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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Plant Stress and Germplasm Development Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #326466
Title: Analysis of physiological and morphological traits associated with thermal stress acclimation in cotton

Author
item Gregory, Payton
item Mahan, James
item DEVER, JANE - Texas A&M Agrilife
item Payton, Paxton

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/2/2016
Publication Date: 4/2/2016
Citation: Gregory, P.M., Mahan, J.R., Dever, J., Payton, P.R. 2016. Analysis of physiological and morphological traits associated with thermal stress acclimation in cotton [abstract]. Southern Section of the American Society of Plant Biologists, April 2-4, 2016, Denton, TX. P. 11.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Management strategies to reduce water withdrawals for irrigation and maintain agriculture industry viability and vitality of the Southern Ogallala Aquifer Region include developing crop cultivars that produce economic returns with less water. Knowledge to identify and develop profitable crop cultivars is needed now, as areas in the region transition from irrigated to rainfed cropping systems. We have initiated a phenotyping experiment using accessions from the National Cotton Germplasm Collection. An initial subset of 50 entries was screened for phenotypic characteristics that could be associated with differences to drought response, including taproot length, total root system dry weight, shoot dry weight, total dry weight, and ratio of shoot dry weight to root dry weight. In addition to rainfed yield trials in Lubbock, Texas in 2015, we had initiated additional studies to examine root growth morphology and physiological response to periodic heat stress and acclimation responses in a subset of these genotypes. Genotype 12-8-103S ranked in the top quartile, along with cultivated check varieties, for lint yield in irrigated and dryland trials, as well as transpiration efficiency (TE) experiments in ambient and high temperature controled environment studies. Preliminary analysis of photosynthetic response to growth at elevated temperature (day and night) and acclimation and tolerance to periodic heatwaves, shows that genotypes 12-8-103S and 11-2-802GD maintain higher photosynthetic capacity than other selected varieties and most check cultivars and represent potential candidates for cultivar improvement. The goal of this research is to develop the needed germplasm resources required for an integrated cotton improvement program, and to identify key phenotypes that could practically be utilized in large-scale management studies targeted at rainfed and low irrigation cotton production. A complete analysis of the thermal stress and acclimation responses, as well as preliminary root morphology analysis will be presented.