Genetic variation of stomatal conductance, blue light sensitivity and zeaxanthin content in guard cells of Pima cotton (Gossypium barbadense)

Pima S‐6 ( Gossypium barbadense L.) is a modern line with high stomatal conductance, while B368 is a primitive cotton with low conductance. The blue light sensitivity of adaxial guard cells, probed as the blue light‐dependent enhancement of the red light‐induced chlorophyll a fluorescence quenching, was investigated in these two cotton lines with contrasting stomatal conductance. Adaxial guard cells isolated from Pima S‐6 cotton plants had a significantly higher carotenoid content and a higher blue light sensitivity than those isolated from B368 plants. In a growth chamber‐grown F₂ population of a cross between these two lines, adaxial stomatal conductances of individual plants segregated over a range exceeding the average conductances of the parents. Carotenoid content and the blue light sensitivity of adaxial guard cells also segregated. The concentrations of xanthophylls and β‐carotene in the adaxial guard cells were poorly correlated with the blue light response, except for zeaxanthin. The co‐segregation of stomatal conductance and blue light sensitivity suggested that the stomatal response to blue light may play a role in the regulation of stomatal conductance in the intact leaf. Zeaxanthin content and blue light sensitivity also co‐segregated, suggesting that both parameters are under genetic control. The co‐segregation of zeaxanthin content, blue light sensitivity and stomatal conductance provides further evidence for a role of zeaxanthin in the blue light photoreception of guard cells.     

High yields in advanced lines of Pima cotton are associated with higher stomatal conductance, reduced leaf area and lower leaf temperature

Advanced lines of Pima cotton ( Gossypium barbadense L.) bred for higher yield potential and heat resistance have higher stomata conductance and smaller leaf areas than those of obsolete lines. In controlled experiments, five commercial lines of Pima cotton having increasing lint yield and heat resistance showed a gradient of increasing stomatal conductance and decreasing leaf size. In field experiments, heat-sensitive, low yield Pima lines showed a lower stomatal conductance than high yielding, advanced lines. This indicates that selection for high yield potential and heat resistance has imposed a selection pressure for higher stomatal conductance and smaller leaf areas. The higher stomatal conductance and smaller leaf area in the advanced lines resulted in a lower leaf temperature in both controlled environments and in the field. The largest leaf temperature differences between obsolete and advanced lines were observed in the afternoon. These differences coincided with the largest differences in stomatal conductance and the highest air temperatures. Measurements of stomatal conductance and leaf temperature in field-grown progeny from a cross between the advanced line, Pima S-6. and the obsolete line, Pima 32, showed that genetically determined differences in stomatal conductance resulted in corresponding differences in leaf temperature. None of the altered physiological traits were selected for in the breeding program, indicating that selection for the desired agronomic traits imposed selection pressures on the altered physiological traits. The increases in stomatal conductance and decreases in leaf area could represent an integrated response to selection pressures on enhanced evaporative cooling, ensuing from selection for heat resistance.     

Abaxial and adaxial stomata from Pima cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) differ in their pigment content and sensitivity to light quality

Sensitivity to light quality and pigment composition were analysed and compared in abaxial and adaxial stomata of Gossypium barbadense L. (Pima cotton). In most plants, abaxial (lower) stomatal conductances are higher than adaxial (upper) ones, and stomatal opening is more sensitive to blue light than to red. In greenhouse-grown Pima cotton, abaxial stomatal conductances were two to three times higher than adaxial ones. In contrast, adaxial stomatal conductances were 1·5 to two times higher than abaxial ones in leaves from growth chamber-grown plants. To establish whether light quality was a factor in the regulation of the relationship between abaxial and adaxial stomatal conductances, growth-chamber-grown plants were exposed to solar radiation outdoors and to increased red light in the growth chamber. In both cases, the ratios of adaxial to abaxial stomatal conductance reverted to those typical of greenhouse plants. We investigated the hypothesis that adaxial stomata are more sensitive to blue light and abaxial stomata are more sensitive to red light. Measurements of stomatal apertures in mechanically isolated epidermal peels from growth chamber and greenhouse plants showed that adaxial stomata opened more under blue light than under red light, while abaxial stomata had the opposite response. Using HPLC, we quantified the chlorophylls and carotenoids extracted from isolated adaxial and abaxial guard cells. All pigments analysed were more abundant in the adaxial than in the abaxial guard cells. Antheraxanthin and β-carotene contents were 2·3 times higher in adaxial than in abaxial guard cells, comparing with ad/ab ratios of 1·5–1·9 for the other pigments. We conclude that adaxial and abaxial stomata from Pima cotton have a differential sensitivity to light quality and their distinct responses are correlated with different pigment content.     

