Adapting field crops to drought and heat - do we have the GEMs?

Event Details

Date:

Tuesday, 20 October 2015

Time:

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Room:

Large Seminar Room, Level 3

UQ Location:

Queensland Bioscience Precinct (St Lucia)

URL:

http://www.qaafi.uq.edu.au/qaafi-science-seminars-2015

Event category(s):

Full Description:: Drought and heat are primary challenges to field crop production. The risks of both are compounded by anthropogenic effects on climate. Can we meet these challenges while simultaneously achieving the yield gains necessary for global food security? Here we consider possibilities for enhanced crop design based on GEMs – Genotype-by-Environment-by-Management combinations. Can we identify favourable and plausible combinations of genotype (G) and management practice (M) in relevant target environments (E)? We use a crop systems biology approach that combines trait physiology, genetics, agronomy and crop modelling to explore these questions for sorghum adaptation. Studies on canopy manipulation, soil water capture by roots, transpiration efficiency, and heat tolerance are outlined. Their potential to meet these challenges is quantified and pathways to impact presented.