A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 384 A comparative ideotype, yield component and cultivation value analysis for spring wheat adaptation in Finland Heikki Laurila1,, Pirjo Mäkelä1, Jouko Kleemola1 and Jari Peltonen1,2† (deceased) 1 Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland 2 GrowProfit, http://www.growprofit.fi, Finland e-mail: heikki.laurila@logica.com In this study Mixed structural covariance, Path and Cultivation Value analyses and the CERES-Wheat crop model were used to evaluate vegetation and yield component variation affecting yield potential between different high- latitude (> 60° N lat.) and mid-European (< 60° N lat.) spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes currently cul- tivated in southern Finland. Path modeling results from this study suggest that especially grains/ear, harvest in- dex (HI) and maximum 1000 kernel weight were significant factors defining the highest yield potential. Mixed and Cultivation value modeling results suggest that when compared with genotypes introduced for cultivation before 1990s, modern spring wheat genotypes have a significantly higher yielding capacity, current high yielding mid- European genotypes even exceeding the 5 t ha-1 non-potential baseline yield level (y b ). Because of a forthcom- ing climate change, the new high yielding wheat genotypes have to adapt for elevated temperatures and atmospheric CO 2 growing conditions in northern latitudes. The optimized ideotype profiles derived from the generic high-latitude and mid-European genotypes are presented in the results. High-latitude and mid-European ideotype profiles with factors estimating the effects of concurrent elevated CO 2 and temperature levels with photoperiodical daylength effects can be utilized when designing future high yielding ideotypes adapted to future growing conditions. The CERES-Wheat ideotype modeling results imply, that with new high yielding mid-European ideotypes, the non-potential baseline yield (y b ) would be on average 5150 kg ha-1 level (+ 108 %) vs. new high-latitude ideotypes (y b 4770 kg ha-1, 100%) grown under the elevated CO 2(700ppm) ×temperature (+3°C) growing conditions projected by the year 2100 climate change scenario in southern Finland. Key words: ideotype profile, generic genotype, yield component, spring wheat, grain yield, climate change, cultiva- tion value, adaptation strategy, CERES-Wheat model, Finland Introduction Donald (1968) defined the concept of a spring wheat ideotype as the optimal wheat genotype with a maximum potential for grain yield production under optimal growing conditions. A crop ideotype in cereal breeding can be described as a plant model system, which is expected to yield greater quantity or quality of grain, oil or other use- ful product when developed as a cultivar. In agronomic studies the Donald’s original ideotype concept has been reviewed by Sedgley (1991) and by Reyn- olds et al. (1994) for yield potential estimations in modern wheat cultivars. According to Sedgley (1991) Donald’s ideotype concept explains both the optimal resource allocation and translocation of assimilates maximizing crop yield and the relationships between yield, harvest index (HI) and morphological characters in monoculture and variety mixture growing environments. Later on Donald and Hamblin (1983) expanded the Donald’s ideotype con- cept with additional climatic, edaphic, disease, pest and stress ideotype concepts. Sedgley (1991) evaluated the two antagonist components in Donald’s ideotype, the optimal communal ideotype for cereals maximizing yield potential with uniculm growth habit without side tillers, short stem and narrow erect leaves and the adversary competitive ideotype with freely tillering and tall stature with large leaves. The Donald’s ideotype concept have been widely studied and reviewed for a variety of crops and traits, e.g. in plant canopy and leaf architecture modeling (Carvalho et al. 1978), in ideotype-based breeding strategies for wheat with genotype×environment (G×E) covariances (Sedgley 1991, de la Vega et al. 2002), in crop modeling studies (Boote et al. 2001) and in phenotypic plasticity studies for wheat yields (Sadras et al. 2009). According to Manuscript received April 2012 A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 385 Sadras et al. (2009) high yield and low plasticity for yield were coupled with early anthesis, long anthesis duration and low plasticity of post-anthesis development with wheat genotypes grown in Mexico. In Finland Peltonen et al. (1993) applied the Cultivation value model (Weizensorten und Backqualität 1990) to estimate the cultivation scoring and ranking values with adaptation plasticity, cultivation certainty and baking quality components for cur- rent high yielding wheat genotypes. In this study the Cultivation value model was evaluated for high-latitude (HiL) and mid-European (MidE) ideotype profiles (ItPrf). The benefits of applying both statistical and dynamic, mechanistic crop models for Donald’s ideotype evaluation have been reviewed by Boote et al. (2001) and de la Vega et al. (2002). Crop models used in plant breeding should be both dynamic varying over edaphic and weather conditions and mechanistic simulating physiological processes like phenological development, source-sink relationships and translocation of assimilates. According to Boote et al. (2001) crop models simulate genetic improvement and variability within a species by evaluating intracultivar variation and how crop models can be used to hypothesize ideotypes for specific growing environments. In this study the CERES-Wheat/DSSAT dynamic crop model (Ritchie & Otter 1985, Jones et al. 2003) was used to define genetic coefficients for MidE (Laurila 1995) and HiL (Laurila 2001) ideotype profiles. The genetic coefficients in the CERES-Wheat model control both wheat phenological development and grain yield components. Statistical structural and clustering analysis and modeling have been extensively applied in biometrics and biom- etrical analysis to detect interacting and indirect covariances, trends and underlying variables in the experimen- tal data. The techniques commonly used are Mixed Structural Covariance Analysis (Littel et al. 1996), Path coeffi- cient analysis (Wright 1923) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA, de la Vega et al. 2002, Reynolds et al. 2007). In Finland Öfversten and Nikander (1996) applied the Mixed Covariance Analysis for the analysis of current high- latitude spring wheat genotypes. Peltonen-Sainio et al. (2009) studied spring wheat yield trends and sustainability in Finland using the MTT Agrifood Research Finland 1970−2005 official variety trial data. The Mixed structural co- variance technique was used to divide the yield trends in variety trials into two intracultivar G×E covariance com- ponents: genetic improvements and environmental changes. According to Peltonen-Sainio et al. (2009) the yield trends of future wheat genotypes will constantly increase during global climate change (IPCC 2007) because of the increasing demand for food and biofuel production. Cereal theoretical maximum yield capacity is limited by en- vironmental and vegetation stresses during growing season (Passioura 2006, Rajala et al. 2009). These stress fac- tors result in reduced non-potential baseline yield levels (y b , kg ha-1) for cereals in actual non-optimal field growing conditions. In this study the Mixed Analysis was applied for evaluating the factors affecting non-potential baseline yield levels (y b ) between HiL and MidE wheat genotypes. The Path coefficient analysis, using standardized regression coefficients, has been widely applied for structural analysis in population genetics to detect underlying covariance and indirect, interacting factors (Dewey and Lu 1959, Li 1974). In this study Path coefficient analysis was applied to identify significant direct and indirect effect factors affecting yield potential with HiL ideotypes. In Finland, spring wheat production in high-latitude northern agriculture regions is limited by a short growing sea- son, which reduces the light intensity and temperature available for crop growth (Saarikko 1999). Kontturi (1979) reported a photoperiodical threshold daylength of 18 hours for high-latitude genotypes adapted to Finnish long day growing conditions. Daylengths below the threshold delay vegetative phase from sowing to heading. In gen- erative phase from heading to full maturity, the thermal time controls the phenological development. The ideotype analysis for Finnish growing conditions with G×E interactions has been reviewed by Peltonen-Sainio (1992) and Mäkelä et al. (1996) for spring wheat, barley and oat genotypes grown under long day growing condi- tions. Aula and Talvitie (1995) studied yield production with high latitude rye (Secale cereale L.) and wheat geno- types using organic and conventional cultivation practices. Currently only few crop modeling results are available for the identification of the most important factors affect- ing wheat non-potential baseline yield levels currently and in the 2050−2100 period with elevated temperature and atmospheric CO 2 levels in Finland (Saarikko 1999, Laurila 1995,2001). In Finland the FINSKEN climate change scenario (Saarikko et al. 1996, Saarikko 1999, Carter 2004) estimated that atmospheric CO 2 concentration with A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 386 seasonal variation will increase from the current mean ambient 377 ppm to 523 ppm and the mean temperature will increase by 2.4 °C by the year 2050 and respectively to 733 ppm and by +4.4 °C by the end of 2100. Previous Finnish crop simulation results (Laurila 1995, 2001), field and Open Top Chamber (OTC) crop physiologi- cal experimental results (Hakala 1998, Hakala et al. 2005) for a high-latitude spring wheat cultivar (cv. ‘Polkka’) indicated, that the concurrent elevated atmospheric CO 2 concentration (700 ppm) and elevated diurnal tempera- ture (+ 3 °C) will increase the yield potential of the HiL wheat genotypes by 1−6% (by 9−13% for a mid-European cv. ‘Nandu’) by 2100 in southern Finland. The sole elevated temperature effect had a decreasing effect on wheat yield potential by accelerating the cereal phenological development especially in the generative phase (Hakala 1998, Hakala et al. 2005). The overall objective of the present study was the identification and evaluation of high-latitude (HiL, growing lati- tude > 60° N) and mid-European (MidE, < 60° N) ideotype profiles (ItPrf HiL,MidE ) adapted for future growing condi- tions with elevated CO 2 and temperature levels in southern Finland by deriving generic HiL and MidE spring wheat genotypes validated in this modeling study. The specific objectives of the present study consisted of following modeling and analysis procedures: (i) evaluat- ing factors affecting non-potential baseline grain yield levels (y b ) between HiL and MidE springs wheat genotypes in soil type, cultivation practices and decade of introduction to cultivation categories (ii) identifying the most im- portant vegetation parameters and yield components affecting the yield capacity of HiL and MidE wheat ideo- types, (iii) evaluating the genotype×environmental (G×E) covariances (Eq. 1) and source-sink interactions affect- ing grain yield potential between high yielding wheat ideotypes, and finally (iv) assessing implications for future adaptation strategies in southern Finland using high yielding spring wheat ideotypes. Materials and methods Data sources Table 1 illustrates different data sources applied in this study with different modeling phases (I−IV, Fig. 1), experi- mental years, Mixed structural categories for HiL and MidE genotypes (Table 2) and references for datasets. The definitions and abbreviations applied in this study are presented in Table 10 (Appendix 1). During modeling pro- cess different datasets were combined and consolidated for different analyses (Fig. 1). Dataset I (Table 1) provided the primary field experimental data for HiL and MidE spring wheat modeling methods applied in this study. Dataset I was extracted from the 1978−2007 MTT Agricultural Research Centre Official va- riety trial data, containing yield data for spring wheat genotypes currently cultivated in Finland (Järvi et al. 1997, Kangas et al. 2006, 2008). Dataset II provided averaged yield estimates for MidE wheat genotypes using the European wheat genotype da- tabase (ECP/GR). Dataset III provided the baseline yield (y b kg ha-1) estimates for HiL and MidE spring wheat cul- tivars using the Finnish agricultural remote sensing large area results in 1996−2006 (Laurila et al. 2010a, 2010b). Experimental sites were located in southern Finland and in Etelä-Pohjanmaa Agricultural Advisory Centre in grow- ing zones I−IV. Baseline yield estimates (y b ) for spring what genotypes were compared with averaged MTT official variety trial results and with annual Ministry of Agriculture Finland stratum sampling estimates for crop inventory. With datasets IV and V, crop physiological experiments and simulation studies were used to evaluate the effects of elevated atmospheric CO 2 and elevated temperature levels on yield potential and phenological development of HiL and MidE spring wheat genotypes. The SILMU I (The Finnish Research Program for Climate Change, 1992−1994) data was extracted from Open Top Chamber experiments (Hakala 1998, Hakala et al. 1999, Laurila 2001). The SIL- MU II data was extracted from greenhouse and pot experiments (Saarikko et al. 1996, Saarikko 1999). Dataset VI provided the averaged yield levels for rye and HiL spring wheat genotypes with organic and ecological cultivation practices (1989−1993) from the MTT Satakunta Research station (Aula and Talvitie 1995). With dataset VII, the HiL and MidE spring wheat data from the Pöytyä and Helsinki University experimental sites was used to evaluate the Cultivation value model (Peltonen 2010). Datasets VIII (Rajala et al. 2009) and IX (unpublished data) provided detailed morphological, yield quality and yield component data for HiL spring wheat genotypes. A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 387 Table 1. Spring wheat data sources and field experiments. Dataset (Modeling phase, Fig. 1) Dataset Experiment years, Mixed categories3) References I,(I) Spring wheat official variety trial data (MTT Agrifood Research Finland), Estimation of Cultivation value (C Val ) 1978-2007, (HiL/MidE) Old ,70,80 Järvi et al. 1997, Kangas et al. 2006, 2008, Peltonen 2010 II, (I) The European Wheat Database (European Cooperative Programme for Crop Genetic Resources Networks ECP/GR 1978-2010, (HiL/MidE) Old ,70,80 http://genbank.vurv.cz/ewdb/ III ,(I) Finnish agricultural remote sensing field experiments 1996-2006 with actual field condition measurements btw. MTT official variety trials vs. Ministry of Agriculture Finland stratum estimates 1996-2006, (HiL/MidE) Old 80, New 90 Laurila et al. 2010a, 2010b IV,(I) SILMU I Experimental data from Open Top Chamber experiments with elevated CO 2 and temperature levels2) 1992-1994, (HiL/MidE) Old 80, New 90 Hakala 1998, Hakala et al. 1999, 2005, Laurila 1995, 2001 V,(I) SILMU II Experimental data with field, greenhouse and pot experiments. 1994-1996 (HiL/MidE) Old 80, New 90 Saarikko et al. 1996, Saarikko 1999. Data prov. by Dr. R. Saarikko VI ,(I) The rye and spring wheat experiments for organic and ecological cultivation, MTT Agrifood Res. Finland (Ylistaro, Satakunta) 1989-1993, (HiL) Old ,70,80, New 90 Aula and Talvitie 1995 VII ,(II) Cultivation value estimation dataset 2009-2010, (HiL/MidE) Old 80, New 90 Peltonen 2010, Dr. Jari Peltonen, Helsinki Univ. Exp. site and Pöytyä Exp. Site VIII ,(III) Spring wheat yield component and quality factor data. 1996-1998, (HiL) Old ,70,80 New 90 Rajala et al. 2009. Data provided by Dr. Ari Rajala (MTT Agrifood Res. Finland) IX ,(III) Spring wheat data containing yield component and morphological characteristics for 20 spring wheat genotypes (Helsinki Univ., Dept of Crop Husbandry) 1988, HiL Old,70,80 Unpub. data provided by Dr. R. Karjalainen and Ms. Sci. T. Kangasmäki (MTT Agrifood Res. Finland). 1) Modeling phases (I-IV) are described in Fig. 1. 2) The Finnish Program for Climate Change (SILMU 1992-1996, Kuusisto et al. 1996). 3) Mixed categories in Table 2. Modeling process and system analysis The detailed modeling process and system analysis (Ritchey 1996, IIASA 2010) applied in this study, is illustrated in Figure 1 describing the analysis methodology in phases I−IV, each phase using different experimental datasets (I−IX, Table 1). The detailed modeling process consisted of following phases. 1. In phase Ia1 previous crop modeling results (Laurila 1995, Laurila 2001) with the CERES-Wheat/DSSAT dy- namic crop model (Ritchie & Otter 1985, Jones et al. 2003) were used to calibrate and define the genetic coefficients (PHINT, P1V, P1D, P5, G1,G2,G3) for generic HiL (using cv. ‘Polkka’) and MidE (using cv. ‘Nandu’) genotypes using the MTT Agrifood Research Finland Official Variety Trial dataset 1978−2007 (Dataset I, Table 1). Genetic coefficients for generic spring wheat genotypes were used in defining the future HiL and MidE ideotype profiles. The CERES-Wheat genetic coefficients controlling spring wheat phenological development (PHINT with leaf appearance rate and phyllochron interval, P1V affecting vernalization, P1D affecting photo- periodism and P5 affecting grain filling duration) and yield components (G1 defining the grains per ear com- ponent, G2 defining the 1000 seed weight and G3 defining spike number with lateral tiller production) are given in Table 10 (Appendix 1). 2. In phases Ia2-Ic the HiL vs. MidE structural contrast categories for spring wheat genotypes were defined and analyzed by using the combined I−VI dataset (1978−2010, Table 2). 3. In phase Id the latitudal contrasts (HiL > 60° N lat. vs. MidE genotypes < 60° N lat.) with corresponding base- line yield estimates (y b , kg ha-1) were estimated by using datasets I−VI (Tables 3-5). A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 388 4. In phase Ie the decade of introduction to cultivation contrast (Old 70 vs. Old 80 vs. New 90 ) with baseline yield es- timates (y b ) were estimated by using datasets I−VI (Tables 3–5). 5. In phase If the cultivation practices contrast (conventional vs. organic cultivation) with baseline yield estimates (y b ) were estimated (dataset VI, Tables 3, 4). 6. In phase Ig the soil type contrast (coarse type soils vs. fine type soils vs. organic type soils) with baseline yield estimates (y b ) were estimated (datasets I−VI, Tables 3, 4). 