Linking stomatal traits with grain quality and heat tolerance in wheat

Global wheat production will need to increase significantly to meet the growth of population. Stomatal regulation is highly important for productivity and stress tolerance in many crops including wheat. However, it is not clear whether there are links between stomatal traits with grain quality (gluten, and sugar contents) and heat tolerance in wheat. This project is conducting field and laboratory research on stomatal traits and wheat grain quality to decipher whether the source-sink relationships between stomatal regulation and grain yield and quality are important features for heat tolerance in wheat. The project is identifying heat tolerant genotypes with superior stomatal traits and grain quality that will be useful for advancing academic knowledge for heat tolerance in wheat – one of the most important staple crops. This project will also benefit Australian growers by allowing Australian breeders access to the germplasm and selection tools to increase wheat yields through improved heat tolerance, ensuring the sustainability of our future food systems.