Selection for higher yields and heat resistance in Pima cotton has caused genetically determined changes in stomatal conductances

Gas exchange analysis was used to characterize photosynthetic and stomatal responses to key environmental stimuli in five commercial lines of Pima cotton ( Gossypium barbadense L.) which represent a gradient of selection for higher yields and heat resistance, and a primitive, uncultivated G. barbadense. At constant light and vapor pressure deficit, stomatal conductance increased linearly with air temperature in the 23 to 36$C range in all five commercial lines, and conductance at each temperature increased as a function of selection. In contrast, photosynthetic rates had a low sensitivity to temperature in the 23 to 36$C range, particularly in the advanced lines. In a segregating F₂ population from a cross between the advanced line, Pima S-6, and the primitive cotton, B368, the slope of the stomatal response to temperature in each F₂ plant was positively correlated with the stomatal conductance measured at 40$C. An analysis of the frequency distribution of stomatal conductance in F₁ and F₂ progeny of the cross showed that the differences in stomatal conductance between lines were genetically determined. These data indicate that selection for higher yield and heat resistance in Pima cotton has caused genetically determined changes in stomatal properties. Characterization of the relationship between the altered stomatal properties and the attained increases in heat resistance and yields could make it possible to use these physiological traits as selection criteria in future breeding programs.     

海岛棉原位杂交及核型比较

采用Ａ染色体组（Ａ genome)棉种亚洲基因组ＤＮＡ（gDNA)为探针,对海岛棉体细胞染色体进行荧光原位杂交（ＦＩＳＨ）,结果发现５２条染色体中有杂交信号与否的刚好各一半,从而直观地证实了海岛棉异源双二倍体起源的理论,但是,染色体的长度Ａ亚组的并非全部大于Ｄ亚组的。海岛棉基于ＦＩＳＨ图像的核型公式为：２n=4x=52=38m 14sm(sat)。３对随体染色体序号分别是Ａ亚组第１１、Ｄ亚组第２２和２５,均属于近中部着丝点（sm)类型,随体均在各自杂色体的短臂上,而且与所有染色体无关晨同一亚组起源。Ａ亚组第５、６和９对染色体长臂发生长了片段的易位,易位的片段较大,占所在染色体和蔗的百分率依次为１９．２１％、１７．６９％和１２．８８％,在Ｄ亚组１３对染色体中,最少５对的着丝点区域多或少地显示出与亚洲棉gDNA探针杂交的红色荧光信号,意味着有Ａ亚组染色体的交换。     

Constructing a high-density linkage map for Gossypium hirsutum × Gossypium barbadense and identifying QTLs for lint percentage

To introgress the good fiber quality and yield from Gossypium barbadense into a commercial Upland cotton variety, a high-density simple sequence repeat(SSR) genetic linkage map was developed from a BC1F1 population of Gossypium hirsutum×Gossypium barbadense. The map comprised 2,292 loci and covered 5115.16 centi Morgan(c M) of the cotton AD genome, with an average marker interval of 2.23 c M. Of the marker order for 1,577 common loci on this new map, 90.36% agrees well with the marker order on the D genome sequence genetic map. Compared with five published high-density SSR genetic maps, 53.14% of marker loci were newly discovered in this map. Twenty-six quantitative trait loci(QTLs) for lint percentage(LP) were identified on nine chromosomes. Nine stable or common QTLs could be used for marker-assisted selection. Fifty percent of the QTLs were from G. barbadense and increased LP by 1.07%–2.41%. These results indicated that the map could be used for screening chromosome substitution segments from G. barbadense in the Upland cotton background, identifying QTLs or genes from G. barbadense, and further developing the gene pyramiding effect for improving fiber yield and quality.     

