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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Plant Physiology and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #170616

Title: PHOTOSYNTHETIC RESPONSES OF LESQUERELLA TO ELEVATION AND TEMPERATURE

Author
item Adam, Neal
item Dierig, David
item Coffelt, Terry
item Wall, Gerard - Gary

Submitted to: Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/18/2004
Publication Date: 9/19/2004
Citation: Adam, N.R., Dierig, D.A., Coffelt, T.A., Wall, G.W. 2004. Photosynthetic responses of lesquerella to elevation and temperature. Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops Conference. p. 17

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Lesquerella is a new alternative oilseed crop for the southwest United States. A greater understanding of the environmental constraints on photosynthesis is important in determining potential areas for seed production of this crop, especially in estimating growing degree days required for plant production. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of elevation and temperature on photosynthesis of these plants throughout their life cycle. Field studies were established at four elevations in Arizona with two species of Lesquerella, L. fendleri and L. pallida. These two species were chosen because traits from L. pallida are being introgressed into L. fendleri. through the breeding program at this Laboratory. Plots of L. fendleri and L. pallida were established at four locations in Arizona: Phoenix, elevation 305 m; Tucson, 607 m; Safford, 914 m; and Patagonia, 1219 m. Preliminary analysis indicates accession differences in photosynthesis response patterns at the various locations. Season-long values of photosynthesis for L. fendleri were significantly lower in Patagonia than in Phoenix and Tucson, while rates for L. pallida were significantly greater in Patagonia than in Phoenix and Tucson. Phoenix and Tucson did not differ in responses of either species. Though survival was poor in Safford, and midseason rates of photosynthesis for L. pallida were lower than in the other locations, midseason rates of photosynthesis for L. fendleri were similar to those of the other locations. These results indicate that the two species responded differently to the four elevation environments. This could be an advantage in that hybrids from the interspecific crosses could have wider adaptation for seed production areas than either of the parents.