University of Idaho scientists have discovered a naturally occurring genetic mutation in wheat associated with a 5% to 10% yield increase.
U of I College of Agricultural and Life Sciences researchers led by wheat breeder Jianli Chen, based at the Aberdeen Research and Extension Center, have screened germplasm, or collections of genetic material, including a panel of spring wheat varieties developed by breeders in the Pacific Northwest, for the mutation associated with plant flowering and increased yield. They confirmed the mutation in several high-yielding lines, including UI Gold, a hard white spring wheat variety Chen’s program released in 2022, and several new experimental lines.
“Because we found this gene mutation and developed molecular markers, we can screen lines for it,” Chen said. “I think this marker will be implemented by a lot of breeding programs.”
The mutation is a nucleotide deletion, meaning a small piece of DNA is missing. Researchers found the deletion was associated with later flowering and more spikelets — the clusters of flowers that develop into grain along a wheat head.
Those traits can contribute to greater yield. Chen and her team have isolated a locus — or a specific position on a chromosome where a gene or genetic marker is located — associated with the beneficial deletion.
Source : uidaho.edu