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A reduced‐tillering trait shows small but important yield gains in dryland wheat production
Author(s) -
Houshmandfar Alireza,
Ota Noboru,
O'Leary Garry J.,
Zheng Bangyou,
Chen Yang,
TauszPosch Sabine,
Fitzgerald Glenn J.,
Richards Richard,
Rebetzke Greg J.,
Tausz Michael
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
global change biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.146
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1365-2486
pISSN - 1354-1013
DOI - 10.1111/gcb.15105
Subject(s) - environmental science , arable land , trait , agronomy , transpiration , yield (engineering) , climate change , water use efficiency , precipitation , biology , geography , ecology , irrigation , agriculture , meteorology , photosynthesis , botany , materials science , computer science , metallurgy , programming language
Reducing the number of tillers per plant using a t iller in hibition ( tin ) gene has been considered as an important trait for wheat production in dryland environments. We used a spatial analysis approach with a daily time‐step coupled radiation and transpiration efficiency model to simulate the impact of the reduced‐tillering trait on wheat yield under different climate change scenarios across Australia's arable land. Our results show a small but consistent yield advantage of the reduced‐tillering trait in the most water‐limited environments both under current and likely future conditions. Our climate scenarios show that whilst elevated [CO 2 ] (e[CO 2 ]) alone might limit the area where the reduced‐tillering trait is advantageous, the most likely climate scenario of e[CO 2 ] combined with increased temperature and reduced rainfall consistently increased the area where restricted tillering has an advantage. Whilst long‐term average yield advantages were small (ranged from 31 to 51 kg ha −1 year −1 ), across large dryland areas the value is large (potential cost‐benefits ranged from Australian dollar 23 to 60 MIL/year). It seems therefore worthwhile to further explore this reduced‐tillering trait in relation to a range of different environments and climates, because its benefits are likely to grow in future dry environments where wheat is grown around the world.