Wheat Improvement

Matthew P. Reynolds and Hans-Joachim Braun

Abstract Wheat is a staple for rich and poor alike. Its improvement as a discipline was boosted when statisticians first distinguished heritable variation from environ- ment effects. Many twentieth century crop scientists contributed to the Green Revolution that tripled yield potential of staple crops but yield stagnation is now a concern, especially considering the multiple challenges facing food security. Investments in modern technologies – phenomics, genomics etc. – provide tools to take both translational research and crop breeding to the next level. Herein wheat experts address three main themes: “Delivering Improved Germplasm” outlining theory and practice of wheat breeding and the attendant disciplines; ‘Translational Research to Incorporate Novel Traits’ covers biotic and abiotic challenges and out- lines links between more fundamental research and crop breeding. However, effec- tive translational research takes time and can be off-putting to funders and scientists who feel pressure to deliver near-term impacts. The final section ‘Rapidly Evolving Technologies & Likely Potential’ outlines methods that can boost translational research and breeding. The volume by being open access aims to disseminate a comprehensive textbook on wheat improvement to public and private wheat breed- ers globally, while serving as a benchmark of the current status as we address the formidable challenges that agriculture faces for the foreseeable future.