Climatic Change and Agronomic Performance of Hard Red Spring Wheat from 1950 to 2007

Abstract

Increasing temperatures are a threat to hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in the northern Great Plains and may impact objectives for breeding programs. Weather data and agronomic performance of experimental lines and a check cultivar ‘Thatcher’ were compiled for six sites in Montana for 1950 to 2007. Mean annual temperature increased significantly at five sites. March temperature increased significantly at all sites, and planting date has become significantly earlier at a rate of 0.24 d yr−1. Grain yield of Thatcher increased significantly at a rate of 23.5 kg ha−1 yr−1. July temperatures increased significantly at two sites. July temperatures showed a significant negative correlation with grain yield at three sites and with grain volume weight at three sites. Nursery means over years as adjusted for Thatcher was used as a measure of genetic change and showed significantly increased grain yield and significantly earlier heading date. Our results suggest that earlier planting due to warmer spring temperatures has helped to alleviate negative effects of high temperatures during grain filling periods. Genetic changes in breeding materials have also contributed to increased yield potential, partially due to earlier heading and avoidance of July heat. Projection of increasing temperatures suggests the need for management and breeding strategies to insure productivity of hard red spring wheat in the northern Great Plains.

Climate Change: Seed Production and Options for Adaptation

“…A shift in sowing dates (e.g., earlier sowing of spring crops to avoid hot and dry periods during summer) is one of the expected adaptation responses to climate change in the cooler zones of Europe [110], while for wheat in northwest India, sowing date would need to be advanced by six days per degree rise in temperature [111]. One impact of increased temperatures has been the earlier onset of spring, and as a result of warmer spring temperatures in the northern Great Plains of the USA, earlier maize [112] and wheat [113] sowings have been possible, leading to significant yield increases by avoiding temperature stress during seed filling.…”

Genetic Mechanisms of Vernalization Requirement Duration in Winter Wheat Cultivars

“…The global mean temperature is projected to continue its increase by roughly 3 °C (Kerr 2007 ) or 5 °C by the end of the twenty-fi rst century (Semenov and Halford 2009 ). Various crops, requiring specifi c environmental cues for growth and development, will inevitably respond differently to changing climate (Craufurd and Wheeler 2009 ;Lanning et al 2010 ). As various simulation models have shown, winter wheat is more vulnerable to changing climate due to its higher sensitivity to temperatures for proper fl owering time and successful grain reproduction (Morison and Long 1995 ).…”

Variation of agronomic traits among introduced winter bread wheat cultivars

“…It is subject to extremely large in scale research and breeding work. Narrowing the range of genetic variation as a result of using of conventional breeding selection practices is however limiting the chance of improving its productivity (1) and there is an increased need of diversifying the set of parental lines used in breeding programs (2)(3)(4)(5). In this regard the collection, evaluation and use of appropriate genetically different germplasm in breeding programs is a prerequisite for the success of selection (6)(7)(8)(9).…”