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JXB Advance Access originally published online on April 10, 2009
Journal of Experimental Botany 2009 60(7):1899-1918; doi:10.1093/jxb/erp016
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© The Author [2009]. Published by Oxford University Press [on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology]. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

REVIEW-ARTICLE

Raising yield potential in wheat

Matthew Reynolds1,*, M. John Foulkes2, Gustavo A. Slafer3, Peter Berry4, Martin A. J. Parry5, John W. Snape6 and William J. Angus7

1International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) Int. Apdo. Postal 6-641, 06600 México, DF, Mexico
2Division of Plant and Crop Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
3ICREA (Catalonian Institution for Research and Advanced Studies) and Department of Crop and Forest Sciences, University of Lleida, Centre UdL-IRTA, Av. Rovira Roure 191, E-25198, Lleida, Spain
4ADAS, High Mowthorpe, Malton, North Yorkshire, UK
5Centre for Crop Genetic Improvement, Department of Plant Science, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2JQ, UK
6John Innes Centre, Crop Genetics Department, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
7Nickersons-Advanta Ltd, Woolpit Business Park, Windmill Avenue, Woolpit, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP30 9UP, UK

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: m.reynolds{at}cgiar.org

Recent advances in crop research have the potential to accelerate genetic gains in wheat, especially if co-ordinated with a breeding perspective. For example, improving photosynthesis by exploiting natural variation in Rubisco's catalytic rate or adopting C4 metabolism could raise the baseline for yield potential by 50% or more. However, spike fertility must also be improved to permit full utilization of photosynthetic capacity throughout the crop life cycle and this has several components. While larger radiation use efficiency will increase the total assimilates available for spike growth, thereby increasing the potential for grain number, an optimized phenological pattern will permit the maximum partitioning of the available assimilates to the spikes. Evidence for underutilized photosynthetic capacity during grain filling in elite material suggests unnecessary floret abortion. Therefore, a better understanding of its physiological and genetic basis, including possible signalling in response to photoperiod or growth-limiting resources, may permit floret abortion to be minimized for a more optimal source:sink balance. However, trade-offs in terms of the partitioning of assimilates to competing sinks during spike growth, to improve root anchorage and stem strength, may be necessary to prevent yield losses as a result of lodging. Breeding technologies that can be used to complement conventional approaches include wide crossing with members of the Triticeae tribe to broaden the wheat genepool, and physiological and molecular breeding strategically to combine complementary traits and to identify elite progeny more efficiently.

Key words: Complex traits, crop breeding, gene discovery, genetic resources, lodging, phenology, photosynthesis, RUE, source:sink, spike fertility

Received 19 September 2008; Revised 16 January 2009 Accepted 19 January 2009


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