Aquaporin Activity to Improve Crop Drought Tolerance.

Avat Shekoofa,Thomas Sinclair

doi:10.3390/cells7090123

Avat Shekoofa, Thomas Sinclair

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/cells7090123

Copy DOI

Abstract

In plants, aquaporins (AQP) occur in multiple isoforms in both plasmalemma and tonoplast membranes resulting in regulation of water flow in and out of cells, and ultimately, water transfer through a series of cells in leaves and roots. Consequently, it is not surprising that physiological and molecular studies have identified AQPs as playing key roles in regulating hydraulic conductance in roots and leaves. As a result, the activity of AQPs influences a range of physiological processes including phloem loading, xylem water exit, stomatal aperture and gas exchange. The influence of AQPs on hydraulic conductance in plants is particularly important in regulating plant transpiration rate, particularly under conditions of developing soil water-deficit stress and elevated atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD). In this review, we examine the impact of AQP activity and hydraulic conductance on crop water use and the identification of genotypes that express soil water conservation as a result of these traits. An important outcome of this research has been the identification and commercialization of cultivars of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), maize (Zea mays L.), and soybean (Glycine max (Merr) L.) for dry land production systems.

Highlights

IntroductionAquaporins (AQPs) play critical roles in controlling water transfer into and out of plant cells, which is crucial in the transport of water in and around plants, and in maintaining cell viability
Aquaporins (AQPs) play critical roles in controlling water transfer into and out of plant cells, which is crucial in the transport of water in and around plants, and in maintaining cell viability.The activity of plant AQPs appears to be intimately linked to expressions of plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses [1]
To achieve soil water conservation early in the growing season there are two prime mechanisms for water conservation, both of which appear to be closely related to AQPs activity: (i) transpiration sensitivity to soil drying and (ii) transpiration sensitivity to high atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD)

Summary

Introduction

Aquaporins (AQPs) play critical roles in controlling water transfer into and out of plant cells, which is crucial in the transport of water in and around plants, and in maintaining cell viability. The activity of plant AQPs appears to be intimately linked to expressions of plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses [1]. AQPs play important roles in the overall determination of both plant water balance, including osmoregulation, single-cell expansion, and long-distance transport [5], and effective plant water use [6,7,8]. As a result of AQP sensitivity to variables such as temperature and cell water status, plant overall hydraulic conductance and water status are responsive to changes in their environment [8] including drought and varying atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD). The transpiration rate demand triggered an increase in gene expression related to AQPs activity

Plant Water Use

Hydraulic Conductance

Plot of transpiration

Molecular Observations

Findings

Conclusions