Relationship between Carbon Isotope Discrimination and Grain Yield in Spring Wheat Cultivated under Different Water Regimes

In C3 plants, carbon isotope discrimination (△) has been proposed as an indirect selection criterion for grain yield. Reported correlations between △ and grain yield however, differ highly according to the analyzed organ or tissue, the stage of sampling, and the environment and water regime. In a first experiment carried out in spring wheat during two consecutive seasons in the dry conditions of northwest Mexico (Ciudad Obregon, Sonora), different water treatments were applied,corresponding to the main water regimes available to spring wheat worldwide, and the relationships between △ values of different organs and grain yield were examined. Under terminal (post-anthesis) water stress, grain yield was positively associated with △ in grain at maturity and in leaf at anthesis, confirming results previously obtained under Mediterranean environments. Under early (pre-anthesis) water stress and residual moisture stress, the association between grain △ and yield was weaker and highly depended on the quantity of water stored in the soil at sowing. No correlation was found between △ and grain yield under optimal irrigation. The relationship between △ and grain yield was also studied during two consecutive seasons in 20 bread wheat cultivars in the Ningxia region (Northern China), characterized by winter drought(pre-anthesis water stress). Wheat was grown under rainfed conditions in two locations (Guyuan and Pengyang) and under irrigated conditions in another two (Yinchuan and Huinong). In Huinong, the crop was also exposed to salt stress.Highly significant positive associations were found between leaf and grain △ and grain yields across the environments.The relationship between △ and yield within environments highly depended on the quantity of water stored in the soil at sowing, the quantity and distribution of rainfall during the growth cycle, the presence of salt in the soil, and the occurrence of irrigation before anthesis. These two experiments confirmed the value of △ as an indirect selection criterion for yield and a phenotyping tool under post-anthesis water stress (including limited irrigation).     

Relationship between Carbon Isotope Discrimination and Grain Yield in Spring Wheat Cultivated under Different Water Regimes

In C₃ plants, carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) has been proposed as an indirect selection criterion for grain yield. Reported correlations between Δ and grain yield however, differ highly according to the analyzed organ or tissue, the stage of sampling, and the environment and water regime. In a first experiment carried out in spring wheat during two consecutive seasons in the dry conditions of northwest Mexico (Ciudad Obregon, Sonora), different water treatments were applied, corresponding to the main water regimes available to spring wheat worldwide, and the relationships between Δ values of different organs and grain yield were examined. Under terminal (post‐anthesis) water stress, grain yield was positively associated with Δ in grain at maturity and in leaf at anthesis, confirming results previously obtained under Mediterranean environments. Under early (pre‐anthesis) water stress and residual moisture stress, the association between grain Δ and yield was weaker and highly depended on the quantity of water stored in the soil at sowing. No correlation was found between Δ and grain yield under optimal irrigation. The relationship between Δ and grain yield was also studied during two consecutive seasons in 20 bread wheat cultivars in the Ningxia region (Northern China), characterized by winter drought (pre‐anthesis water stress). Wheat was grown under rainfed conditions in two locations (Guyuan and Pengyang) and under irrigated conditions in another two (Yinchuan and Huinong). In Huinong, the crop was also exposed to salt stress. Highly significant positive associations were found between leaf and grain Δ and grain yields across the environments. The relationship between Δ and yield within environments highly depended on the quantity of water stored in the soil at sowing, the quantity and distribution of rainfall during the growth cycle, the presence of salt in the soil, and the occurrence of irrigation before anthesis. These two experiments confirmed the value of Δ as an indirect selection criterion for yield and a phenotyping tool under post‐anthesis water stress (including limited irrigation).     

Response of Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Quality Traits and Yield to Sowing Date

The unpredictability and large fluctuation of the climatic conditions in rainfed regions do affect spring wheat yield and grain quality. These variations offer the opportunity for the production of better quality wheat. The effect of variable years, locations and sowing managements on wheat grain yield and quality was studied through field experiments using three genotypes, three locations for two years under rainfed conditions. The two studied years as contrasting years at three locations and sowing dates depicted variability in temperature and water stress during grain filling which resulted considerable change in grain yield and quality. Delayed sowing, years (2009–10) and location (Talagang) with high temperature and water stress resulted increased proline, and grain quality traits i.e. grain protein (GP) and grain ash (GA) than optimum conditions (during 2008–09, at Islamabad and early sowing). However, opposite trend was observed for dry gluten (DG), sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), SPAD content and grain yield irrespective of genotypes. The influence of variable climatic conditions was dominant in determining the quality traits and inverse relationship was observed among some quality traits and grain yield. It may be concluded that by selecting suitable locations and different sowing managements for subjecting the crop to desirable environmental conditions (temperature and water) quality traits of wheat crop could be modified.     

