Growth and yield of barley isopopulations differing in solute potential. [Hordeum vulgare]

Journal Article · · Crop Sci.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6070504

Grumet, R; Albrechtsen, R S; Hanson, A D

The active accumulation of solutes by osmotically stressed plants is thought to be an adaptive response that increases the ability of drought- or salt-stressed plants to maintain leaf water content, turgor, and possibly growth. In an earlier study the authors developed two barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) isopopulations differing in solute potential (Psi/sub s/), and these isopopulations were characterized for their response to salt stress in the growth chamber. At each stress level tested, the low-Psi/sub s/ population had about 0.1 MPa lower Psi/sub s/. In the present study the authors used these isopopulations to test the effect of genetic differences in Psi/sub s/ on growth in well-watered and drought-stressed conditions in the greenhouse and field. When grown in the greenhouse, the low-Psi/sub s/ population had a slower rate of leaf production and accumulated significantly less total above ground dry matter by midanthesis than did the high-Psi/sub s/ population. This difference (up to 35%) was greatest in optimal environmental conditions (adequate water, high irradiance, warm temperature) and decreased in less favorable environments. The growth differences were not associated with differences in partitioning of dry matter to the leaves or differences in water use efficiency. The growth disadvantage of the low-Psi/sub s/ population was also observed for grain yield (11-44%) and total above ground biomass production (10-25%) under dryland and irrigated conditions in multisite field trials. Thus the development of a barley isopopulation with constitutively lower Psi/sub s/ resulted in a reduction in yield potential.

• Research Organization: Michigan State Univ., East Lansing
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76ER01338
• OSTI ID: 6070504
• Journal Information: Crop Sci.; (United States), Vol. 27:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BARLEY
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
GENETIC VARIABILITY
PLANT GROWTH
SOLUTES
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
POTENTIAL ENERGY
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
DROUGHTS
LEAVES
OSMOSIS
PLANT BREEDING
POPULATIONS
PRESSURE DROP
SALTS
TOLERANCE
WATER
YIELDS
BIOLOGICAL VARIABILITY
CEREALS
DIFFUSION
ENERGY
GRASS
GROWTH
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
553000* - Agriculture & Food Technology
551000 - Physiological Systems