Light interception and radiation-use efficiency in wheat varieties with contrasting heat stress tolerance

Abstract

Key findings • • Wheat varieties that differ in heat tolerance also differ in their ability to capture incident light energy and to convert the energy into biomass. • • Radiation-use efficiency was more closely related to grain yield in the heat-tolerant varieties than in the sensitive varieties. • • The results suggest that breeding for heat tolerance would deliver benefits for wheat growers, even under optimal growing conditions.