multi-environmental study of recent breeding progress on nitrogen use efficiency in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

KEY MESSAGE : By comparing 195 varieties in eight trials, this study assesses nitrogen use efficiency improvement in high and low nitrogen conditions in European winter wheat over the last 25 years. In a context where European agriculture practices have to deal with environmental concerns and nitrog...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Theoretical and applied genetics 2013-12, Vol.126 (12), p.3035-3048
Main Authors: Cormier, Fabien, Faure, Sébastien, Dubreuil, Pierre, Heumez, Emmanuel, Beauchêne, Katia, Lafarge, Stéphane, Praud, Sébastien, Le Gouis, Jacques
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agriculture
Biochemistry
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biotechnology
Breeding
early development
Environment
Environmental conditions
Environmental Sciences
Fertilizers - analysis
Genetic aspects
Genetic Association Studies
Genotype & phenotype
grain protein
grain yield
Harvest
harvest index
Health aspects
Life Sciences
Nitrogen
Nitrogen - metabolism
nitrogen content
nutrient use efficiency
Original Paper
Physiological aspects
Plant Biochemistry
Plant breeding
Plant Breeding/Biotechnology
Plant Genetics and Genomics
protein content
Proteins
Seasons
straw
Triticum - genetics
Triticum - growth & development
Triticum - metabolism
Triticum aestivum
Vegetal Biology
Wheat
winter wheat
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Summary:KEY MESSAGE : By comparing 195 varieties in eight trials, this study assesses nitrogen use efficiency improvement in high and low nitrogen conditions in European winter wheat over the last 25 years. In a context where European agriculture practices have to deal with environmental concerns and nitrogen (N) fertiliser cost, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) has to be improved. This study assessed genetic progress in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) NUE. Two hundred and twenty-five European elite varieties were tested in four environments under two levels of N. Global genetic progress was assessed on additive genetic values and on genotype × N interaction, covering 25 years of European breeding. To avoid sampling bias, quality, precocity and plant height were added as covariates in the analyses when needed. Genotype × environment interactions were highly significant for all the traits studied to such an extent that no additive genetic effect was detected on N uptake. Genotype × N interactions were significant for yield, grain protein content (GPC), N concentration in straw, N utilisation, and NUE. Grain yield improvement (+0.45 % year⁻¹) was independent of the N treatment. GPC was stable, thus grain nitrogen yield was improved (+0.39 % year⁻¹). Genetic progress on N harvest index (+0.12 % year⁻¹) and on N concentration in straw (−0.52 % year⁻¹) possibly revealed improvement in N remobilisation. There has been an improvement of NUE additive genetic value (+0.33 % year⁻¹) linked to better N utilisation (+0.20 % year⁻¹). Improved yield stability was detected as a significant improvement of NUE in low compared to high N conditions. The application of these results to breeding programs is discussed.
ISSN:0040-5752
1432-2242
DOI:10.1007/s00122-013-2191-9