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University of Idaho finds wheat gene tied to higher yields

The research links a naturally occurring DNA deletion to later flowering and more spikelets, and uses molecular markers to let breeders screen for the trait earlier.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Agriculture

World Grain reports University of Idaho researchers have identified a naturally occurring wheat genetic mutation associated with a 5% to 10% yield increase. The work, led by wheat breeder Jianli Chen at the university’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, screened germplasm including spring wheat varieties developed in the Pacific Northwest for the mutation tied to flowering timing and yield.

The team confirmed the deletion in several high-yielding lines, including UI Gold, a hard white spring wheat variety released in 2022, along with multiple new experimental lines. According to the study, the mutation is a nucleotide deletion and was associated with later flowering and more spikelets, the clusters of flowers that develop into grain along a wheat head.

Researchers say they isolated a specific chromosome locus associated with the beneficial deletion and developed molecular markers that can be used to screen breeding lines. Chen said the marker approach can allow breeding programs to test lines for the gene without waiting for long field measurements.

The research was supported by a five-year, $15 million grant from the US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and involved collaborators from 22 institutions nationwide. World Grain adds that the project also validated a faster, less expensive method to screen lines for yield and related traits using genomic selection instead of waiting several years for grain yield data.

Latest closeGold $4,133.60 ▲2.5%|Wheat $638.00 ▼2.0%

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