Phenotypic Diversity of Seminal Root Traits in Bread Wheat Germplasm from Different Origins

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors.Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major staple crop, and more adapted varieties are needed to ensure productivity under unpredictable stress scenarios resulting from climate changes. In the development of new genotypes, root system traits are essential since roots have a key function in water and nutrient uptake, and root architecture determines the plant’s ability to spatially explore the soil resources. Genetic variation in wheat root system may be assessed at the early stages of development. This study evaluates in vitro and at the seedling stage, the genetic diversity of root growth angle (RGA), seminal root number (SRN), and radicle length (RadL) in 30 bread wheat genotypes from different origins and belonging to distinct evolutive or breeding groups. SRN and RadL were analyzed at 1, 2, 3 and 6 days after sowing (DAS) and RGA was measured through the angle between the first pair of seminal roots. A large variability was found in RGA values that ranged from 63° to 122°. Although differences were found between genotypes within the same groups, the narrower angles tended to occur among landraces, while the higher RGA values were observed in advanced lines and Australian varieties. Differences were also observed as regards the SRN (1.0–3.0, 2.7–4.7, 3.2–5.0 and 4.4–6.3 at 1, 2, 3 and 6 DAS, respectively) and RadL (0.1–1.5, 2.1–5.0, 4.0–7.5 and 5.1–13.7 cm at 1, 2, 3 and 6 DAS, respectively). Genetic variability in root traits at seedling stage allows more rapid selection of genotypes better adapted to environmental and soil constraints, necessary to Portuguese Wheat Breeding Program. It will also contribute to the definition of wheat ideotypes with improved performance under Mediterranean climate conditions.publishersversionpublishe

Grain Composition and Quality in Portuguese Triticum aestivum Germplasm Subjected to Heat Stress after Anthesis

Funding Information: Funding: This work was supported by national funds from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal, through the Research Unit UIDP/04035/2020 (GeoBioTec). Funding Information: This work was supported by national funds from Funda??o para a Ci?ncia e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal, through the Research Unit UIDP/04035/2020 (GeoBioTec).The authors acknowledge GeoBioTec (UIDB/04035/2020) Research Center for support facilities. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is a major crop worldwide, and it is highly susceptible to heat. In this work, grain production and composition were evaluated in Portuguese T. aestivum germplasm (landraces and commercial varieties), which was subjected to heat after anthesis (grain filling stage). Heat increased the test weight (TW) in Nabão, Grécia and Restauração, indicating an improved flour-yield potential. Mocho de Espiga Branca (MEB) and Transmontano (T94) showed higher thousand-kernel weight (TKW). Gentil Rosso presented increased soluble sugars, which are yeast substrates in the bread-making process. Ardila stood out for its protein increase under heat. Overall SDS was unaffected by higher temperature, but increased in T94, indicating a better dough elasticity for bread-making purposes. Under heat, lipid content was maintained in most genotypes, being endogenous fatty acids (FAs) key players in fresh bread quality. Lipid unsaturation, evaluated through the double bond index (DBI), also remained unaffected in most genotypes, suggesting a lower flour susceptibility to lipoperoxidation. In Grécia, heat promoted a higher abundance of monounsaturated oleic (C18:1) and polyunsaturated linoleic (C18:2) acids, which are essential fatty acids in the human diet. This work highlighted a great variability in most parameters both under control conditions or in response to heat during grain filling. Cluster analysis of traits revealed a lower susceptibility to heat during grain filling in Ardila, Restauração, and Ruivo, in contrast to MEQ, which seems to be more differentially affected at this stage. Characterization and identification of more favorable features under adverse environments may be relevant for agronomic, industrial, or breeding purposes, in view of a better crop adaptation to changing climate and an improved crop sustainability in agricultural systems more prone to heat stress.publishersversionpublishe

High-resolution shotgun proteomics reveals that increased air [CO2] amplifies the acclimation response of coffea species to drought regarding antioxidative, energy, sugar, and lipid dynamics

