Understanding drivers of phenology to increase grain yield of wheat

There are a range of commercial cultivars suited for sowing across the northern grains region (NGR), which vary in phenology from slow developing winter types to fast developing spring types, providing growers with flexibility in their sowing window. The adaptation and yield potential of wheat is dependent on matching phenology and sowing time of varieties to ensure flowering and grain formation occurs at an optimal time. In most environments, this is defined by decreasing frost risk, and increasing water and heat stress. The optimal flowering time varies across environments of the NGR, therefore providing growers with an understanding of the drivers of phenology will enable them to tailor suitable combinations of genotype and sowing date to minimise exposure to abiotic stresses and achieve maximum grain yield.

This paper discusses the influence of phenology on yield responses to sowing time for wheat genotypes across five environments of the northern grains region (NGR). These results are part of a project aimed at optimising grain yield potential in the NGR co-invested by GRDC and NSW DPI under the Grains Agronomy and Pathology Partnership (GAPP).