Genetic improvement trends in agronomic performances and end-use quality characteristics among hard red winter wheat cultivars in Nebraska

Evaluation of wheat cultivars from different eras allows breeders to determine changes in agronomic and end-use quality characteristics associated with grain yield and end-use quality improvement over time. The objective of this research was to examine the trends in agronomic and end-use quality characteristics of hard red winter wheat cultivars grown in Nebraska. Thirty historically important and popular hard red winter wheat cultivars introduced or released between 1874 and 2000 were evaluated at Lincoln, Mead and North Platte, Nebraska in 2002 and 2003. An alpha lattice design with 15 incomplete blocks of two plots and three replications was used at all locations. Agronomic (days to flowering, plant height, spike length, culm length, grain yield and yield components, and grain volume weight) and end-use quality (flour yield, SDS-sedimentation value, flour protein content, and mixograph time and tolerance) traits were measured in each environment. Highly significant differences were observed among environments, genotypes and their interactions for most agronomic and end-use quality characteristics. Unlike modern cultivars, older cultivars were low yielding, and less responsive to favorable environments for grain yield and yield components. Semidwarf cultivars were more stable for plant height than traditional medium to tall cultivars. All cultivars had high grain volume weight since it is part of the grading system and highly selected for in cultivar release. Modern cultivars were less stable than older cultivars for SDS-sedimentation and mixing tolerance. However, the stability of older cultivars was attributed to their having weak mixing tolerance and reduced SDS-sedimentation values. The reduced protein content of modern cultivars was offset by increased functionality, as measured by mixograph and SDS sedimentation. In conclusion, breeders have tailored agronomic and end-use quality traits essential for hard red winter wheat production and marketing in Nebraska.     

Mineral bioavailability in grains of Pakistani bread wheat declines from old to current cultivars

Estimating variation in grain mineral concentration and bioavailability in relation to grain yield and the year of cultivar release is important for breeding wheat with increased content of bioavailable minerals. The grain yield and yield components, grain phytate concentration, and concentration and bioavailability of minerals (zinc Zn, iron Fe and calcium Ca) in wheat grains were estimated in 40 wheat cultivars released in Punjab (Pakistan) during the last five decades. Mean grain Zn and Ca concentrations in current-cultivars were significantly lower (≥14%) than in obsolete cultivars released during the Green Revolution (1965–1976). Much of this variation was related to increased grain weight in current-cultivars. There was a positive correlation among minerals (r = 0.39 or higher, n = 40) and minerals with phytate in wheat grains (r = 0.38 or higher, n = 40). The tested cultivars varied widely in grain yield and grain phytate-to-mineral molar ratios (phytate:mineral). Compared to obsolete cultivars, the current-cultivars had a higher phytate:mineral ratio in grains, indicating poor bioavailability of minerals to humans. The study revealed a non-significant relationship between grain yield and phytate:mineral ratios in grains. Therefore, breeding for lower phytate:mineral ratios in wheat grains can ensure increased mineral bioavailability without significant reduction in the yield potential. Future breeding should be focused on developing new genotypes suitable for mineral biofortification and with increased mineral bioavailability in grains.     

Wild wheat adaptation in different soil ecosystems as expressed in the mineral concentration of the seeds

Wild emmer wheat, Triticum dicoccoides, grows naturally in several habitats in northern Israel. The assumption that a genotype is better adapted to the `native' soil from which it was collected than to other soils, was tested. Each of nine T. dicoccoides accessions from nine different habitats and three wheat cultivars was sown in soils taken from all habitats, and grown in a greenhouse over 3 years. To enhance the biological nutrition absorption forces from the soil, three common wheat cultivars were added to the wild genotypes. No interaction in grain yield between wild wheat genotype and soil type was found within experiments. Soil type was the main factor that affected development and yield. Seed nutrient ability (SNA) of each soil was defined as the mineral element content in the seeds, averaged over all genotypes. Multiple regression analysis revealed diversity between the SNA related to growth and yield of the genotypes. Total seed yield per plant of each accession was related to several SNAs, and mainly to S and K, R² = 0.5–0.85. The spikelet number per spike was determined by N and Na in five accessions and by Ca in the other four (R² = 0.39–0.93).Heading date was affected mainly by the genotype, and the soil effect exhibited Fe and P dependence. A genotype-habitat adaptation exhibited by yield components was related to yield quality rather than to yield quantity. When a mineral nutrient is deficient in a natural soil, natural selection leads to establishment of plants that store a higher concentration of that nutrient in the seed, for the benefit of the succeeding generation. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Analysis of Wheat Cultivar Differences in Grain Yield, Grain Nitrogen Yield and Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency.

