Optimization issues in phenotyping plateforms

International audienceThe combined effects of climate change and population growth have made agriculture appear as one of the most important challenge of the century. In order to be able to produce food for everyone in the coming decades, there is an urgent need to build more knowledge about plants, and how to grow them in a sustainable way, i.e., how to produce enough biomass without resorting to pollutant chemicals inputs. Hence, plant biologists need to understand what makes plants resistant to diseases, parasites, insects and hydric stress, among other environment effects. The functional plant body, called the phenotype, is the result of the combination of the plan genotype with the environment: two plants with the same DNA will not have the same development under different environment conditions. As the so-called \textit{plant performance} is the result of phenotype, a lot of effort has recently been devoted to study plants phenotype. More specifically, biologists run large scale experiments on hundreds or thousands of plants, for example to determine how resistant is a particular plant to a wide range of environment conditions. To this end, the plants are settled in pots, and these pots are moved by a conveyor belt from a cultivation chamber to different quantitative automated measurement stations, where RGB cameras, spectrography and other techniques are employed to monitor plants growth on a regular basis. The European project EPPN2020 aims at gathering a large number of such facilities to share experience and accelerate the research progresses in plant biology. It currently involves 31 plant phenotyping platforms and 21 partners across Europe from 12 countries (including the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra), under the coordination of INRA, with a budget of \euro 10 million for four years. It can be observed that the phenotyping platforms available in EPPN2020 and everywhere else in the world have a very similar structure

Alfalfa crops amended with MSW compost can compensate the effect of salty water irrigation depending on the soil texture.

The availability of water resources of marginal quality such as drainage water or high-saltcontaining groundwater is turning into an important issue in Tunisia and other countrieswith scarce water resources. A pot experiment was carried out to evaluate plant produc-tion, nutrient content and heavy metal bioaccumulation in agricultural soils amended withMSW compost and irrigated with salty water, by using two different soil textures (clay andsandy). Salt water supply decreased plant dry yield in both soils. Salt stress had signifi-cantly reduction in plant biomass in sandy soil compared to those in clay soil (biomass ofdry weight is significantly higher in clay soil than those in sandy soil in presence of salt:percentage of growth compared to control was 55% for clay soil and 45% for sandy soil).The application of Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) Compost increased significantly alfalfaproductivity in both soils (Dry weight is significantly higher in presence of compost: 140%for clay soil and 125% for sandy soil). In non-amended soil, the growth was reduced signifi-cantly by salt stress (50% in clay soil, 26% in sandy compared to the soils without salty waterapplication). Plants irrigated with salty water accumulated much more sodium on sandysoil (1.74 mmol g−1) than on clay one (0.87 mmol g−1DW). Compost did not reduce sodiumaccumulation in aerial parts on sandy soil, whereas it slightly reduced it in those grownon clay soil. Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd) concentrations showedthe same trend for both soil types. They increased statistically significant by salinity to124-189%, the highest rise was found in Cu concentration on clay soil. The order of metaluptake was: Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd. A higher significant shoot accumulation of heavy metals (upto 305% of the control) was noticed in the presence of compost with no difference betweensalt-treated and non-treated. MSW compost amendment caused an increase of the studiedheavy metals in alfalfa shoots grown that was higher on sandy soils than clay soils. Heavymetals in plants remained lower than phytotoxic level and these level of accumulation did not restrain the enhancement of alfalfa yield. MSW compost at 40 t ha−1was convinent todo not attend phytotoxic level. These results suggest that MSW compost compensates, atleast partially, the negative effect of salinity on plant growth and nutrient uptake and thatit is important to know soil texture to apply compost to remediate salty degraded soils.© 2017 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Prompt chlorophyll fluorescence as a tool for crop phenotyping: an example of barley landraces exposed to various abiotic stress factors

The study examined photosynthetic efficiency of two barley landraces (cvs. Arabi Abiad and Arabi Aswad) through a prompt fluorescence technique under influence of 14 different abiotic stress factors. The difference in the behavior of photosynthetic parameters under the same stress factor in–between cv. Arabi Abiad and cv. Arabi Aswad indicated different mechanisms of tolerance and strategies for the conversion of light energy into chemical energy for both the landraces. This study confirmed the suitability of some chlorophyll fluorescence parameters as reliable biomarkers for screening the plants at the level of photosynthetic apparatus

The impact of PEG-induced drought stress on seed germination and seedling growth of different bread wheat genotypes

Wheat is an important crop, used as staple food in numerous countries around the world. However, wheat productivity is low in the developing world due to several biotic and abiotic stresses, particularly drought stress. Non-availability of drought-tolerant wheat genotypes at different growth stages is the major constraint in improving wheat productivity in the developing world. Therefore, screening/developing drought-tolerant genotypes at different growth stages could improve the productivity of wheat. This study assessed seed germination and seedling growth of eight wheat genotypes under polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced stress. Two PEG-induced osmotic potentials (i.e., -0.6 and -1.2 MPa) were included in the study along with control (0 MPa). Wheat genotypes included in the study were ‘KLR-16’, ‘B6’, ‘J10’, ‘716’, ‘A12’, ‘Seher’, ‘KTDH-16’, and ‘J4’. Data relating to seed germination percentage, root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight of roots and shoot, root/shoot length ratio and chlorophyll content were recorded. The studied parameters were significantly altered by individual and interactive effects of genotypes and PEG-induced osmotic potentials. Seed germination and growth parameters were reduced by osmotic potentials; however, huge differences were noted among genotypes. A reduction of 32.83 to 53.50% was recorded in seed germination, 24.611 to 47.75% in root length, 37.83 to 53.72% in shoot length, and 53.35 to 65.16% in root fresh weight. The genotypes, ‘J4’, ‘KLR-16’ and ‘KTDH-16’, particularly ‘J4’ better tolerated increasing osmotic potentials compared to the rest of the genotypes included in the study. Principal component analysis segregated these genotypes from the rest of the genotypes included in the study indicated that these can be used in the future studies to improve the drought tolerance of wheat crop. The genotype ‘J4’ can be used as a breeding material to develop drought resistant wheat genotypes