Ontogenetic changes in stomatal size and conductance of sunflowers

The ontogenetic changes in stomatal size, frequency and conductance (g_s) on abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces of sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus L. Russian Mammoth) were examined under controlled environmental conditions. The stomatal frequency on the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces decreased with leaf ontogeny and insertion level. The ratio of adaxial to abaxial stomatal frequency did not change with leaf ontogeny and insertion level, and 42–44% of total stomata was apportioned to the adaxial surface. Ontogenetic changes in stomatal pore length were detected and increased with ontogenesis. The stomatal length of both leaf surfaces had linear relationships with leaf area. Ontogenetic changes in g_s were similar between the two surfaces. However the adaxial g_s was lower than abaxial g_s in leaves of higher insertion levels. Conductance had a linear relationship with width x frequency but not with pore area.     

最优气孔行为理论和气孔导度模拟

气孔调节功能是陆地生态系统碳-水耦合过程中最重要的环节。与即时的气孔导度测量相比, 气孔导度斜率能有效地反映气孔导度对CO₂浓度、饱和水汽压亏缺和光合作用的敏感性, 包含了环境因子对光合作用和临界水分利用效率等的综合影响, 为研究全球变化下陆地生态系统碳-水耦合关系提供了一个简明且综合的框架。气孔导度模型从经验模型、半经验模型发展到机理模型, 经过很多学者的改进, 但是模型参数的生物学意义和变化规律还不明确。鉴于气孔导度斜率方面研究的重要性和研究的不足, 为了加强对气孔导度调节规律的认识, 并减少气孔导度模拟的不确定性, 该文主要综述了长期以来国内外关于最优气孔行为理论和气孔导度模拟方面的研究成果, 其中包括广泛使用的气孔导度模型及参数意义, 讨论影响气孔导度斜率的主要因素以及气孔导度机理模型的应用, 并对最优气孔行为理论和气孔导度模拟方面的研究做了简单展望。     

羊草气孔导度的Jarvis-类模型

在干旱半干旱气候条件下,土壤水分状况通常是决定植物气孔导度的重要因素,现有气孔导度模型Jarvis-类和耦合模型(或光合-导度模型)未充分考虑这一因素对气孔导度的影响。本文以Jarvis气孔导度模型为基础,提出一个充分考虑土壤水分状况因素的气孔导度模型。该模型对羊草连续两年(1998~1999)野外实地观测结果拟合良好(R2=0.603),预测能力较线性回归方程(R2=0.361)有明显提高。     

海岛棉GbHyPRP1克隆及其转基因拟南芥抗黄萎病验证

在对黄萎病菌胁迫处理的海岛棉Pima 90-53根组织全长c DNA文库分析中,筛选到一个与黄萎病胁迫相关的杂合富含脯氨酸蛋白(hybrid proline-rich protein)基因,将其命名为Gb Hy PRP1。该基因c DNA序列全长1747 bp,开放阅读框945 bp,编码一个由314个氨基酸残基组成的蛋白,包含信号肽、N端富含脯氨酸域及C端Pollen Ole e I域。同源序列分析显示,Gb Hy PRP1与来自雷蒙德氏棉、陆地棉和亚洲棉的Hy PRP1蛋白序列相似性最高,分别为95.95%、93.87%和91.34%。q RT-PCR分析结果显示,受黄萎病菌胁迫后海岛棉根部Gb Hy PRP1表达显著下调。将Gb Hy PRP1基因克隆至植物超表达载体,农杆菌介导转化拟南芥获得转基因植株。病指统计分析表明Gb Hy PRP1过量表达显著降低了拟南芥对黄萎病的抗性。据此推测Gb Hy PRP1参与棉花抗黄萎病,可能是一个重要的负调控因子。     