More detailed information on the causes of yield variability among wheat cultivars is needed to further increase wheat yield. Field studies were conducted in Northern Greece over the two cropping seasons of 1985—1986 and 1986—1987 to assess the effects of nitrogen fertilizer and application timing of the various component traits that determine grain yield, grain nitrogen yield and nitrogen utilization efficiency of two bread ( Triticum aestivum L.) and two durum ( Triticum durum Desf.) wheat cultivars, using yield and yield component analysis. Nitrogen at a rate of 150 kg ha^-1 was applied before planting or 100 N kg ha^-1 before planting and then 50 N kg ha^-1 top dressed at early boot stage. Nitrogen and cultivars affected all traits examined, while split nitrogen application affected only some of the traits. Grain yields in the most cases were correlated with number of grains per unit area and grain weight and grain nitrogen yields in all cases with grain number per unit area. The contribution of the number of grains per spike to total variation in grain yield among cultivars was almost consistent (37 to 55 %), while the contribution of grain weight was more significant (up to 55 %) in high yields (>6.500kg ha^-1) and number of spikes per unit area (>500). The number of grains per spike contributed from 60 to 83 % to the total variation in grain nitrogen per spike. Increased grain nitrogen concentration resulted in a reduction of its contribution in grain nitrogen yield variation. Nitrogen utilization efficiency was higher during grain filling than during vegetative biomass accumulation. The contribution of nitrogen harvest index to the variation of utilization efficiency for grain yield was higher in plants receiving nitrogen application.     

黄土高原不同年代旱地冬小麦品种产量及光合特性对密度的响应

为研究旱地冬小麦品种更替过程中产量与光合特征对群体大小的响应,选择1940-2004年先后培育的7个冬小麦品种,于2011-2012年在陕西长武农业生态试验站进行田间试验,并设置3个播种密度（100、250、350粒/m ²）。在所有密度处理中,子粒产量均随着品种的更替而呈线性增长,年均遗传增益在0.65%到1.29%之间。1980年后培育的小麦品种的产量对于播种密度更不敏感,具备更好的群体调节能力。现代品种收获指数和千粒重的提高与其产量的提升呈显著正相关。品种更替过程中花期旗叶净光合速率和叶面积指数持续增长,并提高千粒重,最终增加产量。花期时冠层下可见天空比随着品种更替呈显著下降趋势。在黄土高原的冬小麦育种工作中,应将耐密性、大库容、高光效的理想株型作为重要的筛选指标。     

小麦籽粒钙元素含量的研究进展

提高矿物质营养元素含量正在成为世界主要粮食作物的重要研究方向和育种目标。钙元素是人体必需的矿物质元素,在人类骨骼形成和新陈代谢中发挥着重要作用。全球约35亿人缺钙,缺钙已成为影响人类健康的国际性重大问题。主食是一种最优安全的矿物质元素补充途径。小麦是我国乃至全世界主要粮食作物,是全球35%~40%人口主要的食物来源,是摄入钙的主要来源,是矿物质元素生物强化的重要作物。通过遗传改良方法提高小麦籽粒钙元素含量被认为是解决缺钙最经济、有效、可持续的措施,目前已引起了国内外学者的高度关注。本文综述了近年来小麦籽粒钙元素含量的研究进展,主要包括籽粒钙含量的遗传差异、影响因素以及与相关性状关系、调控机理。此外,我们还提出了将来进行钙营养强化小麦研究的方向,此研究内容为加快通过主粮实现有效补钙、倡导健康营养的膳食模式、满足由“量”的需求向“质”的需求转变的粮食安全、改善国民健康状况以及减少因缺钙造成的经济损失提供了解决方案。     

