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SUMMARY:Wheat breeding for sustainable productivity\, an oxymoron waiting 
 to happen? - Richard Summers (RAGT)
DTSTART:20140320T160000Z
DTEND:20140320T170000Z
UID:TALK47381@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Ian Henderson
DESCRIPTION:The spiritual home of UK wheat breeding is to be found in the 
 arable fields around Cambridge. It has a long and by and large successful 
 history\, increasing yields and improving end use quality whilst maintaini
 ng and broadening disease resistance. Great productivity gains since the 1
 950’s have relied on three synergistic innovations: cheap nitrogenous fe
 rtilizers\, effective pesticides (particularly herbicides) and improved cr
 op genetics.\n\n \n\nI will briefly discuss the history and explain how ra
 tes of genetic gain can be maintained in the future but must accelerate. P
 rogress will be made by the dissection of yield and other QTL\, the stacki
 ng of additive alleles and the exploitation of ‘new’ genes from relate
 d species. However it is impossible to imagine that sufficient progress ca
 n be made over the long term without more fundamental genetic manipulation
  of photosynthesis\, pest resistance and plant phenology.\n\nIn addition\,
  yield increases will not be achieved at the farm level without agronomy a
 dvance to break the observed on farm yield plateau and sufficient nutrient
  being available to satisfy the genetic potential of the crop.  In my opin
 ion we have a choice between achieving very high yields per  unit crop are
 a which will require significant inputs (particularly nitrogen) but potent
 ially release land for other (environmental) use\, or to reduce inputs and
  maintain productivity by increasing the land area farmed. The question is
  which choice will be the most sustainable?
LOCATION:Department of Plant Sciences\, Large Lecture Theatre
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