scholarly journals Australian Lentil Breeding Between 1988 and 2019 Has Delivered Greater Yield Gain Under Stress Than Under High-Yield Conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor O. Sadras ◽  
Garry M. Rosewarne ◽  
Lachlan Lake

The contemporary lentil (Lens culinaris ssp. culinaris) industry in Australia started in the late 1980s. Yield in farmers’ fields averages 1.2 t ha–1 nationally and has not increased over three decades. Lack of yield progress can be related to a number of non-mutually exclusive reasons: expansion of lentil to low-yielding environments, lack of genetic gain in yield, lack of progress in agronomic practices, and lack of adoption of superior technologies. The aims of this study were to (i) quantify the genetic gain in lentil yield since 1988, (ii) explore the variation in the expression of genetic gain with the environment, and (iii) identify shifts in crop phenotype associated with selection for yield and agronomic adaptation. We grew a historic collection of 19 varieties released between 1988 and 2019 in eight environments resulting from the factorial combination of two sowing dates, two water regimes, and two seasons. Across environments, yield varied 11-fold from 0.2 to 2.2 t ha–1. The rate of genetic gain averaged 20 kg ha–1 year–1 or 1.23% year–1 across environments and was higher in low-yield environments. The yield increase was associated with substantial shifts in phenology. Newer varieties had a shorter time to flowering and pod emergence, and the rate of change in these traits was more pronounced in slow-developing environments (e.g., earlier sowing). Thermal time from sowing to end of flowering and maturity were shorter in newer varieties, and thermal time from pod emergence to maturity was longer in newer varieties; the rate of change in these traits was unrelated to developmental drivers and correlated with environmental mean yield. Genetic gain in yield was associated with increased grain number and increased harvest index. Despite their shorter time to maturity, newer varieties had similar or higher biomass than their older counterparts because crop growth rate during the critical period increased with the year of release. Genotype-dependent yield increased over three decades in low-yield environments, whereas actual farm yield has been stagnant; this suggests an increasing yield gap requiring agronomic solutions. Genetic improvement in high-yield environments requires improved coupling of growth and reproduction.

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lachlan Lake ◽  
Victor Sadras

Relationships between yield, biomass, radiation interception (PARint) and radiation-use efficiency (RUE) have been studied in many crops for use in growth analysis and modelling. Research in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is limited, with variation caused by environment and phenological stage not adequately described. This study aims to characterise the variation in chickpea PARint and RUE with phenological stage, line and environment and their interactions, and the impact of this variation on yield. Chickpea lines (six desi and one kabuli) previously identified as varying for yield, competitive ability, crop growth rate and phenology were compared in four environments resulting from a combination of two sowing dates and dry and irrigated water regimes. Yield varied from 0.7 to 3.7 t ha–1. Line, environment, phenological stage and the interactions line (G) × environment (E) and environment × stage affected both RUE and PARint. Line × stage interaction also affected RUE. High PARint and RUE were associated with high yield, but the interaction between environment and phenological stage dictated this relationship; higher PARint and RUE were observed in irrigated environments. Some environment × phenological stage combinations resulted in no significant associations, particularly before flowering in dry environments. These results emphasise the importance of understanding the effects of G × E on capture and efficiency in the use of radiation and have implications for growth analysis, modelling and breeding.


Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuepeng Zhang ◽  
Jiali Cheng ◽  
Biao Wang ◽  
Peng Yan ◽  
Hongcui Dai ◽  
...  

