperature and global warming in general. High temperature stress has a wide range of effects on plants in terms of physiology, biochemistry and gene regulation pathways. However, strategies exist to crop improvement for heat stress tolerance. In this review, we present recent advances of research on all these levels of investigation and focus on potential leads that may help to understand more fully the mechanisms that make plants tolerant or susceptible to heat stress. Finally, we review possible procedures and methods which could lead to the generation of new varieties with sustainable yield production, in a world likely to be challenged both by increasing population, higher average temperatures and larger temperature fluctuations.

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1,252 citations

Cites background from "Drought tolerance improvement in cr..."

...In Europe, most of the temperature increases will be in Southern and Central parts, the most affected countries being Spain, Portugal, and Italy....
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...The small yet significant phenotypic changes delivered by introducing single genes into breeding material require precision phenotyping protocols and the capacity to carry these out on very large populations (Cattivelli et al., 2008)....
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...Currently, however, plant genetic engineering is hampered by non-biological constraints mainly related to the commercialization of transgenic crops, particularly in Europe (Cattivelli et al., 2008)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Inducing drought tolerance in plants: Recent advances

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Muhammad Ashraf¹•Institutions (1)

University of Agriculture, Faisalabad¹

01 Jan 2010-Biotechnology Advances

TL;DR: Rapid advance in knowledge on genomics and proteomics will certainly be beneficial to fine-tune the molecular breeding and transformation approaches so as to achieve a significant progress in crop improvement in future.

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715 citations

Cites background from "Drought tolerance improvement in cr..."

...…first attemptwasmade to clone QTL (Salvi and Tuberosa, 2005), which is indeed an important milestone inmolecular breeding, having a substantial role to understand and manipulate the traits responsible for drought tolerance (Tuberosa and Salvi, 2006; Tondelli et al., 2006; Cattivelli et al., 2008)....
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...In 2005, a first attemptwasmade to clone QTL (Salvi and Tuberosa, 2005), which is indeed an important milestone inmolecular breeding, having a substantial role to understand and manipulate the traits responsible for drought tolerance (Tuberosa and Salvi, 2006; Tondelli et al., 2006; Cattivelli et al., 2008)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Breeding for Yield Potential and Stress Adaptation in Cereals

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José Luis Araus¹, Gustavo A. Slafer², Conxita Royo, M. Dolores Serret³•Institutions (3)

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center¹, Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies², University of Barcelona³

17 Nov 2008-Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences

TL;DR: The physiological basis of crop yield and its response to stresses is highlighted, with special emphasis on drought, and ways to improve the efficiency of crop breeding through a better physiological understanding by both conventional and molecular methods are discussed.

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Abstract: The need to accelerate breeding for increased yield potential and better adaptation to drought and other abiotic stresses is an issue of increasing urgency. As the population continues to grow rapidly, the pressure on resources (mainly untouched land and water) is also increasing, and potential climate change poses further challenges. We discuss ways to improve the efficiency of crop breeding through a better physiological understanding by both conventional and molecular methods. Thus the review highlights the physiological basis of crop yield and its response to stresses, with special emphasis on drought. This is not just because physiology forms the basis of proper phenotyping, one of the pillars of breeding, but because a full understanding of physiology is also needed, for example, to design the traits targeted by molecular breeding approaches such as marker-assisted selection (MAS) or plant transformation or the way these traits are evaluated. Most of the information in this review deals with cereals...

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713 citations

Cites background from "Drought tolerance improvement in cr..."

...A recent review of breeding progress pointed out that selection for high yield in stress-free conditions has, to a certain extent, indirectly improved yield in many waterlimiting conditions (Cattivelli et al., 2008)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Raising yield potential of wheat. III. Optimizing partitioning to grain while maintaining lodging resistance

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M. John Foulkes¹, Gustavo A. Slafer², William J. Davies³, Pete Berry⁴, Roger Sylvester-Bradley⁴, Pierre Martre⁵, Pierre Martre⁶, Daniel F. Calderini⁷, Simon Griffiths⁸, Matthew P. Reynolds⁹ - Show less +6 more•Institutions (9)

University of Nottingham¹, University of Lleida², Lancaster University³, ADAS⁴, Institut national de la recherche agronomique⁵, Blaise Pascal University⁶, Austral University of Chile⁷, John Innes Centre⁸, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center⁹

01 Jan 2011-Journal of Experimental Botany

TL;DR: Six complementary approaches are proposed, namely: optimizing developmental pattern to maximize spike fertility and grain number, optimizing spike growth to maximize grain number and dry matter harvest index, improving spike fertility through desensitizing floret abortion to environmental cues, and improving potential grain size and grain filling.

