Abstract

3rd year graduate seminar

Breeding efforts have been historically impeded by lack of efficient screening methodologies to identify genotypes combining high yielding potential and physiological bases of superior adaptation. Increased knowledge of the physiological determinants of key agronomic traits along with the development of new selection approaches are needed to supplement conventional breeding for future yield improvement. We aimed to address these questions with two components of research: (i) Determinants of grain yield and harvest index in lines with different Rht genes (b, c) when incorporated into contrasting background wheat genomes (B, D), and relative effects on C:N partitioning during grain filling; (ii) Applications of stable isotopes of (δ²H, δ¹⁸O, δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C) in an agronomic perspective in alley cropping systems associated with adjacent N₂ fixing trees, in term of hydraulic redistribution, N availability and crop yields.