ScienceDaily (July 12, 2005) — Scientists at the University of Nottingham are working with researchers in Mexico to develop new varieties of wheat that could combine the best characteristics of British and Mexican types to bring about a quantum leap in yield while increasing the sustainability of UK agriculture.

The researchers are collaborating with the International Centre for Wheat and Maize Improvement (CIMMYT), a relationship strengthened by a recent workshop in Mexico supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). With their CIMMYT colleagues the UK researchers will explore the characteristics of crossing novel Central American varieties of wheat that have bigger and more fertile ears with UK varieties that have smaller ears but higher capacities for photosynthesis.

The research team is using a range of techniques, including comparative genetics, developmental biology and plant physiology, to help them to understand what it is that results in the Mexican varieties having bigger ears. If they could successfully find a way to get UK varieties of wheat to grow with bigger ears then the yield of a crop could potentially be increased in a sustainable way without the need for extra water or fertilizer.

Professor Michael Holdsworth, Professor of Crop Science at the University of Nottingham, said, "We have evidence that UK wheat plants have the capability from photosynthesis to produce more material than they do at the moment but they are limited by the size of their ears. We hope that the research we are doing could lift these limitations and enable traditional crossing between lines so that breeders can produce wheat varieties that would thrive in the British climate but produce much higher yields."

Professor Julia Goodfellow, Chief Executive of BBSRC, said, "Sustainable agriculture is a key aim of BBSRC. Research such as this shows how work on the fundamental physiology of a plant could identify the underlying causes of desirably traits, such as larger ears, that could help us to increase yields while reducing the environmental 'footprint' of agriculture."

Related Stories

Fighting A Worldwide Wheat Threat (July 2, 2008) — Wheat stockpiles are at a 30-year low and production costs are rising, but what really scares wheat growers is the specter of Ug99, a new rust fungus to which very few of the currently grown ...  > read more

Gene To Reduce Wheat Yield Losses (Mar. 2, 2009) — A new gene that provides resistance to a fungal disease responsible for millions of hectares of lost wheat yield has been discovered. The scientists report finding a novel type of gene in wild wheat ...  > read more

Elusive Rust Resistance Genes Located (Dec. 21, 2006) — The discovery of a DNA marker for two key rust resistance genes is enabling plant breeders around the world to breed more effective rust resistant wheat varieties. The genes, Lr34 and Yr18, are ...  > read more

Organic Farming Has Little, If Any, Effect On Nutritional Content Of Wheat, Study Concludes (Oct. 16, 2006) — Organically grown wheat may have different labeling and a higher price in stores, but it contains essentially the same profile of amino acids, sugars and other metabolic substances as wheat grown ...  > read more

Search ScienceDaily

Healthier Pizza