Selection for Reduced Carbon Isotope Discrimination Increases Aerial Biomass and Grain Yield of Rainfed Bread Wheat

Genetic gain is characteristically slow when selecting directly for increased grain yield under water‐limited conditions. Genetic increases in grain yield may be achieved through increases in aerial biomass following selection for greater transpiration efficiency (TE as aerial biomass/water transpired). Strong negative correlations between TE and carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) suggest that selection of progeny...