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CO2-assimilation and chlorophyll fluorescence as indirect selection criteria for host tolerance against Striga

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Abstract

Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. is a parasitic weed on tropical cereals causing serious yield losses in Africa. The use of host crop varieties with improved resistance and tolerance against this parasite is a key component of an integrated control strategy. Breeding for tolerance is however seriously hampered by the absence of reliable and yet practical selection measures. The observation that the photosynthetic rate of tolerant genotypes is less sensitive to Striga infection was used as a starting point to search for suitable selection measures. In a greenhouse pot experiment the effect of Striga infection on the photosynthesis of four sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) genotypes, differing in Striga tolerance level, was measured at three moments in time (26, 48 and 75 days after sowing). Genotypes were CK60-B, E36-1, Framida and Tiémarifing. Measurements involved CO2-assimilation (A) and three chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics (electron transport rate through photosystem II [ETR], photochemical [Pq] and non-photochemical quenching [NPq]). Striga infection negatively affected A, ETR and Pq. Based on A and Pq, genotypes with superior levels of tolerance (Tiémarifing) could be discriminated from genotypes with superior level of resistance (Framida). Both A and Pq showed high heritabilities and consequently clear and predictable differences between genotypes. Using discriminative ability, heritability and cost effectiveness as main criteria, photochemical quenching (Pq) was concluded to possess the highest potential to serve as indirect selection measure for host plant tolerance to Striga. Screening should preferably be conducted at relatively high Striga infestation levels, between Striga emergence and host plant flowering.

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Abbreviations

A :

Leaf CO2-assimilation rate (μmol CO2 m−2 s−1)

ETR :

The electron transport rate through photosystem II (μmol m−2 s−1)

f abs :

The absorbtivity of the leaf (−)

Fm′:

The maximum fluorescence emission induced by a saturating light pulse in the light (−)

Fm :

The maximum fluorescence emission induced by a saturating light pulse in the dark (−)

Fo′:

The basic fluorescence in the light when all PSII centres are oxidized by a period of far-red light (−)

F t :

The steady-state fluorescence emission (−)

I :

The light intensity (μmol photon m−2 s−1)

NPq :

The level of non-photochemical quenching (−)

φ2 :

The electron transport efficiency of PSII (−)

PAR:

Photosynthetically active radiation (μmol photon m−2 s−1)

PS:

Photosystem

Pq :

The level of photochemical quenching (−)

R :

Repeatability

RYL :

Relative yield loss (%)

S 2 :

Within-group variance component

S 2 A :

Among-group variance component

V EG :

General environmental variance

V ES :

Environmental variance due to temporary or localized environmental effects

V G :

Genotypic variance

V P :

Phenotypic variance

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Acknowledgements

Financial assistance for this study was made possible through the beneficence of the Netherlands Foundation for the Advancement of Tropical Research (WOTRO). We thank Wageningen University (WU), Wageningen Plants Sciences Experimental Center (WPSEC) and the Africa Rice Center (WARDA) and in particular Ans Hofman and Henriette Drenth (WU), Geurt Versteeg, Peter Saat, Taede Stoker and Henk Meurs (WPSEC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Africa Rice Center (WARDA), B.P. 96, Saint Louis, Senegal

    Jonne Rodenburg

  2. Crop and Weed Ecology Group, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 430, Wageningen, 6700 AK, The Netherlands

    Jonne Rodenburg, Lammert Bastiaans, Peter E. L. van der Putten & Aad van Ast

  3. Plant Dynamics BV, Englaan 8, Wageningen, 6703 EW, The Netherlands

    Ad. H. C. M. Schapendonk

  4. Animal Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies & Department of Behavioural Biology, Centre for Behaviour and Neurosciences, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 14, Haren, 9750 AA, The Netherlands

    Niels J. Dingemanse

  5. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) – Niamey, Niamey, B.P. 12404, Niger

    Bettina I. G. Haussmann

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  1. Jonne Rodenburg
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  2. Lammert Bastiaans
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Correspondence to Jonne Rodenburg.

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Rodenburg, J., Bastiaans, L., Schapendonk, A.H.C.M. et al. CO2-assimilation and chlorophyll fluorescence as indirect selection criteria for host tolerance against Striga . Euphytica 160, 75–87 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-007-9555-7

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