小麦籽粒钙元素含量的研究进展

Increasing the mineral content is becoming the important research direction and major target for crops breeding in the world. Calcium is an essential mineral element for human health and plays a pivotal role in skeletogenesis and metabolism. It is estimated that about 3.5 billion people was suffered from calcium deficiencies. Calcium deficiency has become a major international problem harming human health. The staple food is an optimal and safe way to mineral supplement. Wheat, one of the main food crops in China and even in the world, is the main source of food for 35%-40% of global population, a main source for human’s calcium intake as well as an important crop of mineral element biofortification. Improving the calcium content in wheat grains through genetic improvement is considered to be the most economical, effective and sustainable measure to solve the calcium deficiency, which has aroused great concern from international scholars. This paper summarized the recent advances in the study of calcium content in wheat grains, mainly including the genetic variation, affecting factors, the relationship with related traits and regulation mechanism of calcium content in grain. Furthermore, we also put forward the direction of future research on calcium-fortified wheat, which provides solutions for accelerating the effective calcium supplementation through staple food, promoting the healthy and nutritious dietary pattern, ensuring the food security to meet the transition from “quantitative” to “qualitative” demands, improving people’s health, and reducing economic losses caused by calcium deficiency.     

Field evaluation of resistance to kernel infection and mycotoxin accumulation caused by Fusarium head blight in western Japanese wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars

Fusarium head blight (FHB) remains a serious problem that causes yield and grain quality losses, and mycotoxin accumulation in wheat production in western Japan. A 3-year field trial with artificial FHB inoculation was conducted to evaluate varietal characteristics of FHB resistance among 31 wheat cultivars/lines cultivated in western Japan, including one standard line. Severity of FHB, frequency of Fusarium-damaged kernels (FDK), deoxynivalenol concentration (DON), nivalenol concentration (NIV), and grain yield showed significant differences among years and among cultivars/lines. Interaction between years and cultivars/lines was also significant in these traits, but F values were larger for cultivars/lines than for the interaction. Correlation analysis showed that cultivars/lines with lower FHB severities tended to have lower FDK, DON and NIV, and a higher yield. Resistance to kernel infection (RKI), residuals calculated by regressing FDK against FHB severity, and resistance to mycotoxin accumulation (RTA), residuals calculated by regressing DON + NIV against FDK, also differed significantly among cultivars/lines. These results indicated that varietal differences in response to FHB symptom development, RKI and RTA exist among wheat cultivars/lines in western Japan. Such information is important to aid producers in controlling the disease and for breeders to improve FHB resistance and reduce mycotoxin accumulation in commercial wheat cultivars.     

长江中下游小麦品种根系改良特征及其与产量的关系

为探明小麦品种更替过程中根系改良特征对氮肥的响应及其与产量形成的关系,从而为高产品种选育及根冠构型建成提供理论依据。本研究以长江中下游不同年代大面积推广的代表性小麦品种南大2419、扬麦1号、扬麦158和扬麦16为材料,采用大田和盆栽试验,研究了3个施氮水平(纯氮0、225和300 kg hm–2)下小麦根系形态与生理特性的差异及其与产量的关系。结果表明,小麦籽粒产量随品种育成年代推进逐步增加,现代品种对施氮的响应较早期品种大。现代小麦品种拔节至开花阶段根系干物质积累量和生长速率显著高于早期品种,而播种至拔节期早期品种的根系生长在无氮条件下具有较强的生长优势。小麦根系总根长、表面积、根体积、0~60 cm土层根重密度、根系活力和SOD活性随品种育成年代逐步提高,而MDA含量显著降低。增施氮肥促进了不同年代品种根系生长,但现代品种增幅较早期品种大,说明品种改良提高了小麦根系对氮肥的响应。籽粒产量与开花期根系总根长、表面积、根系生物量和0~60 cm根重密度呈显著正相关。因此,增加根系与土壤接触面积和高氮适应性、提高根系生理活性、延缓根系衰老是长江中下游小麦品种演变的重要特征也是高产高效栽培调控的重要目标。     

The use of grain protein deviation for identifying wheat cultivars with high grain protein concentration and yield

