Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Genetic changes in resistance to environmental stresses by U.S. Great Plains wheat cultivars

  • Published:
Euphytica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Increased grain yield potential of newcultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) is attributed to morphological traits,but actual yield is determined mostly byenvironmental conditions. Our objectivewas to ascertain the contribution ofresistance to freezing, high temperature,drought, and defoliation to advances inyield of landmark cultivars of winter wheatin the U.S. Great Plains. Eight cultivarsthat represented significant improvementbetween 1874 and 1994 were compared bystandard electroconductivity measurementsof stability of seedling cell membranes tofreezing, high temperature, and desiccationand by grain yield and its components inplants subjected to freezing during theseedling stage and to high temperature,drought, and defoliation during maturation. Genetic changes relative to `Turkey'(introduced 1874) in stability of cellmembranes to freezing, high temperature,and desiccation were small andinconsistent. Advances in grain yieldunder control conditions were similar togains in field studies. Most cultivars hadlittle genetic change in yield afterfreezing, drought, or defoliation, probablybecause high levels of resistance areincompatible with high yield potential andthe stresses are episodic. Genetic advancein grain yield under high temperature wasphenotypically correlated with change inyield under control conditions, suggestingthat the trait is essential forproductivity because of the ubiquitousoccurrence of the stress in the region. Weconcluded that changes in resistances tofreezing, drought, and defoliationcontributed little to advances inproductivity of winter wheat in the GreatPlains, but that resistance to hightemperature was important for new cultivars.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Austin, R.B., M.A. Ford & C.L. Morgan, 1989. Genetic improvement in the yield of winter wheat: A further evaluation. J Agric Sci (Cambridge) 112: 295–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barutcular, C., I. Genc & M. Koc, 2000. Photosynthetic water use efficiency of old and modern durum wheat genotypes from southeastern Anatolia, Turkey. In: C. Royo, M.M. Nachit, N. Di Fonzo & J.L. Araus (Eds.), Durum Wheat Improvement in the Mediterranean Region: New Challenges, pp. 232–238. International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies, Zaragoza, Spain.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blum, A., 1998. Improving wheat grain filling under stress by stem reserve mobilisation. Euphytica 100: 77–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blum, A. & A. Ebercon, 1981. Cell membrane stability as a measure of drought and heat tolerance in wheat. Crop Sci 21: 43–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blum, A., S. Ramaiah, E.T. Kanemasu & G.M. Paulsen, 1990. Wheat recovery from drought stress at the tillering stage of development. Field Crops Res 24: 67–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyer, J.S., 1982. Plant productivity and environment. Science 218: 443–448.

    Google Scholar 

  • Briggle, L.W. & B.C. Curtis, 1987. Wheat worldwide. In: E.G. Heyne (Ed.), Wheat and Wheat Improvement, 2nd ed. pp. 1–32. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Madison, WI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calderini, D.F., M.P. Reynolds & G.A. Slafer, 1999. Genetic gains in wheat yield and associated physiological changes during the twentieth century. In: E.H. Satorre & G.A. Slafer (Eds.), Wheat: Ecology and Physiology of Yield Determination, pp. 351–377. Food Products Press, New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calhoun, D.S., G. Gebeyehu, A. Miranda, S. Rajaram & M. Van Ginkel, 1994. Choosing evaluation environments to increase wheat grain yield under drought conditions. Crop Sci 34: 673–678.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ceccarelli, S. & S. Grando, 1991. Selection environment and environmental sensitivity in barley. Euphytica 57: 157–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, T.S., J.P. Shroyer, L. Ben-Hui, R.G. Sears & T.J. Martin, 1988. Genetic improvement in agronomic traits of hard red winter wheat cultivars from 1919 to 1987. Crop Sci 28: 756–760.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deckerd, E.L., R.H. Busch & K.D. Kofoid, 1985. Physiological aspects of spring wheat improvement. In: J.E. Harper, L.E. Schrader & R.W. Howell (Eds.), Exploitation of Physiological and Genetic Variability to Enhance Crop Productivity, pp. 45–54.

  • American Society of Plant Physiologists, Rockville, MD. Donmez, E., R.G. Sears, J.P. Shroyer & G.M. Paulsen, 2001. Genetic gain in yield attributes of winter wheat cultivars in the Great Plains. Crop Sci 41: 1412–1419.

