Exploring genetic diversity for grain partitioning traits to enhance yield in a high biomass spring wheat panel

Breeding to raise yield potential through enhancing photosynthesis will have limited impact unless harvest index (HI: proportion of above-ground biomass as grain yield) is maintained or ideally increased. Boosting dry matter (DM) partitioning require increased allocation assimilates sink organs enhance spike growth. A high spring wheat panel 150 genotypes encompassing elite, landrace-derived and synthetic-derived lines was grown under conditions in two seasons NW Mexico. Results showed that the incorporation backgrounds into elite resulted higher expression (AGDM), leaf lamina stem DM at anthesis. However, no advantage observed over lines, due lower number per unit area (GN) decreased (HI). Positive linear associations were found among fertility-related traits - fruiting efficiency (grains anthesis; FE), GN HI which were, turn, related positively with (GY). Stem-internode 3 length internode partioning negatively associated (SPI: ratio total anthesis) GN, suggesting an enhanced competition for between during elongation. Within-spike analysis (glume, lemma, palea, rachis, awn) awns FE thousand weight (TGW). While use exotic material can biomass, special attention needs be paid selection novel coming from genepool. The breeding combined sources expressing potentially allow breeders increase carbon assimilation deliver yields.