7. In phases IIa−IIf the Cultivation Value model (Weizensorten und Backqualität 1990, Peltonen et al. 1993) us- ing dataset VII was used to estimate the total cultivation scoring value profiles (C ValTot ) for HiL and MidE high yielding generic wheat genotypes in Finland (Table 5). 8. In phases IIIa−IIIb Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and correlation analyses were used with datasets VIII− IX to identify significant PCA factor loadings and correlations for vegetation parameters (p v ) and yield compo- nents (p y ) with HiL ideotypes (Tables 6−8). 9. Phases IIIc−IIIe yielded, using Path coefficient analysis (Wright 1923, Dewey and Lu 1959, Li 1974) and data- sets VIII−IX, significant direct and indirect effect factors affecting yield potential with HiL ideotypes. In Path- models (I−IV, Table 6) significant direct effect factors were expressed as Path-coefficients for vegetation pa- rameters (p v, Table 7) and yield components (p y, Table 8) respectively. Correlation coefficients were used to measure indirect effects. Coefficient of determination (R2, Eq. 7) and error residual factors (U, Eq. 6) were used to evaluate Path coefficient models I−IV. 10. In phase IV, based on results from previous phases (I−III), high yielding ideotype profiles (ItPrf HiL(New90) , ItPrf MidE(New90) , Eq. 10) for generic HiL and MidE genotypes adapted for future growing conditions in southern Finland were calibrated and validated. A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 389 I Structural contrasts for MidE and HiL ideotypes Conventional vs. organic cultivation contrast Data Sources (Tables 1,2) Decade with New 90 vs. Old 80 vs. Old 70 contrasts Soil types with clay vs . coarse vs. loam vs. organic contrasts IIf: CVal total scoring value (Table 6) Models Mixed Covariance model Phase Mixed analysis for generic MidE & HiL wheat ideotypes Latitude contrast for HiL and MidE ideotypes Cultivation property scoring value (Cp) Cultivation certainty scoring value (Cc) Adaptation scoring value (Ca) Baking quality (Cb) scoring value Cultivation Value model CVal (Eq. 8) Cval, Ca,Cb,Cc,Cp Ca Cb Cc Cp HiL: Cval, Ca,Cb,Cc,Cp MidE: Cval, Ca,Cb,Cc,Cp Cultivation Value model results Dataset I Dataset II Dataset VI Dataset V Dataset VII HiL and MidE spring wheat MTT official variety trial dataset 1978-2007 HiL and MidE European Wheat database 1978-2010 dataset Organic Cultivation dataset 1989-1993 SILMU I Open Top Chamber experiments with elevated CO2 and temperature levels SILMU II dataset with field, greenhouse and pot experiments HiL & MidE Cultivation value estimation dataset Dataset IV Finnish agricultural remote sensing field experiments 1996-2006Dataset III Combined dataset I-VI Mixed covariance baseline yield estimates (yb, kg/ha) (Table 5) II Phase IIa Phase Ia2 Phase Ib Phase Ic: Table 3 Phase If: Tables 4,5 Phase Ie: Tables 4,5 Phase Id: Tables 4,5 Phase Ig: Tables 4,5 Phase IIb Phase IIc Phase IId Phase IIe CERES-Wheat crop model Phase Ia1 PHINT, P1V, P1D,P5,G1,G2,G3 estimates for generic MidE and HiL genotypes CERES-Wheat calibrated genetic coefficients yb (kg/ha), PHINT, P1V, P1D,P5,G1,G2, G3 estimates A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 390 Soil type variation in the experimental sites The detailed soil classifications in experimental areas in southern Finland (experimental datasets I−IX, Table 1) with corresponding growing zones (I−IV) is reviewed by Laurila et al. (2010a,b). The Ylistaro, Lapua, Ilmajoki and Seinäjoki experimental sites were located near the Gulf of Bothnia on sandy clay type soils. Respectively Helsinki, Porvoo and Kirkkonummi experimental sites were located close to the Baltic Sea. Jokioinen and Mellilä sites were located mainly on clay type soils. Currently a growing zone classification of four growing zones (I−IV) is applied for the high-latitude genotypes (HiL) currently cultivated in southern Finland: Zone 1 - Southern and SW-Finland (Lat. < 61° N), Zone 2 - Southern Finland (Lat: 61° N < 62° N), Zone 3 - Southern Finland (Lat: < 62° N), Zones 3–4, Northern Finland (Lat: > 62° N ). The zonal classification is based on Effective Temperature Sum (ETS) expressed as cumulative degree-days [dd] with a threshold temperature (Tb) of 5 °C (Kontturi 1979, Saarikko 1999). Phase IVb: HiL vs. MidE high yielding ideotype profiles Combined dataset VIII,IX Modeling results Phase IIIc: Path models (Eq. 2-7) Phase IIIb: Correlation analysis Phase IIIa: PCA Principal Components IV HiL high yielding ideotype profile Path py coefficients for HiL yield components Path pv coefficients for HiL vegetation components Correlation coefficients for Path model ra, rb,rc .. rx Signifcant Factor loadings py, pv py pv MidE high yielding ideotype profile py(HiL) Phase Iva: Tables 6-9 pv(HiL) Phase IIId: Tables 7,8 Phase IIIe: Tables 7,9 Dataset VIII Dataset IX HiL spring wheat yield component and quality factor dataset. HiL spring wheat dataset with yield component and morphological factors Path model results III cont. ra, rb,rc .. rx Phase IVb Phase IVc ItPrf(HiL) ItPrf(MidE) Fig. 1. Modeling process diagram with phases I-IV for identifying generic ItPrf(HiL) and ItPrf(MidE) ideotype profiles, data sources are given in Table 1 (Ritchey 1996, IIASA 2010). A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 391 Statistical analysis SAS™ statistical software (SAS, 1990) was used for Mixed Structural Covariance analysis (Phase I, Fig. 1), Cultiva- tion value (Cval) model (Phase II), Principal component (PCA), correlation and Path coefficient analysis (Phase III, SAS REG and GLM procedures). Least squares (LSQ) algorithm was applied in the linear model fitting with SAS REG and GLM (General Linear Model) procedures. Mixed, Cval and Path models were used to detect spring wheat in- ter- and intracultivar G×E covariances and underlying variables interacting with wheat grain yield potential (Eq. 1, Falconer and Mackay 1996, Boote et al. 2001). (1) where V p – phenotype variation, V g - genotype variation, V e – environmental variation , Cov (ge) - genotype G×E environmental covariance variation in broad sense According to Falconer and Mackay (1996) the phenotypic variance (V p ) of a plant genotype can be divided into genetic (V g ) and environmental variance (V g ). The ratio V g / V p is defined as a degree of genetic determination or heritability in broad sense (Eq.1). The environmental sensitivity of a genotype, measuring the interaction between genetic and environmental variances can be estimated by including a covariance component Cov (ge). The SAS Univariate procedure was used with the experimental data (Table 1) to test the normal distribution of both the dependent (non-potential grain yield, y b kg ha-1) and independent yield and vegetation components by using Kolmogorov and Shapiro-Wilk test statistics (data not shown). Mixed Structural Covariance analysis Mixed structural covariance analysis using SAS Mixed procedure (Littel et al. 1996) was used in this study (Phase I, Fig. 1) to model ideotype baseline yield levels (y b , kg ha-1) for different HiL and MidE wheat genotypes. The baseline grain yield (y b ) was used as a response variable in the Mixed-model. Datasets I-VI (Table 1) containing long time series (1978-2010) were used in Mixed analysis to estimate baseline yield estimates (y b ) on (i) structural contrast category levels (Tables 2,4) and (ii) on genotype level (Tables 3,5). Table 2. Structural contrast categories of wheat genotypes (Mixed-model, Littel et al. 1996) Category Genotype structural contrast categories (Mixed-model) i Latitude structural contrasts: HiL (> 60° N lat.) vs. MidE genotypes (< 60° N lat., Tables 3,4) ii Decade of introduction to cultivation structural contrasts: (HiL/MidE) New90 vs. (HiL/MidE) Old80 vs. (HiL/MidE) Old70 (Tables 3,4) iii Cultivation practices structural contrasts: conventional vs. organic practices (including ecological cultivation practices applied in Finland, Table 4) iv Soil structural contrasts: coarse type soils vs. fine type soils vs. vs. organic type soils (Table 4) In Table 2, Mixed structural contrast categories applied in this study for wheat genotypes are displayed: (i) the latitude structural contrast comparison between HiL vs. MidE latitudes, (ii) the decade of introduction to cultiva- tion contrast between genotypes introduced for cultivation before 1970 (HiL/MidE) Old70 vs. 1980 (HiL/MidE) Old80 vs. after 1990 (HiL/MidE) New90 , (iii) cultivation practices contrast between conventional vs. organic cultivation (in- cluding ecological cultivation practices applied in Finland), (iv) the different soil type contrast comparison (coarse, fine and organic soil types). The spring wheat genotypes evaluated in the Mixed-model analysis are displayed in Table 3. High-latitude genotypes from Finland, Sweden and Norway and mid-European genotypes from Netherlands, Ger- many, UK, Tscheck and Serbia were classified into cultivation contrast categories based on cultivation latitude (HiL vs. MidE) and decade of introduction to cultivation (1970,1980,1990). ( ) A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 392 Table 3. Spring wheat genotypes in (I) latitude and (II) decade of introduction to cultivation contrast categories (Littel et al. 1996).1) Mixed Structural Contrast category Genotype, origin, breeder reference, year of introduction to cultivation I Latitude II Decade High-latitude genotypes (> 60° N lat.) HiL Old70 Finland: Apu (Ref.), Heta, Kruunu (C val Ref.), Ruso, Sebastian, Taava, Tähti, Tapio, Ulla Sweden: Drabant (Ref.) HiL Old80 Finland: Aino (Ref. Bor3)), Luja Sweden: Polkka (Ref., SW), Dragon, Kadett, Norway: Reno (Ref. Norsk Kornforedling 1987), Runar, Norrona HiL New90 Finland: Mahti (Ref., Bor3), 1994), Anniina (Boreal), Kadrilj, Kruunu (Bor3)), Laari, Manu, Marble (Boreal), Wellamo (Boreal) Norway: Bastian (Ref.) Sweden: Tjalve (Ref., SW 1993), Zebra (SW), Bjarne (SW), Landjet, Sport, Vinjett, Satu Mid-European Genotypes (< 60° N lat.) MidE Old80 Netherlands: Matador (Ref., Dept. of Plant Brd. Agric. Univ., Wageningen), Pasteur ( Zelder B.V) MidE New90 Germany: Nandu (Ref.) 2), Amaretto, Attis, Epos, Mieka, Monsun, Munk, Picolo(Saaten Union), Triso, Sella, Trappe (DEU060, Bor3)) UK: Azurite (www.hgca.com) Tscheck Republic.: Quarna (Ref.), Bombona Netherlands: Jondolar (Ref.) Serbia: Marina (Ref.) 1) Ref. – Reference genotype/cultivar in the Mixed analysis (Table 10). Countries: Nl.- Netherlands, 2) Saatzuchtwirtschaft F. von Lochow- Petkus GmbH 3) Bor – Boreal plant breeding, Finland, SW – Svalöf-Weibull Correlation, PCA and Path analyses for High-latitude (HiL) vegetation and yield components After the Mixed covariance and Cultivation value analysis, the combined VIII−IX dataset was analyzed with corre- lation, PCA (Principal Component Analysis) and Path coefficient analysis (phase IIIa, Fig. 1) to identify significant vegetation (p v ) and yield (p y ) components affecting HiL Old70 , HiL Old80 and HiL New90 genotype yield potential (Tables 2,3). Correlation coefficients were used in Path-models (I−IV, Eq. 5) to construct standardized Path regression equations (Table 6). Path analysis The Path coefficient theory was originally presented by Wright (1923) and later revised for wheat seed production analysis by Dewey and Lu (1959). Li (1974) applied Path coefficient analysis for population genetics and Falconer & Mackay (1996) for quantitative genetics (Eq. 1). Later on, Path coefficient analysis was applied in yield component analysis for spring wheat mutants (Siddiqui et al. 1980) and for spring wheat genotypes (Reynolds et al. 2007). In this study, Path coefficient analysis was calculated according to methodology presented by Dewey and Lu (1959) and Li (1974). Path-coefficients, which are standardized regression-coefficients, can be derived from general linear regression equation (Eq. 2). Path-coefficients were calculated using the SAS stepwise regression (REG) and GLM (General Linear Model) procedures (SAS 1990). Y = b0 b1 b2 . . bx (2) where Y = dependent variable, (y b , baseline grain yield, kg ha-1, 15% moisture content), b 0 = model intercept, b 1, b 2 b x = regression coefficients for independent variables A, B and X, ε= error residual variation (=0) Equation 2 can be standardized by using standard deviations (s y , s a , s b , s x ) for dependent (Y) and independent vari- ables (A, B..X) (Eq. 3). (3) where s y , s a , s b , s x = standard deviations (SD) for variables Y, A, B, X b0 [b1 (Sa/Sy)) A] [b2 (Sb/Sy)) B]+ . . . [bx (Sx/Sy)) X] A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 393 Equation 3 can be simplified into Equation 4 using Path-coefficients, which measure the direct effects on depend- ent variable (Y). b0 pa pb . . px (4) where p a, p b, p x= Path-coefficients, p a =b 1 *(S a /S y ), p b = b 1 *(S b /S y ), p x= b x *(S x /S y ) The standardized Path-model (Eq. 5) can be derived from Equation 4 by adding correlation coefficients (r i ) between independent and dependent variables (Phase III, Fig. 1). Correlation coefficients measure indirect effects on de- pendent variable (Y). The standardized Path-model equations for high-latitude ideotypes are presented in Table 6. pa ra pb rb . . pc rc X (5) where r a , r b , r x = correlation coefficients for dependent variables A, B, X The residual-factor (U) estimates the unexplained variance estimated by the Path model (Eq. 6). U-factor is calcu- lated by summing Path-coefficients (p i ) and subtracting the sum from 1 according to Equation 6. The U-factors for HiL genotypes are presented in Table 6. (pi) ) (6) where U= residual factor, k Σ (b=1) (pi) = Sum of Path-coefficients p i , index i =1..k. The total variance, explained by the Path-model, can be measured as R2(Y)-values (R-square, coefficient of deter- mination) for the dependent variable. R2 values (Eq. 7) can be derived by summing the multiplication product of correlation and Path-coefficients for independent variables (A,B..X). R2 estimates for HiL genotypes are presented in Table 6. R (Y) (pa ra) (pb rb) . . . (px rx)] ( ) (7) where R i =correlation coefficient, p i =path-coefficient, A, B..X=independent variables, index i =1..n Wheat Cultivation value model A regression based German ranking and scoring Cultivation value model (Weizensorten und Backqualität 1990), previously applied for Finnish spring wheat varieties (Peltonen et al. 1993, Peltonen 2010) was applied in this study (Phase II, Fig. 1) to estimate the cultivation values of spring wheat genotypes currently cultivated in southern Fin- land in growing zones I−III (Dataset VII, Table 1). The cultivation value was expressed as a total scoring value (C Val- Tot ) in current highest yielding wheat genotypes, which are cultivated in growing zones I−III in southern Finland (Eq. 8). Cv. ‘Kruunu’ (HiL Old70 ) was used as a control and reference genotype (Ref.) in the model. (8) where C ValTot – Cultivation total scoring value of a genotype in growing zones I−III, C a – Adaptation plasticity scor- ing value inside cultivation zone (I−III), C c – Cultivation certainty scoring value , C p – Cultivation property scoring value, C b – Baking quality scoring value. In the Cultivation value model, a three class classification was applied for wheat genotypes (i) Elite wheat class, (ii) Quality wheat class and (iii) Other wheat class (Peltonen et al. 1993, Table 5). The genotypes used in the scor- ing model were ‘Quarna’ (MidE New90 ), ‘Amaretto’ (MidE New90 ), ‘Epos’ (MidE New90 ), ‘Wellamo’ (HiL New90 ), ‘Zebra’ (HiL New90 ), ‘Marble’ (HiL New90 ) from the Elite wheat class, ‘Kruunu’ (HiL Old70 ), ‘Anniina’ (HiL New90 ) and ‘Bjarne’ in the Quality wheat class and ‘Trappe’ (MidE New90 ) in the Other wheat class (Table 1, Peltonen 2010). The correspond- ing genotypes in latitudal and decade of introduction to cultivation contrasts are presented in Table 3. A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 394 The adaptation plasticity scoring value (C a ) in growing zones I−III consisted of growing days (d) and relative yield in growing zones I-III (cv. ‘Kruunu’ as a control = 100). The cultivation certainty scoring value (C c ) consisted of grain yield (kg ha-1) and relative yield expressed as a three category classification: (i) the low final grain yield (median 4 t ha-1), (ii) the medium final grain yield (median 5 t ha-1), and (iii) the high final grain yield (median 6 t ha-1). The cultivation property scoring value (C p ) consisted of grain yield accumulation/growing day ratio (kg DM d-1), the ni- trogen amount in grains (N kg ha-1), denoting the efficiency of a genotype to utilize nitrogen fertilization, the 1000 kernel weight (g), the grain protein content (%) and the falling number reduction (s) with late harvest. The baking quality scoring value (C b ) consisted of the flour volume yield (%), the flour water retention capacity (%), the fall- ing number (s), the Farinograph dough water absorption (%) and the bread loaf volume (ml). CERES-Wheat dynamic crop model with calibrated genetic coefficients The calibrated CERES-Wheat genetic coefficients (Ritchie & Otter 1985, Jones et al. 2003) were used in defining the optimized ideotype profiles (ItPrf HiL,New90 , ItPrf MidE,New90 ) for future generic HiL (using cv. ‘Polkka’ as a reference cultivar, ref.) and MidE (cv. ‘Nandu’, ref.) genotypes in the New 90 Mixed contrast category (Laurila 1995, 2001). The CERES-Wheat genetic coefficients controlling both spring wheat phenological development (PHINT with leaf appearance rate and phyllochron interval [dd] , P1V affecting vernalization, P1D affecting photoperiodism and P5 affecting grain filling duration) and yield components (G1 - the grains per ear component, G2 - the 1000 seed weight and G3 - spike number with lateral tiller production) are given in Table 10. The RMSD (Root Mean Square Difference, Eq. 9) algorithm was used to calibrate both the CERES-Wheat genetic coefficients controlling spring wheat phenological development and yield components for generic HiL and MidE genotypes in Finland (Laurila 1995, Laurila 2001). The RMSD minimized the difference (RMSD YLD , t ha-1) between the observed and modeled baseline yield levels (y b ) and phenological anthesis (RMSD ANTH ) and full maturity (RMS- D FMAT ) development phases for generic HiL and MidE genotypes. Dataset I (Table 1, Fig. 1, Phase Ia1) derived from the MTT Agrifood Official Variety Trial dataset (1978−2007) for spring wheat genotypes was used in the calibra- tion process (Kangas et al. 2006, 2008). (9) where d - difference (observed – simulated) in days (DOY – Day of Year) from sowing to anthesis (RMSD ANTH ) and sowing to full maturity (RMSD FMAT ) in the calibration of phenological coefficients (PHINT, P1V, P5) or d is also the yield difference (RMSD YLD observed-simulated, t ha-1) in the calibration of yield coefficient components (G1, G2 and G3). Parameter n is the number of experimental sites x years (35 total) in the MTT Agrifood Research Finland Official Variety Trial dataset (1978−2007). Results Variation in vegetation, leaf area and dry weight components There was a large variation between HiL and MidE genotypes in datasets I-IX (Table 1) with vegetation, leaf area and dry weight components.Especially in dataset IX, the highest yielding HiL cv. ‘Kadett’ (HiL Old80 ) had also the highest number of side tillers in June before anthesis. The lowest yielding cv. ‘Tähti’ (HiL Old70 ) had the minimum number of leaves/main stem in June. There was a large variation between HiL genotypes both in June and July in flag leaf area, second highest leaf area, flag leaf dry weight, second highest leaf dry weight in the main tiller and above ground biomass. Flag leaf area in the main tiller varied between 1620 mm2 and 2145 mm2 in vegetative phase in June and later in July in generative phase between 1236 mm2 (‘Luja’, HiL Old80 ) and 2398 mm2. The second highest leaf area in the main tiller varied between 1204 mm2 (cv. ‘Luja’, HiL Old80) and 1579 mm2 (cv. ‘Ulla’, HiL Old70 ) in June and in July between 1295 mm2 and 1876 mm2. Respectively the Leaf Area Index (LAI) with fully developed flag leaves reached the LAI maximum value (LAI max ) ranging on average between 4 and 5 during pre-heading and anthesis. Peltonen-Sainio et al. (2005) marked the fully developed flag leaves as the L 7 leaf development phase. The dry weights of flag leaves in the main tiller varied between 38.8 mg (cv. ‘Tapio’, HiL Old70 ) and 68.6 mg (cv. ‘Ka- dett’, HiL Old80 ). The dry weights of the second leaves in the main tiller varied between 26.2 mg and 37.6 mg in the vegetative phase in June and between 27.4 mg and 68.8 mg in generative phase in July. The total above ground dry weights of plants varied between 288.6 mg (cv. ‘Drabant’, HiL Old70 ) and 449.8 mg (cv. ‘Tapio’, HiL Old70 ) in vegeta- tive phase and between 964.9 mg (cv. ‘Line 48’) and 1829 mg (cv. ‘Drabant’, HiL Old70 ) in generative phase. A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 395 Mixed contrast category results for baseline yield (y b ) estimations The modeled mean baseline yield (y b ) for a generic genotype over all contrast categories was 4014 kg ha-1 (SD 245 kg ha-1, Table 4, Fig 1., Phase I). In the decade contrast category, the modeled baseline yield levels (y b ) were 3880 kg ha-1 for the HiL Old70 and 4010 kg ha-1 for the HiL Old80 generic genotypes and 4340 kg ha-1 for the MidE Old80 cate- gory. With genotypes introduced into cultivation in the 1990s (New90) the baseline yield levels were 4650 kg ha-1 for HiL and 5060 kg ha-1 for MidE genotypes. The conventional vs. organic cultivation category results in cultivation practices contrast suggest (Dataset VI), that genotypes cultivated with conventional practices (4269 kg ha-1) had ca. 600 kg ha-1 higher yielding capacity com- pared with genotypes cultivated with organic methods (3640 kg ha-1). The soil type contrast indicates, that clay type soils produced higher baseline yields (4100 kg ha-1) when compared with coarse (3850 kg ha-1) and loam soil types (3702 kg ha-1). Table 4. Hierarchical Mixed-model baseline yield estimates (y b , kg ha-1) in different contrast categories (I−III). I Latitude contrast II Cultivation type, soil type, decade of introduction contrast III genotype contrast Baseline Mixed estimate (y b kg ha-1) (SD) Mixed estimation error (kg ha-1) 1) MidE & HiL Average all 2) Generic Ideotype mean 4014 (245) 94.8 Cultivation type 3) Generic Conventional 4269 17.9 Generic Organic 3640 52.5 Soil type Coarse soils 3856 27.5 Silt & Loam soils 3702 120.5 Clay soils 4101 41.0 Organic soils 3640 52.5 MidE MidE 1980 4) Old 80 4375 28.2 MidE 1990 4) New90 5057 108.5 HiL HiL 1970 Old 70 3886 19.2 HiL 1980 3) Old 80 4014 35.4 HiL 1990 4) New90 4652 59.6 1) All levels significant on 0.1% error level (***).2) Over all MidE and HiL contrast categories. 3) Organic and conventional dataset VI (Table 1, Aula and Talvitie 1995). 4) Includes dataset II. Mixed and Cultivation value modeling results for generic HiL and MidE genotype evaluation Mixed modeling results on genotype level (Table 5) using datasets I-VI (Fig 1., Phase I) imply a general higher baseline yield (y b ) level for a generic MidE genotype (4922 kg ha-1, SD 283 kg ha-1) vs. a generic HiL genotype (4532 kg ha-1, SD 573 kg ha-1). A general increasing yield trend can be observed from both MidE New90 and HiL New90 categories. In the MidE New90 contrast category genotypes ‘Amaretto’, ‘Azurite’, ‘Bombona’, ‘Epos’, ‘Jondolar’, ‘Marina’, ‘Mon- sun’, ‘Picolo’, ‘Sella’, ‘Triso’ exceeded the 5 t ha-1 baseline yield level and cv. ‘Trappe’ obtained the highest base- line grain yield level (6.2 t ha-1). In the HiL new90 contrast category genotypes ‘Kadrilj’, ‘Zebra’ and ‘Mahti’ exceed- ed the 5 t ha-1 level. Generic HiL and MidE genotypes derived from the Mixed and Cultivation value analyses Table 5 presents the generic HiL and MidE genotypes with Mixed baseline yield estimates (y b, kg ha-1) and Cultiva- tion total scoring values (C ValTot , Eq. 8, Fig 1., Phase II, Table 1, dataset VII). A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 396 Table 5. Mixed model baseline yield estimates (y b , kg ha-1), observed mean yield values from datasets I−VII and Cultivation scoring value (C Val ) profiles on genotype level. 1) Generic latitude type Mixed contrast category Genotype (Table 3) 8) Cultivation value (C Val ) rating (Peltonen 2010, Eq. 8) Mixed baseline yield (y b ) [X, ±SD, kg ha-1] 7) C Val sub class1) C a 2) (d) C c 3) Observed yield [kg ha-1] 7) C p 4) [kg DMd-1 ha-1 / N kg ha-1 ] C b 5) C Val Tot Score 6) MidE MidE New90 Quarna Elite 23 104 22 4743 39 46/109 39 123 Max MidE 4620 Amaretto 23 107 36 5645 34 53/104 28 121 5474 Epos 22 109 32 5302 34 49/106 33 121 5224 Trappe Other 22 110 27 5976 30 55/104 24 103 6241 Max. MidE Nandu Ref. - - - - - 4371 MidE Old80 Matador - - - - - 4079 Pasteur - - - - - 4387 MidE MidE Old80 Pasteur Ref. Other 4375±371 MidE 9) MidE New90 ±SD Nandu Ref. Other 23 ±1.2 29 ±3.6 34.2 ±1.8 31.2 ±3.6 117.4 ±7.57 4755±282 MidE Generic Latitude type Mid-E. mean 4922±554 Zebra 25 106 28 5057 34 48/100 32 119 5053 HiL HiL New90 Marble Elite 25 107 28 5120 33 48/101 31 117 Max HiL Wellamo 27 106 29 5119 31 49/107 32 119 MaxHiL - Bjarne Quality 23 104 19 4556 28 44/99 37 107 - Anniina 23 101 21 4627 30 46/108 36 110 4387 Kruunu Ref. 24 104 24 4910 33 47/97 30 111 4689 Tjalve Ref . Other - - - - - 4652 HiL HiL Old70 Apu Other - - - - - 3886±341 HiL HiL Old80 Polkka Ref. Other - - - - - 4014±297 HiL 9) HiL New90 ±SD Tjalve Ref. Other 24.4 ±1.7 24.2 ±4.3 31 ±2.1 23 ±2.3 112.8 ±5.1 4616±564 HiL Generic Latitude type HiL mean 4532±573 1) C Val – Cultivation scoring value profile on a genotype level in Zones I-III (Classes: Elite, Quality, Other, Eq. 8, cv. Kruunu Ref.) 2) C a – adaptation plasticity scoring value with growing days (d) from sowing to full maturity 3) C c – cultivation certainty scoring value with final grain yield (kg ha-1) 4) C p – cultivation properties scoring value containing grain yield accumulation/growing day ratio (kg DM/d) and the nitrogen amount in grains (N kg ha-1) 5) C b – baking quality scoring value 6) C ValTot – Cultivation total scoring value of a genotype (Eq. 8) in growing zones I−III. 7) Observed mean yields from dataset VII (Fig. 1), 8) Ref. - Reference genotype. 9) Generic reference genotype in the Mixed New 90 contrast category. A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 397 The C ValTot scoring value consisted of cultivation properties (C p ), adaptation plasticity (C a ), baking quality (C b ) and cultivation certainty (C c ) subcomponents (Peltonen 2010). Especially cv. ‘Quarna’ (Elite and MidE New90 classes) ob- tained the highest Cultivation total scoring value (C ValTot 123), the C a , C c and C p components were 23, 22 39. The Mixed mean baseline yield estimate was (y b ) 4620 kg ha-1 vs. 4743 kg ha-1 observed mean yield level. With cv. ‘Quarna’ the grain yield accumulation/growing day ratio was 46 kg DM d-1 ha-1 and the nitrogen amount in grains was 109 N kg ha-1 and the mean growing days from sowing to full maturity were 104 d. The cv. ‘Wella- mo’ obtained 119 and cv. ‘Marble’ 117 in total scoring (C ValTot ), both cv. ‘Wellamo’ and ‘Marble’ yielded above 5 t ha-1 average yield levels. The reference genotype ‘Kruunu’ (HiL New90 , Quality class) obtained 111 in total scoring. Especially HiL and MidE generic reference genotypes in the Mixed New 90 contrast category (MidE New90 and HiL New90 , Table 5) were utilized when defining the ideotype profiles (Itprf MidE,HiL Eq. 10) in conjunction with the CERES-Wheat crop model. The HiL New90 generic genotype factors (y b, [kg ha-1±SD], C p , C a , C b , C c , C ValTot ) were (4616±564, 24.4±1.7, 24.2±4.3, 31.0±2.1, 23.0±2.3, 112.8±5.1) and the corresponding factors for the MidE New90 generic genotype were (4755±282, 23.0±1.2, 29.0±3.6, 34.2±1.8, 31.2±3.6,117.4±7.57). Path coefficient analysis results with yield (p y ) and vegetation (p v ) components Table 6 presents Path coefficient modeling results (Models I−IV) for HiL ideotypes using datasets VIII and IX (Fig 1., Phase III) with estimates for correlation coefficients (r), values for coefficient of determination (R2) and U re- sidual factors (Eq. 2–7). With Path models I−III and using vegetation components (p v ) as independent variables, R2 values were relatively low (I:0.219, II:0.08, III: 0.351). Table 6. Path models (I-IV) for baseline grain yield values (y b , kg ha-1) with Path (p) and correlation (r) coefficients.1) Path - Model y b for a generic HiL ideotype X, (SD) (kg ha-1) Linear regression for baseline y b (kg ha-1) =b 0 +b 1 *x1+b 2 *x2+ .. b n *x (Eq. 2) Standardized Path Model for baseline grain yield (p=Path- and r=correlation coefficients (Eq. 5) y b = pa * ra *A + pb* rb *B .. pc * rc*X R2 for grain yield kg ha-1 15% moist. cont.) (Eq. 7) 2) p v 2) p y 3) R2 (U) 4) I (pv) 5) 3105.0 (342.3) 3443.71 – 0.32*(Fla June ) + 0.29*(Fla July ) – 0.37*(FlDw June ) + l0.44*(FlDw July ) p*r(Fla June ) + p*r(Fla July )+ p*r(FlDw June ) + p*r(FlDw July ) ( - 0 . 1 4 * 0 . 0 4 6 ) + (0.25*0.38)+ (-0.l02*-0.003) + (+0.31*0.414) = 0.2190 -0.140 2) +0.250 -0.l02 +0.310 0.2190 (0.682) II (pv) 5) 3860.7 (192.0) 3522.9+0.38*(2LfA June ) + 0 . 1 4 * ( 2 L f A J u n e ) - 0.14*(2LfDw June ) – 0.27 (2Lf Dw July ) p*r(2LfA June ) + p*r(2LfA June )+ p*r(2LfDw June ) + p*r(2Lf Dw July ) (0.397*0.209)+ (0.15*0.034)+ (-0.142*0.038) +(-0.296*-0.055)= 0.085 +0.397 2) +0.150 -0.142 -0.296 0.085 (0.891) III (pv) 5) 3158.7 (304.4) 2820.5-0.11 (FlDW June ) -0.068*(2LfDW June ) -0.49*(FlDW July ) +0.68*(2LfDW July ) P*r(FlDW June )+ P*r(2LfDW June )+ P*r(FlDW July )+ P*r(2LfDW July ) (-0.124*-0.003)+ (-0.077*0.038)- (-0.538*0.414)+ (0.788*-0.055)= 0.351 -0.124 2) -0.077 -0.538 +0.788 0.351 (0.951) IV (py) 6) 3461.0 (90.6) - 1 2 9 . 2 5 + 35.59*(1000gw) +90.31*(GrSpk Aug .) – 128.15*(SpkEar Aug. ) + 15.24*(EarLng Aug. ) p*r(1000 gw) + p*r(GrEar Aug .)+ p*r(SpkEar Aug .)+ p*r(EarLng Aug. )+ p*r(EarStem Aug. ) (0.679*0.39) + (0.581*0.42) + (-0.306*-0.33)+ (0.281*0.38) + (0.562* -0.048)= 0.7098 +0.679 3) +0.581 -0.306 +0.281 +0.562 0.7098 (0.797) Mean 3396.4(232) 1) Abbreviations: Fla – Flag leaf area (L 7 , mm2), FlDw – Flag leaf dry weight (mg), 2Lf – Second uppermost leaf, 1000 gw – 1000 grain weight (g), Dw – Dry weight, GrEar – Grains/Ear, SpkEar – Spikelets/Ear, EarLng – Ear Length, mm) , EarStem - Head bearing stalks m-2. 2) p v - Vegetation parameter Path coefficients (Eq. 5, Table 7) 3) p y - Yield component Path coefficients (Eq. 5, Table 8). 4) U - Residual-factor (Eq. 6), R2 - R-square, total variance explained by the model (Eq. 7) 5) p v - vegetation components as independent variables (Models I−III) 6) p y - yield components as independent variables (Model IV) A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 398 Correspondingly with Path model IV and using yield components (p y ) as independent variables, R2 was high (0.709). The Path-model dependent variable, baseline grain yield (y b ) estimate was for a generic HiL ideotype with Model I: 3105.0 kg ha-1 (SD 342.3 kg ha-1), Model II: 3860.7 (192.0), Model III: 3158.7 (304.4) and Model IV: 3461.0 (90.6). The overall mean HiL grain yield estimate (y b ) was 3396 kg ha-1 (SD 232 kg ha-1). Vegetation Path-coefficient (p v ) estimations and leaf area and dry weight variation The vegetation Path coefficients (p v ) results for HiL genotypes (models I-III, Table 7, Fig 1., Phase III) indicate, that significant vegetation components (p v ) on final grain yield (y b ) and 1000 kernel weight were number of leaves/ plant in June (0.477, SD 0.18), both flag leaf area (0.386, SD 0.17, L 7 leaf development phase, Peltonen-Sainio et al., 2005) and flag leaf dry weight in July (0.611, SD 0.24) and dry weights of whole plants in June (0.505, SD 0.24). The number of side tillers in June, the length of main stem in June, July and August and the second highest leaf area in July had significant direct effects on final 1000 kernel weight. Table 7. HiL vegetation Path-coefficients (p v ) and PCA factor loadings vs. baseline grain yield (y b , kg ha-1) and vs. 1000 grain weight (g). Vegetation parameter p v vs. baseline grain yield ( y b , kg ha-1) (SD) 1) p v vs. 1000 grain weight (g) (SD) 1) PCA factor loadings (2 factor solution) Side tillers in June 0.200 (0.187) 0.584 (0.113) +0.558 Number of leaves in June 0.477 (0.183) 0.131 (0.110) +0.377 The length of main stem in June, July, August 0.070, 0.360, 0.570 0.640, 0.703, 0.316 +0.873,+0.804, +0.783 Flag leaf area (mm2, L 7 ) phase in June and July 2) 0.153 (0.050), 0.386 (0.176) 0.012 (0.080), 0.131 (0.233) +0.324,+0.661 Second leaf area (mm2) in June and July 0.226 (0.166) 0.042 (0.073) 0.088 (0.061), 0.541 (0.110) +0.681, - Flag leaf dry weight (mg) in June and July 0.139 (0.063) 0.611 (0.243) 0.393 (0.103) 0.141 (0.175) +0.345,+0.369 Second leaf dry weight (mg) in June and July 0.216 (0.080) 0.237 (0.170) 0.108 (0.121) 0.259 (0.175) +0.703 , - Dry weight of rest of plant (mg) in June and July 0.512 (0.050) 0.205 (0.134) 0.251 (0.207) 0.085 (0.327) +0.784, - Dry weight of whole plant (excluding root bm.) in June and July 0.505 (0.244) 0.231 (0.525) 0.339 (0.281) 0.339 (0.477) +0.827, - Dry weight of straw biomass (mg) in August 0.062 (0.052) 0.341 (0.071) +0.504 1) Standard deviation (SD) denotes variance with different Path-model combinations from models I-III (Table 6) 2) L 7 leaf development phase (Peltonen-Sainio et al., 2005) Yield component Path-coefficient (p y ) estimations In table 8, the Path-model IV (Fig 1., Phase III) indicated a strong direct connection with HiL yield component Path- coefficients (p y ) between final baseline grain yield (y b ) and 1000 grain weight (0.679) and Harvest Index (HI, 0.480). In addition, model IV had a high overall coefficient of determination (R2 0.709, Table 6). Grains/head (0.581), head bearing stalks (0.562) and head length (0.281) had also strong positive effect on final grain yield determination in grain filling phase after anthesis. A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 399 Table 8. HiL yield component Path-coefficients (p y ) and PCA factor loadings vs. baseline grain yield (y b ) and vs. 1000 grain weight (g) Yield component P y vs. baseline grain yield ( y b , kg ha-1) P y vs. 1000 grain weight (g) PCA factor loadings (2 factor solution) 1000 grain weight (g) 0.679 - +0.554 Harvest Index (HI) 0.480 0.338 - Grains/head 0.581 0.791 +0.347 Head bearing stalks m-2 0.562 0.644 +0.618 Main head length (mm) 0.281 0.061 +0.383 Spikelets/head -0.306 0.219 - The high p y yield component factor (0.581) between grains/head and final grain yield confirms the positive direct effect. This was also noted with vegetative parameters, especially with flag leaf area and dry weights with high p v values in generative phase in July. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) analysis results (phase IIIa, Fig.1) with high positive PCA factor loadings for vegetation (Table 7) and yield components (Table 8) indicated, that especially head bearing stalks m-2, the length of main stem and the plant above ground dry weight were significant factors affecting both final grain yield and 1000 grain weight determination with HiL genotypes. Ideotype profiles (ItPrf) for generic HiL and MidE spring wheat genotypes Table 9 illustrates the CERES-Wheat phenological (PHINT, P1V, P1D and P5) and yield component coefficient (G1, G2 and G3) calibration results for HiL and MidE generic genotypes using the RMSD algorithm (Root Mean Square Difference , Eq. 9, Laurila 2001). The average anthesis difference (RMSD ANTH ) was 2.99 d assuming that the anthe- sis is reached on average ca. 5 days after wheat heading, the full maturity difference (RMSD FMAT ) was 5.86 d and the baseline yield levels (y b ) difference was 1.79 t ha-1 (RMSD YLD ) pooled over all soil types derived from the MTT Agrifood Research Official Variety Trial dataset (1978−2007, Dataset I, Table 1, Kangas et al. 2006, 2008). The calibrated genetic coefficients (PHINT, P1V, P5, G1, G2, G3) were for a generic HiL genotype (60.0, 0.10, 1.0, 10.0, 5.0, 1.0, 1.5) and respectively for a generic MidE genotype (60.0, 0.10, 1.0, 9.0, 4.0, 3.0, 2.0). Table 9. The CERES-Wheat (Jones et al. 2003) calibrated yield component coefficients (G1, G2 and G3) and phenological coefficients (PHINT, P1V, P1D and P5) for HiL (cv. Polkka ref., Laurila, 2001) and for MidE (cv. Nandu ref., Laurila, 1995) genotypes. Generic genotype Soil type RMSDYLD (t ha-1) 1) G1 G2 G3 MidE (cv. Nandu ref.) All soil data pooled - 4.0 3.0 2.0 HiL (cv. Polkka ref.) Sand (coarse and fine) 1.7478 0.50 5.00 5.00 Heavy clay 1.8323 1.00 8.50 1.00 Mixed clays 1.7245 1.00 8.50 1.00 Silt, Silt loam 1.4080 1.00 6.00 1.00 Organic soil (Peat, Mould) 0.2892 2.00 2.30 2.00 All soil data pooled 1.7980 5.00 1.00 1.50 Generic genotype & Phenology RMSDANTH (d) 2) RMSDFMAT (d) 3) PHINT (dd) P1V P1D P5 HiL (cv. Polkka ref.) 2.99 5.86 60.0 0.10 1.00 10.0 MidE (cv. Nandu ref.) - - 60.0 0.10 1.00 9.0 1) RMSDYLD = RMSD for grain yield (t ha -1 ). 