Diverse Physiological and Physical Responses among Wild, Landrace and Elite Barley Varieties Point to Novel Breeding Opportunities

Climate change from elevated [CO2] may reduce water availability to crops through changes in precipitation and higher temperatures. However, agriculture already accounts for 70% of human consumption water. Stomata, pores the leaf surface, mediate exchange CO2 plant. In including barley, speed stomatal response changing environmental conditions is as important maximal responses can thus affect use efficiency. Wild barleys landraces which predate modern elite lines offer breeder potential find unexploited genetic diversity. This study aimed characterize natural variation anatomy physiology link these variations yield. Wild, landrace were grown a polytunnel controlled environment chamber. Physiological environments measured, along with The barley did not have fastest or largest physiological light nor always highest yields. There was anatomy, but no between size density. evidence suggests that high photosynthetic capacity does translate into yield, wild should interest breeders.