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Abstract: A substantial increase in grain yield potential is required, along with better use of water and fertilizer, to ensure food security and environmental protection in future decades. For improvements in photosynthetic capacity to result in additional wheat yield, extra assimilates must be partitioned to developing spikes and grains and/or potential grain weight increased to accommodate the extra assimilates. At the same time, improvement in dry matter partitioning to spikes should ensure that it does not increase stem or root lodging. It is therefore crucial that improvements in structural and reproductive aspects of growth accompany increases in photosynthesis to enhance the net agronomic benefits of genetic modifications. In this article, six complementary approaches are proposed, namely: (i) optimizing developmental pattern to maximize spike fertility and grain number, (ii) optimizing spike growth to maximize grain number and dry matter harvest index, (iii) improving spike fertility through desensitizing floret abortion to environmental cues, (iv) improving potential grain size and grain filling, and (v) improving lodging resistance. Since many of the traits tackled in these approaches interact strongly, an integrative modelling approach is also proposed, to (vi) identify any trade-offs between key traits, hence to define target ideotypes in quantitative terms. The potential for genetic dissection of key traits via quantitative trait loci analysis is discussed for the efficient deployment of existing variation in breeding programmes. These proposals should maximize returns in food production from investments in increased crop biomass by increasing spike fertility, grain number per unit area and harvest index whilst optimizing the trade-offs with potential grain weight and lodging resistance.

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499 citations

Cites background from "Drought tolerance improvement in cr..."

...At the same time, improvement in dry matter partitioning to spikes should ensure that it does not increase stem or root lodging....
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...…increases in the use of water or fertilizer (sustainable intensification), and within the context of climate change (Hirel et al., 2007; Cattivelli et al., 2008; Foulkes et al., 2009a; see also Royal Society, 2009), the detrimental environmental effects of expanding the global cropped…...
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References

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Journal Article•DOI•

Stability Parameters for Comparing Varieties

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S. A. Eberhart, W. A. Russell

01 Jan 1966-Crop Science

TL;DR: The model, Yij = μ1 + β1Ij + δij, defines stability parameters that may be used to describe the performance of a variety over a series of environments to see whether genetic differences could be detected.

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Abstract: The model, Yij = μ1 + β1Ij + δij, defines stability parameters that may be used to describe the performance of a variety over a series of environments. Yij is the variety mean of the ith variety at the jth environment, µ1 is the ith variety mean over all environments, β1 is the regression coefficient that measures the response of the ith variety to varying environments, δij is the deviation from regression of the ith variety at the jth environment, and Ij is the environmental index. The data from two single-cross diallels and a set of 3-way crosses were examined to see whether genetic differences could be detected. Genetic differences among lines were indicated for the regression of the lines on the environmental index with no evidence of nonadditive gene action. The estimates of the squared deviations from regression for many hybrids were near zero, whereas extremely large estimates were obtained for other hybrids.

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3,754 citations

"Drought tolerance improvement in cr..." refers background in this paper

...Several indices were proposed to describe yield performance of a given genotype under stress and non-stress conditions or in comparison with the average yield or the yield of a superior genotype (Finlay and Wilkinson, 1963; Eberhart and Russell, 1966; Fischer and Maurer, 1978; Soika et al., 1981; Lin and Binn, 1988; Yadav and Bhatnagar, 2001)....
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...…performance of a given genotype under stress and non-stress conditions or in comparison with the average yield or the yield of a superior genotype (Finlay and Wilkinson, 1963; Eberhart and Russell, 1966; Fischer and Maurer, 1978; Soika et al., 1981; Lin and Binn, 1988; Yadav and Bhatnagar, 2001)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Understanding plant responses to drought — from genes to the whole plant

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Maria Manuela Chaves¹, João Maroco, João Pereira¹•Institutions (1)

Instituto Superior de Agronomia¹

28 Mar 2003-Functional Plant Biology

TL;DR: Attention is drawn to the perception and signalling processes (chemical and hydraulic) of water deficits, which are essential for a holistic understanding of plant resistance to stress, which is needed to improve crop management and breeding techniques.

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Abstract: In the last decade, our understanding of the processes underlying plant response to drought, at the molecular and whole-plant levels, has rapidly progressed. Here, we review that progress. We draw attention to the perception and signalling processes (chemical and hydraulic) of water deficits. Knowledge of these processes is essential for a holistic understanding of plant resistance to stress, which is needed to improve crop management and breeding techniques. Hundreds of genes that are induced under drought have been identified. A range of tools, from gene expression patterns to the use of transgenic plants, is being used to study the specific function of these genes and their role in plant acclimation or adaptation to water deficit. However, because plant responses to stress are complex, the functions of many of the genes are still unknown. Many of the traits that explain plant adaptation to drought - such as phenology, root size and depth, hydraulic conductivity and the storage of reserves - are those associated with plant development and structure, and are constitutive rather than stress induced. But a large part of plant resistance to drought is the ability to get rid of excess radiation, a concomitant stress under natural conditions. The nature of the mechanisms responsible for leaf photoprotection, especially those related to thermal dissipation, and oxidative stress are being actively researched. The new tools that operate at molecular, plant and ecosystem levels are revolutionising our understanding of plant response to drought, and our ability to monitor it. Techniques such as genome-wide tools, proteomics, stable isotopes and thermal or fluorescence imaging may allow the genotype-phenotype gap to be bridged, which is essential for faster progress in stress biology research.

