Premium
Changes in Yield and Carbon Isotope Discrimination of Italian and Spanish Durum Wheat during the 20th Century
Author(s) -
Royo C.,
Martos V.,
Ramdani A.,
Villegas D.,
Rharrabti Y.,
García del Moral L. F.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj2007.0060
Subject(s) - cultivar , anthesis , dwarfing , agronomy , germplasm , biology , sowing , triticum turgidum , grain yield , yield (engineering) , poaceae , horticulture , materials science , rootstock , metallurgy
This study evaluates the breeding of durum wheat ( Triticum turgidum L. var. durum ) during the 20th century with respect to yield and grain carbon isotope discrimination (Δ), and their relationship with plant height, harvest index (HI), days from sowing to anthesis, and days from anthesis to maturity. Twenty‐four cultivars released before 1945 (old), between 1950 and 1985 (intermediate), and between 1988 and 2000 (modern), and previously characterized by whether dwarfing genes were present (semidwarf) or absent (tall), were selected from germplasm obtained in Italy and Spain. Experiments were conducted in six environments with average yields ranging from to 2113 to 4827 kg ha −1 . The total absolute genetic gain in yield across countries from before 1945 to 2000 was 20 kg ha −1 yr −1 (51% of increase), which represents a relative genetic gain of 0.61% yr −1 . Yield gains led to a loss of stability. The mean increase in Δ 13 C was 6% (0.014‰ yr −1 or 0.09% yr −1 ). Early heading and a long grain‐filling period were correlated with high yields in the tall cultivars. Increased plant height and low Δ 13 C values were associated with high yields for the semidwarf cultivars, while a long grain‐filling period was not advantageous for semidwarf cultivars.