13C/12C isotope labeling to study carbon partitioning and dark respiration in cereals subjected to water stress

Despite the relevance of carbon (C) loss through respiration processes (with its consequent effect on the lower C availability for grain filling), little attention has been given to this topic. Literature data concerning the role of respiration in cereals are scarce and these have been produced using indirect methods based on gas-exchange estimations. We have developed a new method based on the capture of respired CO2 samples and their analysis by gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS). In order to analyse the main processes involved in the C balance during grain filling (photosynthesis, respiration, allocation and partitioning) the ambient isotopic C-13/C-12 composition (delta C-13) of the growth chamber was modified during this period (delta C-13 ca. -12.8 +/- 0.3 parts per thousand to ca. -20.0 +/- 0.2 parts per thousand). The physiological performance, together with the C allocation on total organic matter (TOM) and respiration of wheat (Triticum aestivum L., var. Califa stir) and two hybrids, tritordeum (X Tritordeum Asch. & Graebn line HT 621) and triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack var. Imperioso), were compared during post-anthesis water stress. In spite of the larger ear DM/total ratio, especially under drought conditions, the grain filling of triticale and wheat was mainly carried out with pre-anthesis C, while the majority of C assimilated during post-anthesis was invested in respiration processes. In the case of wheat and tritordeum, the C balance data suggested a reallocation during grain filling of photoassimilates stored prior to anthesis from shoot to ear. Furthermore, the lower percentage of labeled C on respired CO2 of droughted tritordeum plants, together with the lower plant biomass, explained the fact that those plants had more C available for grain filling. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.