S. Rajaram

AMMI adjustment for statistical analysis of an international wheat yield trial

SummaryMultilocation trials are important for the CIMMYT Bread Wheat Program in producing high-yielding, adapted lines for a wide range of environments. This study investigated procedures for improving predictive success of a yield trial, grouping environments and genotypes into homogeneous subsets, and determining the yield stability of 18 CIMMYT bread wheats evaluated at 25 locations. Additive Main effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) analysis gave more precise estimates of genotypic yields within locations than means across replicates. This precision facilitated formation by cluster analysis of more cohesive groups of genotypes and locations for biological interpretation of interactions than occurred with unadjusted means. Locations were clustered into two subsets for which genotypes with positive interactions manifested in high, stable yields were identified. The analyses highlighted superior selections with both broad and specific adaptation.

Inheritance of Resistance to Scab in Two Wheat Cultivars from Brazil and China

One of the major diseases that reduces the quality of wheat is scab. Quality is reduced by the production of toxins in grain by the pathogen Fusarium graminearum. Various genetic sources of resistance have been identified, but the degree of resistance in most cultivars is insufficient. Although both South American and Chinese germ plasm are being used in breeding programs around the world, it is not known whether the resistance genes contributed by these sources are different. The purpose of this study was to determine the mode of inheritance and number of genes involved in the scab resistance of a wheat cultivar from Brazil and one from China, both known to possess intermediate to high resistance in regard to spread of the disease in the wheat head. The resistant Brazilian cultivar Frontana was compared to the highly resistant Chinese cultivar Ning 7840 in crosses with CNO79, a highly susceptible Mexican wheat, as the susceptible parent. Random F2-derived F7 lines from the six crosses possible (including reciprocals) among the parents were studied for their field response following inoculation with F graminearum on two inoculation dates. Three methods of disease assessment were compared. The two resistant parents were shown to possess two unique dominant genes each, with all four genes being different. Combining their resistance genes may produce higher levels of resistance. The two inoculation dates provided the same gene postulations. The three disease assessment methods essentially measured the same basic process of disease spread within the head, based on the calculation of the genotypic correlations between the methods and the similarity in gene postulations. The easiest and most relevant method should therefore suffice for assessing the spread of scab through the wheat head.

CIMMYT’s approach to breeding for wide adaptation

The wheat area in developing countries, including China, is around 100 million ha. To address the needs of these very diverse wheat growing areas, CIMMYT has defined 12 wheat mega-environments (ME). A ME is defined as broad, not necessarily continuous often transcontinental area with similar biotic and abiotic stresses, cropping systems and consumer preferences. The factors describing each ME are presented.

Traits associated with improved P-uptake efficiency in CIMMYT's semidwarf spring bread wheat grown on an acid Andisol in Mexico

Phosphorus deficiency is a major yield limiting constraint in wheat cultivation on acid soils. The plant factors that influence P uptake efficiency (PUPE) are mainly associated with root characteristics. This study was conducted to analyze the genotypic differences and relationships between PUPE, root length density (RLD), colonization by vesicular arbuscular and arbuscular mycorrhizal (V)AM fungi and root excretion of phosphatases in a P-deficient Andisol in the Central Mexican Highlands. Forty-two semidwarf spring-bread-wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) genotypes from CIMMYT were grown without (−P) and with P fertilization (+P), and subsequently in subsets of 30 and 22 genotypes in replicated field trials over 2 and 3 years, respectively. Acid phosphatase activity at the root surface (APASE) was analyzed in accompanying greenhouse experiments in nutrient solution. In this environment, PUPE contributed more than P utilization efficiency, in one experiment almost completely, to the variation of grain yield among genotypes. Late-flowering genotypes were higher yielding, because the postanthesis period of wheat was extended due to the cold weather at the end of the crop cycles, and postanthesis P uptake accounted for 40–45% of total P uptake. PUPE was positively correlated with the numbers of days to anthesis (at −P r=0.57 and at +P r=0.73). The RLD in the upper soil layer (0–20 cm) of the wheat germplasm tested ranged from 0.5 to 2.4 cm cm-3 at –P and 0.7 to 7.7 at +P. RLD was the most important root trait for improved P absorption, and it was positively genetically correlated with PUPE (at –P r=0.42 and at +P r=0.63) and the number of spikes m-2 (at –P r=0.58 and at +P r=0.36). RLD in the upper soil layer was more important with P fertilizer application. Without P fertilization, root proliferation in the deeper soil profile secured access to residual, native P in the deeper soil layer. (V)AM-colonisation and APASE were to a lesser degree correlated with PUPE. Among genoptypes, the level of (V)AM-colonisation ranged from 14 to 32% of the RLD in the upper soil layer, and APASE from 0.5 to 1.1 nmol s-1 plant-1 10-2.

