Translating knowledge about abiotic stress tolerance to breeding programmes

Abstract

SUMMARYPlant breeding and improvements in agronomic practice are making a consistent contribution to increasing global crop production year upon year. However, the rate of yield improvement currently lags behind the targets set to produce enough food to meet the demands of the predicted global population in 2050. Furthermore, crops that are exposed to harmful abiotic environmental factors (abiotic stresses, e.g. water limitation, salinity, extreme temperature) are prone to reduced yields. Here, we briefly describe the processes undertaken in conventional breeding programmes, which are usually designed to improve yields in near-optimal conditions rather than specifically breeding for improved crop yield stability under stressed conditions. While there is extensive fundamental research activity that examines mechanisms of plant stress tolerance, there are few examples that apply this research to improving commercial crop yields. There are notable exceptions, and we highlight some of these to demonstrate the magnitude of yield gains that could be made by translating agronomic, phenological and genetic solutions focused on improving or mitigating the effect of abiotic stress in the field; in particular, we focus on improvements in crop water-use efficiency and salinity tolerance. We speculate upon the reasons for the disconnect between research and research translation. We conclude that to realise untapped rapid gains towards food security targets new funding structures need to be embraced. Such funding needs to serve both the core and collaborative activities of the fundamental, pre-breeding and breeding research communities in order to expedite the translation of innovative research into the fields of primary producers.

Closing the global ozone yield gap: Quantification and cobenefits for multistress tolerance

“…So far, most crop breeding programmes have been targeted at increasing or maintaining the yield rather than increasing stability of yield under stress (Gilliham et al, ; Gilliham, Chapman, Martin, Jose, & Bastow, ). Because ozone concentrations tend to be very heterogeneous across natural and agricultural regions (Klingberg, Karlsson, & Pihl Karlsson, ) as well as over seasons and years, it is not likely that traditional selection would unintentionally favour ozone‐tolerant crop genotypes.…”

The case for evidence‐based policy to support stress‐resilient cropping systems

“…Such research topics are not new endeavors, and the lessons learned from previous and current research can inform us how new policies might best support the development of stress‐resilient cropping systems (Gilliham et al. ).…”

“…In combination, these approaches have led to research impact through translation in both the private and public sector, but have required a substantial cross‐scale effort for delivery (Gilliham et al. ).…”

“…For example, Lobell et al (2015) revealed that while drought will continue to impact yields of wheat and sorghum in Northeast Australia, breeders will need to increase the heat tolerance of these crops to mitigate the damage from increasing frequencies of extreme heat stress events in this region. Such research topics are not new endeavors, and the lessons learned from previous and current research can inform us how new policies might best support the development of stress-resilient cropping systems (Gilliham et al 2017).…”

“…A holistic approach is needed whereby multiple research angles are deployed and integrated to achieve the best results, encompassing genetics, breeding, physiology, predictive modeling, agronomy, and extension to growers (Hammer et al 2016). In combination, these approaches have led to research impact through translation in both the private and public sector, but have required a substantial cross-scale effort for delivery (Gilliham et al 2017).…”