Grains Research and Development

The generation of wheat cultivars with improved drought tolerance and agronomic traits

Researcher's Name:
Associate Professor Barry Pogson
Organisation:
The Australian National University CANBERRAACT0200
Email:
Phone:
(02) 61255629
Fax:
(02) 61250313
Project Code:
ANU00011
Contract Start:
31/1/2009
Contract End:
30/7/2013

Summary

The aim of this project is to develop wheat lines with improved drought tolerance and water use. These lines will lack one of more SAL1 genes, which normally encode a repressor of the drought response. SAL1 genes in wheat will be first isolated and mutant plants lacking SAL1 genes identified by molecular biology procedures. These mutants should remain green, turgid and photosynthetically active, producing more leaves, flowers and seed during mild to moderate water deficit. After confirmation of the desired (drought tolerant) traits, the mutants will be crossed to produce double and triple mutants, and used to develop molecular markers that are unique to the SAL1 genes in wheat. Finally, drought tolerance, visual agronomic traits and yields of these mutants will be evaluated under both stressed and non-stressed conditions. The germplasm will not be genetically modified and can thus be immediately made available to breeding programs.

Background

Producing drought tolerant varieties of wheat with negligible impact on yield in good seasons is critical for the success of the Australian farming sector. Avoiding genetically modified (GM) approaches will streamline the speed at which new genetic material can be incorporated into breeding programs. Thus, there could be improved productivity in dry seasons and regions.For example, a delay in spring rains would enable varieties with drought tolerance to maintain vegetative biomass to ensure good grain filling when the rains arrive.

Implications

We have discovered that plants lacking a functional copy of the gene called SALI are more drought tolerant. The next step was to investigate the potential benefits of this mutation in the drought tolerance of important food crops, such as rice or wheat. Thus, we started investigating the SAL1 gene in the Australian wheat variety Chara. We discovered there are at least seven copies of this gene, and we were also able to locate these copies on the different chromosomes of wheat. The next phase of the research has been to find wheat lines with a variation in each of the seven SAL1 genes and then assess their drought tolerance. Thus far we have been able to find wheat lines lacking 5 out of the total 7 copies of the SAL1 gene. We will be generating wheat lines lacking 2 or 3 copies of SAL1 gene. This will be followed by preliminary evaluation of these wheat lines for drought tolerance and measurement of their agronomic performance and yield.

Objectives

We have discovered that plants lacking a functional copy of the gene called SALI are more drought tolerant. This genetic variation, or mutation, enhances the drought survival of the model plant Arabidopsis, (a relative of Canola) for up to 50% longer without noticeable effects in final biomass. We expect that these mutants should remain green, turgid and photosynthetically active, producing more leaves, flowers and seeds during conditions of mild to moderate drought.






The germplasm will not be genetically modified and can therefore be made available to breeding programs throughout Australia.

Outcomes

1a. Identification of number of the copies of SAL1 gene in wheat.
1b. Identification of mutation in the different SAL1 genes
2. preliminary evaluation of these wheat varieties for drought tolerance.
3. Preliminary evaluation of these SAL1 defective wheat varieties for drought tolerance and agronomic yield.

Research

We have discovered that plants lacking a functional copy of the gene called SALI are more drought tolerant. This genetic variation, or mutation, enhances the drought survival of the model plant Arabidopsis, (a relative of Canola) for up to 50% longer without noticeable effects in final biomass. The next step was to investigate the potential benefits of this mutation in the drought tolerance of important food crops, such as rice or wheat. Thus, we started investigating the SAL1 gene in the Australian wheat variety Chara. We discovered there are at least seven copies of this gene, and we were also able to locate these copies on the different chromosomes of wheat. The next phase of the research was to find wheat lines with a variation in each of the seven SAL1 genes and then assess their drought tolerance. Thus far we have been able to find wheat lines lacking 5 out of the total 7 copies of the SAL1 gene. Over the next few years we will analyse the drought tolerance of these wheat lines. We expect that these mutants should remain green, turgid and photosynthetically active, producing more leaves, flowers and seeds during mild to moderate drought condition.

Publications

1. Planery lecture at 2nd International Symposium on Genomics and Crop Genetic improvement. Presenter: Barry Pogson (Associate Professor , ANU) Nuber of Audience:500 to 1000 Place:Wuhan, China. Month and year : July4-8, 2011 Nature of audience: Research Scientist and academics 2. Planery lecture at 15th International Congress on Photosynthesis. Presenter: Barry Pogson (Associate Professor , ANU) Nuber of Audience:500 to 1000 Place:Beijing, China. Month and year : August 22-27, 2010 Nature of audience: Research Scientific and academics. 3. Planery Lecture and session chair, ASPB Plant biology 2010. Presenter: Barry Pogson (Associate Professor , ANU) Nuber of audience:200 to 500 Place:Montreal, Canada Month and year : July 31st, 2010 Nature of audience: Research Scientific and academics. 4. Planery Lecture at AROMED, INDIA 2010. Presenter: Barry Pogson (Associate Professor , ANU) Number of Audience:500 to 700 Place:Lucknow, India. Month and year : February 19th, 2010 Nature of audience: Research Scientific and academics

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