Heat‐stress effects on reproduction and seed set in <i>Linum usitatissimum</i> L. (flax)

Research on plant responses to temperature stress is receiving increased interest due to the growing awareness about global warming. High and low temperature stresses help establish the narrow geographic distribution of some cultivated plants, the limited geographic extension of some other economically nutritionally important species, and also induce irregular bearing for some species. However, the understanding of plant responses to temperature stress lags behind other biotic and abiotic stresses probably due to the complex response at the molecular, cellular, and organismal level. Temperature stress affects, indeed, many developmental processes during the plant's life cycle. However, the reproductive stage, the outcome of which represents the economic value for many cultivated plants, is especially vulnerable. Here the effect of low and high temperature stresses during the flowering phase is reviewed in flowering plants in an attempt to unravel sensitive stages that are behind irregular cropping. The review presents detailed findings from 33 previously published reports spanning 19 different flowering plant species. Both the male and female organs of the flower are especially sensitive to temperature fluctuations both during their development before pollination and during the post-pollination stage. The effect of temperature stress is, however, obscured by the complex male-female interaction superimposed on the individual behavior of each organ. Interestingly, a review of the literature on this topic shows that genetic variation does exist in reproductive behavior under temperature fluctuations. This genetic diversity must be preserved and characterized in further detail to understand how plants naturally cope with changing environmental conditions, which will, undoubtedly, help us to design better strategies to face current and future challenging temperature fluctuations.

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“…Pollen tube growth in the ovary. Cross et al, 2003 Oryza sativa Heat stress: 37.5/26ºC using sun-lit phytotrons.…”

Section: Prunus Persicamentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensitivity of flowering plant gametophytes to temperature fluctuations

Hedhly

2011

Environmental and Experimental Botany

237

172

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“…While fiber flax cultivars are preferably grown in cool and moist climate conditions, linseed cultivars can be grown in many environments due to their plasticity, mainly in temperate climate regions, where they can explicate the best agronomic performances in terms of seed yield, yield components, oil content and composition (D'Antuono and Rossini, 1995;Casa et al, 1999;Adugna and Labuschagne, 2003;Cross et al, 2003). To date, winter-hardy varieties of linseed, and also yellow-seeded cultivars with altered fatty-acid profiles, are being introduced to commercial cultivation; the latter are intended for edible oil production, but industrial uses are also likely (Ali et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agronomical evaluation and chemical characterization of Linum usitatissimum L. as oilseed crop for bio-based products in two environments of Central and Northern Italy

et al. 2016

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In the recent years, new perspectives for linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) are open as renewable raw material for bio-based products (Bb), due to its oil composition, and the interesting amounts of coproducts (lignocellulosic biomass). Therefore, the possibility to introduce linseed crop in two environments of central and northern Italy, traditionally devoted to cereal cultivation, has been evaluated. Twoyears field trials were carried out in the coastal plain of Pisa (Tuscany region) and in the Po valley (Bologna, Emilia Romagna region), comparing two linseed varieties (Sideral and Buenos Aires). Agronomical evaluation (yield and yield components), seed and oil characterization (oil, protein content, and fatty acid composition), together with carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content of the residual lignocellulosic biomass were investigated. The two varieties, grown as autumn crop, showed a different percentage of plant survival at the end of winter, with Sideral most resistant to cold. The achieved results showed significant influence of cultivar, location and growing season on yield and yield components, as well as on chemical biomass composition. In particular, Sideral appeared to be the most suitable variety for tested environments, since higher seed yield (3.05 t ha -1 as mean value over years and locations) and above-ground biomass (6.98 t ha -1 as mean value over years and locations) were recorded in comparison with those detected for Buenos Aires (1.93 and 4.48 t ha -1 of seed production and lignocellulosic biomass, respectively). Interestingly, in the northern area, during the 1 st year, Buenos Aires was the most productive, despite its low plant survival at the end of winter, which determined a strong reduction in plant density and size. In such conditions, the plants produced a larger number of capsules and, consequently, high seed yield (3.18 t ha -1 ). Relevant differences were also observed between the two years, due to the variability of climatic characteristics (temperature levels, and moisture regimes). All these findings confirmed as, in linseed, yield and yield components are quantitatively inherited and influenced by both genotype and environment (location and climate). Varietal and environmental effects were also recorded for oil content and yield, and, generally, good oil percentages, for both genotypes, were found (ranging from 44 to 49% on dry matter basis). Oil from the two varieties was characterized by a stable proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids with a high content of alpha-linolenic acid (more than 57%), that makes this oil suitable to be used in paints, resins, varnishes, linoleum, polymers and oleochemicals. Finally, our results pointed out as above-and below-ground biomasses, were different in terms of quantity, and chemical characteristics (N, C and C/N ratio). Interesting amounts of N and C could return into the soil by crop residues (stem portions and roots), thus underling the possibility to maintain and/or increase the soil organic matter pool.

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“…Work with another crop plant, the common bean Phaseolus vulgaris (Fabaceae), showed that heat applied prior to anthesis resulted in pollen and anther development abnormalities [20]. Flax, Linum usitatissimum, (Linaceae), is another financially viable plant that is detrimentally affected by heat stress [6]. Heat was found to affect the reproductive capacity of L. usitatissimum when applied after floral initiation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Heat was found to affect the reproductive capacity of L. usitatissimum when applied after floral initiation. The fruits (boll) weighed less than the fruits of control plants and were three times more likely to have malformed, sterile seed [6]. Since these are economically valuable plants, reduced crop yields may result from increasing temperatures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%