2) RMSDANTH = RMSD for anthesis (d), the anthesis is reached ca. 5 days after heading, 3) RMSDFMAT =RMSD for full maturity (d). A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 400 The combined statistical Mixed Covariance, Cultivation value (Table 5) results and modeling results from the dy- namic CERES-Wheat crop model on wheat non-potential baseline yield (y b kg ha-1, Table 9) were synthesized as generic ItPrf HiL,New90 and ItPrf MidE,New90 ideotype profiles in the New90 Mixed contrast category including genotypes introduced into cultivation in the 1990s or later (Fig 1., Phase IV). The statistical modeling results yielding generic HiL and MidE genotypes (Table 5) and results from the CERES- Wheat crop model with phenological and yield component factors (Table 9) were combined as ItPrf HiL,New90 and ItPrf MidE,New90 ideotype profiles (Eq. 10). The elevated atmospheric CO 2 concentration (700 ppm) combined with +3 °C mean diurnal temperature change factors on wheat non-potential baseline yield (y b kg ha-1) were included in ItPrf HiL,New90 and ItPrf MidE,New90 ideotype profiles simulating the year 2100 climate change scenario in southern Finland (Carter 2004). ItPrf(HiL/MidE(New90)) = (yb ± SD, yb(CO2,700ppm) [min. max. , %], yb( T, +3 )[min. max. , %], yb(CO2, TempCov)[min. max. , %], PHINT, P1V, P5, G1, G2, G3, Ca , Cp , Cb , CValTot) (10) where (i) y b ±SD is the mean non-potential baseline grain yield level (kg ha-1) without the y b(CO2,TempCov) covariance ef- fect (ii) the y b(CO2,700ppm) factor estimates the change range (min.-max., %) on baseline yield (y b kg ha-1) with doubled atmospheric CO 2 concentration (700 ppm), (iii) the y b(∆T,+3ºC) factor estimates the change range (min.-max.,%) on y b with +3 ºC mean diurnal temperature change (∆T) and (iv) the covariance factor y b(CO2,TempCov) estimates the change range (min.-max.,%) on y b with concurrent doubled CO 2 concentration and with +3ºC mean diurnal temperature change in the ItPrf HiL,New90 and ItPrf MidE,New90 profiles (Laurila 1995, 2001, Hakala 1988, Saarikko 1999, Carter 2004). The ∆y b(CO2,700ppm), ∆y b( ∆T ,+3ºC) and the covariant ∆y b(CO2,TempCov) factors in the ideotype profiles were excluded from the non-potential baseline yield estimates (y b , Eq. 10). The covariant ∆y b(CO2,TempCov) factor simulating the concur- rent elevated CO 2 and temperature effects in conjunction with the HiL and MidE non-potential baseline yield es- timates (y b ) are reviewed in the discussion section. The optimized ideotype profile for a generic HiL New90 ideotype (ItPrf HiL,New90 ) with parameters (y b ±SD [kg ha-1], ∆y b(CO2,700ppm) [min.-max.,%] , ∆y b(∆T,+3°C) [min.-max.,%], ∆y b(CO2,TempCov) [min.- max., %], PHINT [dd], P1V, P5, G1, G2, G3, C a , C p , C b , C ValTot , Eq. 10) was (4616±564, 1.12-1.42 , 0.72-0.83, 1.01-1.06, 60.0, 0.10, 1.0, 10.0, 5.0, 1.0, 1.5, 24.4, 24.2, 31, 23, 112.8). The optimized ideotype profile (ItPrf MidE,New90 ) for a generic MidE New90 ideotype was (4755±282, 1.49–1.72, 0.59–0.62, 1.04–1.13, 60.0, 0.10, 1.0, 9.0, 4.0, 3.0, 2.0, 23, 29, 34.2, 31.2, 117.4). Discussion Spring wheat yield trends in Finland According to Mela and Suvanto (1987), HiL Old70 and HiL Old80 spring wheat genotypes increased the average base- line yield (y b ) levels by +0.34%/year in Finland during the period 1956−1985 due to improved plant breeding and other cultivation techniques. A general trend of breaking the averaged 5 t ha-1 baseline barrier (y b ) over the years with MidE New90 genotypes introduced into cultivation after the 1990s is noticeable in the MTT Agrifood Research Finland 1978−2007 official variety trial data (Dataset I). Recently Peltonen-Sainio et al. (2009) concluded using the Finnish MTT official variety trial (1970-2005) data and FAOSTAT data (1960−2005) that the yield trends of future wheat genotypes will constantly increase in Finland and on global scale during climate change because of the in- creasing demand for global food production. In practical cultivation in southern Finland, the average yield levels have been rising steadily from the old 3 t ha-1 average level above 5 t ha-1 in southern Finland by using new HiL New90 and MidE New90 genotypes, incorporated with new fertilizer and pesticide practices (Kangas et al. 2008, Peltonen 2010). The increase of sowing seed density from 600 seeds m-2 to 700 seeds m-2 has increased the yield levels by 1 t ha-1. Peltonen (2010) reported promising high yield results in southern Finland using new spring wheat culti- vars from the MidE New90 category (e.g. cv. ‘Quarna’, ‘Amaretto’, ‘Trappe’, ‘Piccolo’, ‘Triso’, ‘Jondolar’) and from the HiL New90 category from Borealis (cv. ‘Marble’, ‘Wellamo’) and cv. ‘Zebra’ from Svalöf-Weibull. A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 401 Optimum vegetation and yield components for high yielding wheat ideotypes Path coefficient analysis using datasets VIII and IX identified several significant vegetation (p v ) and yield compo- nents (p y ) with direct effects for HiL wheat ideotypes with maximum yield capacity. The overall mean y b estimate (Models I−IV) for a generic HiL ideotype was 3589 kg ha-1 (SD 338.7 kg ha-1). Following HiL vegetation (p v ) com- ponents with corresponding threshold values for high yield capacity were significant: sowing seed density (>700 seeds m-2), emerged seedlings m-2 (> 600 seeds m-2), maximum side tillers/plant in June (> 2), maximum number of leaves/plant in July (> 5), maximum flag leaf and second highest leaf areas (>1800 mm2 and >1600 mm2) in July, maximum flag leaf and second highest leaf dry weights (> 57 mg and > 46 mg) and maximum plant whole dry weight (> 1390 mg) in August. The highest yielding cv. ‘Kadett’ in the HiL Old80 category had the highest flag leaf dry weight in June in datasets VIII and IX. This indicated an effective photosynthetic mechanism and high assimilation capacity in vegetative phase in June. In July, in generative phase, the dry weights of flag and the second highest leaves had decreased from June values as the senescence of leaves already had started. With HiL yield components (p y ) especially grains/ear (> 30), 1000 kernel weight (> 40 g), harvest index (HI>39), spikelets/ear (>12) and ear bearing stems m-2 (> 647) were significant. Peltonen-Sainio et al. (2005) reported that in Finnish growing conditions grains/ear component is one of the most important factors defining the ideotype final grain yield. The current cereal genotypes contain ca. 25 grains per ear on average. In our field results (Data- sets VIII−IX), the average grains/ear was higher (42.3, SD 5.3) suggesting above average baseline yield levels for HiL genotypes. Theoretically, there are ca. 160 grain primordiums in the wheat ear (Slafer and Savin 1994). According to Peltonen-Sainio et al. (2005) there is a critical cereal flowering period (“window of opportunity for yield”) in Finnish long-day growing conditions, which defines the critical yield component grains/ear number. This period starts on average three weeks before heading, and lasts ca. two weeks (< 50 on Zadoks growth scale, Zadoks et al. 1984) with wheat flower differentiation setting the final grain number in head (Sinclair and Jamieson 2008). In our study the average 1000 kernel weight was below average 32.8 (SD 2.6) when compared with the average 37 g in MTT spring wheat variety trials (Dataset I, Kangas et al. 2006, 2008). Respectively the ear bearing stems m-2 was above average 647.7 (SD 63.2) vs. 500 stems m-2 in MTT trials. Genotype×environmental (G×E) variation and covariances The Mixed model soil type contrast results expressing the genotype×environmental (G×E) covariance indicated, that clay type soils produced higher baseline yields (y b 4100 kg ha-1) than coarse (y b 3850 kg ha-1) and loam soil types (y b 3700 kg ha-1) when using the same cultivars. This was due to the frequent drought periods during grow- ing season on coarse and loam type soils reducing the cereal yield potential (Järvi et al. 1997, Kangas et al. 2008). Recently, Rajala et al. (2009) studied in Finland the effects of water limitation and fertilizer availability on devel- opment of yield components. The greenhouse experiment results, using cv. ‘Amaretto’ (MidE New90 ) with different water treatments, indicated that especially plants per unit land area, spikes per plant, grains per spikelet, and single grain weight (SGW) were significant components affecting final grain yield when water and nitrogen avail- ability were limiting factors. The Mixed modeling results using conventional vs. organic cultivation practices with the same cultivars in the ex- periments suggested, that genotypes using conventional cultivation practices (y b 4270 kg ha-1), with herbicide in- troduction and chemical fertilizers, had ca. 600 kg ha-1 higher yield capacity compared with genotypes using organ- ic cultivation practices (y b 3640 kg ha-1). According to Aula and Talvitie (1995) growing period from sowing to full maturity is ca. 1−2 days longer in organic cultivation in Finland compared with conventional cultivation practices. Source-sink variation and adaptation between ideotypes Inter- and intracultivar source-sink variation with high yielding wheat genotypes has been reviewed by Slafer & Savin (1994) and by Reynolds et al. (2007). Previous studies have indicated a significant morphological variation in leaf angle, leaf weight and leaf area duration between wheat genotypes (Austin et al. 1980). Ledent (1979) and Gent & Kiyomoto (1985) reported the crucial roles of wheat flag leaf (L 7 ) and the second highest leaf on yield formation. Peltonen-Sainio et al. (2005) and Peltonen-Sainio & Rajala (2007) studied detailed cereal leaf develop- ment order (L 1 -L 7 ) starting from the emergence of cotyledon leaf (L 1 ) from coleoptile following consecutive phases until the flag leaf (L 7, highest leaf) emerged below the head. In Finnish long day