Quantitative genetic analysis of chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters in maize in the field environments

Abstract

Chlorophyll fluorescence transient from initial to maximum fluorescence ("P" step) throughout two intermediate steps ("J" and "I") (JIP-test) is considered a reliable early quantitative indicator of stress in plants. The JIP-test is particularly useful for crop plants when applied in variable field environments. The aim of the present study was to conduct a quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis for nine JIP-test parameters in maize during flowering in four field environments differing in weather conditions. QTL analysis and identification of putative candidate genes might help to explain the genetic relationship between photosynthesis and different field scenarios in maize plants. The JIP-test parameters were analyzed in the intermated B73 × Mo17 (IBM) maize population of 205 recombinant inbred lines. A set of 2,178 molecular markers across the whole maize genome was used for QTL analysis revealing 10 significant QTLs for seven JIP-test parameters, of which five were co-localized when combined over the four environments indicating polygenic inheritance and pleiotropy. Our results demonstrate that QTL analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters was capable of detecting one pleiotropic locus on chromosome 7, coinciding with the gene gst23 that may be associated with efficient photosynthesis under different field scenarios.

Frequently asked questions about chlorophyll fluorescence, the sequel

“…It is possible that the authors erroneously used the 50-µs point for the F O value of the OJIP measurements, but it may also suggest that there were methodological problems. Šimić et al (2014) studied 205 recombinant inbred lines of the cross of the maize lines B73 × M017 in four environmental conditions differing in soil moisture levels. The authors used the following parameters for screening: TRo/ABS, ETo/TRo, ABS/RC, TRo/RC, ETo/RC, DIo/RC, TRo/DIo, ETo/(TRo − ETo), PI abs .…”

Physiological Response to Different Irradiation Regimes during Barley Seedlings Growth Followed by Drought Stress under Non-Photoinhibitory Light

“…Björkman and Powles (1984) reported that there were no inhibition of electron-transport activity in shade grown plants even when leaf water potential was low (3.0 MPa) and the degree of inhibition under more severe water stress was much less pronounced than in the plants kept in full daylight. Photoinhibitory effect of the interaction between high light and drought was demonstrated in many publications (Akashi et al, 2008;Šimić, Lepeduš, Jurković, Antunović, & Cesar, 2014), while less is known about the interaction of low light (less than 100 μmol m -2 s -1 ) and drought stress (Dinakar, Djilianov, & Bartels, 2012;Yang, Han, Liu, Lin, & Wang, 2008).…”

Effect of different soil water content effect on genotype expession in photosynthetic efficiency and leaf temperature in sunflower

“…Photosynthetic efficiency at different water contents was studied in many plant species such as barley, maize, soybean, winter wheat, etc. (OUKARROUM et al, 2009;HAO et al, 2013;ŠIMIĆ et al, 2014). Common method for investigation of photosynthetic efficiency is measurement of chlorophyll a fluorescence which is used for identifying differences in plant photosynthetic performance in rapid and nondestructive way (ŽIVČÁK et al, 2014).…”

“…In this research, tolerance to different soil water contents of sunflower genotypes was evaluated by the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), photosynthetic performance index (PIABS) and measured leaf temperature values. Fv/Fm provides information about the proportion of the light absorbed by chlorophyll in photosystem II and PIABS gives information on overall energy flow through photosystem II (ŠIMIĆ et al, 2014).…”