Context Phenotypic plasticity can be a valuable adaptation strategy for coping with environmental heterogeneity. There is limited information on the plasticity of root traits and their effect on yield and yield stability. Objectives With a perspective of phenotypic plasticity, we focus on functional root traits associated to water uptake in field-grown sorghum to answer: (i) How do genetic (G), environmental (E) and management...

Background and Aims Barley breeding has increased yield over the last century, but the associated changes in the phenotype are largely unknown. Our aim was to quantify the rate of genetic gain in a collection of Australian barley cultivars representing seven decades of breeding, and the associated changes in the phenotype. Methods Thirteen barley cultivars were grown in the field at Roseworthy and Mintaro, South Australia, to...

The response of wheat crops to elevated CO 2 ( eCO 2 ) was measured and modelled with the Australian Grains Free‐Air CO 2 Enrichment experiment, located at Horsham, Australia. Treatments included CO 2 by water, N and temperature. The location represents a semi‐arid environment with a seasonal VPD of around 0.5 kP a. Over 3 years, the observed mean biomass at anthesis and grain yield ranged from 4200 to 10 200 kg ha −1 and 1600...

The response of wheat to the variables of climate change includes elevated CO 2 , high temperature, and drought which vary according to the levels of each variable and genotype. Independently, elevated CO 2 , high temperature, and terminal drought affect wheat biomass and grain yield, but the interactive effects of these three variables are not well known. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of elevated CO 2 whe...