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3,287 citations

"Drought tolerance improvement in cr..." refers background in this paper

...Some of these responses are directly triggered by the changing water status of the tissues while others are brought about by plant hormones that are signalling changes in water status (Chaves et al., 2003)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Plant responses to drought, salinity and extreme temperatures: towards genetic engineering for stress tolerance

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Wangxia Wang¹, Basia Vinocur¹, Arie Altman¹•Institutions (1)

Hebrew University of Jerusalem¹

26 Sep 2003-Planta

TL;DR: The present review summarizes the recent advances in elucidating stress-response mechanisms and their biotechnological applications and examines the following aspects: regulatory controls, metabolite engineering, ion transport, antioxidants and detoxification, late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) and heat-shock proteins.

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Abstract: Abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, chemical toxicity and oxidative stress are serious threats to agriculture and the natural status of the environment. Increased salinization of arable land is expected to have devastating global effects, resulting in 30% land loss within the next 25 years, and up to 50% by the year 2050. Therefore, breeding for drought and salinity stress tolerance in crop plants (for food supply) and in forest trees (a central component of the global ecosystem) should be given high research priority in plant biotechnology programs. Molecular control mechanisms for abiotic stress tolerance are based on the activation and regulation of specific stress-related genes. These genes are involved in the whole sequence of stress responses, such as signaling, transcriptional control, protection of membranes and proteins, and free-radical and toxic-compound scavenging. Recently, research into the molecular mechanisms of stress responses has started to bear fruit and, in parallel, genetic modification of stress tolerance has also shown promising results that may ultimately apply to agriculturally and ecologically important plants. The present review summarizes the recent advances in elucidating stress-response mechanisms and their biotechnological applications. Emphasis is placed on transgenic plants that have been engineered based on different stress-response mechanisms. The review examines the following aspects: regulatory controls, metabolite engineering, ion transport, antioxidants and detoxification, late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) and heat-shock proteins.

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3,248 citations

"Drought tolerance improvement in cr..." refers background in this paper

...Overexpression of transcription factors may also activate additional non-stress-related genes that adversely affect the normal agronomic characteristics of a crop, producing deleterious effects on the phenotype and thus yield (Wang et al., 2003)....
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...Metabolic engineering for increasing osmolyte contents was successful in several plants subjected to stress (Wang et al., 2003), although real advantages of such a strategy are always a subject of debate (Serraj and Sinclair, 2002)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

The analysis of adaptation in a plant-breeding programme

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K.W. Finlay, G.N. Wilkinson

01 Jan 1963-Crop & Pasture Science

TL;DR: Varieties from particular geographic regions of the world showed a similarity in type of adaptation, which provides a useful basis for plant introduction and breeding.

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Abstract: The adaptation of barley varieties was studied by the use of grain yields of a randomly chosen group of 277 varieties from a world collection, grown in replicated trials for several seasons at three sites in South Australia For each variety a linear regression of yield on the mean yield of all varieties for each site and season was computed to measure variety adaptation In these calculations the basic yields were measured on a logarithmic scale, as it was found that a high degree of linearity was thereby induced The mean yield of all varieties for each site and season provided a quantitative grading of the environments; and from the analysis described, varieties specifically adapted to good or poor seasons and those showing general adaptability may be identified The study of the adaptation of the whole population of varieties was facilitated by the use of a two-dimensional plot (scatter diagram), with mean yield and regression coefficient as coordinates for each variety Though wide variation was evident in both mean yield and sensitivity to environment as characterized by the regression coefficient, the variation in sensitivity was proportionately less among varieties with higher mean yield, and the varieties with highest mean yield exhibited, within very narrow limits (regression coefficients close to 08), a similar degree of adaptation to all environments over the wide range, especially of seasonal conditions, typical of the South Australian cereal belt Varieties from particular geographic regions of the world showed a similarity in type of adaptation, which provides a useful basis for plant introduction Phenotypic stability and physiological and morphological characteristics of groups of varieties with specific or general adaptability are discussed in relation to plant introduction and breeding

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2,647 citations

Journal Article•DOI•

Seed Banks and Molecular Maps: Unlocking Genetic Potential from the Wild

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Steven D. Tanksley¹, Susan R. McCouch¹•Institutions (1)

Cornell University¹

22 Aug 1997-Science

TL;DR: The tools of genome research may finally unleash the genetic potential of the authors' wild and cultivated germplasm resources for the benefit of society.

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Abstract: Nearly a century has been spent collecting and preserving genetic diversity in plants. Germplasm banks-living seed collections that serve as repositories of genetic variation-have been established as a source of genes for improving agricultural crops. Genetic linkage maps have made it possible to study the chromosomal locations of genes for improving yield and other complex traits important to agriculture. The tools of genome research may finally unleash the genetic potential of our wild and cultivated germplasm resources for the benefit of society.

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2,214 citations

"Drought tolerance improvement in cr..." refers background in this paper

...These lost many undesirable alleles and useful alleles became enriched in the cultivated gene pool (Tanksley and McCouch, 1997)....
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...Many studies have demonstrated the value of alleles originating from non-cultivar germplasm (Tanksley and Nelson, 1996; Tanksley and McCouch, 1997), showing that centuries of selective breeding have thrown away useful alleles in addition to many useless ones....
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