Modelling water use efficiency in a dynamic environment: an example using Arabidopsis thaliana

Vialet-Chabrand, S., Matthews, J. S. A., Brendel, O., Blatt, M.R. , Wang, Y., Hills, A., Griffiths, H., Rogers, S. and Lawson, T. (2016) Modelling water use efficiency in a dynamic environment: an example using Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Science, 251, pp. 65-74. (doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2016.06.016) (PMID:27593464) (PMCID:PMC5038844)

[img]
Preview
Text
128617.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

2MB

Abstract

Intrinsic water use efficiency (Wi), the ratio of net CO2 assimilation (A) over stomatal conductance to water vapour (gs), is a complex trait used to assess plant performance. Improving Wi could lead in theory to higher productivity or reduced water usage by the plant, but the physiological traits for improvement and their combined effects on Wi have not been clearly identified. Under fluctuating light intensity, the temporal response of gs is an order of magnitude slower than A, which results in rapid variations in Wi. Compared to traditional approaches, our new model scales stoma behaviour at the leaf level to predict gs and A during a diurnal period, reproducing natural fluctuations of light intensity, in order to dissect Wi into traits of interest. The results confirmed the importance of stomatal density and photosynthetic capacity on Wi but also revealed the importance of incomplete stomatal closure under dark conditions as well as stomatal sensitivity to light intensity. The observed continuous decrease of A and gs over the diurnal period was successfully described by negative feedback of the accumulation of photosynthetic products. Investigation into the impact of leaf anatomy on temporal responses of A, gs and Wi revealed that a high density of stomata produces the most rapid response of gs but may result in lower Wi.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Hills, Mr Adrian and Blatt, Professor Michael and Rogers, Dr Simon
Authors: Vialet-Chabrand, S., Matthews, J. S. A., Brendel, O., Blatt, M.R., Wang, Y., Hills, A., Griffiths, H., Rogers, S., and Lawson, T.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
College of Science and Engineering > School of Computing Science
Journal Name:Plant Science
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0168-9452
ISSN (Online):1873-2259
Published Online:22 June 2016
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 The Authors
First Published:First published in Plant Science 251: 65-74
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record

Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
626121Stomatal-based systems analysis of water use efficiencyMichael BlattBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)BB/L001276/1RI MOLECULAR CELL & SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
650621Developing a synthetic approach to manipulating guard cell membrane transport and stomatal controlMichael BlattBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)BB/L019205/1RI MOLECULAR CELL & SYSTEMS BIOLOGY