Altitudinal trends in δ^13C value,stomatal density and nitrogen content of Pinus tabuliformis needles on the southern slope of the middle Qinling Mountains,China

In this study,a coniferous tree species(Pinus tabuliformis Carr.) was investigated at a moderate-altitude mountainous terrain on the southern slope of the middle Qinling Mountains(QLM) to detect the trends in carbon isotope ratio( δ^(13)C),leaf nitrogen content(LNC) and stomatal density(SD) with altitude variation in northsubtropical humid mountain climate zone of China.The results showed that LNC and SD both significantly increased linearly along the altitudinal gradient ranging from 1000 to 2200 m,whereas leafδ^(13)C exhibited a significantly negative correlation with the altitude.Such a correlation pattern differs obviously from that obtained in offshore low-altitude humid environment or inland high-altitude semi-arid environment,suggesting that the pattern of increasing δ^(13)C with the altitude cannot be generalized.The negative correlation between δ ^(13)C and altitude might be attributed mainly to the strengthening of carbon isotope fractionation in plants caused by increasing precipitation with altitude.Furthermore,there was a remarkable negative correlation between leaf δ ^(13)C and LNC.One possible reason was that increasing precipitation that operates to increase isotopic discrimination with altitude overtook the LNC in determining the sign of leaf δ ^(13)C.The significant negative correlation between leaf δ ^(13)C and SD over altitudes was also found in the present study,indicating that increases in SD with altitude would reduce,rather than enhance plant δ^(13)C values.

Mapping QTLs for stomatal density and size under drought stress in wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)

Stomatal density and size affect plant water use efficiency, photosynthsis rate and yield. The objective of this study was to gain insights into the variation and genetic basis of stomatal density and size during grain filling under drought stress（DS） and well-watered（WW） conditions. The doubled haploid population derived from a cross of wheat cultivars Hanxuan 10（H10）, a female parent, and Lumai 14（L14）, a male parent, was used for phenotyping at the heading, flowering, and mid- and late grain filling stages along with established amplified fragment length polymorphism（AFLP） and simple sequence repeat（SSR） markers. The stomatal density of doubled haploid（DH） lines was gradually increased, while the stomatal lengths and widths were gradually decreased during grain filling stage. Twenty additive QTLs and 19 pairs of epistatic QTLs for the 3 traits were identified under DS. The other 20 QTLs and 25 pairs epistatic QTLs were obtained under WW. Most QTLs made more than 10% contributions to the total phenotypic variations at one growth stage under DS or WW. Furthermore, QTLs for stomatal density near Xwmc74 and Xgwm291 located on chromosome 5A were tightly linked to previously reported QTLs regulating total number of spikelets per spike, number of sterile spikelets per spike and proportion of fertile spikelets per spike. Qsw-2D-1 was detected across stages, and was in the same marker region as a major QTL for plant height, QPH.cgb-2D.1. These indicate that these QTLs on chromosomes 5A and 2D are involved in regulating these agronomic traits and are valuable for molecular breeding.

Stomatal Density and Bio-water Saving

Bio-water saving is to increase water use efficiency of crops or crop yield per unit of water input. Plant water use efficiency is determined by photosynthesis and transpiration, for both of which stomata are crucial. Stomata are pores on leaf epidermis for both water and carbon dioxide fluxes that are controlled by two major factors： stomatal behavior and density. Stomatal behavior has been the focus of intensive research, while less attention has been paid to stomatal density. Recently, a number of genes controlling stomatal development have been identified. This review summarizes the recent progress on the genes regulating stomatal density, and discusses the role of stomatal density in plant water use efficiency and the possibility to increase plant water use efficiency, hence bio-water saving by genetically manipulating stomatal density.

Study on the Polyploid Induction of Lycium ruthenicum Murr.

With apical leaves of Lycium ruthenicum Murr as experimental material, the polyploids of L. ruthenicum were induced with colchicine solution, and total four polyploidy plants were identified by chromosome courts. The results showed that tetraploid plants of L. ruthenicum were successfully induced with 300 mg/L of colchicine solution after 7 and 21 d of induction, with 400 mg/L of colchicine solution after 14 days of induction, and with 500 mg/L of colchicine solution after 7 days of induction, respectively.