黄萎病菌诱导的海岛棉抗病反应的SSH文库构建及分析

在Pima90幼苗接种黄萎病病原菌后2、4、8、12、24、48、72和96h分批取幼根以抽提棉花总RNA。以未接种病原的棉花cDNA为驱动方,利用SSH法对接种病原后的棉花cDNA进行差减杂交。对杂交后的cDNA进行T／A克隆并转化到大肠杆菌中完成文库构建,共获得了534个克隆。以M13引物对扩增插入片段进行PCR扩增,电泳结果显示插入片段大小从0．2—1．2kb不等,平均大小为0．5kb。将克隆中的插入片段点种于尼龙膜上,分别以病原诱导前后的总cDNA为探针进行反向Northern杂交。对78个在海岛棉的抗病反应中呈上升表达的克隆进行了测序并对测序结果去载体后在NCBI上利用Blastn和Blastx进行序列相似性分析。结果表明,大部分阳性克隆与拟南芥等多个物种不同逆境条件下诱导的相关基因或表达序列相同或同源,如棉花病程相关蛋白家族10,拟南芥抗病反应家族蛋白等。SSH文库的构建和分析将有助于了解棉花抗黄萎病反应的分子机制。     

海岛棉F1产量性状的条件遗传分析

调查了海岛棉5×4不完全双列杂交实验的3年产量性状资料,运用包括加性、显性、加性×环境互作、显性×环境互作的遗传模型进行条件和非条件的遗传分析.双列杂交的亲本具有不同果枝类型.非条件遗传方差结果表明,总皮棉产量没有检测到显著的非条件加性效应方差.但是铃重、霜前铃数、霜后铃数以及霜前皮棉产量的条件分析结果发现这些性状的加性效应均对总皮棉产量的加性效应有贡献.因此,可通过这些性状改良总皮棉产量的加性效应表现.当某材料产量构成因素的加性贡献率比较高时,选择该材料作为杂交亲本可望获得具有较好总皮棉产量表现的后代.各产量构成因素的显性效应对霜前皮棉产量和总皮棉产量的杂种优势具有较大的贡献率.产量构成因素之间又相互影响.那些能够检测到显著的正向贡献率的性状将为进一步改良目标性状提供可能.本研究结果显示运用条件分析方法不仅能分析原因性状对目标性状的贡献率,还可以分析特定亲本(或组合)的某一性状对该亲本或组合目标性状的作用大小和正负,据此就可以指导某一亲本后代或组合的目标性状的间接选择.这对实际育种中具体组合的选择具有重要的意义.     

Reconciling the optimal and empirical approaches to modelling stomatal conductance

Models of vegetation function are widely used to predict the effects of climate change on carbon, water and nutrient cycles of terrestrial ecosystems, and their feedbacks to climate. Stomatal conductance, the process that governs plant water use and carbon uptake, is fundamental to such models. In this paper, we reconcile two long‐standing theories of stomatal conductance. The empirical approach, which is most commonly used in vegetation models, is phenomenological, based on experimental observations of stomatal behaviour in response to environmental conditions. The optimal approach is based on the theoretical argument that stomata should act to minimize the amount of water used per unit carbon gained. We reconcile these two approaches by showing that the theory of optimal stomatal conductance can be used to derive a model of stomatal conductance that is closely analogous to the empirical models. Consequently, we obtain a unified stomatal model which has a similar form to existing empirical models, but which now provides a theoretical interpretation for model parameter values. The key model parameter, g₁, is predicted to increase with growth temperature and with the marginal water cost of carbon gain. The new model is fitted to a range of datasets ranging from tropical to boreal trees. The parameter g₁ is shown to vary with growth temperature, as predicted, and also with plant functional type. The model is shown to correctly capture responses of stomatal conductance to changing atmospheric CO₂, and thus can be used to test for stomatal acclimation to elevated CO₂. The reconciliation of the optimal and empirical approaches to modelling stomatal conductance is important for global change biology because it provides a simple theoretical framework for analyzing, and simulating, the coupling between carbon and water cycles under environmental change.     

