Multi-omics approaches for understanding yield and yield stability in wheat (Triticum aestivum).

This project is supported by the International Wheat Yield Partnership and utilizes multi-omics approaches to improve the understanding of wheat yield stability across diverse growing environments. Three populations were phenotyped using proximal imaging and manual measurements from 2019 to 2022 at four Canadian sites (Ottawa, Brandon, Lethbridge, and Swift Current), and in the United Kingdom (Rothamsted). The populations consisted of a double haploid spring wheat population (AAC Brandon/Pasteur), a near-isogenic line spring wheat population in the cv. Paragon background, and a winter wheat diversity panel containing Canadian and UK lines with a total of six to ten site-years of data collected for each population. The agronomic data and phenometric measures, derived through PlotCam images, are being used to develop yield predication models, correlation among traits, and to capture yield stability across environments. Genotypic data from SNP-based array platforms will be combined with the phenotypic data to detect associated QTL, alleles, and haplotypes that can be introgressed in the development of new varieties. This project has the potential to facilitate genetic improvements for yield and yield stability in spring and winter wheat germplasm.