Designing high-yielding wheat crops under late sowing: a case study in southern China

Abstract Cropping of rice and wheat ( Triticum aestivum L .) in rotation contiguously the same field is a fundamental pillar double-cropping systems southern China. Yields such cropping are increasingly challenged as climate change (CC) drives increases autumnal rainfall, delaying harvesting subsequent sowing wheat. Here, our purpose was to identify prospective traits crops enabling adaptation later successively truncated growing seasons caused by CC. To that maintained or improved yields, we constructed 4,096 hypothetical genotypes underpinned step-wise variations parameters regulating phenology, growth yield components. We then assimilated biophysical response surfaces through genotype (G) environment (E) management (M) analyses (G×E×M) using six locations spread across breadth showed reduced cumulative radiation interception, thermal time crop capture season rainfall. The culmination these factors shortened duration decreased biomass accumulation retranslocation after anthesis, reducing grain number penalising yields. Genotypes had greater use efficiency, longer juvenile phases filling rates were more effective alleviating losses with delayed sowing. However, not even highest yielding × combination could entirely alleviate Our results suggest CC frequent extreme climatic events may reduce yields absence other adaptation.