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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 #225608
Title: Variation in Transpiration Efficiency in Sorghum

Author
item Xin, Zhanguo
item Aiken, Robert
item Burke, John

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/5/2008
Publication Date: 10/9/2008
Citation: Xin, Z., Aiken, R.M., Burke, J.J. 2008. Variation in Transpiration Efficiency in Sorghum [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Joint Annual Meeting. Houston, Texas. October 5-9, 2008. Abstract No. 781-8.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Declining freshwater resources, increasing population, and growing demand for biofuels pose new challenges for agriculture research. To meet these challenges, the concept “Blue Revolution” (more crop per drop) was proposed to improve water productivity in agriculture. We have identified several sorghum lines with substantial increases in transpiration efficiency (TE) using a high throughput lysimetric method from 406 sorghum accessions. Twenty-five lines were selected to conduct re-confirmation studies at two locations that have different experimental conditions and water regimes. Significant variation in TE was identified at both locations. The high TE in the superior lines is associated increased biomass accumulation rather than reduced transpiration. Gas-exchange analysis of eight selected lines indicated that decreased internal CO2 concentration and enhanced PEP carboxylase activity may contribute to the increased TE observed in some lines. The results indicate that considerable genetic variation in TE exists in sorghum germplasm collection, which may be exploited to improve water use efficiency in sorghum.