The maize sole cropping system solves problems related to ground water resource shortages and guarantees food security in the North China Plain. Using optimal sowing dates is an effective management practice for increasing maize yield. The goal of this study was to explore an optimum sowing date for high-yield maize. Six sowing dates (SDs) from early April to late June with intervals of 10 to 20 days between SD—SD1 (early April), SD2 (mid to late April), SD3 (early May), SD4 (mid to late May), SD5 (early June), SD6 (late June)—were applied from 2012 to 2017. The results showed that yield was correlated with the sowing date based on the thermal time before sowing (r = 0.62**), which was defined as the pre-thermal time (PTt), and that the yield was steadily maintained at a high level (>10,500 kg ha−1) when PTt was greater than 479 °C. To satisfy the growing degree-days required for maturity, maize needs to be sown before a PTt of 750 °C. Data analysis of the results from 2014, 2015, and 2017 revealed the following: i) Most of the grain-filling parameters of late-sown dates (SD4, SD5 and SD6) were better than those in early-sown dates (SD1, SD2, and SD3) in all years, because of the high daily maximum temperature (Tmax) and wide diurnal temperature (Td) from silking to blister (R1–R2) of early-sown dates. The weight of maximum grain-filling rate (Wmax) of SD3 decreased compare with SD4 by the narrow Td from blister to physiological maturity (R2–R6) in all years (−5, −12, and −33 mg kernel−1 in 2014, 2015, and 2017, respectively). ii) In 2017, the pollination failure rates of early-sown dates were 8.4~14.5%, which was caused by the high Tmax and Td of R1–R2. The apical kernel abortion rates were 28.6 (SD2) and 38.7% (SD3), which were affected by Tmax and Td during R2–R6. iii) Compared with late-sown dates, the wide Td of early-sown dates in R1–R2 was caused by higher Tmax, but the narrow Td in R2-R6 was caused by higher Tmin. Our results indicate that high-yielding maize can be obtained by postponing the sowing date with a PTt of 480~750 °C, which can prevent the negative effects of the high Tmax of R1–R2 and high Tmin of R2–R6 on kernel number and weight formation. Moreover, these above-mentioned traits should be considered for heat tolerance breeding to further increase the maize yield.


1987 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 455 ◽  
Author(s):  
EJM Kirby ◽  
MW Perry

Rates of leaf appearance on the main stem were measured for various wheat varieties for five to ten sowing dates in three field experiments in Western Australia.Rate of leaf appearance was constant in relation to thermal time for any given variety and sowing date, and ranged from 0.0064 to 0.0132 leaves (�C day)-1. Most of this variation could be accounted for as a response to sowing date or rate of change of daylength, although the response was complicated by interactions with variety and year.Because successive measurements were made on the same plants, it was possible to estimate directly the effects of temperature on the rate of leaf emergence. In the three years, mean rates of leaf emergence were 0.008, 0.008 and 0.011 leaves day-1 �C-1 with base temperatures (temperatures at zero rate) of 0.08, -1.2 and 0.4�C respectively. Contrary to expectation, rate of leaf emergence decreased as temperatures increased in late sowings due probably to depression of leaf emergence as daytime temperatures exceeded 25�C.For Gamenya, the only variety common to the three years, the rate of leaf emergence (RLE) on the main stem was related to the rate of change of daylength (-DL, min day-1 negative when daylength shortening) by the equationRLE = 0.00949 + 0.000988 (-DL).For crops emerging in late June (-DL approximately zero) in southern Australia, this implies a constant thermal time for leaf appearance of 105�C day leaf-1.


Author(s):  
A. Ouji ◽  
M. Mechri ◽  
S. Wassli ◽  
K. Shiv ◽  
M. Kharrat

Background: In Tunisia, water deficit and heat stress during the end of cycle are more frequent and causes significant yield losses. Selection of short cycle lines could be a good solution to escape the effect of heat and drought during the end of cycle. Furthermore, there is little published information on the effect of the sowing date on yield and its components in lentils. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the sowing date on yield and its components of some lentil lines. The best productive and early lines will be selected and therefore proposed for registration in the official catalog of plant varieties. The availability of these varieties to farmers could increase lentil production. Methods: Sixteen genotypes of lentil out of which 14 were advanced lines and 2 were checks varieties were used in this study. The field experiment was conducted during the 2017-2018 cropping season at Kef research station located in a semi-arid zone in north western Tunisia. Genotypes were sown on December 15th, 2017 and February, 7th, 2018. Seventeen agro-morphological parameters were recorded. Result: Based on agro-morphological analysis, lentil lines exhibited considerable genetic variability. Among the tested lines, L3 line seem to be the earliest lines. It showed high yield as well in timely and late sown dates. This line deserves more attention to develop short-cycle and high yielding variety.


