Breeding wheat for increased potential yield: Contrasting ideas from Donald and Fasoulas, and the case for early generation selection under nil competition

The paper refers to spring wheat breeding for potential yield, yield in the absence of manageable stresses, under irrigated low latitude conditions, representing a major environment for wheat production. Initially it discusses two propositions both over 50 years old. Donald argued that for greater yield, early generation selection should target uncompetitive plant traits or “communal” plants. In contrast, Fasoulas proposed the opposite, namely...