Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 11, 2026
06:04
Author Spotlight: Innovative Approaches to Understanding Plant Structure-Function Relationships for Climate-Resilient Crops
Published on: July 12, 2024
1.9K
TaER Expression Is Associated with Transpiration Efficiency Traits and Yield in Bread Wheat
Jiacheng Zheng1, Zhiyuan Yang1, Pippa J Madgwick2
1State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
Plos One
|June 6, 2015
Summary
The ERECTA gene family in bread wheat influences transpiration efficiency and yield traits. Higher TaER expression correlates with improved water use efficiency and grain yield, suggesting its potential for wheat improvement.
Area of Science:
- Plant Molecular Biology
- Crop Physiology
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- ERECTA (ER) is a receptor-like kinase gene family implicated in plant transpiration efficiency.
- Understanding the role of ER homologs in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is crucial for improving crop water use and yield.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize ERECTA homologs (TaER1 and TaER2) in bread wheat.
- To investigate the expression patterns of TaER1 and TaER2 in relation to transpiration efficiency and yield traits across diverse wheat varieties.
Main Methods:
- Gene identification and expression analysis of TaER1 and TaER2 in flag leaves of 48 wheat varieties at heading and grain-filling stages.
- Phenotypic evaluation of transpiration efficiency-related traits (stomatal density, transpiration rate, photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, carbon isotope discrimination) and yield traits (biomass production, grain yield).
- Correlation analysis between TaER gene expression levels and measured phenotypic traits.
Main Results:
- TaER1 and TaER2 genes were identified in bread wheat, with varied expression levels across different varieties and growth stages.
- Wheat varieties were classified into high, medium, and low TaER expression groups, showing significant differences in transpiration efficiency and yield traits.
- TaER expression positively correlated with flag leaf area, photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, biomass production, and grain yield, while negatively correlating with stomatal density and carbon isotope discrimination.
Conclusions:
- TaER genes play a significant role in regulating leaf development, transpiration efficiency, and yield in bread wheat.
- The expression of TaER1 and TaER2 is a potential indicator for selecting wheat varieties with enhanced agronomic performance.
- TaER genes offer a promising target for genetic manipulation to improve wheat breeding programs for increased water use efficiency and yield.
Related Concept Videos
01:57Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
29.0K
Though evaporation from plant leaves drives transpiration, it also results in loss of water. Because water is critical for photosynthetic reactions and other cellular processes, evolutionary pressures on plants in different environments have driven the acquisition of adaptations that reduce water loss.
29.0K
02:04Regulation of Transpiration by Stomata
32.4K
During photosynthesis, plants acquire the necessary carbon dioxide and release the produced oxygen back into the atmosphere. Openings in the epidermis of plant leaves is the site of this exchange of gasses. A single opening is called a stoma—derived from the Greek word for “mouth.” Stomata open and close in response to a variety of environmental cues.
32.4K
02:03Xylem and Transpiration-driven Transport of Resources
28.3K
The xylem of vascular plants distributes water and dissolved minerals that are taken up by the roots to the rest of the plant. The cells that transport xylem sap are dead upon maturity, and the movement of xylem sap is a passive process.
28.3K
01:59Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
22.3K
Crop cultivation has a long history in human civilization, with records showing the cultivation of cereal plants beginning at around 8000 BC. This early plant breeding was developed primarily to provide a steady supply of food.
22.3K
02:41Responses to Drought and Flooding
12.4K
Water plays a significant role in the life cycle of plants. However, insufficient or excess of water can be detrimental and pose a serious threat to plants.
12.4K
01:10Transcription
160.4K
Overview
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds...
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds...
160.4K