Biomass Yield — A Topical Issue in Modern Wheat Breeding Programmes

Plot experiments were made involving seven winter wheat varieties to study growth rate and biomass yield in relation to grain yield and yield stability. The results obtained with ‘Apollo’ show that it is possible to boost grain yield and obtain simultaneously an adequate yield stability by increasing the biomass potential until anthesis and maintaining high growth rates in the grain-filling period. Higher grain yields were likewise reached by merely increasing the growth rate after anthesis at an equal or lower biomass potential at anthesis, but yield stability was lower then.