Bearded or smooth? Awns improve yield when wheat experiences heat stress during grain fill in the southeastern United States

Noah DeWitt, Jeanette Lyerly, Mohammed Guedira, James B. Holland, J. Paul Murphy, Brian P. Ward, Richard E. Boyles, Mohamed Mergoum, Md Ali Babar, Ehsan Shakiba, Russel Sutton, Amir Ibrahim, Vijay Tiwari, Nicholas Santantonio, David A. Van Sanford, Kimberly Howell, Jared H. Smith, Stephen A. Harrison, Gina Brown-Guedira

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The presence or absence of awns-whether wheat heads are 'bearded' or 'smooth' - is the most visible phenotype distinguishing wheat cultivars. Previous studies suggest that awns may improve yields in heat or water-stressed environments, but the exact contribution of awns to yield differences remains unclear. Here we leverage historical phenotypic, genotypic, and climate data for wheat (Triticum aestivum) to estimate the yield effects of awns under different environmental conditions over a 12-year period in the southeastern USA. Lines were classified as awned or awnless based on sequence data, and observed heading dates were used to associate grain fill periods of each line in each environment with climatic data and grain yield. In most environments, awn suppression was associated with higher yields, but awns were associated with better performance in heat-stressed environments more common at southern locations. Wheat breeders in environments where awns are only beneficial in some years may consider selection for awned lines to reduce year-to-year yield variability, and with an eye towards future climates.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6749-6759
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Experimental Botany
Volume74
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 21 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Awns
  • abiotic stress
  • gxe
  • phenology
  • reaction norm
  • wheat

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Plant Science

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