Improving Wheat Production and Breeding Strategies Using Crop Models

Abstract

Crop simulation models are robust tools that enable users to better under­stand crop growth and development in various agronomic systems for improved decision making regarding agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability, and breeding. Crop models can simulate many agronomic treatments across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, allowing for improved agricultural manage­ment practices, climate change impact assessment, and development of breeding strategies. This chapter examines current applications of wheat crop models and explores the benefits from model improvement and future trends, such as integration of G × E × M and genotype-to-phenotype interactions into modeling processes, to improve wheat (Triticum spp.) production and adaptation strategies for agrono­mists, breeders, farmers, and policymakers.