Funding Information: This work received funding support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement No 727934 , project BreedCAFS), and from national funds from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT) , Portugal, through the project PTDC/ASP-AGR/31257/2017 , and the research units UIDB/00239/2020 ( CEF ), and UIDP/04035/2020 (GeoBioTec) and under the Scientific Employment Stimulus - Individual Call (CEEC Individual) - 2021.01107.CEECIND/CP1689/CT0001 (IM) . Fellowships from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brazil (CNPq) , (to F.M. DaMatta and F.L. Partelli), and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brazil (FAPEMIG, projects CRA-RED-00053-16 and APQ 01512-18 , to F.M. DaMatta) are also greatly acknowledged. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Elsevier GmbHAs drought threatens crop productivity it is crucial to characterize the defense mechanisms against water deficit and unveil their interaction with the expected rise in the air [CO2]. For that, plants of Coffea canephora cv. Conilon Clone 153 (CL153) and C. arabica cv. Icatu grown under 380 (aCO2) or 700 μL L−1 (eCO2) were exposed to moderate (MWD) and severe (SWD) water deficits. Responses were characterized through the activity and/or abundance of a selected set of proteins associated with antioxidative (e.g., Violaxanthin de-epoxidase, Superoxide dismutase, Ascorbate peroxidases, Monodehydroascorbate reductase), energy/sugar (e.g., Ferredoxin-NADP reductase, NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, sucrose synthase, mannose-6-phosphate isomerase, Enolase), and lipid (Lineolate 13S-lipoxygenase) processes, as well as with other antioxidative (ascorbate) and protective (HSP70) molecules. MWD caused small changes in both genotypes regardless of [CO2] level while under the single imposition to SWD, only Icatu showed a global reinforcement of most studied proteins supporting its tolerance to drought. eCO2 alone did not promote remarkable changes but strengthened a robust multi-response under SWD, even supporting the reversion of impacts already observed by CL153 at aCO2. In the context of climate changes where water constraints and [CO2] levels are expected to increase, these results highlight why eCO2 might have an important role in improving drought tolerance in Coffea species.publishersversionpublishe

Mitigation of the Negative Impact of Warming on the Coffee Crop: The Role of Increased Air [CO2] and Management Strategies

Crop sustainability can be threatened by new environmental challenges regarding predicted climate changes and global warming. Therefore, the study of real biological impacts of future environmental conditions (e.g., increased air [CO2], supra-optimal temperature and water scarcity) on crop plants, as well as the re-evaluation of management procedures and strategies, must be undertaken in order to improve crop adaptation and promote mitigation of negative environmental impacts, thus affording crop resilience. Coffee is a tropical crop that is grown in more than 80 countries, making it one of the world’s most traded agricultural products, while involving millions of people worldwide in the whole chain of value. It has been argued that this crop will be highly affected by climate changes, resulting in decreases in both suitable areas for cultivation and productivity, as well as impaired beverage quality in the near future. Here, we report recent findings regarding coffee species exposure to combined supra-optimal air temperatures and enhanced air [CO2], and impacts of drought stress on the crop. Ultimately, we discuss key strategies to improve coffee performance in the context of new environmental scenarios. The recent findings clearly show that high [CO2] has a positive impact on coffee plants, increasing their tolerance to high temperatures. This has been related to a better plant vigor, to the triggering of protective mechanisms, and to a higher functional status of the photosynthetic machinery. Even so, coffee plant is expected to suffer from water scarcity in a changing world. Therefore, discussion is focused on some important management strategies (e.g., shade systems, crop management and soil covering and terracing), which can be implemented to improve coffee performance and sustain coffee production in a continually changing environment

Lipid profile adjustments may contribute to warming acclimation and to heat impact mitigation by elevated [CO2] in Coffea spp

