Why breeders look at thepast for tomorrow’s wheats

摘要

Over the past century, breeding has played a major role in improving winter wheat performance, with yields increasing from an average S.5t/ha in 1979 to 7.8t/ha at harvest 2021.But selecting for yield over the years has come at a cost, having indirectly reduced crop robustness, leaving wheat exposed to a range of pests, weeds and disease.Now, faced with growing concerns about chemical resistance, mushrooming input costs and very small annual yield increases, where does this leave the future of wheat breeding?We take a look back at the pivotal breeding moments that shaped today's modem wheat and discover how past cultivars could help unlock a range of genetic traits to improve wheat production for the future.