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Rice with reduced stomatal density conserves water and has improved drought tolerance under future climate conditions
Author(s) -
Caine Robert S.,
Yin Xiaojia,
Sloan Jennifer,
Harrison Emily L.,
Mohammed Umar,
Fulton Timothy,
Biswal Akshaya K.,
Dionora Jacqueline,
Chater Caspar C.,
Coe Robert A.,
Bandyopadhyay Anindya,
Murchie Erik H.,
Swarup Ranjan,
Quick W. Paul,
Gray Julie E.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.15344
Subject(s) - stomatal density , stomatal conductance , oryza sativa , agronomy , photosynthesis , cultivar , biology , environmental science , water use efficiency , drought tolerance , transpiration , crop , oryza , botany , biochemistry , gene
Summary Much of humanity relies on rice ( Oryza sativa ) as a food source, but cultivation is water intensive and the crop is vulnerable to drought and high temperatures. Under climate change, periods of reduced water availability and high temperature are expected to become more frequent, leading to detrimental effects on rice yields. We engineered the high‐yielding rice cultivar ‘ IR 64’ to produce fewer stomata by manipulating the level of a developmental signal. We overexpressed the rice epidermal patterning factor Os EPF 1 , creating plants with substantially reduced stomatal density and correspondingly low stomatal conductance. Low stomatal density rice lines were more able to conserve water, using c . 60% of the normal amount between weeks 4 and 5 post germination. When grown at elevated atmospheric CO 2 , rice plants with low stomatal density were able to maintain their stomatal conductance and survive drought and high temperature (40°C) for longer than control plants. Low stomatal density rice gave equivalent or even improved yields, despite a reduced rate of photosynthesis in some conditions. Rice plants with fewer stomata are drought tolerant and more conservative in their water use, and they should perform better in the future when climate change is expected to threaten food security.