Effectiveness of indirect selection for wheat yield in a stress environment

 Effectiveness of indirect selection for grain yield was investigated among eight bread wheat lines, selected in a stress environment in the East African Highlands, where they showed a wide response to yellow rust, the biotic factor causing the stress. The lines were intercrossed to give an 8×8F₁ diallel, which was grown in this same environment for three consecutive growing seasons during 1994 and 1995. Half of the last trial was sprayed with fungicide. From the estimates of narrow-sense heritabilities for yield and yellow rust severity, and the genetic correlation between them, indirect selection for yield in the unsprayed plots, obtained by choosing the most resistant 5% of this material was, on average, 12% higher than selecting for yield itself. In the fungicide-treated plots, indirect selection was only 73% as efficient as direct selection. The implications of these results for selecting for yield in stress environments are discussed. Received: 10 April 1998 / Accepted: 5 August 1998     

Heterosis studies for yield and its components in bread wheat over environments

A set of diallel crosses involving 10 parents was made to have information on the extent of heterosis over mid-parent and better parent and inbreeding depression for yield and yield contributing characters under three different environments. Marked heterobeltiosis for grain yield and its important components were observed. For grain yield, 83 crosses showed significant positive heterobeltiosis in all the three sowing dates, however, twenty crosses showed significant consistent heterobeltiosis for grain yield per plant over all the three environments. The maximum heterobeltiosis for grain yield per plant observed was 50.94% (Raj 3765 x HD 2285), 121.08% (PBW 373 x HD 2329) and 93.96% (PBW 373 x HD 2329) under early, normal and late sowing conditions, respectively. Cross PBW 373 x HD 2329 in both early and normal plantings and cross Raj 3765 x HD 2285 under late planting were observed most heterotic for grain yield. The crosses showing heterosis for grain yield were not heterotic for all the characters. Heterosis for grain yield per spike followed by tillers per plant and 1000-grain weight was independently associated with heterosis for grain yield in early and normal plantings. However, heterosis for grain yield per spike, dwarf plant height and tillers per plant contributed maximum towards yield heterosis. Significant inbreeding depression was recorded frequently for yield and yield contributing traits, however, in a few traits it was observed significant negative indicated that F(2) was superior to F(1) considered desirable combination for trait(s). The study reveals good scope for commercial exploitation of heterosis as well as isolation of pure lines among the progenies of heterotic F(1) for improvement of yield levels in bread wheat.     

Adapting wheat cultivars to resource conserving farming practices and human nutritional needs

As farmers increasingly adopt resource conserving farming practices, there is a need for wheat cultivars that better adapt to the changing environment and the nutritional needs of people, particularly those living in developing countries. Improved adaptation to zero and minimum tillage, better water use efficiency, improved root health, durable resistance to foliar diseases and enhanced nutritional value of the grain are key selection criteria for plant breeders. Significant responses to selection for these constraints have been achieved at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), by selecting segregating populations and advanced lines in carefully managed tillage, moisture deficit and heat stressed environments, that correlate with key spring wheat growing environments globally. Root health has been improved through a combination of marker assisted selection and disease bioassays, and the nutritional value of wheat grain has been enhanced using genetic variation for high Fe and Zn grain content found among tetraploid wheat ancestral species.     

