Potential role of root membrane PA in superior agronomic performance of silage‐corn in cool climate

Muhammad Nadeem, Thu Huong Pham, Raymond Thomas, Lakshman Galagedara, Vanessa Kavanagh, Xinbiao Zhu, Waqas Ali, Mumtaz Cheema

Physiologia Plantarum

First published: 11 December 2018 https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.12902

Abstract

The literature is replete with information describing the composition of the root lipidome in several plant species grown under various environmental conditions. However, it is unknown to what extent the root membrane lipidome vary between silage‐corn genotypes, and how such variation could influence agronomic performances during field cultivation in cool climate. To address this issue, the root membrane lipidome and agronomic performance were assessed for five silage‐corn genotypes (Fusion‐RR, Yukon‐R, A4177G3‐RIB, DKC23‐17RIB, DKC26‐28RIB) cultivated under cool climatic conditions. Leaf area, plant height, and biomass production were used as agronomic performance indicators. Varieties DKC26‐28RIB and Yukon‐R expressed significantly higher leaf area, plant height and biomass production compared to the other genotypes. A strong positive Spearman rank‐order correlation (P = 0.001) was observed between biomass production and root phosphatidic acid (PA).

The high correlation observed between PA and agronomic performance indicates PA could potentially be used as biomarker to assist in the selection of silage‐corn genotypes with superior agronomic performance ideally suited for field cultivations in cool climatic conditions.