Genetics of water deficit stress resistance through phenotypic plasticity in coriander

Abstract

Crop adaptation for water deficit stressed conditions not only depends on the existence of adaptive phenotypic plasticity variation but also need sufficient information about the genetics of phenotypic plasticity and trade-off pattern between phenotypic plasticity and the main determinant traits. A set of diallel crosses and a set of genetic materials provided for generation mean analysis were subjected to different watering regimes and the important functional traits including phenological and physiological traits were evaluated under well-watered, mild water deficit and severe water deficit stresses. Phenotypic plasticity of phenological and functional traits genetically controlled and mainly inherited through additive gene action. There was a trade-off between phenological variation and phenotypic plasticity of functional traits in response to water deficit stress. Under water deficit stress, the reproductive output, and fitness of coriander genotypes mostly depend on their genetic potential for the phenological development programming. The onset of stem elongation followed by flowering time is identified as the most important phases affect coriander phenotypic plasticity and water deficit resistance potential. Overall, the genetic potential of phenotypic plasticity can be utilized to improve coriander yield under water deficit stressed conditions.