Researchers look at roots for insight into drought-tolerant wheat

Are there certain advantages old wheat varieties have over newer wheat varieties that are commonly grown today? This was a question presented to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) High Plains Ag Lab (HPAL) specialists at a recent workshop.

"It was a grower's question. They wanted to know the difference between old and new varieties. Some claim the old varieties have deeper roots and are more drought tolerant," said Milena Oliveria, UNL post-doctorate research associate.

Wheat is sensitive to drought and heat stress, which are major environmental drivers affecting crop yields in the Panha...