Biology subjects

Banan, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Banan, D..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Salicaceae endophyte inoculation alters stomatal patterning and improves the intrinsic water-use efficiency of Populus trichocarpa after a water-deficit.

Microorganisms may enhance plant resilience to water stress by influencing their hosts physiology and anatomy at the leaf-level. Bacterial and yeast endophytes, isolated from wild poplar and willow, can improve the intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) of cultivated poplar (Populus) under water-deficits by lowering stomatal conductance (gsw). However, the relevance of stomatal anatomy underlying this reduction remains unclear. We hypothesized endophyte inoculation could change host stomatal anatomy, and this would relate to decreases in gsw. We subjected Salicaceae endophyte-inoculated and uninoculated Populus trichocarpa to well-watered and water-deficit treatments in greenhouse studies. We examined the changes of individual stomatal traits and related the composition of these parameters, termed stomatal patterning, to leaf gas-exchange under light saturation. After a water-deficit, inoculation improved iWUE at light saturation from preserving carbon assimilation (Anet) and lowering gsw, but these changes were independent of soil-moisture status. Drops in gsw corresponded to underlying shifts in stomatal patterning. Inoculated plants had smaller, more compact stomata and greater anatomical maximum stomatal conductance (gsmax) relative to the control. Salicaceae endophytes may alter stomatal density and size, lowering gsw and increasing iWUE. Future efforts may quantify endophyte colonization of the host to draw direct relationships between microbes and stomatal traits. HIGHLIGHTPoplars inoculated with specific bacteria had leaves containing many, tiny pores relative to the trees without the microbes; these plants with the small, dense pores related to greater intrinsic water-use efficiency.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Competition for resources during development drives allometric patterns in the grass Setaria

Plant growth and resilience is greater than the sum of its component traits, with important traits influencing one another. This interdependency makes it challenging to identify the genetic determinants of key agronomic traits, such as water use efficiency. Measuring traits such as plant height and size is possible via image analysis software, such as PlantCV, but these traits are often highly correlated. Furthermore, plant size is estimated using a 2D projection of a 3D object, which is more difficult for plants with complex body plans. To address these problems, we developed a generalizable, biologically-informed model describing the temporal coordination of semi-sequential phytomeric growth in the model grass Setaria. Our approach integrates time dependence with water usage, the growth of phytomers, and the emergence of side shoots or tillers, improving our ability to estimate both phytomer-level phenotypes and water usage traits in high-throughput. We developed new PlantCV methods to inform the Phytomeric Growth Model, and estimated parameter traits using a high-throughput phenotyping dataset of a recombinant inbred line (RIL) panel in well-watered and drought conditions. Model parameter estimates identified additional quantitative trait loci (QTL) for new traits compared to the directly measured PlantCV-derived estimates, and predicted the relationships underlying QTL control of composite traits through co-localization of model parameters to loci controlling size and water use metrics. The Phytomeric Growth Model estimates improved our ability to estimate the growth of tillers and obtain a model-based estimate of marginal water use efficiency (defined here as the ratio of biomass gained per gram of water transpired), both identified as highly influential on plant drought responses through random forest classification. Our approach demonstrates the value of integrating mechanistic modeling with high-throughput imaging to extract new information at scale.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Correlation and co-localization of QTL for stomatal density and canopy temperature under drought stress in Setaria

Mechanistic modeling indicates that stomatal conductance could be reduced to improve water use efficiency (WUE) in C4 crops. Genetic variation in stomatal density and canopy temperature was evaluated in the model C4 genus, Setaria. Recombinant inbred lines (RIL) derived from a Setaria italica x Setaria viridis cross were grown with ample or limiting water supply under field conditions in Illinois. An optical profilometer was used to rapidly assess stomatal patterning and canopy temperature was measured using infrared imaging. Stomatal density and canopy temperature were positively correlated but both were negatively correlated with total above-ground biomass. These trait relationships suggest a likely interaction between stomatal density and the other drivers of water use such as stomatal size and aperture. Multiple QTLs were identified for stomatal density and canopy temperature, including co-located QTLs on chromosomes 5 and 9. The direction of the additive effect of these QTLs on chromosome 5 and 9 were in accordance with the positive phenotypic relationship between these two traits. This suggests a common genetic architecture between stomatal patterning in the greenhouse and canopy transpiration in the field, while highlighting the potential of setaria as a model to understand the physiology and genetics of WUE in C4 species. HighlightThis article reports a phenotypic and genetic relationship between two water use related traits operating at leaf level and canopy level in a C4 model crop species.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2017

High fidelity detection of crop biomass QTL from low-cost imaging in the field

Above-ground biomass production is a key target for studies of crop abiotic stress tolerance, disease resistance and yield improvement. However, biomass is slow and laborious to evaluate in the field using traditional destructive methods. High-throughput phenotyping (HTP) is widely promoted as a potential solution that can rapidly and non-destructively assess plant traits by exploiting advances in sensor and computing technology. A key potential application of HTP is for quantitative genetics studies that identify loci where allelic variation is associated with variation in crop production. And, the value of performing such studies in the field, where environmental conditions match that of production farming, is recognized. To date, HTP of biomass productivity in field trials has largely focused on expensive and complex methods, which - even if successful - will limit their use to a subset of wealthy research institutions and companies with extensive research infrastructure and highly-trained personnel. Even with investment in ground vehicles, aerial vehicles and gantry systems ranging from thousands to millions of dollars, there are very few examples where Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) detected by HTP of biomass production in a field-grown crop are shown to match QTLs detected by direct measures of biomass traits by destructive harvest techniques. Until such proof of concept for HTP proxies is generated it is unlikely to replace existing technology and be widely adopted. Therefore, there is a need for methods that can be used to assess crop performance by small teams with limited training and at field sites that are remote or have limited infrastructure. Here we use an inexpensive and simple, miniaturized system of hemispherical imaging and light attenuation modeling to identify the same set of key QTLs for biomass production as traditional destructive harvest methods applied to a field-grown Setaria mapping population. This provides a case study of a HTP technology that can deliver results for QTL mapping without high costs or complexity.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2016

Time dependent genetic analysis links field and controlled environment phenotypes in the model C4 grass Setaria

Vertical growth of plants is a dynamic process that is influenced by genetic and environmental factors and has a pronounced effect on overall plant architecture and biomass composition. We have performed twelve controlled growth trials of an interspecific Setaria italica x Setaria viridis recombinant inbred line population to assess how the genetic architecture of plant height is influenced by developmental queues, water availability and planting density. The nondestructive nature of plant height measurements has enabled us to monitor vertical growth throughout the plant life cycle in both field and controlled environments. We find that plant height is reduced under water limitation and high density planting and affected by growth environment (field vs. growth chamber). The results support a model where plant height is a heritable, polygenic trait and that the major genetic loci that influence plant height function independent of growth environment. The identity and contribution of loci that influence height changes dynamically throughout development and the reduction of growth observed in water limited environments is a consequence of delayed progression through the genetic program which establishes plant height in Setaria. In this population, alleles inherited from the weedy S. viridis parent act to increase plant height early, whereas a larger number of small effect alleles inherited from the domesticated S. italica parent collectively act to increase plant height later in development.

plant biology↗