Meeting the challenges facing wheat production: The strategic research agenda of the Global Wheat Initiative

Wheat occupies a special role in global food security since, in addition to providing 20% of our carbohydrates and protein, almost 25% of the global production is traded internationally. The importance of wheat for food security was recognised by the Chief Agricultural Scientists of the G20 group of countries when they endorsed the establishment of the Wheat Initiative in 2011. The Wheat Initiative was tasked with supporting the wheat research community by facilitating collaboration, information and resource sharing and helping to build the capacity to address challenges facing production in an increasingly variable environment. Many countries invest in wheat research. Innovations in wheat breeding and agronomy have delivered enormous gains over the past few decades, with the average global yield increasing from just over 1 tonne per hectare in the early 1960s to around 3.5 tonnes in the past decade. These gains are threatened by climate change, the rapidly rising financial and environmental costs of fertilizer, and pesticides, combined with declines in water availability for irrigation in many regions. The international wheat research community has worked to identify major opportunities to help ensure that global wheat production can meet demand. The outcomes of these discussions are presented in this paper

Water stress effect on durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) advanced lines at flowering stage under controlled conditions

Drought stress is a key factor affecting Morocco's agricultural productivity. In order to adapt to climate change, it is crucial to select new genotypes which may be slightly but not significantly less efficient. Durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) is one of the most important and cereal crops that are impacted by drought. The objective of this research was to assess the performance of 16 durum wheat genotypes to drought stress. From the beginning of flowering stage until the beginning of seed maturity, three levels of water treatment were applied, corresponding to 100%, 66% and 33% of field capacity. Three agro-morphological, five physiological and three biochemical traits were investigated in those genotypes grown under controlled greenhouse conditions over two years (2020 and 2021), by following completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The results showed that stomatal conductance, relative water content, leaf area, leaf temperature, SPAD values, proline, soluble sugars, glycine betaine and yield traits were significantly (p 12 g; p 50%; p 50 SPAD; p 0.6 mol m-2s-1; p < 0.001). Therefore, these lines could be selected as relevant and valuable germplasms to be used in durum wheat breeding programs aiming to develop drought-tolerant and high-yielding varieties. High relative water content and stomatal conductance along with low leaf temperature can be taken as selection indices in this breeding program

Comparative field studies of biochemical and agro-physiological parameters in semi-arid zone with rainfall Moroccan climate of durum wheat

Durum wheat production is highly unpredictable throughout the year because of uncertain rainfall and frequent dry spells and it is absolutely necessary to characterize the impact of drought on grain yield. The objective in this research is to carry out a comparative analysis of biochemical and physiological responses and production parameters of durum wheat (Triticum durum) in semi-arid zone with rainfall in Morocco's climates. Thirteen durum wheat genotypes selected at INRA-Morocco and three control varieties were evaluated under Moroccan rainfed conditions for two growing seasons (2019/20 and 2020/21). The INRA-Morocco-Douyet Fez experimental field site was where the trials were conducted (34°2 N, 5°W, 416 m). Different parameters were studied. Five physiological, four agronomical and one biochemical trait are measured in this study: leaf area, leaf temperature, relative water content, chlorophyll content, proline, yield and yield components. Decreased rainfall significantly increased proline content, leaf temperature and decreased leaf area, grain yield, chlorophyll and relative water content (P < 0.01). Based on these results, field-induced rainfall variations resulted in inconsistencies in the response of the assessed traits to drought-related interactions between both growing seasons (2020–2021) in order to identify stable, high-yielding genotypes in the presence and absence of rainfall, which requires a strong association of drought-related traits

Évaluation de la résistance aux nématodes à kystes des céréales, Heterodera avenae dans les lignées élites marocaines de blé dur et blé tendre

Cereal cyst nematodes (Heterodera avenae) pose a significant threat to wheat production in North Africa. This study assessed the resistance of 100 elite wheat breeding lines (51 durum and 49 bread wheat) from Morocco against H. avenae. Using a single population of the pathogen from the Zaers region, resistance was evaluated based on nematode reproduction factors, categorized into five classes ranging from resistance to high susceptibility. Three durum wheat lines (L7, L19, and L41) and six bread wheat lines (L8, L12, L14, L29, L38, and L44) displayed moderate resistance. These findings offer valuable insights into potential sources of resistance within Moroccan wheat germplasm, that could contribute to the development of improved varieties for sustainable cereal production in the region. Further future investigations could help to identify and utilize the specific genes and understand mechanisms responsible for the observed resistance in these promising wheat lines.Les nématodes à kystes des céréales (Heterodera avenae) constituent une menace importante pour la production de blé en Afrique du Nord. Cette étude a évalué la résistance de 100 lignées élites de blé (51 lignées de blé dur et 49 lignées de blé tendre) du Maroc contre H. avenae. En utilisant une seule population du pathogène de la région de Zaers, la résistance a été évaluée en fonction des facteurs de reproduction des nématodes, classés en cinq catégories allant de résistant à hautement sensible. Trois lignées de blé dur (L7, L19 et L41) et six lignées de blé tendre (L8, L12, L14, L29, L38 et L44) ont montré une résistance modérée. Ces résultats fournissent des informations précieuses sur les sources potentielles de résistance au sein du germoplasme de blé marocain, qui peuvent contribuer au développement de variétés améliorées pour une production durable des céréales dans la région. Des recherches supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour identifier et utiliser les gènes et mieux comprendre les mécanismes spécifiques responsables de la résistance observée dans ces lignées prometteuses de blé

Meeting the Challenges Facing Wheat Production: The Strategic Research Agenda of the Global Wheat Initiative

Wheat occupies a special role in global food security since, in addition to providing 20% of our carbohydrates and protein, almost 25% of the global production is traded internationally. The importance of wheat for food security was recognised by the Chief Agricultural Scientists of the G20 group of countries when they endorsed the establishment of the Wheat Initiative in 2011. The Wheat Initiative was tasked with supporting the wheat research community by facilitating collaboration, information and resource sharing and helping to build the capacity to address challenges facing production in an increasingly variable environment. Many countries invest in wheat research. Innovations in wheat breeding and agronomy have delivered enormous gains over the past few decades, with the average global yield increasing from just over 1 tonne per hectare in the early 1960s to around 3.5 tonnes in the past decade. These gains are threatened by climate change, the rapidly rising financial and environmental costs of fertilizer, and pesticides, combined with declines in water availability for irrigation in many regions. The international wheat research community has worked to identify major opportunities to help ensure that global wheat production can meet demand. The outcomes of these discussions are presented in this paper