The new wheat line growing in the field. The wheat on the right has the extra flower-bearing spikelets artificially highlighted in pink to show their extent.
Image: The University of Adelaide.
A team of international researchers has discovered a way to produce higher quality wheat. The scientists from the University of Adelaide and the UK’s John Innes Centre have identified a genetic driver that improves yield traits in wheat, which unexpectedly can also lead to increasing protein content by up to 25 per cent.
“Little is known about the mechanism behind drivers of yields and protein content in wheat production,” said the University of Adelaide’s Dr Scott Boden, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine who led the research.
“Discovering a gene that controls these two factors has the potential to help generate new wheat varieties that produce higher quality grain.
“As wheat accounts for nearly 20 per cent of protein consumed worldwide, the impact of this research can significantly benefit society by providing grains with a higher protein content, which could therefore help produce more nutritious food, such as bread and breakfast cereals.”
“As wheat accounts for nearly 20 per cent of protein consumed worldwide, the impact of this research can significantly benefit society by providing grains with a higher protein content, which could therefore help produce more nutritious food…”Dr Scott Boden
The work is the first known example where a forward-genetics screen of a mutant population has been used to identify a gene that controls reproductive development in wheat and insights from this research has the potential to help improve the nutritional and economic value of wheat.
“The genetic variation we identified provides a 15-25 per cent increase in protein content for plants grown in the field. These varieties also produce extra spikelets, known as paired spikelets,” said Dr Boden.
“We have not yet detected an increase in yield with the extra spikelets, but we hope a yield increase might come in elite varieties grown by farmers.
“The increase in protein content occurs without the trade-off of a reduced yield so this discovery has even better potential to provide economic benefit to breeders and growers than just the increased nutritional value by itself.
“Aside from the important outcome of this work for the future of wheat breeding, the research itself is of immense value to the scientific community as it provides an elegant example of new capabilities that are available to wheat research.”
The team expects that the new wheat varieties will be available to breeders in 2–3 years’ time, which could then translate to benefits for farmers in 7–10 years’ time.
Original Article: Higher wheat yields and protein content on the horizon
More from: University of Adelaide | John Innes Centre
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Wheat yields
- PM forms body to probe wheat import matter
He wanted to know that on what basis decision was taken for import of wheat despite good production of wheat last year. The prime minister formed an inquiry committee regarding the import of wheat.
- Winter wheat virus gaining foothold in northern Idaho
University of Idaho Extension’s popular virtual discussion series about Idaho agriculture, called Ag Talk Tuesday, will return for a seventh season beginning on May 7, taking participants on a deep ...
- Wheat industry sharing the story of farm to flour on the National Mall in D.C.
NAMA, USW, NAWG, and ABA will host an exhibit that tells the story of wheat production from field to flour to favorite wheat foods here and around the world. The exhibit will include interactive ...
- Wheat for the long haul: tentative optimism about biotech
“We oppose federal or state mandated labeling of products based solely on the method of production, including foods derived from biotech ingredients, if they do not differ materially from their ...
- Downturn in Global Wheat Prices: A 25% Decline as Supply Surges
Recent data from the World Bank indicates a significant downfall in global wheat and corn prices, hitting a three-year bottom during the first quarter of 2024. This period has seen a noteworthy 11% ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Wheat yields
[google_news title=”” keyword=”wheat yields” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Wheat breeding
- Local wheat fields among tours hosted by Illinois Wheat Association
BLOOMINGTON — Illinois Wheat Association is inviting farmers and researchers to tour wheat fields and take estimate yields of the winter wheat crop during its annual Wheat Plot Tour on ...
- Cassava: The perilous past and promising future of a toxic but nourishing crop
The three staple crops dominating modern diets—corn, rice and wheat—are familiar to Americans. However, fourth place is held by a dark horse: cassava.
- Big data comes to dinner
“The genetics helps inform the breeding,” said Christine Diepenbrock ... and selectively deliver fertilizer or pesticides where most needed, for row crops like wheat and soybeans. A challenge for ...
- What’s on deck for ag markets?
While farmers in the U.S. are focused on planting right now, their South American counterparts are focused solely on harvesting. South American corn exports will be on deck in late June, but until ...
- Morocco's farming revolution: Defying drought with science
In the heart of sun-soaked Morocco, scientists are cultivating a future where tough crops defy a relentless drought, now in its sixth year.
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Wheat breeding
[google_news title=”” keyword=”wheat breeding” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]