See more from this Session: Biotic x Abiotic Stress, Progress on Problems and Solutions From Crop Physiology
Wednesday, October 19, 2011: 9:20 AM
Henry Gonzalez Convention Center, Room 206A
Several genes controlling epicuticular wax deposition in plants have previously been shown to be affected by the gaseous hormone ethylene. In this study, the relationship between wax amount on wheat leaves and ethylene production was investigated. Eighty plants of cultivar “Australith” were grown under greenhouse conditions. Beginning at late elongation, four plants were sampled every two days. Sampling involved testing for ethylene production and collection of leaf disks for wax extraction. Wax quantification was carried out using colorimetric analysis. Ethylene levels during reproduction were correlated with wax levels in order to elucidate a relationship. To further explain the relationship, a second population of Australith was treated with exogenous 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic-acid (ACC) and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) in order to increase and inhibit ethylene production, respectively. Three treatments of forty plants each were grown, with the third sprayed with water as a control. Plants were sampled for ethylene production and leaf wax content. Completion of this study will shed light on the signaling relationship between ethylene and the production of epicuticular wax. Epicuticular wax has been implicated in multiple forms of abiotic stress tolerance. A Better understanding of the factors regulating wax deposition may enable the development of improved abiotic stress tolerance.
See more from this Division: C02 Crop Physiology and MetabolismSee more from this Session: Biotic x Abiotic Stress, Progress on Problems and Solutions From Crop Physiology