Abstract
Abstract Improving rainfed wheat cultivation in central Brazil, where the Cerrado biome (Brazilian savanna) is predominant, remains a bottleneck for future increases in domestic wheat production. In the Cerrado, the limited water availability during the wheat-growing season is an obstacle to increase wheat yield. To address this issue, the physiological and molecular drought response of wheat and the environmental conditions of this region must be better understood. In this review, we characterized the impact of drought on rainfed wheat production in the Cerrado. Based on the peculiarities of this environment, we suggest that certain traits should be prioritized in selection. These traits and their molecular basis are important to raise wheat yields in the Cerrado and also to improve food security in Brazil, one of the top wheat-importing countries in the world.
Highlights
The potential area for wheat production in Brazil is estimated at 7.27 million hectares (Mha), including temperate, subtropical and tropical zones (Mingoti et al 2014)
This review pointed out the importance of drought for rainfed wheat production in Brazil by describing the characteristics of the Cerrado, which is the best-represented biome in wheat cultivation region 4
Based on mean yields of 1.3 to 2.4 tons per hectare for rainfed wheat in region 4 (Scheeren et al 2008, Condé et al 2013), an increase in area and productivity of this crop in this region would have a significant effect on reducing the gap between domestic wheat production (~5.5 million tons (Mt)) and consumption (~10.5 Mt) in Brazil
Summary
The potential area for wheat production in Brazil is estimated at 7.27 million hectares (Mha), including temperate, subtropical and tropical zones (Mingoti et al 2014). In the other two cultivation regions, where the Cerrado biome is predominant, the climate conditions are hot and moderately dry (region 3) or hot and dry (region 4). In these regions, wheat can be cultivated under irrigated or rainfed conditions. Independent of the developmental stage, drought is one of the stresses most detrimental to crop productivity. In this context, this review pointed out the importance of drought for rainfed wheat production in Brazil by describing the characteristics of the Cerrado, which is the best-represented biome in wheat cultivation region 4.
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