Environmentally-mediated yield effects of vernalization and photoperiod alleles in historic winter wheat trials
In common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), variation at the Vrn1 and Ppd1 loci changes plant phenology, resulting in differential adaptation useful to breeders. Because the effects of phenology on grain yield are conditional on environmental factors, the incorporation of markers for Vrn1 and Ppd1 alleles into breeding approaches has proven difficult. Historic phenotypic, genotypic, and environmental…
In a study examining the impact of vernalization and photoperiod alleles on grain yield in winter wheat, researchers analyzed data from eight years of breeding trials involving 1,038 lines across 219 site-years. They found that weak vrn1 alleles and Ppd1 insensitivity alleles exhibit variable effects on yield, which are influenced by environmental factors such as winter temperature and latitude.
While the effects of Ppd1 alleles are relatively consistent, the impact of vrn1 alleles is more variable and dependent on environmental conditions. The study suggests that phenologically-dependent environmental variables play a role in how these phenological changes affect yield throughout different developmental stages. By modeling the relationship between flowering time and yield, researchers were able to estimate allele effects on yield based on their influence on phenology and environmental factors.
The findings indicate that weak winter alleles at the vrn1 locus may contribute to stabilizing yield, as their correlation with later-season warm temperatures can offset the penalties associated with later maturity. This research provides a better understanding of how these loci drive environment-specific yield effects, potentially aiding in the utilization of markers for these alleles and improving predictive modeling of yield.
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