High temperature stress and its effect on pollen development and morphological components of harvest index in the C3 model grass Brachypodium distachyon.

ABSTRACT: The effect of high temperatures on harvest index (HI) and morphological components that contribute to HI was investigated in two lines (Bd21 and Bd21-3) of Brachypodium distachyon, a C3 grass recognized as a tractable plant, to address critical issues associated with enhancing cereal crop yields in the presence of global climate change. The results demonstrated that temperatures ≥32 °C eliminated HI. Reductions in yield at 32 °C were due primarily to declines in pollen viability, retention of pollen in anthers, and pollen germination, while abortion of microspores by the uninucleate stage that was correlated with abnormal tapetal development resulted in yield failure at 36 °C. Increasing temperatures from 24 to 32 °C resulted in reductions in tiller numbers but had no impact on axillary br

SUBMITTER: Harsant J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3697958 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature