Book chapter
Wheat
Yield Gains in Major U.S. Field Crops, pp.459-487
American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America
05/15/2014
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/110043
Abstract
Grain yield of wheat (Triticum spp.), a vital component of world food supplies, rose steadily in the 20th century, due both to improved agronomic practices and plant breeding. Increases in wheat grain yield (kilograms harvested per hectare) over time derive from improved agronomic practices and from enhanced genetic potential of wheat cultivars. Estimation of the rate of genetic improvement through time is important because it allows prediction of whether future grain supplies will meet future demands of world population. In this study, wheat grain yields, relative to check cultivars in USDA‐ARS coordinated regional performance trials, were calculated for the time period 1980 through 2010, and regression analysis was used to evaluate changes in relative grain yield potential versus year of the trial. The results were compared to those of previous investigations in which an identical approach was used for the time period 1958 through 1980. Averaged across all trials, the genetic potential for grain yield increased from 1980 to 2010 at a rate of approximately 0.8% per year, lower than the value of 1.2% reported for the time period 1958 through 1980. The observed rates of increase were statistically different (P = 0.05) from zero for all USDA‐ARS performance nurseries, with the exception of the Southern Regional Performance Nursery and the Pacific Northwest Soft Winter Wheat Nursery. These two trials represent the lowest and highest yielding environments, suggesting that genetic progress has been difficult when moisture is often limiting or when wheat yields are approaching biological limits. Future prospects for enhanced genetic potential for grain yield in wheat might very well depend on the application of the tools of genetic engineering, if the exploitable genetic variation for grain yield already has been utilized.
Metrics
20 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Wheat
- Creators
- Robert GrayboschHarold E BockelmanKimberly A Garland‐CampbellDavid F GarvinTeshome Regassa
- Contributors
- Stephen Smith (Editor)Brian Diers (Editor)James Specht (Editor)Brett Carver (Editor)
- Publication Details
- Yield Gains in Major U.S. Field Crops, pp.459-487
- Academic Unit
- Crop and Soil Sciences, Department of
- Publisher
- American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America; Madison, WI, USA
- Number of pages
- 29
- Identifiers
- 99900547201601842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Book chapter