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Genetic analysis and phenotypic characterization of leaf photosynthetic capacity in a sorghum (Sorghum spp.) diversity panel

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Abstract

Carbon assimilation is the fundamental basis of crop productivity, but this important and complex trait has not been genetically characterized and directly exploited at the commercial level to improve yield. Therefore, there is a critical need to determine natural genetic variation in carbon assimilation, to advance our knowledge of the genetic mechanisms controlling this trait and, on that basis, to develop germplasm with superior photosynthetic capacity. Sorghum is the most productive annual species for biofuel production in which leaf photosynthetic capacity has been associated with biomass yield. In this study, a set of 82 sorghum accessions was genetically characterized and phenotypically evaluated for carbon assimilation (A), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate (T), efficiency of energy capture by open PSII reaction centers (Fv′/Fm′), effective quantum yield (ΦPSII) and photochemical quenching (qP). Phenotypic variation was observed for all traits, with A ranging from 11.6 to 42.5 µmol CO2 m−2 s−1. The highest positive correlations were between A and ΦPSII (r = 0.71), gs and T (r = 0.89) and ΦPSII and qP (r = 0.91). The highest negative correlations were between gs and A/gs (r = −0.82), T and A/gs (r = −0.79), T and A/T (r = −0.79) and A/gs and A/T (r = −0.78). Population structure and cluster analysis clearly differentiated three subpopulations among this set of accessions with significantly different values for A, gs and Fv′/Fm′. This study demonstrates that this diverse set of sorghum accessions could be utilized to identify genes/markers associated with variation in leaf photosynthetic rate and could be exploited in breeding programs to develop germplasm with superior carbon assimilation capacity.

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Abbreviations

A :

Leaf photosynthetic rate (µmol CO2 m−2 s−1)

gs :

Stomatal conductance (mol H2O m−2 s−1)

T:

Transpiration rate (mmol H2O m−2 s−1)

Fv′/Fm′:

Efficiency of energy capture by open PSII reaction centers (unitless)

ΦPSII :

Effective quantum yield (unitless)

qP:

Photochemical quenching (unitless)

A/gs :

Intrinsic leaf water use efficiency (µmol mol−1)

A/T:

Transpiration ratio (µmol mmol−1)

PAR:

Photosynthetically active radiation

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Acknowledgments

We would like to express our gratitude to Frank Dohleman and Whitney Bouma for their support and training in the use of Licor technology. This work was supported by the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture [Project#IOW05298] and the sorghum Checkoff Program [Contract No: R0007-11].

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Author notes

  1. Katie Strand

    Present address: DuPont Pioneer, Johnston, IA, 50131, USA

  2. Stephen Kresovich

    Present address: Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, School of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

    Maria G. Salas Fernandez, Katie Strand, Mark Westgate & Emily Heaton

  2. Institute for Genomic Diversity, Biotechnology Building, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    Martha T. Hamblin & Stephen Kresovich

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  1. Maria G. Salas Fernandez
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Correspondence to Maria G. Salas Fernandez.

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Salas Fernandez, M.G., Strand, K., Hamblin, M.T. et al. Genetic analysis and phenotypic characterization of leaf photosynthetic capacity in a sorghum (Sorghum spp.) diversity panel. Genet Resour Crop Evol 62, 939–950 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-014-0202-6

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