Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Genotypic variations in activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and correlations with leaf photosynthetic characteristics and crop productivity of cassava grown in low-land seasonally-dry tropics

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Photosynthetica

Abstract

Field trials with a large group of cassava germplasm were conducted at the seasonally-dry and hot environments in southwest Colombia to investigate photosynthetic characteristics and production under drought conditions. Measurement of net photosynthetic rate (P N), photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE), mesophyll conductance to CO2 diffusion (g m), and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) activity of upper canopy leaves were made in the field. All photosynthetic characteristics were significantly correlated with final dry root yield (Yield). Correlations among the photosynthetic traits were also significant. PEPC activity was highly significantly correlated with P N and PNUE, indicating the importance of the enzyme in cassava photosynthesis and productivity. Among a small selected group from the preliminary trial for yield performance, the second year Yield was highly significantly correlated with P N measured on the first year crop. Thus variations in the measured photosynthetic traits are genetically controlled and underpin variations in yield. One short-stemmed cultivar M Col 2215 was selected for high root dry matter content, high harvest index, and tolerance to drought. It was tested under the semi-arid conditions of the west coast of Ecuador; participating farmers evaluated cultivar performance. This cultivar was adopted by farmers and officially released in 1992 under the name Portoviejo 650.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

C i :

intercellular CO2

DM:

dry matter

g m :

mesophyll conductance to CO2 diffusion

GO:

glycolate oxidase

HI:

harvest index

LAI:

leaf area index

PEPC:

phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase

PNUE:

photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency

PPFD:

photosynthetic photon flux density

RuBPCO:

ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase

Λ:

CO2 compensation concentration

References

  • Alves, A.A.C.: Cassava botany and physiology.-In: Hillocks, R.J., Thresh, J.M., Bellotti, A.C. (ed.): Cassava: Biology, Production and Utilization. Pp. 67–89. CABI International, New York 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernal, L.M.: Estudios sobre la actividad fosfoenolpiruvato carboxilasa en cultivares de yuca (Manihot esculenta Crantz). [Studies on the Activity of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase in Cultivars of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz).]-BSc. Thesis. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogota 1991. [In Spanish.]

    Google Scholar 

  • Biehler, K., Migge, A., Fock, H.P.: The role of malate dehydrogenase in dissipating excess energy under water stress in two wheat species.-Photosynthetica 32: 431–438, 1996.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cadavid, L.F., El-Sharkawy, M.A., Acosta, A., Sánchez, T.: Long-term effects of mulch, fertilization and tillage on cassava grown in sandy soils in northern Colombia.-Field Crops Res. 57: 45–56, 1998.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caicedo, J.A.: Respuesta de cuatro cultivares de yucca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) a la modificacion del estado hidrico del suelo. [Response of Four Cultivars of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) to the Modification of Soil Moisture.]-BSc. Thesis. Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Palmira 1993. [In Spanish.]

    Google Scholar 

  • Cayón, M.G., El-Sharkawy, M.A., Cadavid, L.F.: Leaf gas exchange of cassava as affected by quality of planting material and water stress.-Photosynthetica 34: 409–418, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chandra, R., Sirohi, G.S.: Carbon dioxide compensation concentration in pea and sorghum as influenced by growth stage, nitrogen and moisture stress.-India J. Plant Physiol. 26: 331–336, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • CIAT: Cassava Program Annual Report for 1987–1994, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995.-Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, Cali 1987–1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cock, J.H., El-Sharkawy, M.A.: Physiological characteristics for cassava selection.-Exp. Agr. 24: 443–448, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cock, J.H., Porto, M.C.M., El-Sharkawy, M.A.: Water use efficiency of cassava. III. Influence of air humidity and water stress on gas exchange of field grown cassava.-Crop Sci. 25: 265–272, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Connor, D.J., Cock, J.H., Parra, G.E.: Response of cassava to water shortage. I. Growth and yield.-Field Crops Res. 4: 181–200, 1981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Connor, D.J., Palta, J.: Response of cassava to water shortage. III. Stomatal control of plant water status.-Field Crops Res. 4: 297–311, 1981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Tafur, S.M., El-Sharkawy, M.A., Cadavid, L.F.: Response of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) to water stress and fertilization.-Photosynthetica 34: 233–239, 1997a.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Tafur, S.M., El-Sharkawy, M.A., Calle, F.: Photosynthesis and yield performance of cassava in seasonally dry and semiarid environments.-Photosynthetica 33:249–257, 1997b.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Sharkawy, M.A.: Effect of humidity and wind on leaf conductance of field grown cassava.-Rev. bras. Fisiol. veg. 2: 17–22, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Sharkawy, M.A.: Drought-tolerant cassava for Africa, Asia, and Latin America.-Bioscience 43: 441–451, 1993.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Sharkawy, M.A.: Cassava biology and physiology.-Plant mol. Biol. 56: 481–501, 2004.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Sharkawy, M.A.: How can calibrated research-based models be improved for use as a tool in identifying genes controlling crop tolerance to environmental stresses in the era of genomics—from an experimentalists’s perspective.-Photosynthetica 43: 161–176, 2005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Sharkawy, M.A.: International research on cassava photosynthesis, productivity, eco-physiology, and responses to environmental stresses in the tropics.-Photosynthetica 44: 481–512, 2006a.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Sharkawy, M.A.: Utility of basic research in plant/crop physiology in relation to crop improvement: a review and a personal account.-Braz. J. Plant Physiol. 18: 419–446, 2006b.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Sharkawy, M.A., Cadavid, L.F.: Response of cassava to prolonged water stress imposed at different stages of growth.-Exp. Agr. 38: 333–350, 2002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Sharkawy, M.A., Cadavid, L.F., De Tafur, S.M.: Nutrient use efficiency of cassava differs with genotype architecture.-Acta Agron. Univ. Nacional-Palmira-Colombia 48: 23–32, 1998a.