2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-46
Author(s):  
A. A. Razina ◽  
F. S. Sultanov ◽  
О. G. Dyatlova

The results of studying resistance of mid-ripening spring wheat cultivars to root rot in the forest-steppe zone of Irkutsk region are presented. The study was conducted in a two-factor field experiment. Factor A – mid-ripening spring wheat cultivars: Tulunskaya 11 (control), Zoryana, Маrsianka, Stolypinka (new cultivars). Factor B – seeding dates: May 10, 20, 30, preceded by fallow. The experimental plot area was 70.0 m2. The experiment was repeated three times. Plot arrangement was randomized. Root rot prevalence was determined during the tillering phase of the crop. In 2018, the sowing dates did not affect the disease due to the long spring-summer drought (May-June) and a higher average daily temperature compared to long-term average values. In arid and cold conditions of May 2019, with the late sowing period (May 30), root rot prevalence was significantly lower than when sowing on May 10 and 20. In 2019, a higher level of the disease was registered than in 2018 by 14.3%. Significant differences in root rot prevalence in both years of research were noted between the control cultivar Tulunskaya 11 and the new cultivars of spring wheat Zoryana and Stolypinka. In the tillering phase of the latter two, disease indicators were lower by 5.6% and 10.5% in 2018, and by 8.8% and 7.9% in 2019, respectively. Маrsianka cultivar was at the control level for this indicator. The best cultivar under study was Stolypinka, which was not only less affected by root rot, but also gave a statistically significant yield increase of 0.16 t/ ha in 2018 and 0.22 t/ha in 2019.


2021 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 02012
Author(s):  
Aleksey Suslov ◽  
Dimitry Sviridenk ◽  
Vasiliy Mamayev ◽  
Irina Sychiova

It has been shown that pre-sowing treatment increases field germination by 5.5%, and the preservation of plants after overwintering increases by 4.3%. Gumiton strengthened the work of the assimilation apparatus of the flag leaf due to an increase in leaf area by 29.3-49.1% and extended the life of plants. As a part of a tank mixture (Tabu Super, 1.5 l / t + Tertia, 2.5 l t), the drug allowed to reduce the prevalence of the root rot disease to 2.45-1.05% in comparison with the control. The organomineral complex provided the formation of a larger and more leveled grain with a mass of 1000 grains of 47.0-47.5 g, 43.9 g in the control; the grain nature is more than 780 g / dm 3, 751.7 g / dm 3, in the control. The use of Gumiton (seeds + tillering + piping) against the background of N 96 P 96 K 96 provided a high yield increase by 37.8%. To reduce the expenses of foliar fertilization with nitrogen fertilizers, the Gumiton organic-mineral complex should be recommended, since it is an element of greening in intensive technologies of winter wheat cultivation.


1998 ◽  
Vol 130 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. L. NAYLOR ◽  
J. SU

The progress of leaf emergence, external morphology and apical development stages were recorded in sowings of triticale (cv. Lasko) made from February to November 1990 at Aberdeen (57° N). Leaf appearance and the number of primordia were related to thermal time (above a base of 0°C) except when photoperiods were <c. 11 h. The thermal time per phyllochron varied between leaves and the combined times for all the phyllochrons at a particular sowing accounted for the apparent response of average phyllochron to sowing date. The thermal time requirements for progression to the double ridge stage, terminal spikelet stage, onset of stem elongation and anthesis were similar except where photoperiods of <11 h occurred. The rate of grain primordium production was constant when photoperiod had been increasing at seedling emergence but the rate was reduced when the seedling experienced shortening photoperiods at emergence.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chong Wang ◽  
Jiangang Liu ◽  
Shuo Li ◽  
Ting Zhang ◽  
Xiaoyu Shi ◽  
...  

