Description of the topic:
Due to the complexity of crop production systems, mechanistic or process-based crop models are often used to understand genotype x environment x management (GxExM) interactions in order to optimize them to increase grain yield (Teixeira et al. 2017). Different crop trait impact scenarios could be simulated, such as increased radiation use efficiency, enhancing photosynthetic pathways, specific changes in plant architecture to increase biomass, optimized harvest index, optimizing phenology, deeper and faster root growth to enhance water and nutrient capture, etc. These are based on traits that have previously indicated promise for example in boosting yield potential (Reynolds et al., 2012), adaptation to heat and drought stress (Cossani and Reynolds, 2012), etc. Crop modelling can help confirm the potential value of traits and their combinations, information that can help to design crosses targeting different environments (Reynolds and Langridge, 2016).
Work expectations:
At the end of the period here in CIMMYT, it is expected to have a scientific article ready to submit to a peer-reviewed journal.
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