Delivering Sustainable Wheat: Targeted Sustainability-Trait Discovery (John Innes Centre)

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WP1 addresses resource capture and utilisation efficiency to achieve sustainable wheat yield quality and stability. Increasing production costs (e.g. fertilizers) and a need to decrease the carbon footprint of farming demand improvements in efficiency. This includes addressing changes in farming practices such as the rise of reduced till or regenerative agriculture due to the major impact these have on soil structure13. A focus of WP1 is to enhance root and canopy carbon sequestration and improve N P minerals (such as Zn) and water use efficiency. However as yield remains a key commercial target and is essential for global food security aspects of yield components trait tradeoffs and challenges arising from climate change are addressed14. WP1 will study root canopy inflorescence and grain development using physiology genetics hormone profiling metabolite analyses and genomics to reveal haplotypes associated with these key sustainability traits the integration of these processes and the impacts on plant development in fluctuating environments.

WP1 will (1) dissect G x E x M interactions for nutrient acquisition water and light use efficiency and carbon capture and develop/identify germplasm able to exploit reduced inputs and no-till farming (2) deliver increase yield yield stability and efficiency gains via the Breeders Toolkit (BTK) improving or understanding of the physiological and molecular basis of these key components of productivity and (3) develop a mechanistic understanding of the genetic factors underlying inflorescence and grain development including assessment of temperature-sensitive processes improvement of which will be vital to cope with projected climate change in the UK as indicated in the strategic case.

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