Abstract
We propose that targeting the enhanced photosynthetic performance associated with the cold acclimation of winter cultivars of rye (Secale cereale L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and Brassica napus L. may provide a novel approach to improve crop productivity under abiotic as well as biotic stress conditions. In support of this hypothesis, we provide the physiological, biochemical, and molecular evidence that the dwarf phenotype induced by cold acclimation is coupled to significant enhancement in photosynthetic performance, resistance to photoinhibition, and a decreased dependence on photoprotection through non-photochemical quenching which result in enhanced biomass production and ultimately increased seed yield. These system-wide changes at the levels of phenotype, physiology, and biochemistry appear to be governed by the family of C-repeat/dehydration-responsive family of transcription factors (CBF/DREB1). We relate this phenomenon to the semi-dwarf, gibberellic acid insensitive (GAI), cereal varieties developed during the “green revolution” of the early 1960s and 1970s. We suggest that genetic manipulation of the family of C-repeat/dehydration-responsive element binding transcription factors (CBF/DREB1) may provide a novel approach for the maintenance and perhaps even the enhancement of plant productivity under conditions of sub-optimal growth conditions predicted for our future climate.
Highlights
The increase in the yield of major food crops since the mid1950s has been achieved mainly through genetic improvement and increased use of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, and water (Murchie et al, 2009). Zhu et al (2010) have suggested that the yield of major food crops since the last decade is increasing slowly, which may indicate that yield increase due to improved agricultural practices has reached an upper theoretical limit
We suggest that this approach may provide important insights into potential molecular approaches focused on at least the maintenance or, perhaps, even the enhancement of plant productivity under sub-optimal growth conditions predicted to be associated with future climate change
Most surprising is the fact that the temperature response curves for CO2 assimilation and photosynthetic electron transport (ETR) for cold acclimated (CA) Brassica napus are mimicked by overexpressing BnCBF17 even when these plants are grown at 25◦ C (Dahal et al, 2012b)
Summary
The increase in the yield of major food crops since the mid1950s has been achieved mainly through genetic improvement and increased use of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, and water (Murchie et al, 2009). Zhu et al (2010) have suggested that the yield of major food crops since the last decade is increasing slowly, which may indicate that yield increase due to improved agricultural practices has reached an upper theoretical limit. Zhu et al (2010) have suggested that the yield of major food crops since the last decade is increasing slowly, which may indicate that yield increase due to improved agricultural practices has reached an upper theoretical limit It appears that the further enhancement in crop yield can only be achieved by enhancing genetic yield potential, that is, the seed yield that a crop can achieve per unit ground area under optimum growth conditions without biotic and abiotic stresses. Role of CBFs and GAs in increased photosynthetic performance performance can be circumvented by overexpression of the Crepeat/dehydration responsive family of transcription factors We suggest that this approach may provide important insights into potential molecular approaches focused on at least the maintenance or, perhaps, even the enhancement of plant productivity under sub-optimal growth conditions predicted to be associated with future climate change
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