Abstract Detail

Ecophysiology

Muir, Christopher [1], Bonnin, Anne [2], Buckley, Thomas N [3], Conesa, Miquel À [4], Galmés, Jeroni [5], McKlin, Sam [6], Rippner, Devin A [7], Schmeltz, Margaux [2], Théroux-Rancourt, Guillaume [8].

Finding genes responsible for evolution of complex 3D leaf anatomy using tomographic microscopy.

Traits in wild relatives of crop species can help breed sustainable crop varieties that produce more food with fewer resources. To make use of this variation, we need to find the genetic regions that allow wild species to use water and nutrients more efficiently. Leaf anatomy has a major effect on photosynthesis by determining rates of carbon gain and water loss. However, finding the genetic regions underlying leaf anatomical evolution has been limited by low-throughput and low-resolution trait measurements. 3D imaging using X-ray microcomputed tomography (μCT) may overcome these obstacles by providing high-throughput, high-resolution data on leaf anatomy. Compared to traditional 2D methods for leaf anatomy, 3D imaging captures physiologically important volumetric traits, is less biased, and encompasses a larger leaf area. We used synchrotron μCT to measure leaf anatomy on two tomato species Solanum lycopersicum (cultivated tomato) and S. pennellii (wild, drought-tolerant species), and four introgression lines containing loci that alter leaf anatomy. We measured stomatal density, size, and 3D arrangement, as well as leaf thickness and mesophyll porosity. Preliminary analyses show that synchrotron μCT can identify previously described quantitative trait loci for stomatal traits and leaf thickness and show how those traits are related to 3D leaf anatomy. We will use finite element models to show how these anatomical differences may contribute to genetic variation leaf CO₂ and water vapour exchange.

1 - University Of Hawai’i Mānoa, School Of Life Sciences, 1800 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI, 96822, United States
2 - Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
3 - University of California, Davis, Department of Plant Sciences, 3024 Wickson Hall, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
4 - Universitat de les Illes Balears-INAGEA, Departament de Biologia, Carretera De Valldemossa Km 7.5, Palma, PM, 07122, Spain
5 - Universitat de les Illes Balears-INAGEA, Departament de Biologia, Carretera De Valldemossa Km 7.5,, Palma, PM, 07122, Spain
6 - University of Hawaii, School of Life Sciences, 1800 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
7 - United States Department of Agriculture, Horticultural Crops Production and Genetic Improvement Research Unit, Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, 24106 N. Bunn Rd., Prosser, WA, 99350, USA
8 - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, Institute of Botany, Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 33, Vienna, 1180, Austria

Keywords:
3D leaf complexity
Leaf carbon‐water exchange
Anatomy
Solanum
Stomata
QTL
X‐ray microcomputed tomography.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Number: EPH1001
Abstract ID:192
Candidate for Awards:None