A multisite managed environment facility for targeted trait and germplasm phenotyping
Greg J. Rebetzke A G , Karine Chenu B , Ben Biddulph C , Carina Moeller D , Dave M. Deery A , Allan R. Rattey A , Dion Bennett E , Ed G. Barrett-Lennard C and Jorge E. Mayer F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A CSIRO Plant Industry, PO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
B Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, PO Box 102, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.
C Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia Locked Bag 4 Bentley Delivery Centre, Perth, WA 6983, Australia.
D University of Tasmania, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, Private Bag 98, Hobart ,Tas. 7001, Australia.
E Australian Grains Technology, Perkins Building, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia.
F Grains Research and Development Corporation, 40 Blackall Street, Barton, ACT 2600, Australia.
G Corresponding author. Email: greg.rebetzke@csiro.au
Functional Plant Biology 40(1) 1-13 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP12180
Submitted: 22 June 2012 Accepted: 18 September 2012 Published: 23 November 2012
Abstract
Field evaluation of germplasm for performance under water and heat stress is challenging. Field environments are variable and unpredictable, and genotype × environment interactions are difficult to interpret if environments are not well characterised. Numerous traits, genes and quantitative trait loci have been proposed for improving performance but few have been used in variety development. This reflects the limited capacity of commercial breeding companies to screen for these traits and the absence of validation in field environments relevant to breeding companies, and because little is known about the economic benefit of selecting one particular trait over another. The value of the proposed traits or genes is commonly not demonstrated in genetic backgrounds of value to breeding companies. To overcome this disconnection between physiological trait breeding and uptake by breeding companies, three field sites representing the main environment types encountered across the Australian wheatbelt were selected to form a set of managed environment facilities (MEFs). Each MEF manages soil moisture stress through irrigation, and the effects of heat stress through variable sowing dates. Field trials are monitored continuously for weather variables and changes in soil water and canopy temperature in selected probe genotypes, which aids in decisions guiding irrigation scheduling and sampling times. Protocols have been standardised for an essential core set of measurements so that phenotyping yield and other traits are consistent across sites and seasons. MEFs enable assessment of a large number of traits across multiple genetic backgrounds in relevant environments, determine relative trait value, and facilitate delivery of promising germplasm and high value traits into commercial breeding programs.
Additional keywords: commercial breeding, field experiments, heat stress, water stress, wheat.
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