The relationship between grain protein concentration and grain yield in different cultivars of winter wheat was examined in a series of field experiments carried out over three years, in which 13, 12 and 8 cultivars were studied in each year, respectively. The plants were grown at sites located in Shropshire, west-central England, in years 1 and 2, and at three other locations in eastern England in year 3. Above ground plant samples were collected at an thesis and again at maturity, when they were separated into grain and straw, and analysed for dry matter and N content. Analysis of residuals from regression of grain protein concentration on grain yield (grain protein deviation, GPD) showed that some cultivars had a higher grain protein concentration than was predicted from grain yield alone. It was deduced that the capacity to accumulate a higher grain protein concentration than predicted from grain yield is under genetic control and thus may be improved through breeding. Other factors (weight of N accumulated in the biomass at anthesis, weight of N accumulated in the biomass between anthesis and maturity and the concentration of N remaining in the straw at maturity) were added step-wise into the regression to enable statistical analysis of their relative contributions to grain protein. High GPD may be achieved through increased N accumulation after anthesis, combined with efficient re-translocation of vegetative N reserves. The use of GPD provides a selection criteria in wheat breeding programs to screen for increased grain protein concentration without a concurrent grain yield reduction. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genetic improvement in wheat yield and associated traits. A re-examination of previous results and the latest trends

Two field experiments were carried out with seven wheat cultivars (three of them, including a commercial hybrid, released during the last 10 years) representing different eras of plant breeding, to evaluate genetic improvement over the last century in grain yield, height, biomass, harvest index and grain yield components. Plots were fertilized and irrigated, and lodging and diseases were prevented. Main culm height was negatively correlated with the year of release of the cultivars, probably as a consequence of selection for increased lodging resistance. There was no significant association between total above-ground biomass and year of release of the cultivars. On the other hand, grain yield increased as newer cultivars were released. Results indicate that during recent years harvest index has been kept as the main attribute responsible for increases in grain yield. In general, number of grains/m² was associated with increases in grain yield during the century. However, the newest cultivars showed an increased grain weight. In both growing seasons, cultivars released before 1980 showed a trend towards reduced grain weight, but cultivars released after 1987 had a similar number of grains per m² with a higher grain weight than their predecessors. This was probably because the most modern cultivars have a longer grain-filling duration with a similar length of growth cycle.     

Elevated CO2 modulates the effects of drought and heat stress on plant water relations and grain yield in wheat

To investigate the interactive effects of drought, heat and elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]) on plant water relations and grain yield in wheat, two wheat cultivars with different drought tolerance (Gladius and Paragon) were grown under ambient and elevated [CO₂], and were exposed to post‐anthesis drought and heat stress. The stomatal conductance, plant water relation parameters, abscisic acid concentration in leaf and spike, and grain yield components were examined. Both stress treatments and elevated [CO₂] reduced the stomatal conductance, which resulted in lower leaf relative water content and leaf water potential. Drought induced a significant increase in leaf and spike abscisic acid concentrations, while elevated [CO₂] showed no effect. At maturity, post‐anthesis drought and heat stress significantly decreased the grain yield by 21.3%–65.2%, while elevated [CO₂] increased the grain yield by 20.8% in wheat, which was due to the changes of grain number per spike and thousand grain weight. This study suggested that the responses of plant water status and grain yield to extreme climatic events (heat and drought) can be influenced by the atmospheric CO₂ concentration.     

新疆冬小麦品种农艺及产量性状遗传多样性分析

Grain yield is one of the most important goals in wheat breeding, and agronomic or yield-related traits can directly reflect the characteristics of varieties. In order to determine the evolution of genetic diversity in agronomic traits of Xinjiang winter wheat varieties and their adaptabilities to different ecological environments, 134 winter wheat landraces and 54 moderns bred varieties from Xinjiang were selected for agronomic trait investigation. They were planted in three different ecological environments (Urumqi and Yining in Xinjiang province, and Tai’an in Shandong province) for two consecutive growth seasons, and nine agronomic and yield-related traits were surveyed and analyzed. The estimated broad sense heritability of nine agronomic and yield traits was in descending order: plant height > grain width > grain length/width ratio > spike length > spikelet number > thousand- kernel weight > grain number per spike > grain length > fertile spikelet number. Correlation analyses of nine agronomic and yield traits showed that these traits were correlated with each other. It was found that the plant height, spike length and grain length/width ratio of landraces were higher than that in modern bred varieties, but the grain number per spike, thousand kernel weight, grain length and grain width in landraces were less than that in modern bred varieties. However, the correlation coefficient of these nine traits was higher in modern bred varieties than that in landraces. These variations reflected the evolution of Xinjiang winter wheat varieties in agronomic traits in recent years. This study may provide important information for breeders to select the breeding parents in different winter wheat regions.     