Confronted with the great challenges of globally growing populations and food shortages, society must achieve future food security by increasing grain output and narrowing the gap between potential yields and farmers’ actual yields. This study attempts to diagnose the climatic and agronomic dimensions of oat yield gaps and further to explore their restrictions. A conceptual framework was put forward to analyze the different dimensions of yield gaps and their limiting factors. We quantified the potential yield (Yp), attainable yield (Yt), experimental yield (Ye), and farmers’ actual yield (Ya) of oat, and evaluated three levels of yield gaps in a rain-fed cropping system in North and Northeast China (NC and NEC, respectively). The results showed that there were great differences in the spatial distributions of the four kinds of yields and three yield gaps. The average yield gap between Yt and Ye (YG-II) was greater than the yield gap between Yp and Yt (YG-I). The yield gap between Ye and Ya (YG-III) was the largest among the three yield gaps at most sites, which indicated that farmers have great potential to increase their crop yields. Due to non-controllable climatic conditions (e.g., light and temperature) for obtaining Yp, reducing YG-I is extremely difficult. Although YG-II could be narrowed through enriching soil nutrients, it is not easy to improve soil quality in the short term. In contrast, narrowing YG-III is the most feasible for farmers by means of introducing high-yield crop varieties and optimizing agronomic managements (e.g., properly adjusting sowing dates and planting density). This study figured out various dimensions of yield gaps and investigated their limiting factors, which should be helpful to increase farmers’ yields and regional crop production, as long as these restrictions are well addressed.


1970 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 469-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad H Mondal

The concept of yield gaps originated from the studies conducted by IRRI in the seventies. The yield gap discussed in this paper is the difference between the potential farm yield and the actual average farm yield. In Bangladesh, yield gaps exist in different crops ranging up to 60%. According to the recent study conducted by BRRI, the yield gap in rice was estimated at 1.74 t/ha. The existence of yield gaps was as well observed in rice, mustard, wheat and cotton in India. In India, yield gap varied from 15.5 to 60% with the national average gap of 52.3% in irrigated ecosystem. The yield gaps are mainly caused by biological, socio-economic, climate and institutional/policy related factors. Different strategies, such as integrated crop management (1CM) practices, timely supply of inputs including credit to farmers, research and extension collaboration to transfer the new technologies have been discussed as strategies to minimize yield gaps. Suggestions have been made to make credit available to resource-poor small farmers to buy necessary inputs. Reducing transaction cost, simplifying lending procedures and strengthening monitoring mechanism of the current credit system are, however, essential to enable the farmers to avail the credit facility. Efforts should be made to update farmers’ knowledge on the causes of yield gaps in crops and measures to narrow the gaps through training, demonstrations, field visits and monitoring by extension agencies to achieve high yield. The government should realize that yield gaps exist in different crops of Bangladesh and therefore, explore the scope to increase production as well as productivity of crops by narrowing the yield gap and thereby ensure food security. Keywords: Yield gaps; strategies; crops of Bangladesh. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v36i3.9274 BJAR 2011; 36(3): 469-476


2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis Allard ◽  
Anne Vanasse ◽  
Denis Pageau ◽  
Gilles Tremblay ◽  
Julie Durand ◽  
...  

The objective of this project was to determine the optimal sowing dates and densities for winter wheat to increase winter survival and yield under Quebec growing conditions. The trials were carried out from 2014 to 2016 at four sites, representing three cereal production zones (zones 1, 2, and 3). Three cultivars were assessed using four sowing dates and four seeding densities (250, 350, 450, and 550 seeds m−2). In the first year, the wheat at two of the four sites survived (82%–100%), and in the second year, all the sites showed good survival rates (69%–99%). In zone 2, winter survival was higher for the early sowing dates compared with later dates. Sowing date and seeding density had no effect on survival in zones 1 and 3. Maximum yields were attained with sowing dates from mid- to late September in zone 1; from early to mid-September in zone 2; and from mid-August to mid-September in zone 3. An increase in seeding density from 250 to 550 seeds m−2 led to an average yield gain of 9% in zones 2 and 3, but no gain in zone 1. Winter survival rates and yield differ between cultivars.


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