Use of carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) in breeding of C3 cereals under water deficit conditions

Abstract

The aim of this mini review was to present the use of carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) technique in breeding of C3 cereals. Δ values were related with Water Use Efficiency (WUE) and yield in C3 species. This method is used, for over 20 years, as an indirect selection criterion of high-yielding genotypes grown under water deficit conditions. Till now, Δ values have been extensively used in selection of high-yielding genotypes of bread or durum wheat, barley and rice in USA, Spain, France, Australia, Greece and numerous other countries. In this study, the advantages and disadvantages of the technique along with its use restrictions are discussed and the use of putative surrogates of Δ is proposed. © 2008 Asian Network for Scientific Information.