Investment

Grain yield is a genetically complex character making selection for combinations of favourable alleles for performance under water limitation difficult. A previous project used GRDC's managed environment facilities (MEF) to provide reliable screening of selected wheat population tails and near-isogenic lines for performance under controlled drought. That project produced understanding of trait value for genetically simple and complex traits in each of the three regions of the Australian wheatbelt. It also confirmed the importance of genetic background in repeatability of trait effects. The current project extends this assessment of traits across the three MEFs. The traits to be evaluated include alternative dwarfing genes, rate of grain-filling, early vigour and leaf-rolling; putative traits with potential for improved water productivity in Australian rainfed environments.