Building upon the outcomes of the UNTWIST field trials as well as genomic and metabolomic analyses with 54 camelina genotypes, four focus lines were selected to be tested in a drought stress trial at the experimental farm of the University of Bologna (UNIBO). The trial was performed using lysimeters to allow precise control of soil moisture conditions. Two water regimes were applied: a well-watered (favourable) condition and a drought treatment. Drought was imposed from the onset of flowering—an especially sensitive phase in camelina’s life cycle that is known to have a strong influence on final seed yield. Throughout the duration of the experiment, physiological parameters such as stomatal conductance, leaf water potential, and chlorophyll fluorescence were closely monitored. At harvest, key morphological traits, seed yield, and seed quality parameters were evaluated.
The analyses showed that drought stress induced different physiological responses already in the early stages of stress exposure. The impacts of drought on yield and seed quality were complex and exhibited significant variability across the four genotypes. Notably, two of the genotypes displayed a clear trade-off between seed size and seed weight, suggesting a shift in resource allocation under stress conditions. Another genotype showed only a negligible response to drought at a physiological level despite a severe yield loss under drought conditions. This observed diversity in response emphasizes the plasticity of camelina in adapting to drought conditions. Moreover, the study revealed that physiological measurements alone were not reliable predictors of yield and seed quality outcomes under drought. This suggests that additional mechanisms contribute to camelina’s resilience to water deficit, which are currently addressed in UNTWIST. Overall, the results underscore the importance of integrative approaches for guiding breeding strategies aimed at enhancing crop performance under increasingly variable and challenging environmental conditions.