Physiological responses of Populus euphratica Oliv. to groundwater table variations in the lower reaches of Heihe River, Northwest China

Riparian vegetation in the lower reaches of Heihe River serves important ecological functions. However, the riparian ecosystems have been constantly deteriorating in the past 30 years simply due to water interception for oasis agricultural irrigation in the middle reaches of the river. This study pays a particular attention to Populus eu- phratica Oily. forest because it is a dominant component of the riparian ecosystem in the lower reaches of Heihe River where the depth of groundwater table is the controlling factor in sustaining riparian ecosystems. To reveal leaf-related physiological responses of Populus euphratica Oliv. forest to groundwater table variations, we analyzed the relationships between the depth of groundwater table （DG） and three leaf-related parameters, i.e. leaf stomatal density （SD）, specific leaf area （SLA）, and stable carbon isotopic composition （6~SC）. Our results show that the relationship between DG and leaf SD is a bi-mode one shaped by both salt stress and water stress. That is, salt stress appeared in shallow groundwater conditions and water stress happened in deep groundwater conditions, and the thin layer around 2.7 m of DG is a stress-free layer. Leaf SD fluctuated according to the DG variation, first de- creased with increasing DG, then increased at depths ranging 2.7-3.7 m, and after a relatively stable plateau of SD at depths ranging 3.7-5.2 m, decreased again with increasing DG. Our results also show that SLA decreased ex- ponentially with increasing DG and foliar 6130 values are also strongly dependent on DG, further demonstrating that these two parameters are sensitive indicators of water stress. The exponential curve suggests that SLA is more sensitive to DG when groundwater table is shallow and 3 m seems to be a threshold beyond which SLA becomes less sensitive to DG. Foliar 613C becomes more sensitive when the groundwater table is deep and 7 m seems to be a threshold below which the 6130 signature becomes more sensitive to DG. These findings should be helpful in monitoring the growth and development of Populus euphratica Oliv. forests and also in providing protection measures （i.e. DG related） for Heihe River riparian forests.

Species selection in hardwoods research: variations in baseline physiological responses of select temperate hardwood tree species

Drought periods are becoming more extreme worldwide and the ability of plants to contribute towards atmospheric flux is being compromised. Properly functioning stomata provide an exit for water that has been absorbed by the roots, funneled into various cell parts, and eventually released into the atmosphere via transpiration. By observing the effects that weather conditions such as climate change may have on stomatal density, distribution, and functioning, it may be possible to elucidate a portion of the mechanisms trees use to survive longer periods of water stress. This study analyzed stomatal density （SD）, stomatal conductance （gs ）, CO2 assimilation （A）, instantaneous water-use efficiency （WUEi ）, and transpiration （E） rates in six native tree species in the Midwestern USA and showed that trees within the same ecotype followed similar trends, but that trees within the same family did not when exposed to identical greenhouse conditions. Naturally drought tolerant tree species demonstrated lower g s and higher WUEi , while intolerant species had higher SD. This study showed negative or no correlation between SD and g s , A, E, and WUEi and positive correlations between E and A and gs and E.

The ZOS7-MYB60 module confers drought-stress tolerance in rice

Shanlan upland rice is an important landrace resource with high drought stress(DS)tolerance.Despite its importance,genes responsible for yield in Shanlan upland rice have yet to be discovered.Our previous study identified a drought-responsive zinc finger protein,ZOS7,as highly expressed in Shanlandao upland rice.However,the function of this gene in controlling drought tolerance remains largely unexplored.In this study,we found that overexpressing ZOS7,a drought-responsive zinc finger protein,in rice increased biomass and yield under drought stress.Co-overexpressing ZOS7 and MYB60,encoding a protein with which ZOS7 interacted,intensified the yield increase.ZOS7 and MYB60 appear to form a module that confers drought tolerance by regulating stomatal density and wax biosynthesis.The ZOS7-MYB60module could be used in molecular breeding for drought tolerance in rice.