Wheat Improvement & Genetics

Personnel:  Jackie Rudd | Ravindra Devkota | Huangjun Lu | Jonny Simmons | Gina Rudd | Jason Baker

The goal of Texas AgriLife Research wheat breeding program is to design varieties for specific adaptation areas and management programs in Texas. Through breeding efforts and better management practices, grain yield of wheat in Texas has increased from an average of 20 bushels per acre during the 1960's, to 30 bushels per acre today (Texas Agricultural Statistics Service).

As a result, less land, money, and natural resources are needed to produce a bushel of wheat. Modern cultivars generally have a higher yield potential, are more efficient at utilizing available natural resources, and respond better to inputs. They generally have greater resistance to pathogens and insects, thus reducing the need for chemical applications.

The continuous long-term investment made by Texas AgriLife Research and the Texas Wheat Producers Board has netted substantial returns. At one time, over half of the hard winter wheat acreage in the United States was planted to TAM varieties. The breeding program is part of an integrated approach to small grains improvement that is detailed in the strategic plan developed under the direction of the Small Grains Advisory Committee with input from an External Assessment Panel review conducted in 2000. This plan clearly defines objectives and outlines an implementation plan that includes scientific and financial accountability.

Wheat is grown throughout Texas with many different environmental challenges. We have breeding nurseries at 16 locations and each area of the state presents its own set of environmental challenges for wheat. The state-wide and area-specific breeding objectives can be viewed here and an outline of the breeding process is shown here.