Effects of ten years organic and conventional farming on early seedling traits of evolving winter wheat composite cross populations

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 9053 - 12
• Main Authors: A.V., Vijaya Bhaskar, Baresel, Jörg Peter, Weedon, Odette, Finckh, Maria R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 21.06.2019; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/158/2456; 631/449/711; Agriculture; Genes, Plant; Humanities and Social Sciences; multidisciplinary; Organic Agriculture; Plant growth; Population genetics; Population studies; Rooting; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Seedlings; Seedlings - genetics; Seeds; Soil nutrients; Triticum - embryology; Triticum - genetics; Triticum - growth & development
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45300-1

Early vigour traits of wheat composite cross populations (CCPs) based on high yielding (Y) or high quality (Q) or Y*Q varietal intercross evolving under organic or conventional conditions in parallel populations were studied hydroponically. To eliminate storage and year effects, frozen F 6 , F 10 , F 11 and F 15 seeds were multiplied in one field, resulting in the respective F x.1 generations. This eliminated generation and growing system effects on seed size for the F 6.1 F 10.1 and F 15.1. Due to a severe winter kill affecting the F 11 , the generation effect persisted, leading to larger seeds and markedly different seedling traits in the F 11.1 compared to the F 10.1 and F 15.1 . Seedling traits were similar among parallel populations. Shoot length and weight increased in both systems until the F 11.1 across farming systems and remained constant thereafter. Over time , seminal root length and root weight of organic CCPs increased and total- and specific- root length decreased significantly compared to the conventional CCPs. Rooting patterns under organic conditions suggests better ability to reach deeper soil nutrients. In both systems, Q and YQ CCPs were more vigorous than Y CCPs, confirming genetic differences among populations. Overall, heterogeneous populations appear very plastic and selection pressure was stronger in organic systems.