Agronomic performance of chromosomes 1B and T1BL.1RS near-isolines in the spring bread wheat Seri M82

The T1BL.1RS wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) - rye (Secale cereale L.) translocations have been of particular interest and are widely used in bread wheat breeding programs. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the T1BL.1RS chromosome on grain yield and its components using 20 near-isolines of spring bread wheat cultivar ‘Seri M82’ (10 homozygous for chromosome 1B substitution and 10 homozygous for T1BL.1RS). The test lines have been produced by substituting the 1B chromosome in Seri M82 (T1BL.1RS, T1BL.1RS) through backrossing. Two field experiments were evaluated under optimum (five irrigations) and reduced (one irrigation) moisture conditions for two consecutive production cycles at the Mexican National Agricultural Research Institute, Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico. The presence of T1BL.1RS had a significant effect on grain yield, harvest index, grains/m2, grains/spike, 1000-grain weight, test weight, flowering date and physiological maturity in both moisture conditions. The agronomic advantage of the 1B substitution lines on above-ground biomass yield at maturity, spikes/m2and grain-filling duration was expressed only under the optimum moisture condition. The presence of T1BL.1RS increased grain yield 1.6% and 11.3% for optimum and reduced moisture conditions, respectively. These results encourage further use of T1BL.1RS wheats in improving agronomic traits, especially for reduced irrigation or rainfed environments.

Evaluation of selection strategies for wheat adaptation across water regimes

Drought frequently constrains production of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), but development of tolerant cultivars is hampered by low heritability for drought tolerance and a lack of effective selection strategies. Our objective was to identify an optimum selection regime for wheat in drought-prone environments. Six-hundred entries derived from 10 crosses were developed by selection under continuous high moisture, alternating high with low moisture, alternating low with high moisture, and continuous low moisture conditions for five generations. The selections were evaluated in two low-yield, a medium-yield, and a high-yield environment in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, Mexico. The mean performance of entries derived from a particular selection regime was dependant on the stress level of the evaluation environment. Lines developed and selected under continuous high moisture and continuous low-moisture regimes produced the highest mean yields in the low moisture evaluation environment. There was no relationship between continuous selection under either high yielding conditions or low yielding conditions and the mean performance of the resultant lines in their respective high and low yielding evaluation environments. The mean yield of lines selected using the alternating high/low moisture regime as well as the five highest yielding lines were superior in the HY environment, and had similar performance with other regimes under the low yielding evaluation environment. Our results indicate that alternating selection between high and low yielding environments is the most effective way to develop wheat germplasm adapted to environments where intermittent drought occurs.

Prospects and Promise of Wheat Breeding in the 21ST Century

Globally speaking, the world would require one billion metric tons ofwheat in the year 2020 as compared to the current production of 600million metric tons. These figures, when translated into productivityparameters, mean that the current wheat global average yield of 2.5 t/ha.must shift to roughly 4 t/ha, in the 2020. Can this be achieved?Optimistically speaking, this projection can be met provided there iscontinuous support and investment in agricultural science and research,especially in conventional plant breeding, integrated pest managementincluding soil health, improved seed multiplication and distribution, system,optimum and efficient use of inputs. Furthermore, mechanization of farmingsystems and supporting pricing policies to farmers are necessary forcontinuing production increases. I believe that, an invigorated research program on redesigning of wheatplant, discovery and assembly of hybrid vigour, efficient management ofwater and drought, genetically superior system of uptake and translocationof nutrients, suitable germplasm adapted to conservation tillage practices,durable and multiple disease resistance in wheat and transgenics wouldinsure a superior germplasm base from which future cultivars with high andstable yield potential would be made available to the farmers. Germplasmand genetic resources would remain paramount. However, every precautionis warranted to preserve the natural resource base and soil nutrient balance,so that the future agricultural system is guaranteed with minimum hazardto environment.