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Sharkawy, M.A., Cadavid, L.F., De Tafur, S.M., Caicedo, J.A.: Genotypic differences in productivity and nutrient uptake and use efficiency of cassava as influenced by prolonged water stress.-Acta Agron. Univ. Nacional-Palmira-Colombia 48: 9–22, 1998b.

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Sharkawy, M.A., Cock; J.H.: Water use efficiency of cassava. I. Effects of air humidity and water stress on stomatal conductance and gas exchange.-Crop Sci. 24: 497–502, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Sharkawy, M.A., Cock, J.H.: C3-C4 intermediate photosynthetic characteristics of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). I. Gas exchange.-Photosynth. Res. 12: 219–235, 1987a.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Sharkawy, M.A., Cock, J.H.: Response of cassava to water stress.-Plant Soil 100: 345–360, 1987b.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Sharkawy, M.A., Cock, J.H.: Photosynthesis of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz).-Exp. Agr. 26: 325–340, 1990.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Sharkawy, M.A., Cock, J.H., Lynam, J.K., Hernandez, A.d.P., Cadavid, L., L.F.: Relationships between biomass, root-yield and single-leaf photosynthesis in field-grown cassava.-Field Crops Res. 25: 183–201, 1990.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Sharkawy, M.A., De Tafur, S.M.: Genotypic and within canopy variation in leaf carbon isotope discrimination and its relation to short-term leaf gas exchange characteristics in cassava grown under rain-fed conditions in the tropics.-Photosynthetica 45: 515–526, 2007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Sharkawy, M.A., De Tafur, S.M., Cadavid, L.F.: Potential photosynthesis of cassava as affected by growth conditions.-Crop Sci. 32: 1336–1342, 1992a.

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Sharkawy, M.A., De Tafur, S.M., Cadavid, L.F.: Photosynthesis of cassava and its relation to crop productivity.-Photosynthetica 28: 431–438, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Sharkawy, M.A., Hernandez, A.D.P., Hershey, C.: Yield stability of cassava during prolonged mid-season water stress.-Exp. Agr. 28: 165–174, 1992b.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engelmann, S., Blasing, O.E., Gowik, U., Svensson, P., Westhoff, P.: Molecular evolution of C4 phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in the genus Flaveria: a gradual increase from C3 to C4 characteristics.-Planta 217: 717–725, 2003.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, L.T.: Crop Evolution, Adaptation and Yield.-Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gowik, U., Engelmann, S., Blasing, O.E., Raghavendra, A.S., Westhoff, P.: Evolution of C4 phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in the genus Alternanthera: gene families and the enzymatic characteristics of the C4 isozyme and its orthologues in C3 and C3/C4 Alternanthera.-Planta 223: 359–368, 2006.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guzman, G.: Aspectos ecofisiologicos en cultivares anfiestomticos de yucca (Manihot esculenta Crantz). [Ecophysiological Aspects of Amphistomatous Cultivars of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz).]-BSc. Thesis. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogota 1989. [In Spanish.]

