Overview of Flagship Project 3
Flagship Project 3: Heat and Drought Resilience in Wheat
Wheat production in northern India generally occurs as part of a two-cycle wheat-rice rotation. This restricts the length of the wheat growing season and can exacerbate the effects of both early and late season heat and drought stress which limits canopy development, grain-filling and ultimately yield.
This Flagship Project aims to identify key genetic and physiological controllers of phenology (periodic processes) and to deploy these via molecular breeding. It will also explore agronomic and precision agriculture interventions that maximise optimal environmental conditions. The project will have practical implications leading to improved resilience in wheat.