播期播量对旱地小麦土壤水分消耗和植株氮素运转的影响

为解决旱地小麦等雨播种的生产现状,明确播量对土壤水分利用和产量形成的调控机制,于2015—2017年在山西闻喜试验基地开展大田试验,以早播(9月20日,EB)、晚播(10月10日,LB)两个播期为主区,以低密度(67.5 kg·hm^-2,LD)、中密度 (90 kg·hm^-2,MD)、高密度(112.5 kg·hm^-2,HD)3个播量为副区,研究播期播量对旱地小麦土壤水分消耗和植株氮素运转的影响.结果表明: 早播较晚播生育期土壤总耗水量增加11～22 mm;随播种密度的增加,生育期土壤总耗水量增加2～20 mm,且早播条件下,花前土壤耗水量增加,晚播条件下,花后土壤耗水量显著增加.早播较晚播在低、中密度条件下花前氮素运转量、花后氮素积累量增加,高密度条件下降低.早播条件下,花前氮素运转量,茎秆+叶鞘、穗轴+颖壳花前氮素运转量对籽粒的贡献率以及花后氮素积累量均以低密度条件下最高;晚播条件下,花前氮素运转量和花后氮素积累量随播种密度增加而增加.早播较晚播产量显著提高163～996 kg·hm^-2,提高幅度达5%～26%,水分利用效率提高幅度达2%～21%,氮素吸收效率提高幅度达3%～36%,氮素收获指数提高幅度最高达11%.早播条件下产量、水分利用效率、氮素吸收效率、氮素收获指数以低密度条件下最高;晚播条件下以高密度条件下最高.此外,花前氮素运转量与花前100～200 cm土壤耗水量显著相关,尤其是茎秆+叶鞘、穗轴+颖壳;花后植株氮素积累量与花后100～300 cm土壤耗水量呈显著相关.总之,旱地小麦9月20日配套播量67.5 kg·hm^-2、10月10日配套播量112.5 kg·hm^-2有利于增产增效.     

不同播期冬小麦氮素出籽效率与氮素利用及转运的相关性

为探讨不同播期冬小麦氮素出籽效率与氮素利用及转运的关系,在2014—2016年2个生长季,比较了不同播期(S₁:9月24日;S₂:10月1日;S₃:10月8日;S₄:10月15日;S₅:10月22日)冬小麦氮素出籽效率、氮素利用和转运的差异及相互间的关系.结果表明: 籽粒产量和单位面积粒数在不同播期处理间未发生显著差异.推迟播期降低了地上部氮素积累量和穗部氮素积累量,从而降低了氮素吸收效率,但明显提高了氮素利用效率和氮素出籽效率.氮素出籽效率与氮素利用效率呈正相关,而与氮素吸收效率呈负相关,与氮素利用率无显著相关关系.氮素营养指数随播期推迟趋于最佳状态,与氮素出籽效率的改善展现出同步性.推迟播期显著降低了花前营养器官氮素转移量和花后氮素积累量,但明显改善了花前营养器官氮素转运效率.氮素出籽效率与氮素转运效率之间存在正相关关系,说明氮素转运效率的改善一定程度上有利于穗部氮素生产籽粒能力的提升.综合来看,适当推迟播期减少了氮素吸收,但提高了氮素利用效率和氮素出籽效率,改善了氮素供应状态.研究结果为本地区冬小麦生产中氮素减施增效的实施提供了理论依据.     

Traits and selection strategies to improve root systems and water uptake in water-limited wheat crops

Wheat yields globally will depend increasingly on good management to conserve rainfall and new varieties that use water efficiently for grain production. Here we propose an approach for developing new varieties to make better use of deep stored water. We focus on water-limited wheat production in the summer-dominant rainfall regions of India and Australia, but the approach is generally applicable to other environments and root-based constraints. Use of stored deep water is valuable because it is more predictable than variable in-season rainfall and can be measured prior to sowing. Further, this moisture is converted into grain with twice the efficiently of in-season rainfall since it is taken up later in crop growth during the grain-filling period when the roots reach deeper layers. We propose that wheat varieties with a deeper root system, a redistribution of branch root density from the surface to depth, and with greater radial hydraulic conductivity at depth would have higher yields in rainfed systems where crops rely on deep water for grain fill. Developing selection systems for mature root system traits is challenging as there are limited high-throughput phenotyping methods for roots in the field, and there is a risk that traits selected in the lab on young plants will not translate into mature root system traits in the field. We give an example of a breeding programme that combines laboratory and field phenotyping with proof of concept evaluation of the trait at the beginning of the selection programme. This would greatly enhance confidence in a high-throughput laboratory or field screen, and avoid investment in screens without yield value. This approach requires careful selection of field sites and years that allow expression of deep roots and increased yield. It also requires careful selection and crossing of germplasm to allow comparison of root expression among genotypes that are similar for other traits, especially flowering time and disease and toxicity resistances. Such a programme with field and laboratory evaluation at the outset will speed up delivery of varieties with improved root systems for higher yield.     

