Genetic progress in grain yield and the associated physiological traits of popular wheat in southwestern China from 1969 to 2012

Abstract

Knowledge about the key traits related to genetic gains in grain yield (GY) is necessary for understanding the main yield‐limiting factors and guiding future wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding. The objective of this research was to investigate the genetic progress in GY and the associated physiological traits in popular wheat cultivars released from 1969 to 2012 in southwestern China. Field experiments included eight representative cultivars that were evaluated at three experimental sites for three growing seasons. Grain yield increased at a linear rate of 0.69% or 52.52 kg ha−1 yr−1, which was mainly attributed to the increases in dry matter (DM) accumulation at maturity, harvest index (HI), and thousand‐kernel weight (TKW). The soil and plant analyzer development (SPAD) values of flag and penultimate leaves at anthesis increased with the year of release and were significantly related to GY. Significant genetic gains were made in both nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) translocation and NSC translocation efficiency from anthesis to maturity, and there was a trend over time towards a high net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of flag leaf and canopy apparent photosynthesis (CAP) at anthesis and at 30 d post‐anthesis (DPA). In addition, the linear increases in N uptake efficiency and N utilization efficiency were both significant and positive related to GY. Therefore, these key physiological traits can be used as selection criteria for further improving yield potential. Our results also reveal the potential for using synthetic hexaploid wheat in high‐yielding wheat breeding.

Wheat traits and the associated loci conferring radiation use efficiency

“…Genetic gain in wheat yield has been influenced by several agronomic and physiological traits over the last century worldwide (Aisawi et al., 2015; Balota et al., 2017; Liu, Tong, et al., 2021b; Sanchez‐Garcia et al., 2013). Some essential agronomic traits have been used in wheat improvement programs to help cultivar development, increase GY potential, and improve genetic gains (Tshikunde et al., 2019).…”

“…GY increased at a linear rate of 0.60% or (51.3 kg ha −1 year −1 ) from 1981 to 2008 in eastern‐central China in 18 leading cultivars, directly attributed to increased TGW and net photosynthesis (Zheng et al., 2011), in agreement with the current results. The genetic gain was 0.59% (or 52.5 kg ha −1 year −1 ) in southwestern China in eight representative cultivars released from 1969 to 2012, associated mainly with the increases in HI, TGW, and RUE (Liu, Tong, et al., 2021b). The genetic gain in GY was 0.85% (or 62.0 kg ha −1 year −1 ) in the eastern seaboard of central China in 15 genotype cultivars released from 1969 to 2006, mainly attributed to increases in NKM2, biomass related to RUE, and HI and reduced PH (Xiao et al., 2012).…”

“…Crop photosynthesis is determined by the canopy's ability to intercept and capture light, the duration of light capture, and the canopy's photosynthetic capacity and efficiency (Parry et al., 2011). Genetic gain in yield during the last century worldwide was most closely associated with grain number (He et al., 2011; Sadras & Lawson, 2011; Sanchez‐Garcia et al., 2013; Shearman et al., 2005) and TGW (Bustos et al., 2013; Liu, Tong, et al., 2021b; Zheng et al., 2011). Previous studies indicated that RUE was significantly reduced in older cultivars with smaller reproductive sinks post‐anthesis (Acreche & Slafer, 2011; Miralles & Slafer, 1997).…”

LDH Nanocubes Synthesized with Zeolite Templates and Their High Performance as Adsorbents

“…Novel Zn-LDH-hybridized zeolites were investigated for the removal of phosphorus. The results showed that the individual three-dimensional frameworks of the Zn-LDH nanocomposite are important for improving the adsorption process in wastewater treatment applications [31] (Table 1).…”

Genetic progress in physiological and biochemical traits related to grain yield in Moroccan durum wheat varieties from 1984 to 2007

“…Advances in the understanding of physiological traits during the last two decades have been widely reported in the literature for bread wheat (Balota et al., 2017; Beche et al., 2014; Fischer et al., 1998; Gao et al., 2017; Lui et al., 2021; Reynolds et al., 2000; Sadras et al., 2012; Sun et al., 2014; Yao et al., 2019; Zheng et al., 2011). In contrast, similar studies on durum wheat are very limited, and few works have been published (Chairi et al., 2020; De Vita et al., 2007; Koç et al., 2003).…”