Open AccessGenetic and physiological bases for variation in water use efficiency in canola
Author(s) -
Raman Harsh,
Raman Rosy,
McVittie Brett,
Borg Lauren,
Diffey Simon,
Singh Yadav Avilash,
Balasubramanian Sureshkumar,
Farquhar Graham
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
food and energy security
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.253
H-Index - 25
ISSN - 2048-3694
DOI - 10.1002/fes3.237
Subject(s) - canola , quantitative trait locus , biology , water use efficiency , trait , locus (genetics) , population , genetic variation , agronomy , expression quantitative trait loci , gene , genetics , genotype , irrigation , single nucleotide polymorphism , demography , sociology , computer science , programming language
Drought stress due to water deficiency threatens production of canola worldwide. Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ 13 C), a trait that can be used to assess efficient water use, provides an opportunity to exploit natural variation in canola for stable production. Here, we show that substantial genetically controlled phenotypic variation in water use efficiency (WUE) component trait, Δ 13 C (20.4 to 23.6‰) exists among accessions of canola. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis revealed ten loci for Δ 13 C, each accounting for 2.5% to 16.5% of the genotypic variation. One of the significant QTL for Δ 13 C was co‐localized with a QTL for flowering time, a trait implicated in drought escape and was mapped in the vicinity of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) on chromosome A07. Gene expression analyses revealed that among FT paralogs, BnC6.FTb expression was significantly correlated ( r = 0.33, p < .01) with variation in Δ 13 C across at least two environments in a canola DH population. Integration of data based on instantaneous single leaf gas exchange, dry matter Δ 13 C, and whole plant measurements suggests a possible trade‐off between early flowering and WUE. Our findings provide insights into the complexity of Δ 13 C and WUE which could enable the development of canola varieties resilient to drought and increasing canola productivity under water‐limited conditions.