Crop traits enabling yield gains under more frequent extreme climatic events

Climate change (CC) in central China will change seasonal patterns of agricultural production through increasingly frequent extreme climatic events (FEB). Breeding climate-resilient wheat (Triticum aestivum I..) genotypes may mitigate adverse effects of ECEs on crop productivity. To reveal crop traits conducive to long-term yield impmvement in the target population of environments, we created 8,192 virtual genotypes with contrasting but realistic ranges of phenology, productivity and waterlogging tolerance. Using these virtual genotypes, we conducted a genotype (G) by environment (E) by management (M) factorial analysis (G x E x M) using locations distributed across the entire cereal cropping zone in mid-China. The GxExM invoked locally-specific sowing dates under future climates that were premised on shared socioeconomic pathways SSPS-8.5, with a time horizon centred on 2080. Across the simulated adaptation landscape, productivity was primarily driven by yield components and phenology (average grain yield increase of 6-69% across sites with optimal combinations of these traits). When incident solar radiation was not limiting carbon assimilation, ideotypes with higher grain yields were characterised by earlier flowering, higher radiation-use efficiency and larger maximum kernel size. At sites with limited solar radiation, crops required longer growing periods to realise genetic yield potential, although higher radiation-use efficiency and larger maximum kernel size were again prospective traits enabling higher rates of yield gains. By 2080, extreme watcrlos . ing stress in some regions of midChina will impact substantially on productivity, with yield penalties of up to 1,010 kg ha(-1). ldcotypes with optimal G x M could mitigate yield penalty caused by waterlogging by up to 15% under future climates. These results help distil promising crop trait by best management practice combinations that enable higher yields and robust adaptation to future climates and more frequent extreme climatic events, including flash flooding and soil waterlogging.

Automated summary

Climate change in central China will impact agricultural production through extreme climatic events, but breeding climate-resilient wheat genotypes can help mitigate these effects. By optimizing crop traits and management practices, higher yields and adaptation to future climates can be achieved.