Physiological adaptive traits are a potential allele reservoir for maize genetic progress under challenging conditions

Claude Welcker, Nadir Abusamra Spencer, Olivier Turc, Italo Granato, Romain Chapuis, Delphine Madur, Katia Beauchene, Brigitte Gouesnard, Xavier Draye, Carine Palaffre, Josiane Lorgeou, Stephane Melkior, Colin Guillaume, Thomas Presterl, Alain Murigneux, Randall J. Wisser, Emilie J. Millet, Fred Eeuwijk, Alain Charcosset and François Tardieu ()
Additional contact information
Claude Welcker: LEPSE, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Institut Agro
Nadir Abusamra Spencer: LEPSE, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Institut Agro
Olivier Turc: LEPSE, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Institut Agro
Italo Granato: LEPSE, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Institut Agro
Romain Chapuis: DIASCOPE, Université de Montpellier, INRAE, Institut Agro
Delphine Madur: Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay
Katia Beauchene: ARVALIS, Institut du Vegetal
Brigitte Gouesnard: AGAP institut Univ. Montpellier, INRAE, CIRAD, Institut Agro
Xavier Draye: Catholic Univ. Louvain, Earth & Life Institute
Carine Palaffre: INRAE, Univ Bordeaux
Josiane Lorgeou: ARVALIS, Institut du Vegetal
Stephane Melkior: RAGT
Colin Guillaume: MAS seeds
Thomas Presterl: KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA
Alain Murigneux: Limagrain Europe
Randall J. Wisser: LEPSE, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Institut Agro
Emilie J. Millet: Biometris, WUR
Fred Eeuwijk: Biometris, WUR
Alain Charcosset: Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay
François Tardieu: LEPSE, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Institut Agro

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Combined phenomic and genomic approaches are required to evaluate the margin of progress of breeding strategies. Here, we analyze 65 years of genetic progress in maize yield, which was similar (101 kg ha−1 year−1) across most frequent environmental scenarios in the European growing area. Yield gains were linked to physiologically simple traits (plant phenology and architecture) which indirectly affected reproductive development and light interception in all studied environments, marked by significant genomic signatures of selection. Conversely, studied physiological processes involved in stress adaptation remained phenotypically unchanged (e.g. stomatal conductance and growth sensitivity to drought) and showed no signatures of selection. By selecting for yield, breeders indirectly selected traits with stable effects on yield, but not physiological traits whose effects on yield can be positive or negative depending on environmental conditions. Because yield stability under climate change is desirable, novel breeding strategies may be needed for exploiting alleles governing physiological adaptive traits.

Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-30872-w

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30872-w

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