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatch, M.D., Oliver, I.R.: Activation and inactivation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in leaf extracts from C4 species.-Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 5: 571–580, 1980.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henry, G.: Adoption of cassava technologies: constraints, strategies and impact.-In: Henry, G. (ed.): Trends in CIAT Commodities 1991. Pp. 22–40. Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Cali 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hershey, C.H., Jennings, D.L.: Progress in breeding cassava for adaptation to stress.-Plant Breeding Abstr. 62: 823–831, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, J., Nelson, E., Tilman, D., Polasky, S., Tiffany, D.: Environmental, economic, and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and ethanol biofuels.-Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. USA 103: 11206–11210, 2006.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hillocks, R.J., Thresh, J.M., Bellotti, A.C. (ed.): Cassava: Biology, Production and Utilization.-CABI International, New York 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howeler, R.H. (ed.): Cassava Breeding, Agronomy Research and Technology Transfer in Asia.-Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Cali 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, L.A., Wholey, D.W., Cock, J.H.: Growth physiology of cassava.-Field Crop Abstr. 30: 77–91, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iglesias, C., Bonierbale, M., El-Sharkawy, M., Lozano, C., Bellotti, A., Wheatley, C.: Focusing basic research for cassava varietal improvement.-In: Howeler, R.H. (ed.): Cassava Breeding, Agronomy Research and Technology Transfer in Asia. Pp. 40–60. Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Cali 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawano, K.: Thirty years of cassava breeding for productivity-biological and social factors for success.-Crop Sci. 43: 1325–1335, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, G.J., Latzko, E.: IV. Photosynthesis. Carbon metabolism: On regulation at the cellular level and at the whole plant level, and some considerations concerning the interactions of these regulatory events with the increasing level of atmospheric CO2.-In: Progress in Botany. Vol. 52. Pp. 97–121. Springer-Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lenis, J.I., Calle, F., Jaramillo, G., Perez, J.C., Ceballos, H., Cock, J.H.: Leaf retention and cassava productivity.-Field Crops Res. 95: 126–134, 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • López, Y., Vélez, W., El-Sharkawy, M., Mayer, J.E.: Biochemical characterization of PEPC from cassava: a preliminary report.-In: Roca, W.M., Thro, A.M. (ed.): Proceedings of the First International Scientific Meeting of the Cassava Biotechnology Network. Pp. 340–343. Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, Cali 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mann, C.: Reseeding the Green Revolution. High-yielding varieties of wheat, rice and maize helped double world grain production. A repeat performance is now needed, and that will require a new commitment to agricultural research.-Science 277: 1038–1043, 1997.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McLaren, J.S.: Crop biotechnology provides an opportunity to develop a sustainable future.-Trends Biotechnol. 23: 339–342, 2005.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ögren, E., Rosenqvist, E.: On the significance of photoinhibition of photosynthesis in the field and its generality among species.-Photosynth. Res. 33: 63–71, 1992.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Leary, M.H.: Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase: an enzymologist’s view.-Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 33: 297–315, 1982.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Osmond, C.B., Grace, S.C.: Perspectives on photoinhibition and photorespiration in the field: quintessential inefficiencies of the light and dark reactions of photosynthesis?-J. exp. Bot. 46: 1351–1362, 1995.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Osmond, C.B., Winter, K., Powles, S.B.: Adaptive significance of carbon dioxide cycling during photosynthesis in water-stressed plants.-In: Turner, N.C., Kramer, P.J. (ed.): Adaptation of Plants to Water and High Temperature Stress. Pp. 139–154. John Wiley & Sons, New York 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pellet, D., El-Sharkawy, M.A.: Cassava varietal response to phosphorus fertilization. I. Yield, biomass and gas exchange.-Field Crops Res. 35: 1–11, 1993a.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pellet, D., El-Sharkawy, M.A.: Cassava varietal response to phosphorus fertilization. II. Phosphorus uptake and use efficiency.-Field Crops Res. 35: 13–20, 1993b.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porto, M.C.M.: Physiological Mechanisms of Drought Tolerance in Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz).-Ph.D. Thesis. University of Arizona, Tucson 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards, R.A.: Selectable traits to increase crop photosynthesis and yield of grain crops.-J. exp. Bot. 51: 447–458, 2000.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Romanoff, S., Lynam, J.: Cassava and African food security: some ethnographic examples.-Ecol. Food Nutr. 27: 29–41, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarma, J.S., Kunchai, D.: Trends and Prospects for Cassava in the Developing World.-International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schrader, L.E.: Contribution from biochemistry and plant physiology.-In: Moving Up the Yield Curve-Advances and Obstacles. Pp. 25–43. American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America, Madison 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, S.N, Sirohi, G.S.: The effect of ammonium and nitrate on carbon-dioxide compensation point and enzymes associated with carbon dioxide exchange in wheat.-Photosynth. Res. 17: 267–275, 1988.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stuhlfauth, T., Scheuermann, R., Fock, H.P.: Light energy dissipation under water stress conditions. Contribution of reassimilation and evidence for additional processes.-Plant Physiol. 92: 1053–1061, 1990.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Westhoff, P., Gowik, U.: Evolution of C4 phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. Genes and proteins: a case study with the genus Flaveria.-Ann. Bot. 93: 13–23, 2004.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. M. A. El-Sharkawy

    Present address: A. A. 26360, Cali, Valle, Colombia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Cali, Colombia

    M. A. El-Sharkawy

  2. Facultad de Ciencia Agropecuaria, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Palmira, Colombia

    Y. Lopez

  3. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogota, Colombia

    L. M. Bernal

Authors
  1. M. A. El-Sharkawy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Y. Lopez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. M. Bernal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. A. El-Sharkawy.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

El-Sharkawy, M.A., Lopez, Y. & Bernal, L.M. Genotypic variations in activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and correlations with leaf photosynthetic characteristics and crop productivity of cassava grown in low-land seasonally-dry tropics. Photosynthetica 46, 238–247 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-008-0038-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-008-0038-4

Additional key words

Search

Navigation