Crop Physiology, Breeding and Yield Improvement–-Ingredients for Success and Current Opportunities.

Plant breeders continue to make significant yield gains using empirical breeding methods and there is no evidence that this is declining.  Physiologists have unravelled many of the tantalising mysteries that underpin yield improvement and responses to unfavourable soil conditions such as lack of water, salinity, acidity and a low nutrient status. Those involved in germplasm exploration and development continue to surprise us by the extraordinary wealth of genetic variation for most traits of interest that can be exposed.

Breeding capability, physiological knowledge and genetic variation are the ingredients of success in yield improvement. However, it seems that we have not yet discovered the correct recipe for the successful integration of these areas as there are few instances where an understanding of crop physiology has directly contributed to breeding improved varieties.

This talk will focus on what have been the ingredients of successful collaborative interactions where physiology has contributed to new elite germplasm for breeding. It will also discuss some of the most important opportunities available to us where an understanding of the physiological processes can be harnessed using both molecular techniques and smarter phenotyping to improve grain yield.