Glyphosate-dependent effects on photosynthesis of Solanum lycopersicum L. an ecophysiological, ultrastructural and molecular approach

This study aimed to assess the toxicity of glyphosate (GLY; 0, 10, 20 and 30?mg?kg-1) in Solanum lycopersicum L., particularly focusing on the photosynthetic metabolism. By combining ecophysiological, ultrastructural, biochemical and molecular tools, the results revealed that the exposure of tomato plants to GLY led to alterations in leaf water balance regulation [increasing stomatal conductance (gs) and decreasing water use efficiency (WUEi) at higher concentrations] and induced slight alterations in the structural integrity of cells, mainly in chloroplasts, accompanied by a loss of cell viability. Moreover, the transcriptional and biochemical control of several photosynthetic-related parameters was reduced upon GLY exposure. However, in vivo chlorophyll fluorometry and IRGA gas-exchange studies revealed that the photosynthetic yield of S. lycopersicum was not repressed by GLY. Overall, GLY impacts cellular and subcellular homeostasis (by affecting chloroplast structure, reducing photosynthetic pigments and inhibiting photosynthetic-related genes transcription), and leaf structure, but is not reducing the carbon flow on a leaf area basis. Altogether, these results suggest a trade-off effect in which GLY-induced toxicity is compensated by a higher photosynthetic activity related to GLY-induced dysfunction in gs and an increase in mesophyll thickness/density, allowing the viable leaf cells to maintain their photosynthetic capacity.FCT -Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia(SFRH/BD/115643/2016)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Quantitative response of wheat to sowing dates and irrigation regimes using ceres-wheat model

An experiment was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during 2014–15 and 2015–16, keeping four sowing dates {25th Oct (D1), 10th Nov (D2), 25th Nov (D3) and 10th Dec (D4)} in main plots and five irrigation schedules {irrigation at 15 (FC15), 25 (FC25), 35 (FC35) and 45 (FC45) % depletion of soil moisture from field capacity (FC) and a conventional practice} in sub plots. The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of CERES-Wheat model for simulating yield and water use under varying planting and soil moisture regimes. The simulated and observed grain yield was higher in D1, with irrigation applied at FC15 as compared to all other sowing date and irrigation regime combinations. Simulated grain yield decreased by 19% with delay in sowing from 25th October to 10th December because of 8% reduction in simulated crop evapotranspiration. Simulated evapotranspiration decreased by 16%, wheat grain yield by 23% and water productivity by 15% in drip irrigation at 45% depletion from field capacity as compared to drip irrigation at 15% of field capacity. It was further revealed that the model performed well in simulating the phenology, water use and yield of wheat

Frequently asked questions about chlorophyll fluorescence, the sequel

[EN] Using chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence many aspects of the photosynthetic apparatus can be studied, both in vitro and, noninvasively, in vivo. Complementary techniques can help to interpret changes in the Chl a fluorescence kinetics. Kalaji et al. (Photosynth Res 122: 121-158, 2014a) addressed several questions about instruments, methods and applications based on Chl a fluorescence. Here, additionalChl a fluorescence-related topics are discussed again in a question and answer format. Examples are the effect of connectivity on photochemical quenching, the correction of F-V/F-M values for PSI fluorescence, the energy partitioning concept, the interpretation of the complementary area, probing the donor side of PSII, the assignment of bands of 77 K fluorescence emission spectra to fluorescence emitters, the relationship between prompt and delayed fluorescence, potential problems when sampling tree canopies, the use of fluorescence parameters in QTL studies, the use of Chl a fluorescence in biosensor applications and the application of neural network approaches for the analysis of fluorescence measurements. The answers draw on knowledge fromdifferent Chl a fluorescence analysis domains, yielding in several cases new insights.Kalaji, H.; Schansker, G.; Brestic, M.; Bussotti, F.; Calatayud, A.; Ferroni, L.; Goltsev, V.... (2017). Frequently asked questions about chlorophyll fluorescence, the sequel. 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Influence of Single Whole Body Vibration Training Unit on Kinematics of Human Gait in Children with Neurological Disorders

Utilisation of Whole body vibration (WBV) has been considered as a beneficial and powerful method to improve mobility and physical status of the patients during past decade. Benefits that were already published include enhanced muscular strength, power or bone density. However, there were also no significant effects reported in several clinical studies. The main aim of this pilot study was to investigate immediate effects of single WBV training unit on quality of gait kinematics in children patients suffering from neurological disorders. Five children (4.10 ± 1.75 years, 1 male and 4 females) were assessed before WBV exposure (10 minutes, 2 mm vertical vibrations, 30 Hz) and then 1 minute afterwards. Individual changes in gait parameters were analysed and the results indicated significant positive effects of WBV in two patients. Other two patients registered positive changes, but these changes were not statistically significant. One of the patients included in this pilot study registered worsening of gait symmetry