Abstract
AbstractLow soil fertility and drought are primary constraints for crop production and food security in many developing nations. Since smallholder farmers often collect seed for the next year's crop from plants grown with abiotic stress, it is important to understand how progeny from a stressed parental environment perform when they are grown under similar stresses. This study investigates the impact of a low phosphorus (P) or drought parental environment on progeny seed and root traits in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), with the intention of distinguishing impacts of reduced parental provisioning from adaptive responses. Greenhouse, field, and seedling experiments were used to evaluate seed, seedling, and mature root phenotypes in progeny from stressed and nonstressed parental conditions. In addition, progeny from different positions within the pod and pod developmental times were evaluated since they are expected to vary in parental provisioning. Seeds from the peduncular position in the pod had less individual seed weight, fewer basal roots, reduced root dry weight, and smaller taproot diameter than those from the stylar position. Progeny of some genotypes from drought‐stressed parents had smaller individual seed weight, fewer basal roots, less total seedling dry weight, shorter seedling basal roots, and smaller basal root diameters. Progeny of some genotypes from a low P parental environment had smaller individual seed P concentration, fewer shoot‐borne roots, and greater basal root whorl number. Progeny from drought‐stressed parents, progeny from a low P parental environment, and seeds from the peduncular position had root phenotypes that were likely to be related to less parental provisioning. Possible adaptive parental effects were found in both parental drought and parental low P studies. Adequate seed provision under stress merits consideration as a selection target in crop breeding for stressful environments.
Highlights
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is the primary source of dietary protein in many developing nations, yet produces only 20 to 30 percent of yield potential, primarily due to drought, low nutrient soils, and poor pest and disease control (Wortmann et al, 1998)
To test whether differences in progeny seed and root traits from stressed parental environments could be explained by differences in parental provisioning of seeds during seed development, we examined seed and root traits in seeds from different pod positions and pod developmental times on the parent plant
Parent plants were grown in the field at the Rock Springs site (PA) and the Ukulima Root Biology Center site (South Africa)
Summary
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is the primary source of dietary protein in many developing nations, yet produces only 20 to 30 percent of yield potential, primarily due to drought, low nutrient soils, and poor pest and disease control (Wortmann et al, 1998). Many soils used for common bean growth in developing nations within Latin America and Africa are severely deficient in phosphorus (P), and are prone to severe drought Many farmers in these areas do not have access to fertilizer or water for irrigation, resulting in severely reduced yield due to nutrient and drought stress. Root architectural and morphological traits beneficial for water and P acquisition have been identified, aiding the production of genotypes that thrive in drought or low P soils. Genotypes with these traits have been tested for performance in stressful conditions, but performance of the progeny of plants grown under stress has not been formally tested. Since many farmers in developing nations collect seed for the year’s crop from parent plants grown in low phosphorus and/or drought, it is important to understand how progeny from a stressed parental environment perform relative to progeny from non-stressed parental environment
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