Abstract
The initial goal of this study was to measure the efficiency of carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) in distinguishing between cotton plant genotypes subjected to two water regimes. In addition, ∆ measurements, leaf water potential and gas exchange ratios were monitored. Using Brazilian breeding lines, this study also tested the usability of ∆ as a proxy for selecting high-performing yield components in cotton plants grown in unfavorable conditions, particularly water deficiency. For these experiments, ∆ and yield components were measured and their correlations analyzed. Differences among cotton genotypes for Δ (p < 0.0001) were verified, and it was found that this variable was significantly correlated with gas exchange. There was a significant positive correlation between Δ and seed cotton yield only in the site experiencing severe water deficiency (Santa Helena de Goiás). However, Δ had a significant negative correlation with fiber percentage. Our results indicate that Δ is a suitable tool for cotton phenotyping, and it may be applied in cotton breeding programs that aim to produce high-performing yield components in unfavorable conditions.
Highlights
Water deficiency is an important ecological occurrence that limits crop production and food quality globally, in arid and semi-arid regions of the world
The initial aim of the present study was to determine the efficiency of Δ in distinguishing between cotton plant genotypes grown under different water regimes, employing genotypes with similar phenotypes grown in a greenhouse
At nine days after the suspension of irrigation, Acala SJ4 and Guazuncho 2 reached -2.70 and -3.57 MPa LWP at predawn, respectively. These two genotypes are considered to be tolerant of water deficiency, the performance presented in this report clearly indicates the variation in their ability to maintain higher LWP when subjected to water deficiency
Summary
Water deficiency is an important ecological occurrence that limits crop production and food quality globally, in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Reductions in productivity are periodically experienced due to drought, and it has been suggested that these losses will increase in the future as a result of global climate change. 335-345, July-Sept., 2014 boll development phase, in which the cotton plants demand for water is significantly increased in a second crop season growth (or safrinha). In the last three growth seasons (2009-10, 2010-11 and 201112), the lint yield was reduced by approximately 30% due to the occurrence of water deficiency during the reproductive phase in second crop season areas (personal communication). The development of tools and approaches for cotton phenotyping is an important first step in developing a cotton breeding program aimed at selecting plants with high-performing yield components when subjected to unfavorable conditions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
