Phenotypic diversity and heritability in Eragrostis tef under irrigated Mediterranean conditions

Ben-Zeev, Shiran; Bimro, Jajaw; Barak, Vered; Saranga, Yehoshua

doi:10.1163/22238980-00001061

Cited by 15 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Three tef accessions, RTC-144, RTC-405, and RTC-406, were selected from the available germplasm ( Ben-Zeev et al, 2018 ). Among 273 tef accessions examined in this field study, both RTC-405 and RTC-406 were found suitable for Mediterranean climate and used as standards in our earlier trials.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation Between Three Eragrostis tef Accessions in Defense Responses to Rhopalosiphum padi Aphid Infestation

et al. 2020

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Tef (Eragrostis tef), a staple crop that originated in the Horn of Africa, has been introduced to multiple countries over the last several decades. Crop cultivation in new geographic regions raises questions regarding the molecular basis for biotic stress responses. In this study, we aimed to classify the insect abundance on tef crop in Israel, and to elucidate its chemical and physical defense mechanisms in response to insect feeding. To discover the main pests of tef in the Mediterranean climate, we conducted an insect field survey on three selected accessions named RTC-144, RTC-405, and RTC-406, and discovered that the most abundant insect order is Hemiptera. We compared the differences in Rhopalosiphum padi (Hemiptera; Aphididae) aphid performance, preference, and feeding behavior between the three accessions. While the number of aphid progeny was lower on RTC-406 than on the other two, the aphid olfactory assay indicated that the aphids tended to be repelled from the RTC-144 accession. To highlight the variation in defense responses, we investigated the physical and chemical mechanisms. As a physical barrier, the density of non-granular trichomes was evaluated, in which a higher number of trichomes on the RTC-406 than on the other accessions was observed. This was negatively correlated with aphid performance. To determine chemical responses, the volatile and central metabolite profiles were measured upon aphid attack for 4 days. The volatile analysis exposed a rich and dynamic metabolic profile, and the central metabolism profile indicated that tef plants adjust their sugars and organic and amino acid levels. Overall, we found that the tef plants possess similar defense responses as other Poaceae family species, while the non-volatile deterrent compounds are yet to be characterized. A transcriptomic time-series analysis of a selected accession RTC-144 infested with aphids revealed a massive alteration of genes related to specialized metabolism that potentially synthesize non-volatile toxic compounds. This is the first report to reveal the variation in the defense mechanisms of tef plants. These findings can facilitate the discovery of insect-resistance genes leading to enhanced yield in tef and other cereal crops.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation Between Three Eragrostis tef Accessions in Defense Responses to Rhopalosiphum padi Aphid Infestation

et al. 2020

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“…Four accessions of tef (RTC-2, RTC-119, RTC-361, and RTC-400) were selected from the collection described in our previous work [12] due to their similar phenology. RTC-2 has white seeds, a high biomass, and a loose panicle.…”

Section: Plant Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tef is grown in Israel during the dry summer, when irrigation must be applied to support crop production [12]. This need was exacerbated by the high temperatures of the Hula Valley.…”

Section: Lodgingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Less Is More: Lower Sowing Rate of Irrigated Tef (Eragrostis tef) Alters Plant Morphology and Reduces Lodging

Ben-Zeev

Rabinovitz²,

Orlov-Levin

et al. 2020

Agronomy

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Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) is a panicle-bearing cereal crop plant, originating from and grown mainly in Ethiopia. Tef yields highly nutritious gluten-free grain as well as high-quality forage, therefore, interest is rising regarding tef cultivation for grain and forage outside Ethiopia. Lodging is a major factor limiting tef quality and yield, with losses estimated at 30%–35% and presumably higher under mechanical harvest. Studies in other cereal crops suggested that lowering plant density would lead to sturdier plants less prone to lodging. In this work, we reported on the effects of sowing rate on lodging, lodging-related traits, and productivity of tef under irrigated conditions. Four tef genotypes were grown under irrigation across two years at three sowing rates: low (3 kg/ha), medium (6 kg/ha), and high (common, 9 kg/ha). Grain yield and biomass did not differ significantly among sowing rates. The visually assessed lodging index (LI) increased as the season progressed, with the lowest values recorded under low sowing density. A significant difference in LI values among the tested genotypes suggested potential for crop improvement. Aerial RGB images of the field taken by an unmanned aerial vehicle twice during the second season produced a high-resolution crop surface model, which was used to assess lodging. Aerial-based LI values were significantly correlated with the ground-based ones and exhibited better capacity to identify minor differences in lodging. Among the morphological traits assessed, crown diameter, crown root number, and crown root diameter were significantly affected by sowing rate and genotype and were correlated with LI values. In summary, this study demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of tef production under irrigated Mediterranean conditions and the potential of a reduced sowing rate as a remedy for lodging.

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“…Recently, tef has been gaining popularity in many Western countries due to its dual potential-as a gluten-free "super food" grain [3], and as high-quality forage [4,5]. In Israel, the demand for tef grain is further increased by the Ethiopian descent citizens who continue to consume it for their traditional cuisine [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimizing Sowing Depth of Tef for Irrigated Mediterranean Conditions: From Laboratory to Field Studies

et al. 2020

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Developing new crops adapted to arid conditions is a promising approach to meet the increasing demand for food production under expanding aridity. Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is a C4 cereal crop cultivated mainly in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, and known for its high resilience to stressful environments. Due to their tiny size, tef seeds are traditionally sown by broadcasting and lightly covering with soil. Under semiarid Mediterranean conditions, a deeper sowing may guarantee seedling establishment while saving on irrigation water. The objective of this study was, therefore, to determine the effects of sowing depth on tef emergence, development, lodging, and productivity. Tef seeds were sown at different depths in test tubes and pots, and in two field experiments. In tubes and pots, time from sowing to emergence increased about twofold and emergence rate decreased in the deepest sowing (3 cm) treatment compared to controls (0 cm). In the pot and field trials, deep sowing (3 cm) significantly reduced plant height, shoot and root biomass, and lodging. Sowing depths of 1–2 cm allowed successful plant establishment while not exacting penalties on plant emergence or development; hence this range appears to be optimal for sowing irrigated tef.

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Phenotypic diversity and heritability in Eragrostis tef under irrigated Mediterranean conditions

Cited by 15 publications

References 20 publications

Variation Between Three Eragrostis tef Accessions in Defense Responses to Rhopalosiphum padi Aphid Infestation

Variation Between Three Eragrostis tef Accessions in Defense Responses to Rhopalosiphum padi Aphid Infestation

Less Is More: Lower Sowing Rate of Irrigated Tef (Eragrostis tef) Alters Plant Morphology and Reduces Lodging

Optimizing Sowing Depth of Tef for Irrigated Mediterranean Conditions: From Laboratory to Field Studies

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