Background: Increasing wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production is required to feed a growing human population. In order to accomplish this task a deeper understanding of the genetic structure of cultivated wheats and the detection of genomic regions significantly associated with the regulation of important agronomic traits are necessary steps. To better understand the genetic basis and relationships of adaptation and yield related traits, we used a collection of 102 Argentinean hexaploid wheat cultivars genotyped with the 35k SNPs array, grown from two to six years in three different locations. Based on SNPs data and gene-related molecular markers, we performed a haplotype block characterization of the germplasm and a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Results: The genetic structure of the collection revealed four subpopulations, reflecting the origin of the germplasm used by the main breeding programs in Argentina. The haplotype block characterization showed 1268 blocks of different sizes spread along the genome, including highly conserved regions like the 1BS chromosome arm where the 1BL/1RS wheat/rye translocation is located. Based on GWAS we identified ninety-seven chromosome regions associated with heading date, plant height, thousand grain weight, grain number per spike and fruiting efficiency at harvest (FEh). In particular FEh stands out as a promising trait to raise yield potential in Argentinean wheats; we detected fifteen haplotypes/markers associated with increased FEh values, eleven of which showed significant effects in all three evaluated locations. In the case of adaptation, the Ppd-D1 gene is consolidated as the main determinant of the life cycle of Argentinean wheat cultivars. Conclusion: This work reveals the genetic structure of the Argentinean hexaploid wheat germplasm using a wide set of molecular markers anchored to the Ref Seq v1.0. Additionally GWAS detects chromosomal regions (haplotypes) associated with important yield and adaptation components that will allow improvement of these traits through marker-assisted selection.

In a proof of concept study aimed at showing that metabolites in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ssp. aestivum), phloem exudates have potential as biochemical markers for cultivar discrimination, Argentinean cultivars from three quality groups (groups 1, 2, and 3 of high, intermediate, and low quality, respectively) were grown under two nitrogen (N) availabilities and analysed for metabolic profile by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. Data as signal strengths of mass/charge (m/z) values binned to a resolution of 0.2 Daltons were subjected to principal component analysis and orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis. Certain bins were influential in discriminating groups taken in pairs and some were involved in separating all three groups. In high N availability, group 3 cultivars clustered away from the other cultivars, while group 1 cultivars clustered tightly together; group 2 cultivars were more scattered between group 1 and group 3 cultivars. In low N availability, the cultivars were not clustered as tightly; nonetheless, group 1 cultivars tended to cluster together and mainly separated from those of group 2. m/z values also showed potential for discrimination between N availability. In conclusion, phloem exudate metabolic profiles could provide biochemical markers for selection during breeding and for discerning the effects of N fertiliser application.

Global climate change is shifting temperature and precipitation regimes, which is modifying the environments that define wheat yield and quality. The current work characterises the changes that have occurred in the thermal and hydric environment in two contrasting sites of the wheat growing region of Argentina, allowing comparison between sites for these changes and for how the changes are accelerating. Temperature and precipitation variables were analysed by regression and trend testing (Mann Kendall), and future projections were made based upon significant relationships. The two sites compared were in the zones around the cities of Azul in the Province of Buenos Aires and Marcos Juárez in the Province of Córdoba, located approximately 500 km apart. The climate data analysed covered the period 1931–2014 for Azul and 1952–2014 for Marcos Juárez. At both sites, temperatures increased significantly in mean and extreme values over these periods, where the rate of change accelerated during the first years of the 21st century. The changes observed were in general more pronounced in Marcos Juárez than in Azul. Furthermore, in Marcos Juárez, mean precipitation increased from September to December and there was a higher frequency of extremes of precipitation greater than 100 mm in September and October during the early 21st century. Evidence was found for temperature rise and the occurrence of extreme temperature and precipitation events occurring differently between sites, as well as for its acceleration rate in the early 21st century. The projected future changes made implied that wheat yield is expected to suffer losses over the coming century.