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Breeding Opportunities for Increasing the Efficiency of Water Use and Crop Yield in Temperate Cereals
Author(s) -
Richards R. A.,
Rebetzke G. J.,
Condon A. G.,
Herwaarden A. F.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci2002.1110
Subject(s) - biology , temperate climate , agronomy , yield (engineering) , selection (genetic algorithm) , limiting , crop , grain yield , crop yield , rainfed agriculture , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , mechanical engineering , materials science , artificial intelligence , computer science , engineering , metallurgy
Genetic advances in grain yield under rainfed conditions have been achieved by empirical breeding methods. Progress is slowed, however, by large genotype × season and genotype × location interactions arising from unpredictable rainfall, which is a feature of dry environments. A good understanding of factors limiting and/or regulating yield now provides us with an opportunity to identify and then select for physiological and morphological traits that increase the efficiency of water use and yield under rainfed conditions. The incorporation of these traits into breeders' populations should broaden their genetic base. It also may lead to faster selection methods and selection for the traits may result in correlated gains in yield. Here, we undertake a review of factors that limit yield in rainfed environments and discuss genetic opportunities and genetic progress in overcoming them. The examples given are for wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), but the principles apply to all cereal crops grown in dry environments.