Yes, the issue of wetland plants is an interesting one, if not directly
relevant to drought tolerance and productive potential. However, it does
raise an interesting point about plants living under "luxury" conditions,
their productive potential, and their evolution. This leads to the larger
issue of the relationship of organisms to the elements of their environments
that promote production and limit it. Thank you for raising it.
My immediate question, however, concerns whether or not selection and
genetic engineering have significant potential, either on a theoretical
basis (What are the foundations for the theory?) or empirical evidence
(which supports or refutes theory), to produce more biomass or crop on less
water (drought tolerance). That is, what ACTUALLY IS the evidence or
theoretical foundation for such a presumption or conclusion? Further, what
are the limits of the phenomenon, and how much increase in production is
theoretically feasible; also, if such an increase has been demonstrated, how
much increase has been achieved.
If it turns out that there are any flaws in the reasoning that such increase
is possible, now would seem to be the time to, if you will excuse the
expression, arrest further development down some yellow brick road.
WT
----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
To: "Wayne Tyson" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 9:01 AM
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Plant Physiology Drought tolerance Re: [ECOLOG-L]
course and symposium on plant breeding for drought tolerance
Hi Wayne, an example icould be foodcrops such as rice that today have
hundreds of varieties bred into cultivars over millenia. Plants that grew
in drier regions are known (in agriculture) as being drought tolerant,
relative to rice plants that have ocurred in wetter areas.
Now not being an agricultural scientist, I have nothing to add about
modern day genetic practices like inserting dryland rice genes to achieve
drought tolerance in a 'super' plant.
Cheers, amartya
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message-----
From: Wayne Tyson <[email protected]>
Sender: "Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news"
<[email protected]>
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:21:17
To: <[email protected]>
Reply-To: Wayne Tyson <[email protected]>
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Plant Physiology Drought tolerance Re: [ECOLOG-L]
course and symposium on plant breeding for drought tolerance
Ecolog:
What IS drought tolerance?
What evidence is there that plants can manufacture more biomass/crop yield
on less water rather than to evade water deficits by continuing to survive
by reducing biomass production?
WT
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Inouye" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 1:49 PM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] course and symposium on plant breeding for drought
tolerance
PLANT BREEDING FOR DROUGHT TOLERANCE
Moisture deficits loom as one of the greatest challenges to future crop
production, both in rainfed and irrigated agriculture. Enhancing the
genetic tolerance of crops to drought stress, is considered an essential
strategy for addressing these deficits. To respond to the need for more
plant scientists trained in developing drought tolerant cultivars,
Colorado State University will offer a short course in Plant Breeding for
Drought Tolerance June 11-22, 2012.
The course will end with a two-day symposium on Plant Breeding for
Drought
Tolerance, which will be given June 21-22, 2012 and is open to the
public.
Confirmed speakers include Drs. John Boyer, John Passioura, Eduardo
Blumwald, Tom Juenger, Amelia Henry, Sean Cutler and Jill Deikman.
TARGET AUDIENCE
The course is targeted to graduate students in the plant sciences, as
well
as to professionals in the public and private sectors. It will provide
three transferable graduate-level credits.
CONTENT
The course will consist of classroom lectures, hands-on lab exercises,
and
field research activities appropriate for a drought breeding and genetics
program. Course activities are designed around three modules: 1) Whole
Plant Physiology of Drought Stress, 2) Plant Breeding for Drought Stress
Tolerance and 3) Genomic Approaches to Drought Stress Tolerance.
PREREQUISITES
The course will be given in English.
Participants should have a solid understanding of basic plant physiology
and genetics. Prior to the short course, students will review online
material on these topics to provide a common background in breeding and
physiology concepts.
PROGRAM COSTS
The cost of student tuition and fees is $1,800. Accommodations for room
and board are available on-campus for either $850 (double occupancy) or
$1,150 (single occupancy). This cost includes three meals daily. Guests
are also welcome to make their own arrangements for room and board. All
foreign visas and travel arrangements are at students' initiative and
expense.
FUNDING
Partial funding to develop the course was provided by a grant from
USDA-NIFA. No scholarships are available for the course.
REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION
Participants may apply online
(http://www.droughtadaptation.org<http://www.droughtadaptation.org/>)
through February 1, 2012.
-----
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