The effect of tree height on crown level stomatal conductance

Variation in stomatal conductance is typically explained in relation to environmental conditions. However, tree height may also contribute to the variability in mean stomatal conductance. Mean canopy stomatal conductance of individual tree crowns (G_Si) was estimated using sap flux measurements in Fagus sylvatica L., and the hypothesis that G_Si decreases with tree height was tested. Over 13 d of the growing season during which soil moisture was not limiting, G_Si decreased linearly with the natural logarithm of vapour pressure deficit (D), and increased exponentially to saturation with photosynthetic photon flux density (Q_o). Under conditions of D = 1 kPa and saturating Q_o, G_Si decreased by approximately 60% with 30 m increase in tree height. Over the same range in height, sapwood‐to‐leaf area ratio (A_S:A_L) doubled. A simple hydraulic model explained the variation in G_Si based on an inverse relationship with height, and a linear relationship with A_S:A_L. Thus, in F. sylvatica, adjustments in A_S:A_L partially compensate for the negative effect of increased flow‐path length on leaf conductance. Furthermore, because stomata with low conductance are less sensitive to D, gas exchange of tall trees is reduced less by high D. Despite these compensations, decreasing hydraulic conductance with tree height in F. sylvatica reduces carbon uptake through a corresponding decrease in stomatal conductance.     

A genetic approach to in vitro regeneration of non-regenerating cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars

Selections were made among individual plants of Gossypium hirsutum cv `Coker 310' for high-frequency in vitro regeneration by somatic embryogenesis. After three generations of selection, a pure line for high-frequency somatic embryogenesis was selected and named Coker 310 FR (FR, fully regenerating). Coker 310 FR could be regenerated by following previously published protocols (see Materials and methods) and a modified protocol developed in this study that reduced the time necessary for in vitro regeneration. Coker 310 FR was crossed with individual plants of major cotton cultivars grown in India, namely `MCU 5', `MCU 7', `Khandwa 2', `Bikaneri Nerma', `F 846' that have been shown to be recalcitrant to in vitro regeneration, to evaluate the regeneration potential of F₁s. All the F₁s showed regeneration by somatic embryogenesis. However, the F₁ of G. barbadense×G. hirsutum Coker 310 FR did not regenerate. Received: 16 September 1997 / Revision received: 1 April 1998 / Accepted: 15 May 1998     

Oscillations in stomatal conductance of hybrid poplar leaves in the light and dark

Cycling of stomatal conductance in three hybrid poplar ( Populus sp.) cultivars was observed under a variety of conditions. Illumination of plants kept previously in the dark induced very large oscillations with a period of about 40 min and large oscillations with a shorter period (< 10 min) were superimposed on the longer cycles. During these oscillations, large changes in conductance could occur very rapidly (1.0 cm s⁻¹ in 3 min). Plants in constant light also displayed both long and short term cycles in conductance, but these were smaller in amplitude than those induced by sudden illumination. Stomatal oscillations were also observed in darkness and after darkening of previously illuminated plants. These oscillations had shorter (< 30 min) and less regular periods than those observed in the light. Such cycling in the dark is rare. Cycling of the two leaf surfaces was sometimes in synchrony in the light, and more so after a perturbation. Little synchrony between the two surfaces was observed in the dark. Stomatal movements of different leaves on a plant were usually relatively independent. Transient stomatal opening occurred following leaf excision in the light or dark, and often after sudden darkening of intact leaves. Also, stomata of intact leaves sometimes transiently closed following illumination.     

