Higher wheat yields and protein content on the horizon
The new wheat line growing in the field. The wheat on the right has the extra flower-bearing spikelets artificially highlighted in pink to show their extent. Image: The University of 新浪彩票.
A team of international researchers has discovered a way to produce higher quality wheat. The scientists from the University of 新浪彩票 and the UK鈥檚 John Innes Centre have identified a genetic driver that improves yield traits in wheat, which unexpectedly can also lead to increasing protein content by up to 25 per cent.
听鈥淟ittle is known about the mechanism behind drivers of yields and protein content in wheat production,鈥 said the University of 新浪彩票鈥檚 Dr Scott Boden, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine who led the research.
鈥淒iscovering a gene that controls these two factors has the potential to help generate new wheat varieties that produce higher quality grain.听
鈥淎s wheat accounts for nearly 20 per cent of protein consumed w