耕作播种方式对稻茬小麦根系发育、土壤水分和硝态氮含量的影响

2016—2018年,以深旋耕播种模式为对照,研究了浅旋耕播种和免耕带旋播种模式对稻茬小麦根系发育、土壤水分和硝态氮含量的影响。结果表明: 孕穗期以前免耕带旋播种和浅旋耕播种处理耕层土壤含水量高于深旋耕播种处理,而硝态氮含量低于深旋耕播种处理。拔节和开花期根重密度和根表面积密度处理间差异不显著。2016—2017年,3种耕播方式的产量和地上部分氮吸收量无显著差异;2017—2018年,免耕带旋播种和浅旋耕播种处理的产量较深旋耕播种分别增加10.9%和10.5%,地上部分氮吸收量分别增加17.5%和12.0%。与深旋耕播种和浅旋耕播种处理相比,免耕带旋播种处理播种效率高、断垄率低。综上,免耕带旋播种处理可提高稻茬小麦的播种质量,增强土壤保墒能力,降低氮淋溶风险,促进产量和环境效益的协同提升。     

Experimental and modelling studies of drought‐adaptive root architectural traits in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

This paper presents an interdisciplinary approach to crop improvement that links physiology with plant breeding and simulation modelling to enhance the selection of high‐yielding, drought‐tolerant varieties. In a series of field experiments in Queensland, Australia, we found that the yield of CIMMYT wheat line SeriM82 ranged from 6% to 28% greater than the current cultivar Hartog. Physiological studies on the adaptive traits revealed that SeriM82 had a narrower root architecture and extracted more soil moisture, particularly deep in the profile. Results of a simulation analysis of these adaptive root traits with the cropping system model APSIM for a range of rain‐fed environments in southern Queensland indicated a mean relative yield benefit of 14.5% in water‐deficit seasons. Furthermore, each additional millimetre of water extracted during grain filling generated an extra 55 kg ha^?1 of grain yield. Further root studies of a large number of wheat genotypes revealed that wheat root architecture is closely linked to the angle of seminal roots at the seedling stage – a trait which is suitable for large‐scale and cost‐effective screening programmes. Overall, our results suggest that an interdisciplinary approach to crop improvement is likely to enhance the rate of yield improvement in rain‐fed crops.     

Association Analysis of Genomic Loci Important for Grain Weight Control in Elite Common Wheat Varieties Cultivated with Variable Water and Fertiliser Supply

Grain weight, an essential yield component, is under strong genetic control and markedly influenced by the environment. Here, by genome-wide association analysis with a panel of 94 elite common wheat varieties, 37 loci were found significantly associated with thousand-grain weight (TGW) in one or more environments differing in water and fertiliser levels. Five loci were stably associated with TGW under all 12 environments examined. Their elite alleles had positive effects on TGW. Four, two, three, and two loci were consistently associated with TGW in the irrigated and fertilised (IF), rainfed (RF), reduced nitrogen (RN), and reduced phosphorus (RP) environments. The elite alleles of the IF-specific loci enhanced TGW under well-resourced conditions, whereas those of the RF-, RN-, or RP-specific loci conferred tolerance to the TGW decrease when irrigation, nitrogen, or phosphorus were reduced. Moreover, the elite alleles of the environment-independent and -specific loci often acted additively to enhance TGW. Four additional loci were found associated with TGW in specific locations, one of which was shown to contribute to the TGW difference between two experimental sites. Further analysis of 14 associated loci revealed that nine affected both grain length and width, whereas the remaining loci influenced either grain length or width, indicating that these loci control grain weight by regulating kernel size. Finally, the elite allele of Xpsp3152 frequently co-segregated with the larger grain haplotype of TaGW2-6A, suggesting probable genetic and functional linkages between Xpsp3152 and GW2 that are important for grain weight control in cereal plants. Our study provides new knowledge on TGW control in elite common wheat lines, which may aid the improvement of wheat grain weight trait in further research.     