This work was supported by European Union, Program Horizon 2020, call H2020-SFS-2016-2, action RIA, and Portuguese national funds from Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (project PTDC/ASP-AGR/31257/2017; Funding from CNPq (fellowships to E. Campostrini, F.L. Partelli, and F.M. DaMatta) is also acknowledged.An unexpected heat resilience, and the mitigation of heat impacts by elevated [CO2] were recently reported in Coffea spp. Plants must maintain membrane fluidity and integrity to cope with temperature changes, which requires an adequate lipid dynamics. This work provides the lipid profile (galactolipids, GL; phospholipids, PL; sulfolipids, SL) of chloroplast membranes, and the expression of a set of genes related to lipid metabolism in Coffea arabica L. (cv. Icatu and IPR108) and C. canephora cv. Conilon CL153, under elevated [CO2] (380 or 700 μL L−1), heat (25/20, 31/25, 37/30 and 42/34 °C, day/night) and their interaction. Major membrane lipids alterations, different among genotypes, included: A) responsiveness of total fatty acids (TFAs) synthesis to [CO2] (except IPR108) and heat (except CL153); stronger remodeling (unsaturation degree) in the 700-plants from 37/30 °C to 42/34 °C, coordinated at transcriptional level with the down-regulation of fatty acid desaturase FAD3 gene (C. arabica) and up-regulation of lipoxygenase genes LOX5A (CL153 and Icatu) and LOX5B (Icatu) at the highest temperature; B) quantitative and qualitative modifications in GL (monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, MGDG; digalactosyldiacylglycerol, DGDG), PL (phosphatidylcholine, PC; phosphatidylglycerol, PG), and SL (sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol, SQDG) classes, prompted by heat, elevated [CO2], and, especially, the interaction, in CL153 and Icatu. Overall membrane enrichment with MGDG and DGDG as a result of heat and [CO2] interaction in these genotypes, but at the highest temperature only in Icatu the high [CO2] maintained greater contents and unsaturation values of these GLs than in the 380-plants. C) Among PL classes, PG seems to play an active role in heat acclimation of C. arabica genotypes, increasing in 700-plants at 42/34 °C. Globally, Icatu often showed changes closer to those of heat tolerant cv. CL153 than to cv. IPR108. Overall, lipid profile adjustments in chloroplast membranes, from TFAs bulk until FA unsaturation within each class, are expected to contribute to long-term acclimation to climate changes in coffee plant.publishersversionpublishe

Foliar Spraying of Solanum tuberosum L. with CaCl2 and Ca(NO3)2: Interactions with Nutrients Accumulation in Tubers

Calcium is essential for plants, yet as its mobility is limited, the understanding of the rate of Ca2+ accumulation and deposition in tissues of tubers, as well as the interactions with other critical nutrients prompted this study. To assess the interactions and differential accumulation of micro and macronutrients in the tissues of tubers, Solanum tuberosum L. varieties Agria and Rossi were cultivated and, after the beginning of tuberization, four foliar sprayings (at 8–10 day intervals) with CaCl2 (3 and 6 kg ha1) or Ca(NO3)2 (2 and 4 kg ha1) solutions were performed. It was found that both fertilizers increased Ca accumulation in tubers (mostly in the parenchyma tissues located in the center of the equatorial region). The functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus was not affected until the 3rd application but was somewhat affected when approaching the end of the crop cycle (after the 4th application), although the lower dose of CaCl2 seemed to improve the photochemical use of energy, particularly when compared with the greater dose of Ca(NO3)2. Still, none of these impacts modified tuber height and diameter. Following the increased accumulation of Ca, in the tubers of both varieties, the mean contents of P, K, Na, Fe, and Zn revealed different accumulation patterns. Moreover, accumulation of K, Fe, Mn, and Zn prevailed in the epidermis, displaying a contrasting pattern relative to Ca. Therefore, Ca accumulation revealed a heterogeneous trend in the different regions analyzed, and Ca enrichment of tubers altered the accumulation of other nutrientsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mineral Monitorization in Different Tissues of Solanum tuberosum L. during Calcium Biofortification Process

Funding Information: This work received funding from PDR2020-101-030719 and the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT), Portugal, through the research units UIDP/04035/2020 (GeoBioTec), UIDB/00239/2020 (CEF), and UID/FIS/04559/2013 (LIBPhys). This work was further supported by the grant of the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) UI/BD/150806/2020. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors.Calcium is one of the 16 essential elements for plants, being required as Ca2+ and being involved in several fundamental processes (namely, in the stability and integrity of the cell wall, the development of plant tissue, cell division, and in stress responses). Moreover, Ca plays an important role in potato production. In this context, this study aimed to monitor the culture development (in situ and using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)) and the mineral content of four essential elements (Ca, P, K, and S) in different organs of Solanum tuberosum L. (roots, stems, leaves, and tubers) during a calcium biofortification process, carried out with two types of solutions (CaCl2 and Ca-EDTA) with two concentrations (12 and 24 kg∙ha−1). The calcium content generally increased in the S. tuberosum L. organs of both varieties and showed, after the last foliar application, an increase in Ca content that varied between 5.7–95.6% and 20.7–33%, for the Picasso and Agria varieties, respectively. The patterns of accumulation in both varieties during the biofortification process were different between the variety and mineral element. Regarding the quality analysis carried out during the development of the tubers, only the Agria variety was suitable for industrial processing after the last foliar application.publishersversionpublishe