Plant traits related to yield of wheat in early, late, or continuous drought conditions

Bread wheats (Triticum aestivum L.) were evaluated for plant characteristics contributing to grain yield and plant adaptation under various drought patterns. The usefulness of these traits as explicit selection criteria in developing drought tolerant wheat varieties was investigated in three experiments. Cultivars from four germ-plasm groups, representing the four relevant major and distinct global wheat growing environments, were grown under the respective simulated early, late, continuous and no drought conditions by manipulating irrigation in north western Mexico. Additionally, 560 advanced lines from the CIMMYT breeding program were grown under late drought conditions, and 16 randomly selected advanced genotypes were studied in more detail under late and no drought conditions. In these three studies, the association between yield in drought-stressed environments and yield in non drought-stressed environments was interpreted to reflect genotypic high yield potential, mainly by way of high biomass development. However, yield potential only partly explained the superior performance under drought. For each pattern of drought stress, particular and often different plant traits were identified that further contributed specific adaptation to the distinct drought stress conditions. Knowledge of these traits will be useful for developing CIMMYT germplasm for specific drought-stressed areas. Ultimately, these studies demonstrate that both yield potential and specific adaptation traits are useful criteria in breeding for drought environments, and should be combined to achieve optimum performance and adaptation to drought stress.

Importance of P uptake efficiency versus P utilization for wheat yield in acid and calcareous soils in Mexico

Abstract There are large agricultural areas in the world where wheat yields are limited by low phosphorus (P) availability. Breeding for P uptake and P utilization efficiency may reduce this problem. This study was conducted to determine the contribution of P uptake and utilization efficiency to grain yield of selected spring wheat genotypes in different environments. Thirty-eight semidwarf spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) genotypes were grown in two experiments in Mexico, each on an acid Andisol under rainfed conditions and on a calcareous Aridisol with irrigation, without (−P) and with 35 kg P per ha fertilized (+P). Without P fertilization, grain yield ranged from 0.8 to 4.6 t ha−1 in the acid soil and from 2.4 to 5.2 t ha−1 in the calcareous soil. With P fertilization, this range was even larger. Under conditions of P deficiency, i.e. in the acid soil at −P and +P (high P adsorption) and calcareous soil at −P (P-depleted soil), P uptake explained 71–100% of the variation in grain yield, and was highly correlated with grain yield (r=0.79–0.95). In contrast, at +P in the calcareous soil, P utilization efficiency explained 60–63% of the variation in grain yield. Here, low grain P concentration was related to high grain yield (r=−0.40 to −0.59). In the calcareous soil, the harvest index was correlated with grain yield, irrespective of the P level. In the acid soil, post-anthesis P accumulation was important. It was positively correlated with grain yield, whereas in the calcareous soil, no post-anthesis-P accumulation occurred. Here, grain P accumulation at maturity was completely determined by translocation of pre-anthesis shoot P. We conclude that the combination of improved P uptake and P utilization efficiency in the same genotypes requires selection under both high and low-P conditions.

Wheat quality traits and quality parameters of cooked dry white chinese noodles

Dry white Chinese noodle (DWCN) is widely consumed in China, and genetic improvement of DWCN quality has become a major objective for Chinese wheat breeding programs. One hundred and four bread wheat cultivars and advanced lines, including 88from major Chinese wheat-producing areas, were sown in two locations for two years. Their DWCN quality, as evaluated by trained panelists, was studied to determine the relationship between wheat quality parameters and DWCN quality attributes. In general, the cultivars and advanced lines used in this study are characterized with acceptable protein content, but accompanied with weak-medium gluten strength and poor extensibility, and substantial variation is observed for all grain and DWCN quality characters. On average, Australia and USA wheat performed better DWCN quality than Chinese wheats. Simple correlation analysis indicated that both grain hardness and Farinograph water absorption were negatively associated with cooked DWCN color, appearance, smoothness, and taste. Flour whiteness and RVA peak viscosity was positively associated with all DWCN parameters, and their correlation coefficients (r) with DWCN score are 0.34 and 0.41, respectively. Their positive contributions to DWCN quality were mostly through improved color, appearance, smoothness, and taste. Farinograph mixing tolerance index (MTI) and softening were negatively associated with all DWCN quality parameters, and their correlation coefficients with DWCN score are –0.50 and–0.54, respectively. Further analysis indicated that association between protein content, Zeleny sedimentation value, Farinograph stability, and Extensograph extensibility, and DWCN score fit quadratic regression model significantly, with R2 0.12, 0.32, 0.22, and 0.20, respectively. The associations between Zeleny sedimentation value and DWCNs appearance and taste also fit quadratic regression model significantly. This suggests that to certain extent, increased protein content and gluten quality contribute positively to DWCN quality, mostly by improving palatability, elasticity, and stickiness. High flour whiteness, medium protein content, medium to strong gluten strength and good extensibility, and high starch peak viscosity are desirable for DWCN quality. Genetic improvement for flour whiteness, protein quality and starch paste viscosity would increase the DWCN quality of Chinese bread wheat cultivars.