覆膜对旱地麦田土壤水分及氮素平衡的影响

通过大田试验研究了平膜穴播和垄膜沟播等覆膜方式对晋南旱地麦田土壤水分、氮素平衡及产量的影响,以期在当地确立一套适宜的科学覆膜方式,为晋南旱塬地区乃至我国旱作小麦的高产优质提供理论依据。结果表明,垄膜沟播和平膜穴播处理的冬小麦增产效果显著,且以平膜穴播处理的效果最优,较测控施肥处理的籽粒产量和生物产量分别提高22.71%和25.45%。经过冬小麦一个生育期对土壤水分的吸收利用,两种覆膜处理的耗水量较不覆膜处理有较大的提高,而其水分利用率略低于不覆膜处理,但差异不显著。两种覆膜处理也能提高麦田的降水生产效率和休闲效率,较不覆膜处理分别提高9.46%—30.16%和9.95%—39.22%。覆膜有利于氮的矿化,并能促进小麦对氮素的吸收利用,同时也可以在一定程度上降低氮素在土壤中的残留,最终有利于小麦增产。     

耕作播种方式对稻茬小麦生长和养分吸收利用的影响

2016—2018年,在四川省广汉市分析了深旋耕播种(DRT)、浅旋耕播种(SRT)和免耕带旋播种(NT)3种耕播方式对稻茬小麦生长和养分吸收利用的影响。结果表明:与DRT相比,SRT和NT处理提高了小麦分蘖、成穗能力。2016—2017年,处理间产量无显著差异;2017—2018年,NT处理产量显著高于DRT,增幅10.9%。处理间干物质积累的差异主要在苗期。NT处理下植株对氮的吸收量高于DRT,平均增幅9.9%,而氮收获指数DRT高于NT;各处理植株磷吸收量差异不显著;NT处理对钾的吸收量显著高于DRT。与传统的深旋耕播种方式相比,免耕带旋播种技术是提高稻茬小麦产量和养分吸收的有效途径。     

Choice of selection environment for improving crop yields in saline areas

Spatial variability in salt-affected fields is normally very high. Thus, most salinity affected lands are actually comprised of many micro-environments, ranging from low to high salinity in the same field. The evidence on testing genotypes across a broad range of salinity levels shows that the genotype-by-salinity level interaction is commonly large. Thus, breeding for saline areas can be compared to what has been known as breeding for wide adaptation. The target environments both for breeding for saline soils or for wide adaptation are actually a population of many possible environments, for which there exists a significant component of genotype-by-environment(G x E) interaction. Thus it is possible to study the merit of potential strategies for breeding for salinity tolerance using the tools that have been developed for the study of breeding for wide adaptation. The evidence from selection and breeding experiments for wide adaptation seems to favour testing on a representative subset of environments, including stress and non-stress locations; but the choice of these locations is complicated by the multidimensional nature of G x E. However, in the case of salt stress, the crop-yield response functions to salinity are well known. This paper presents an attempt to systematise the choice of the optimum environment(s) to select for improved yield under saline soil conditions, based on the three-piece linear equation presented by Maas and Hoffman (1977) and the theory of direct and indirect responses to selection. It is proposed that three saline levels should be enough to make a valid estimation of the suitability of a number of selection strategies. A worked example with data from a set of grain sorghum inbred lines tested on ten saline levels shows that the same selection strategies would be chosen using the information from the ten saline levels as that obtained using the two extremes and one intermediate level.     

氮肥后移对抽穗后水分胁迫下冬小麦光合特性及产量的影响

采用子母桶栽土培法模拟冬小麦抽穗后不同的水分胁迫状态,研究了氮肥后移对冬小麦光合特性及产量的影响.设置3个氮肥处理,分别为N₁(基肥∶拔节肥∶开花肥=10∶0∶0)、N₂(6∶4∶0)和N₃(4∶3∶3),模拟冬小麦抽穗后2种水分胁迫(渍水胁迫、干旱胁迫),设正常供水为对照.结果表明：相同供水条件下,N₂和N₃处理较N₁处理显著提高冬小麦灌浆期旗叶的SPAD和光合速率,确保了收获时较高的穗数、穗粒数和地上部分生物量;氮肥后移处理显著提高了冬小麦的耗水量,但其籽粒产量和水分利用效率也显著提高.相同氮肥条件下,干旱胁迫和渍水胁迫处理较正常供水显著降低了冬小麦开花期和灌浆期旗叶的光合速率、千粒重、穗粒数和产量.与正常供水相比,各氮肥条件下干旱胁迫和渍水胁迫处理花后旗叶光合速率及籽粒产量的减小幅度均表现为N₁＞N₂＞N₃.表明氮肥后移通过提高旗叶SPAD、减缓花后旗叶光合速率的下降幅度、增加地上部分干物质积累量,调控产量及其构成要素,以减轻逆境灾害(干旱和渍水胁迫)对产量的影响.     