    Google Scholar 

  • Easterling, D.R., G.A. Meehl, C. Parmesan, S.A. Changnon, T.R. Karl & L.O. Mearns, 2000. Climate extremes: Observations, modeling, and impacts. Science 289: 2068–2074.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, L.T., I.F. Wardlaw & R.A. Fischer, 1975. Wheat. In: L.T. Evans (Ed.), Crop Physiology: Some Case Histories, pp. 101–149. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischer, R.A., 1983. Wheat. In: W.H. Smith & S.J. Banta (Eds.), Potential Productivity of Field Crops under Different Environments, pp. 129–154. IRRI, Los Bañ os, Philippines.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischer, R.A. & N.C. Turner, 1978. Plant productivity in the arid and semiarid zones. Ann Rev Plant Physiol 29: 277–317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frederick, J.R. & P.J. Bauer, 1999. Physiological and numerical components of wheat yield. In: E.H. Satorre & G.A. Slafer (Eds.), Wheat: Ecology and Physiology of Yield Determination, pp. 45–65. Food Products Press, Binghamton, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gusta, L.V. & T.H.H. Chen, 1987. The physiology of water and temperature stress. In: E.G. Heyne (Ed.), Wheat and Wheat Improvement, 2nd edn., pp. 115–150. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Madison, WI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heyne, E.G., 1987. The development of wheat in Kansas. In: G.E. Ham & R. Higham (Eds.), The Rise of the Wheat State, pp. 41–56. Sunflower University Press, Manhattan, KS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoagland, D.R. & D.I. Arnon, 1950. The water-culture method for growing plants without soil. California Agr Exp Sta Cir 347.

  • Kronstad, W.E., 1996. Genetic diversity and the free exchange of germplasm in breaking yield barriers. In: M.P. Reynolds, S. Rajaram & A. McNab (Eds.), Increasing Yield Potential in Wheat: Breaking the Barriers, pp. 19–27. CIMMYT, Mexico, D.F.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larson, K.L. & D. Smith, 1964. Reliability of various plant constituents and artificial freezing methods in determining winterhardiness of alfalfa. Crop Sci 4: 413–417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levitt, J., 1980. Responses of plants to environmental stresses. Vol. 1. Chilling, freezing, and high temperature stresses. Academic Press, Orlando, FL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lynch, P.L. & K.J. Frey, 1993. Genetic improvement in agronomic and physiological traits of oat since 1914. Crop Sci 33: 984–988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muñ oz, P., J. Votas, J.L. Araus, E. Igartua & I. Romagosa, 1998. Changes over time in the adaptation of barley releases in northeastern Spain. Plant Breed 117: 531–535.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paulsen, G.M., 1994. High temperature responses of crop plants. In: K.J. Boote, J.M. Bennett, T.R. Sinclair & G.M. Paulsen (Eds.), Physiology and Determination of Crop Yields, pp. 364–389. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Madison, WI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paulsen, G.M. & E.G. Heyne, 1983. Grain production of winter wheat after spring freeze injury. Agron J: 705–707.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pecetti, L. & P. Annicchiarico, 1998. Agronomic value and plant type of Italian durum wheat cultivars from different eras of breeding. Euphytica 99: 9–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pheloung, P.C. & K.H.M. Siddique, 1991. Contribution of stem dry matter to grain yield in wheat cultivars. Aust J Plant Physiol 18: 53–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, W.A., 1991. Genetic improvement of maize yields. Adv Agron 46: 245–298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saini, H.S. & M.E. Westgate, 2000. Reproductive development in grain crops during drought. Adv Agron 68: 60–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shanahan, J.B., I.B. Edwards, J.S. Quick & J.R. Fenwick, 1990. Membrane thermostability and heat tolerance of spring wheat. Crop Sci 30: 247–251.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siddique, K.H.M., E.J.M. Kirby & M.W. Perry, 1989. Ear to stem ratio in old and modern wheats: Relationship with improvement in number of grains per ear and yield. Field Crops Res 21: 59–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, L.M., 1962. Evaluation of weather factors in the production of wheat. J Soil Water Conserv 17: 149–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waddington, S.R., J.K. Ranson, M. Osmanzai & D.A. Saunders, 1986. Improvement in the potential of bread wheat adapted to Northwest Mexico. Crop Sci 26: 698–703.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

    M.T. Assad

  2. Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, U.S.A

    G.M. Paulsen

Authors
  1. M.T. Assad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G.M. Paulsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Assad, M., Paulsen, G. Genetic changes in resistance to environmental stresses by U.S. Great Plains wheat cultivars. Euphytica 128, 85–96 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020688606174

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020688606174

Search

Navigation