Stage-specific genotype-by-environment interactions determine yield components in wheat.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Physiology
• Genetics

Background:

• Environmental fluctuations influence cereal crop physiology and yield component formation.
• Cultivar-specific phenology complicates understanding genotype-by-environment interactions.
• Previous studies yield contradictory results on critical phases affecting wheat yield.

Purpose of the Study:

• To dissect genotype-by-environment interactions affecting winter wheat grain yield.
• To quantify yield component sensitivity to radiation, temperature, and precipitation variations.
• To identify critical developmental phases and their interactions with environmental factors.

Main Methods:

• Evaluated 220 winter wheat cultivars across 81 time-windows from double ridge to seed desiccation.
• Estimated sensitivity of yield components to variations in global radiation, temperature, and precipitation.
• Analyzed phenologically dependent, stage-specific genotype-by-environment interactions.

Main Results:

• Environmental sensitivity was most prominent during spike and kernel development subphases.
• Identified stage-specific genotype-by-environment interactions linked to phenology.
• Revealed previously undetected effects, such as positive radiation impact on kernel weight during senescence.

Conclusions:

• Genotype-by-environment interactions significantly influence winter wheat yield formation.
• Phenology critically modulates environmental impacts on yield components.
• Provides insights for optimizing winter wheat breeding and crop modeling strategies.