Abstract
Enhanced grain yield has been achieved in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through development and cultivation of superior genotypes incorporating yield-related agronomic and physiological traits derived from genetically diverse and complementary genetic pool. Despite significant breeding progress, yield levels in wheat have remained relatively low and stagnant under marginal growing environments. There is a need for genetic improvement of wheat using yield-promoting morpho-physiological attributes and desired genotypes under the target production environments to meet the demand for food and feed. This review presents breeding progress in wheat for yield gains using agronomic and physiological traits. Further, the paper discusses globally available wheat genetic resources to identify and select promising genotypes possessing useful agronomic and physiological traits to enhance water, nutrient-, and radiation-use efficiency to improve grain yield potential and tolerance to abiotic stresses (i.e. elevated CO2, high temperature, and drought stresses). Finally, the paper highlights quantitative trait loci (QTL) linked to agronomic and physiological traits to aid breeding of high-performing wheat genotypes.
Highlights
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L., 2n = 6x = 42) is the world’s third important staple food crop after maize (Zea mays) and rice (Oryza sativa)
The objective of this review is to present breeding progress in wheat for yield gains using agronomic and physiological traits
Negative and significant correlations exist between days to flowering and grain yield potential suggesting that breeding for high yielding and early-maturing wheat genotypes can further be achieved by manipulating wheat phenology (Kamran et al, 2013b; Mondal et al, 2016)
Summary
Increased wheat production can be achieved through development and cultivation of genotypes with tolerance to abiotic stress and enhanced nutrient, radiation-, and water-use efficiency (WUE). Such genotypes can be developed through identification and selection of drought-adaptive and yield-influencing agronomic and physiological traits, and associated quantitative trait loci (QTL) (Chen et al, 2012; Lopes et al, 2012; Liu et al, 2015). Available wheat genetic resources to aid identification and selection of promising genotypes possessing useful agronomic and physiological traits to enhance water, nutrient-, and radiation-use efficiency to improve grain yield potential and tolerance to abiotic stresses (i.e. elevated CO2, high temperature, and drought) are discussed. The paper highlights QTL linked to agronomic and physiological traits to aid breeding of high-performing wheat genotypes
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