Phenotyping genetic advances of wheat under Mediterranean conditions using stable isotopes and high-resolution aerial and satellite multispectral data

Abstract

Wheat genetic advances have stagnated in recent years despite genetic gains made during the Green Revolution. Thus, this research evaluated wheat varieties released during pre-Green Revolution (landraces and old varieties) and post-Green Revolution periods. The study was conducted under rainfed conditions over four seasons (2020-2021 to 2023-2024). For one season (2021-2022), we employed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and satellite-based (Skysat) high-resolution imagery. These methods were complemented by analyses of the stable carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C) of the grains over three crop seasons, the oxygen isotope composition (δ¹⁸O) of stem-base water during the 2022-2023 season, and agronomic data collected throughout all seasons. This study aimed to examine changes in phenotypic characteristics across successive breeding periods. The increase in grain yield between pre- and post-Green Revolution varieties was stronger when assessed under conditions without water stress. However, landraces showed higher yield stability than post-Green Revolution varieties. There was no significant genetic gain in yield or grain protein content across the varieties released since the Green Revolution under low rainfall conditions, whereas under wetter conditions, the genetic gain in yield was evidenced at 0.88​% yearly. In terms of phenotypic characteristics, more productive varieties were associated with improved water status (indicated by lower grain δ¹³C values), reflecting deeper water extraction (indicated by lower stem δ¹⁸O values). Vegetation indices measured at the aerial level correlated slightly better with wheat grain yield than Skysat imagery. Among the vegetation indices evaluated, the chlorophyll vegetation index (CVI) was the most effective at distinguishing breeding period groups of varieties.

Keywords

Breeding period / Genetic gain / Isotope composition / Mediterranean climate / Remote sensing / Wheat

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