Genetic improvement of agronomic and qualitative traits of spring barley

Five experiments, involving 24 genotypes, were carried out over three seasons to estimate the increase both in grain yield and other selected agronomic traits, and in potential malt extract of spring barley achieved by plant breeders during a period of over 160 years. In all experiments there was neither a chemical control of fungal diseases nor physical support of the tall, older genotypes to prevent yield losses from attack by fungi and lodging, respectively. In all experiments the most modern cultivars yielded more than the older ones. Significant breeding progress was also observed for plant height, resistance score, protein content and potential malt extract. The trend over time was generally of a curvilinear nature, showing no or only a slight increase till the 1950s and/or 1960s, and a greater rate of increase during the last 40 years of barley breeding. Using data from the official trials of cultivars and advanced breeding lines a linear increase in yield per year of 60 kg/ha since the 1950s was calculated for the low‐rainfall conditions of eastern Austria.     

Farmers' Perceptions on Rice Varieties in Sikasso Region of Mali and their Implications for Rice Breeding

Rice is an important staple food and cash crop. Although many varieties of rice have been developed to date, few are adopted possibly because researchers did not take into account farmers’ preferences and perceptions on varieties during the development process. Because farmers increasingly rely on low-yielding landraces, production fails to meet demand. To provide an understanding of farmers’ preferences for rice cultivars and perceptions on drought stress and management practices as inputs to rice breeding research, this study was conducted in the Sikasso region of Mali in September 2005 using participatory rural appraisal approach. A total number of 125 farmers were randomly selected from 10 villages in three ecologies and interviewed individually and in groups. Results showed that farmers’ preferences, crop management practices and ranking of production constraints differed significantly across ecologies. Whereas farmers in the irrigated ecologies preferred high-yielding, long duration rice varieties, those in the upland and lowland ecologies preferred tall plants of short duration. While upland and lowland farmers preferred red and white long grains, respectively, irrigated ecologies were indifferent about grain colour. Farmers appeared willing to trade-off yield for grain quality and plant height, inconsistent with traditional breeders’ selection criteria. The high preference for tall varieties among farmers in the upland and lowland ecologies also contrasted sharply with the model of dwarf rice varieties responsible for the green revolution in Asia. The implication of these findings for rice breeders is that different plant idiotypes complemented by effective drought management practices should target different ecologies to increase impact.     

Combining ability and heterosis under pest epidemics in a broad-based global wheat-breeding population

Wheat breeders rarely apply population improvement schemes or select parental sources according to combining ability and heterotic patterns. They rely on pedigree selection methods for breeding new cultivars. This experiment was undertaken to assess the advantages of using diallel crosses to define combining ability and understand heterosis in a broad‐based wheat‐breeding population across different environments affected by yellow rust. Sixty‐four genotypes derived from a full diallel mating scheme were assessed for grain yield in two contrasting growing seasons at two locations for two consecutive years. Parental genotypes showed significant combining ability for grain yield that was affected by yellow rust and genotype‐by‐environment (GE) interactions, both of which affected heterosis for grain yield. Significant GE interactions suggested that decentralized selection for specific environments could maximize the use of this wheat germplasm. Cultivar effects and specific heterosis were the most important factors influencing grain yield. Some crosses capitalized on additive genetic variation for grain yield. This research shows the power of available quantitative breeding tools to help breeders choose parental sources in a population improvement programme.     

Wurzelsystem, Biomasseproduktion, Bestockung und Ertragsbildung von vier Winterweizensorten in einem System mit geringer Betriebsmittelzufuhr von außen

