Institut für Pflanzenbau und Bodenkunde
The pre-competitive research and prototype demonstration in TERTIUS utilizes the wheat genome sequence as well as knowledge gained from fundamental research on cellular mechanisms of stress response to systematically screen the gene pool of wheat for valuable gene variants and to improve the drought tolerance of elite breeding material through precision breeding approaches. The overall objective of TERTIUS is to develop wheat prototypes with optimized root performance, improved water-use efficiency and good baking quality, which are characterized by stable and high grain yield under drought stress. In order to achieve breeding progress in these traits, a sufficiently high genetic variation in the breeding material is a basic requirement. TERTIUS aims to increase the genetic variation of the root system in winter wheat by using wheat-rye translocations. In the genetic background of a high-performance German winter wheat translocation line, we will develop genotypes with improved nutrient and water absorption and high yield stability under drought stress. We characterize the physiology of the stress response of such genotypes by implementing innovative methods of phenotyping root architecture, shoot growth andarchitecture, and the performance of the photosynthetic apparatus. We assess the drought stress tolerance of wheat genotypes with optimized root systems in representative target environments under farm conditions and analyze the genetic architecture of winter wheat water use efficiency. An association study will close a current knowledge gap and provide basic insights into the genetic architecture of water use efficiency of wheat with translocation segments under the influence of drought stress.
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
