Maximising yield potential of wheat

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Yield potential is defined as the final grain yield of a genotype when grown under optimal conditions, in an environment to which it is adapted, free from competition and from biotic and abiotic stresses. Increasing yield potential is a major component of any crop improvement programme and decades of plant breeding have established that such increases in yield potential are also expressed across a wide range of more limiting environments. However, recent data suggests that genetic improvement of yield may be reaching a plateau; in particular, increases from improving harvest index are close to a theoretical maximum, and novel approaches through increasing biomass and manipulating resource use and architecture need to be considered. In this project we will address individual processes that limit biomass and yield potential by accessing existing genetic diversity in these characters and introducing novel diversity through transgenesis and TILLING where appropriate.
The traits to be addressed, partly in association with the other projects, include photosynthetic efficiency, carbon and nitrogen partitioning, canopy and spike architecture, canopy longevity, nutrient assimilation and fertility. The project will exploit bioinformatics approaches and crop modelling to explore the interdependence of different yield components and allow these to be investigated experimentally.
The overall aims are to:

1. To exploit natural and induced variation and biotechnology to increase biomass production by increasing both photosynthesis and nitrogen use efficiency.
2. To enhance yield components by manipulating yield traits under hormonal control.

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