Ryan Whitford

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the major crops for human nutrition and an important one for food security. However, wheat yields are highly dependent upon environmental conditions and are affected by various types of abiotic stresses. One strategy for improving wheat yield stability across environments is to harness hybrid vigour. Estimates of yield improvements associated with hybrid vigour in wheat range from 5 to over 20%, which needs to be further enhanced to meet the future global demand. This yield advantage comes with improved yield stability under both biotic and abiotic stress conditions. This chapter focuses on the current status of hybrid wheat breeding, including hybrid seed production systems, hybrid performance under abiotic stresses and prediction of hybrid performance.

Climate change is predicted to result in disruption of many farming systems. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) predicts a 15-20% fall in global agricultural production by 2080. Consequently, adaptation of major crop species to climate change will be the biggest challenge for plant breeders this century. Biotechnology will be important when adapting crops to better tolerate changing stresses. It includes using advanced genetic mapping technologies, like molecular markers, in the breeding and development of new varieties. Molecular markers are used to provide greater focus, accuracy and speed in crop breeding programmes with further advances coming. Genetic modification (GM) techniques are providing access to a diversity of genes, used to develop plant varieties more tolerant to the negative impacts of climate change.