Investment

GRDC Code: ANU2304-001RTX

Improving wheat yield through increases in heat tolerance of leaf carbon exchange

In partnership with Australian cereal breeding company, Intergrain, and four Australian research organisations, this collaborative project aims to identify wheat germplasm with novel heat tolerance by identifying and targeting the heat sensitivity of key biochemical processes that affect leaf net carbon gain. The project will use high-throughput methods and hyperspectral reflectance to quantify the impact of heat on leaf photosynthesis and respiration in a diverse population of wheat germplasm known to differ in heat tolerance. Results from phenotypic screens will be combined with information on population genetic structure to identify loci, markers and candidate genes to enable breeding of heat tolerant germplasm that can maintain photosynthesis on hot days and reduce respiration during hot nights. The project will also deliver new high-throughput, low-cost selection tools that can be used by breeders to identify wheat germplasm with improved intrinsic heat tolerance. The project benefits from international collaboration with world-leading wheat biochemists from the UK and staff from CIMMYT in Mexico.

Project start date:

01/05/2023

Project end date:

31/03/2027

Crop type: