Early heat waves hit wheat yields hardest but boost resilience to subsequent heat waves
New research published in the Journal of Experimental Botany reveals that wheat crops are more sensitive to grain yield losses from heat waves that occur before reaching their flowering stage than those occurring later. However, exposure to heat waves early in the growing season may reduce yield losses during additional heat waves through a protective "priming" effect.
A study in the Journal of Experimental Botany reveals that early heat waves have a more significant impact on wheat grain yields compared to later heat waves. Researchers from the University of Lleida in Catalonia, Spain, studied the roles of heat wave intensity, frequency, and timing relative to crop flowering. The findings indicate that wheat grain yield is more sensitive to heat waves that occur before flowering than those occurring after flowering.
While earlier heat waves reduce the overall number of grains produced, later heat waves result in smaller grains. Surprisingly, wheat exposed to sequential heat waves shows a protective effect, known as priming, which reduces the impact of later post-flowering heat waves. This is the first evidence of this antagonistic interaction between successive heat waves in field-grown crops.
The research highlights the importance of protecting wheat during the reproductive stages when grain number is determined, particularly around flowering. Adaptation measures should focus on reducing exposure during these sensitive stages to improve predictive models of crop yields, especially as heat waves become more frequent and intense worldwide.
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