European wheat harvests could be increased by more than 5t/ha according to newly published research into the crop’s untapped genetic potential.

The study from agricultural institute Rothamsted Research shows that in some European countries, wheat yields could be increased by up to 90% when compared to typical harvests from today’s commonly used varieties.

The authors of the report explain that, if realised, such yield improvements would go a long way to feeding the growing world population and would reduce pressure to convert wild habitats to farmland.

Genetic yield gap

Using existing data on the contribution of different genes to individual plant traits such as size, shape, metabolism and growth, the researchers ran simulations to create “perfect” wheat plants that were tailored to each region.

Lead researcher Dr Mikhail Semenov and colleague Dr Nimai Senapati looked at six locally adapted wheat cultivars at 13 sites across the continent, representing the major and contrasting wheat growing regions in Europe – from Spain in the south to Denmark in the north, and Hungary in the east to the UK in the west.

Wheat was first domesticated about 11,000 years ago, but despite this – and not to mention the sequencing of its entire genome in 2018 – the crop is still some way from being at its genetic best

Using a computer model, they ran millions of simulations, which demonstrated that many of the wheat traits that contribute to the amount of grain produced were well below their optimum, with an obvious “genetic yield gap” between reality and possibility.

Simulations were based on extensive data on the natural genetic variation underpinning key plant traits. These included tolerance and response to drought and heat stresses, the size and orientation of the light-capturing upper leaves, and the timing of key life cycle events.

Fine tune to environments

Published in the journal Global Food Security, the results show that if wheat characteristics were fine-tuned to their environments, wheat crops across Europe could potentially produce up to 15t/ha. Given typical wheat yields in those regions, this represents a yield increase of up to 60%.

“In other words, despite intensive wheat breeding efforts, current local cultivars were found to be far from the achievable optimum, meaning that a large genetic yield gap still exists for European wheat,” said Prof Malcolm Hawkesford, who heads up the Plant Sciences Department at Rothamsted Research.

“Wheat was first domesticated about 11,000 years ago, but despite this – and not to mention the sequencing of its entire genome in 2018 – the crop is still some way from being at its genetic best.”

Improving yields

Dr Semenov is optimistic that wheat yields can be improved. “A vast natural genetic variation exists for different traits in wheat. In the last few decades substantial progress has been made in identifying the genes associated with key traits for wheat improvement and adaptation” he said.

“At the same time, modern plant breeding technology has advanced, including gene mapping, molecular marker-assisted breeding, genomics-assisted breeding and gene editing. These genetic resources and technical advances therefore provide opportunities to develop well-adapted, climate-smart wheat cultivars for future climates” Dr Semenov continued.

Wheat is one of the key staple crops for global food security, providing about 20% of total dietary calories and protein, and Europe is a major wheat producer, contributing around 35% of global [milling] wheat production.