Mineral Interaction in Biofortified Tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) with Magnesium

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Can foliar pulverization with CaCl2 and Ca(NO3)2 trigger Ca enrichment in solanum tuberosum L. tubers?

project PDR2020-101-030719 IDB/00239/2020 UIDP/04035/2020This study aimed to assess the efficiency of Ca enrichment in tubers of three genotypes of Solanum tuberosum L., through foliar spraying with CaCl2 and Ca(NO3)2 solutions. In this context, soil heterogeneity of three potato-growing fields, as well as the implications of Ca accumulation among tissues and some quality parameters were assessed. Three potato varieties (Agria, Picasso and Rossi) were grown in three production fields and during the life cycle, four pulverizations with calcium chloride (3 and 6 kg ha−1) or calcium nitrate (0.5, 2 and 4 kg ha−1) were applied. For screening the potential phytotoxicity, using Agria as a test system, the potential synthesis of photoassimilates was determined, and it was found that after the 3rd Ca application, leaf gas exchanges were moderately (net photosynthesis), to strongly (stomatal conductance) affected, although without impact on Ca accumulation in tubers. At harvest, the average Ca biofortification index varied between 5–40%, 40–35% and 4.3–13% in Agria, Picasso and Rossi, respectively. Moreover, the equatorial region of the tubers in general showed that Ca accumulation prevailed in the epidermis and, in some cases, in inner areas of the potato tubers. Biofortified tubers with Ca also showed some significant changes in total soluble solids and colorimetric parameters. It is concluded that Ca enrichment of potato tubers through foliar spraying complemented the xylem mass flow of Ca from roots, through phloem redistribution. Both fertilizers showed similar efficiency, but Rossi revealed a lower index of Ca accumulation, eventually due to different metabolic characteristics. Although affected by Ca enrichment, potato tubers maintained a high quality for industrial processing.publishersversionpublishe

Enrichment of Grapes with Zinc-Efficiency of Foliar Fertilization with ZnSO4 and ZnO and Implications on Winemaking

PDR2020-101-030727Grapes and wine are widely consumed in the world, yet their mineral content can be influenced by many factors such as the mineral composition of soils, viticulture practices and environmental conditions. In this context, considering the importance of Zn in the human physiology, the enrichment of Moscatel and Castelão grapes (white and red variety, respectively) with this nutrient prompted this study; further assessment of tissue deposition and some implications for wine production. Using two foliar fertilizers (ZnO or ZnSO4, at 150, 450 and 900 g ha−1), decreases in net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance occurred in both varieties, suggesting that the physiological threshold of Zn toxicity was reached without visible symptoms. Following foliar spraying with both fertilizers, the content of Zn in leaves of the Castelão and Moscatel varieties showed higher values in all treatments relative to the control. Moreover, in grapes this tendency occurred only in Castelão. Concerning Cu, Fe, Ca, K, S and P, some significant differences also happened in leaves and grapes among treatments. At harvest, the indexes of Zn enrichment in grapes increased between 2.14-and 8.38-fold and between 1.02-and 1.44-fold in Castelão and Moscatel varieties, respectively. Zinc in the dried skin of Castelão only increased with ZnO and ZnSO4 sprayed at 900 g ha−1 (ca. 2.71-and 1.5-fold relative to the control, respectively), but in Moscatel a clear accumulation trend could not be found. The dry weight of grapes ranged (in %) between 16 and 23 (but did not vary significantly among treatments of each variety or in each treatment between varieties), and total soluble solids (e.g., mainly soluble sugars and proteins) and color parameters showed some significant variations. Through winemaking, the contents of Zn increased in both varieties (1.34-and 3.57-fold, in Castelão and Moscatel, respectively) and in all treatments, although non-significantly in Castelão. It is concluded that, to increase the contents of Zn in grapes without reaching the threshold of toxicity, ZnO or ZnSO4 can be used for foliar spraying of Castelão and Moscatel varieties until 900 g ha −1 And that winemaking augments the level of this nutrient.publishersversionpublishe