Increasing the yield potential of wheat: Manipulating sources and sinks
1996
Richards, R.A.
A genetic improvement in the yield potential of wheat will be achieved more quickly if we target and specifically select for factors that contribute to higher yields. This paper considers the numerous physiological processes that influence the yield of spring wheat grown under irrigation and discusses ways of genetically manipulating them. Discussion is divided into three phases of crop growth. The manipulation of early leaf area growth and phenology is discussed first and the impact that these may have on increasing grain yield in favorable and unfavorable conditions. The second phase discussed is the early reproductive period up to anthesis. Ways to increase the partitioning of carbon and nitrogen to the developing ear so as to increase grain number and thereby yield are suggested. Finally, the post anthesis period of grain growth is discussed. It is noted that the rate of grain growth in wheat is substantially less than it is in barley and hence there should be opportunities to increase the grain growth of wheat. Factors that should contribute to increased grain growth are discussed and ways to genetically increase it are proposed.
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