Phenological Adaptation of Wheat Varieties to Rising Temperatures: Implications for Yield Components and Grain...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Agronomy
• Climate Change Adaptation

Background:

• Wheat yield and quality are increasingly threatened by climate change factors like heat stress and water scarcity.
• Understanding the interplay between sowing dates, water availability, and varietal characteristics is crucial for sustainable wheat production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of late sowing, water restrictions, and weather variations on wheat grain yield and quality.
• To evaluate the role of crop phenology in mitigating negative effects of environmental stress on wheat.

Main Methods:

• Field trials were conducted over two growing seasons in Spain.
• Effects of delayed sowing, water scarcity, and interannual weather variations were analyzed.
• Wheat grain yield and quality parameters were assessed, considering different varietal phenologies.

Main Results:

• Late sowing and water scarcity significantly reduced wheat yields.
• Grain quality was primarily affected under rainfed conditions.
• Early-maturing varieties demonstrated superior performance, showing reduced evapotranspiration and better yield/quality outcomes.
• Late-maturing varieties suffered from higher temperatures and increased water use, leading to reduced yield and quality.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing temperature exposure and evapotranspiration is vital for enhancing wheat grain yield and quality, particularly under projected climate change scenarios.
• Phenology significantly influences wheat quality, offering a strategy to mitigate heat stress impacts on both yield and quality through targeted varietal selection.