施氮和秸秆还田对晚播小麦养分平衡和产量的影响

在大田条件下,研究了水稻秸秆还田和施氮量对晚播小麦产量、养分积累、秸秆养分释放及养分平衡的影响.结果表明: 水稻秸秆还田并配施适当的施氮量有利于提高晚播小麦籽粒产量.晚播小麦全生育期的干物质、氮、磷、钾积累量均随施氮量增加而显著增加,相同施氮量(270 kg N·hm^-2)下,秸秆还田处理的干物质、磷、钾积累高于不还田处理,氮积累则呈相反趋势.随着施氮量增加,秸秆腐解和养分释放率增加,且拔节后秸秆养分释放量占总释放量的比例降低;随生育进程的推进,秸秆的干物质、磷、钾释放量呈倒“N”型变化趋势,而氮释放量则呈“V”型变化趋势.计算养分表观平衡结果表明,秸秆还田并增加施氮量,养分总盈余量显著升高;在获得较高产量的施氮条件下,氮、钾素显著盈余,磷素投入较为合理.晚播小麦实行秸秆还田后,可适当增加氮肥用量至257 kg·hm^-2,并减少钾肥投入.     

Identification and validation of QTL for grain yield and plant water status under contrasting water treatments in fall-sown spring wheats

Key message

Chromosome regions affecting grain yield, grain yield components and plant water status were identified and validated in fall-sown spring wheats grown under full and limited irrigation.

Abstract

Increases in wheat production are required to feed a growing human population. To understand the genetic basis of grain yield in fall-sown spring wheats, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) including 262 photoperiod-insensitive spring wheat accessions grown under full and limited irrigation treatments. Analysis of molecular variance showed that 4.1% of the total variation in the panel was partitioned among accessions originally developed under fall-sowing or spring-sowing conditions, 11.7% among breeding programs within sowing times and 84.2% among accessions within breeding programs. We first identified QTL for grain yield, yield components and plant water status that were significant in at least three environments in the GWAS, and then selected those that were also significant in at least two environments in a panel of eight biparental mapping populations. We identified and validated 14 QTL for grain yield, 15 for number of spikelets per spike, one for kernel number per spike, 11 for kernel weight and 9 for water status, which were not associated with differences in plant height or heading date. We detected significant correlations among traits and colocated QTL that were consistent with those correlations. Among those, grain yield and plant water status were negatively correlated in all environments, and six QTL for these traits were colocated or tightly linked (<?1 cM). QTL identified and validated in this study provide useful information for the improvement of fall-sown spring wheats under full and limited irrigation.

     

The parameters of grain filling and yield components in common wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.) and durum wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum turgidum</Emphasis> L. var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">durum</Emphasis>)

Final grain dry weight, a component of yield in wheat, is dependent on the duration and the rate of grain filling. The purpose of the study was to compare the grain filling patterns between common wheat, (Triticum aestivum L.), and durum wheat, (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum), and investigate relationships among grain filling parameters, yield components and the yield itself. The most important variables in differentiating among grain filling curves were final grain dry weight (W) for common wheat genotypes and grain filling rate (R) for durum wheat genotypes; however, in all cases the sets of variables important in differentiating among grain filling curves were extended to either two or all three parameters. Furthermore, in one out of three environmental conditions and for both groups of genotypes, the most important parameter in the set was grain filling duration (T). It indicates significant impact of environmental conditions on dry matter accumulation and the mutual effect of grain filling duration and its rate on the final grain dry weight. The medium early anthesis date could be associated with further grain weight and yield improvements in wheat. Grain filling of earlier genotypes occurs in more temperate environments, which provides enough time for gradual grain fill and avoids the extremes of temperature and the stress of dry conditions.