Differential coordination of stomatal conductance,mesophyll conductance,and leaf hydraulic conductance in response to changing light across species

Stomatal conductance (g_s) and mesophyll conductance (g_m) represent major constraints to photosynthetic rate (A), and these traits are expected to coordinate with leaf hydraulic conductance (K_leaf) across species, under both steady‐state and dynamic conditions. However, empirical information about their coordination is scarce. In this study, K_leaf, gas exchange, stomatal kinetics, and leaf anatomy in 10 species including ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms were investigated to elucidate the correlation of H₂O and CO₂ diffusion inside leaves under varying light conditions. Gas exchange, K_leaf, and anatomical traits varied widely across species. Under light‐saturated conditions, the A, g_s, g_m, and K_leaf were strongly correlated across species. However, the response patterns of A, g_s, g_m, and K_leaf to varying light intensities were highly species dependent. Moreover, stomatal opening upon light exposure of dark‐adapted leaves in the studied ferns and gymnosperms was generally faster than in the angiosperms; however, stomatal closing in light‐adapted leaves after darkening was faster in angiosperms. The present results show that there is a large variability in the coordination of leaf hydraulic and gas exchange parameters across terrestrial plant species, as well as in their responses to changing light.     

Interpretation of an empirical model for stomatal conductance in terms of guard cell function

An empirical model for stomatal conductance (g), proposed by Leuning (1995, this issue) as a modification of Ball, Woodrow & Berry's (1987) model, is interpreted in terms of a simple, steady-state model of guard cell function. In this model, stomatal aperture is a function of the relative turgor between guard cells and epidermal cells. The correlation between g and leaf surface vapour pressure deficit in Leuning's model is interpreted in terms of stomatal sensing of the transpiration rate, via changes in the gradient of total water potential between guard cells and epidermal cells. The correlation between g, CO₂ assimilation rate and leaf surface CO₂ concentration in Leuning's model is interpreted as a relationship between the corresponding osmotic gradient, irradiance, temperature, intercellular CO₂ concentration and stomatal aperture itself. The explicit relationship between osmotic gradient and stomatal aperture (possibly describing the effect of changes in guard cell volume on the membrane permeability for ion transport) results in a decrease in the transpiration rate in sufficiently dry air. Possible extension of the guard cell model to include stomatal responses to soil water status is discussed.     

Rapid in-vitro plant regeneration of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

A rapid, clonal propagation procedure has been developed to regenerate mature cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants from pre-existing meristems that were excised from in-vitro-grown tissues. This plant regeneration procedure was applicable to diverse cotton germplasms and required specific concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) depending on the origin of the meristems. All shoots regenerated directly without a callus phase. Screening BA concentrations (0.0–10.0 μm) demonstrated that shoot meristems (apices), secondary leaf nodes, primary leaf nodes, and cotyledonary nodes derived from in-vitro-grown 28-day-old seedlings (Paymaster HS26) varied in their ability to form elongated shoots depending on the level of BA. Indicative of a germplasm-independent procedure, a BA concentration screen (0.0, 0.3, 1.0 μm) demonstrated that explants with pre-existing meristems, excised from diverse germlines, were also able to form elongated shoots at 0.3 μm BA. In most cases, elongated shoots derived from this procedure were rooted by a two-step process: an in-vitro maturation step (Murashige and Skoog medium-activated charcoal) followed by planting into soil after basal application of Rootone. This BA plant regeneration procedure was rapid, reproducible, and highly efficient for Stoneville 7A, Paymaster HS26, and other high-fiber-yielding germlines. Regenerated plants were phenotypically normal and all of the mature plants regenerated to date have initiated flowers and set viable R₁ seeds. Received: 15 March 1997 / Revision received: 28 August 1997 / Accepted: 5 September 1997