Rooting patterns, biomass production, tillering, and yield formation of four winter wheat cultivars in a low external input system Growth conditions of winter wheat in agricultural low external input systems, e.g. ecological agriculture differ from those in conventional agriculture with regard to nutrient flow, impact of diseases, and weed competition. Knowledge of the dynamics of yield formation of winter wheat cultivars is very important for further development of such systems. During two growing seasons root growth, above ground biomass production, tillering, and yield formation were studied with four winter wheat cultivars of different periods of release at two ecologically managed farms in Northern Hessia. The results can be summarized as follows: – In general, plant breeding did not lead to a reduced development of root systems or above ground biomass production in winter wheat (Stöppler et al. 1989 a). Modern wheat varieties develop an extensive root system in greater depth, which means better drought resistance. – Not only root length densities, total root length, characteristics of tillering, and yield formation showed clear genotypic differences between the winter wheat cultivars, but also the development of root systems and above ground biomass production. – Winter wheat cultivars with a high plant density seem to have a retarded root growth after tillering due to intra-plant-competition and late root growth during grain filling, whereas cultivars with a high ear weight develop an extensive root system before the grain filling period. At the beginning of this period, a great root length per culm seems to be most important to achieve a high ear weight. The results indicate that those cultivars with poor to medium tillering and high ear weight are very well adapted to the reduced nutrient flow in low external input systems of farming. –In low external input systems, a satisfactory wheat crop need be established before tillering.     

Sortentypische Unterschiede der Nährelementkonzentrationen bei Winterweizen

Genotypical Differences in the Nutrient Uptake of Winter Wheat
In order to investigate genotypical differences in the nutrient uptake of winter wheat cultivars the nutrient content of young wheat plants grown during 1982–1984 on three Brown Earth sites of Schleswig-Holstein were analysed.
Significant differences between the cultivars could be found in the content of the plants at shooting stage in P, K, Ca, Fe, Mn and Zn. The maximal difference between highest and lowest content (mean of 3 years) was about 20 % for P, K, Ca, Mn and Zn and 40 % for Mn. Since at shooting stage the dry matter production of the cultivars was about the same, the measured differences in nutrient concentrations may also represent differences in nutrient uptake.
Due to the low Mn-supply of the test soils the cultivars with the lowest Mn-uptake also produced the lowest grain yield.
By use of discriminant analysis it could be shown that the cultivars displayed a typical pattern of the nutrient concentrations. In the whole population two general types in nutrient pattern were found which are different in their concentrations of P, K, Ca and Zn.     

Identification of quantitative trait locus and prediction of candidate genes for grain mineral concentration in maize across multiple environments

Trace metal elements are essential in daily diets for human health and normal growth. Maize is staple food for people in many countries. However, maize has low mineral concentration which makes it difficult to meet human requirements for micronutrients. The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait locus (QTL) and predict candidate genes associated with mineral concentration in maize grain. Here, a recombinant inbred line population was used to test phenotype of zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) concentrations in six environments and then a QTL analysis was conducted using single environment analysis along with multiple environment trial (MET) analysis. These two strategies detected a total of 64 and 67 QTLs for target traits, respectively. Single environment analysis revealed 13 QTL bins distributed on seven chromosomes. We found that five candidate genes associated with mineral concentration were located in the same intervals identified by Comparative mapping of meta-QTLs in our previous study. The genetic and phenotypic correlation coefficients were depended on the nutrient traits and they were significant between Fe and Zn, Fe and Cu, Fe and Mn in all environments. The results of this study illustrated the genetic correlation between maize grain mineral concentrations, and identified some promising genomic regions and candidate genes for further studies on the biofortification of mineral concentration in maize grain.     

Progress since the 1930s in Breeding for Yield, its Components, and Quality Traits of Spring Wheat in Finland

The contribution of improvements in morphophysiological traits to increased gram yield in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and the achievements of breeding for high bread-making quality in Finland since the 1930s were assessed. Ten wheat cultivars released in Finland between 1939 and 1990 were evaluated in Held experiments at the Viikki Experimental Farm, University of Helsinki, Finland (60°13′N) in 1991 and 1992. Twenty-two traits representing maturity, plant architecture, plant stand structure and N accumulation, and nine quality traits, including protein concentration and protein quality, were assessed. A 20 % increase in grain yield arising from cultivar improvement was associated with a 7 % reduction in height, an 80 % improvement in lodging resistance, and a 15 % higher harvest index (HI). Ear weight was 30 % higher in the modern cultivars. The higher ear weight of the modern cultivars was a result of more grains per ear and a higher spikelet weight. No decrease in vegetative phytomass in modern cultivars was recorded in this study. Grain yield and total N accumulation increased simultaneously and a positive correlation between year of cultivar release and nitrogen index was established. Although use of high N fertilizer application rates resulted in significantly improved baking quality of the flour, no trend between baking quality and year of cultivar release was recorded. The relatively low HI recorded in this study suggests that further yield increases art-likely to be achieved by selecting for higher HI.