Editing Wheat (section)

=== For higher yields ===

[[File:Long-term wheat yields in Europe, OWID.svg|thumb|Breeding has increased yields over time|upright=1.5]]

The presence of certain versions of wheat genes has been important for crop yields. Genes for the 'dwarfing' trait, first used by Japanese wheat breeders to produce [[Norin 10 wheat|Norin 10]] short-stalked wheat, have had a huge effect on wheat yields worldwide, and were major factors in the success of the [[Green Revolution]] in Mexico and Asia, an initiative led by [[Norman Borlaug]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Würschum |first1=Tobias |last2=Langer |first2=Simon M. |last3=Longin |first3=C. Friedrich H. |last4=Tucker |first4=Matthew R. |last5=Leiser |first5=Willmar L. |date=2017-09-26 |title=A modern Green Revolution gene for reduced height in wheat |journal=[[The Plant Journal]] |volume=92 |issue=5 |pages=892–903 |doi=10.1111/tpj.13726 |pmid=28949040|s2cid=30146700 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Dwarfing genes enable the carbon that is fixed in the plant during photosynthesis to be diverted towards seed production, and they also help prevent the problem of lodging.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kulshrestha |first1=V. P. |last2=Tsunoda |first2=S. |date=1981-03-01 |title=The role of 'Norin 10' dwarfing genes in photosynthetic and respiratory activity of wheat leaves |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00282421 |journal=[[Theoretical and Applied Genetics]] |volume=60 |issue=2 |pages=81–84 |doi=10.1007/BF00282421 |pmid=24276628 |s2cid=22243940}}</ref> "Lodging" occurs when an ear stalk falls over in the wind and rots on the ground, and heavy nitrogenous fertilization of wheat makes the grass grow taller and become more susceptible to this problem.<ref>{{ Cite book |last1=Milach |first1=S. C. K. |title=Dwarfing genes in plant improvement |date=2001-01-01 |volume=73 |pages=35–63 |publisher=[[Academic Press]] |last2=Federizzi |first2=L. C.|series= Advances in Agronomy |doi=10.1016/S0065-2113(01)73004-0 |isbn=9780120007738}}</ref> By 1997, 81% of the developing world's wheat area was planted to semi-dwarf wheats, giving both increased yields and better response to nitrogenous fertilizer.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lupton |first1=F. G. H.|last2=Oliver |first2=R. H. |last3=Ruckenbauer |first3=P. |date=2009-03-27 |title=An analysis of the factors determining yields in crosses between semi-dwarf and taller wheat varieties|journal=[[The Journal of Agricultural Science]]  |volume=82 |issue=3 |pages=483–496 |doi=10.1017/S0021859600051388 |s2cid=85738377}}</ref>

[[Triticum turgidum subsp. polonicum|''T. turgidum'' subsp. ''polonicum'']], known for its longer [[glume]]s and grains, has been bred into main wheat lines for its grain size effect, and likely has contributed these traits to ''Triticum petropavlovskyi'' and the Portuguese [[landrace]] group ''Arrancada''.<ref name="Adamski-2021">{{cite journal |publisher=Oxford University Press |last1=Adamski |first1=Nikolai M. |last2=Simmonds |first2=James |last3=Brinton |first3=Jemima F. |last4=Backhaus |first4=Anna E. |last5=Chen |first5=Yi |last6=Smedley |first6=Mark |last7=Hayta |first7=Sadiye |last8=Florio |first8=Tobin |last9=Crane |first9=Pamela |last10=Scott |first10=Peter |last11=Pieri |first11=Alice |last12=Hall |first12=Olyvia |last13=Barclay |first13=J Elaine |last14=Clayton |first14=Myles |last15=Doonan |first15=John H. |last16=Nibau |first16=Candida |last17=Uauy |first17=Cristobal |display-authors=3 |title=Ectopic expression of ''Triticum polonicum'' VRT-A2 underlies elongated glumes and grains in hexaploid wheat in a dosage-dependent manner |journal=The Plant Cell |date=2021-05-01 |volume=33 |issue=7 |doi=10.1093/plcell/koab119 |pages=2296–2319 |pmid=34009390 |pmc=8364232 |doi-access=free }}</ref> As with many plants, [[MADS-box]] influences flower development, and more specifically, as with other agricultural Poaceae, influences yield. Despite that importance, {{as of|2021|lc=yes}} little research has been done into MADS-box and other such spikelet and flower genetics in wheat specifically.<ref name="Adamski-2021" />

The world record wheat yield is about {{convert|17|t/ha|lb/acre|abbr=off|lk=in}}, reached in New Zealand in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/highest-wheat-yield |title=Guinness World Records – Highest Wheat Yield |date=10 August 2022}}</ref> A project in the UK, led by [[Rothamsted Research]] has aimed to raise wheat yields in the country to {{convert|20|t/ha|lb/acre|abbr=unit}} by 2020, but in 2018 the UK record stood at {{convert|16|t/ha|lb/acre|abbr=unit}}, and the average yield was just {{convert|8|t/ha|lb/acre|abbr=unit}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fwi.co.uk/arable/crop-management/lincs-grower-scoops-top-wheat-and-rapeseed-yield-awards|author=[[Farmers Weekly]] |title=Lincs grower scoops top wheat and rapeseed yield awards |date=23 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://cereals.ahdb.org.uk/markets/market-news/2018/september/28/gb-harvest-progress-2018-report-6.aspx |title=Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board – 2018 GB Harvest Progress Results}}</ref>