growing conditions cereals differ- entiate six or seven leaves in the main stem. A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 402 The Mixed structural covariance and Path coefficient results detected several direct and indirect factors affect- ing the final grain yield with HiL and MidE genotypes. Results indicated a strong intracultivar source-sink correla- tion between source (e.g. flag leaf area during L 7 leaf and LAI max development phases) and sink components (e.g. grains/ear, final grain kernel size in the head and harvest index) in the HiL Old70 , HiL Old80 and HiL new90 contrast catego- ries. These modeling results are consistent with the PCA and Path coefficient analysis results published by Reyn- olds et al. (2007) reviewing source-sink traits and interactions with yield, biomass and radiation use efficiency (RUE) for wheat genotypes with high yield capacity. Reynolds et al. (2007) stated that source-sink imbalance and sink strength are still critical yield limiting factors in wheat genotypes. When analyzing the Mixed HiL Old70 - HiL Old80 vs. HiL new90 contrast categories, the highest yielding late cv. ‘Kadett’ (HiL Old80 , 4071 kg ha-1), relatively late cv. ‘Ruso’ (HiL Old70 , 3611 kg ha-1) and early cv. ‘Apu’ (HiL Old70 , 3978 kg ha-1) were clearly inferior in yielding capacity compared with the most common wheat in cultivation, cv. ‘Tjalve’ (HiL new90 , 4563 kg ha-1). Also the 1000 grain weight and protein content were superior with cv. ‘Tjalve’ (38.7 g, 13.2%) com- pared with cv. ‘Kadett’ (37.7 g, 9.2%), cv. ‘Ruso’ (36.8 g, 10.3%), cv. ‘Apu’ (30.6 g, 9.8%). According to the Path coefficient results, the high yielding genotypes especially in the HiL category expressed the source-sink covariances in a well balanced and optimal combination (Eq. 1). The cv. ‘Kadett’, with highest sink ca- pacity (grain yield and dry matter accumulation) in the HiL Old80 category, also had a high source capacity (e.g. flag leaf area and dry weight). With lowest yielding cultivar Tähti (HiL Old70 ), the source-sink imbalance and inadequate translocation of assimilates were potentially yield limiting factors (Reynolds et al. 2007, Sinclair and Jamieson 2008). The Cultivation scoring value (C ValTot ) results indicated that mid-European genotypes belonging to the Elite and MidE- New90 classes obtained the highest total scoring sums. Especially cv. ‘Quarna’ (C a 23, C b 39, C c 22, C p 39) obtained the highest C ValTot value (123) in MidE New90 and Elite classes. Respectively, cv. ‘Marble’ (C a 25, C b 31, C c 28, C p 33) obtained the highest total scoring value (117) in the HiL New90 and Elite classes. The mid-European genotype ‘Trappe’ (MidE- New90 , Other class) with a relatively low Cultivation Value profile (C a 22,C b 34, C c 27, C p 24, C ValTot 103), produced the highest grain yield level (6 t ha-1). The Mixed baseline estimate (y b ) for cv. ‘Trappe’ was 6240 kg ha-1. Cv. ‘Quarna’ yielded 4730 kg ha-1. In the (HiL New90, Elite) category, the highest yielding cultivar was cv. ‘Marble’ (5120 kg ha-1). In the C a component (adaptation plasticity), cv. ‘Wellamo’ (HiL New90 , Elite class) had the highest adaptation plastic- ity value (C a 27). The growing period from sowing to full maturity was longer in the MidE New90 category. Cv. Trappe had the longest growing period from sowing to full maturity (110 d). The C a values and the growing days were for cv. ‘Trappe’, ‘Quarna’ and ‘Marble’ (22/110 d, 23/104 d, 25/107 d). The Cultivation certainty (C c ) component results indicated that the final grain yield levels with high yielding cul- tivars were higher in the MidE New90 category than in the HiL New90 category. The highest cultivation certainty (C c 36) was with cv. ‘Amaretto’ (HiL New90 , Elite). When analyzing the variation between high yielding cultivars in the Cultivation properties component (C p ), the accumulated grain yield/growing day ratio (DM d-1 ha-1) and the nitrogen amount in grains (N kg ha-1) were signifi- cant. The C p values, the grain yield accumulation/growing day ratio and the nitrogen amount in grains were for cv. ‘Trappe’, ‘Quarna’ and ‘Marble’ (30/55/104, 39/46/109 and 33/48/101). Cv. ‘Quarna’ had the highest C p value (39), highest baking quality (C q 39) and the highest nitrogen amount in grains (109). Cv. ‘Trappe’ had the highest grain yield accumulation/growing day ratio (55) and the longest growing period enabling an effective transloca- tion system from the source (flag leaf and second highest leaf) to the sink organs (head and grains) during grain filling phase, therefore contributing to the high final grain yield level. Implications from the ideotype profile analysis for generic HiL and MidE wheat genotypes According to two MidE and HiL ideotype profile analysis (ItPrf MidE(New90) and ItPrf HiL(New90) ) derived in this study, the genotypes introduced into cultivation after 1990’s have adaptive yield potential for the future growing conditions with elevated temperature and atmospheric CO 2 growing conditions. The modeling results for generic ItPrf MidE(New90) and ItPrf HiL(New90) ideotypes indicated that the non-potential baseline yield (y b , kg ha-1) comparison without the con- current CO 2 ×temperature covariance effect yielded the baseline yield difference (∆y b ) 140 kg ha-1 (+102 %) for ItPrfMidE (New90) vs. ItPrfHiL (New90) (y b 4620 kg ha-1, 100 %). A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 403 When taking into account also the projected concurrent CO 2 ×temperature covariance effect ∆y b (CO 2 , 700ppm ,∆T, +3ºC ) projected by the year 2100 climate change scenario for southern Finland (Carter 2004), the non-potential aver- age baseline yield change (∆y b , %) would be 1.035 % (range 1.01-1.06 %) for the generic ItPrf HiL(New90) ideotype. Correspondingly the average ∆y b change for the generic ItPrf MidE(New90) ideotype would be 1.085 % (range 1.04- 1.13 %). These results indicate that the ItPrf MidE(New90) non-potential baseline yield (y b ) would be on average 5150 kg ha-1 level (∆y b +108 %) vs. ItPrf HiL(New90) ideotype (y b 4770 kg ha-1, 100%) and assuming the photoperiodical day length remains constant. Implications for future adaptation strategies using high yielding spring wheat ideotypes Previous crop simulation results with the CERES-Wheat crop model (Laurila 2001), Open Top Chamber crop physi- ological results (Hakala et al. 2005) for cv. ‘Polkka’ (HiL Old80 ) and for cv. ‘Nandu’ (MidE New90 ) indicated, that the con- current elevated atmospheric CO 2 concentration and elevated diurnal temperature will increase the yield potential of the HiL wheat genotypes by 1−6% and by 4−13% with the MidE wheat genotypes in southern Finland. Badger (1992) stated that wheat ideotypes with optimum yielding capacity and with adaptation for elevated atmospher- ic CO 2 concentration should have a fast canopy closure at tillering stage and a long grain filling period with high temperature sum requirements from anthesis to maturity. According to Slafer & Savin (1997) the elevated atmos- pheric CO 2 concentration (720 ppm) did not affect significantly the phyllochron leaf appearance rate (PHINT) or the phenological development in vegetative or generative phases with winter and spring wheat genotypes. The CERES-Wheat crop model takes into account the photoperiodism by using the phenological genetic coefficient P1D, which is linked to PHINT coefficient affecting genotype phyllochron interval and leaf appearance rate (Jones et al. 2003). According to Kontturi (1979) and Saarikko (1999) the Effective Temperature Sum (ETS) requirement of 1050 ± 30° degree-days (dd, Tb +5 °C) from sowing to yellow ripening stage is considered adequate for HiL spring wheat genotypes grown in zones I–IV in Finland. According to Peltonen (2010) new MidE New90 genotypes require higher ETS values, exceeding the 1000 dd for full maturity in cultivation zones I−II, e.g. cv. ‘Trappe’ (1052 dd) and cv. ‘Picolo’ (1092 dd). The average ETS requirements with new HiL New90 genotypes are for cv. ‘Mahti’ (985 dd), cv. ‘Tjalve’ (996 dd), cv. ‘Anniina’ (962 dd), cv. ‘Aino’ (968 dd). In this study, the Mixed structural covariance and Cultivation value results indicated a significant increase in base- line yield (y b , kg ha-1) trends between new and old genotypes (HiL/MidE Old70, Old80 vs. HiL/MidE New90 ). Results indi- cated that new HiL and MidE genotypes introduced into cultivation after 1990s (HiL/MidE New90 ) have a significant- ly higher yielding capacity between 9% and 13% vs. HiL/MidE Old70, Old80 genotypes. In addition, results indicated a consistently higher yielding capacity (108%) for MidE New90 genotypes compared with HiL New90 genotypes (100%). Results from the Cultivation value analysis indicated, that especially MidE cultivars belonging to the MidE New90 and Elite classes obtained the highest Cultivation value ratings and produced the highest final grain yield levels. If the concurrent elevated atmospheric CO 2 concentration (700 ppm) and elevated diurnal temperature (+3 ºC) increase is also taken into account in the adaptation strategies, the MidE New90 non-potential baseline yield levels (y b ) will be permanently surpassing the 5 t ha-1 barrier by 2100 in southern Finland. The ideotype profile results obtained in this study also support this increasing yield trend for new HiL and MidE ideotypes. However, these modeled yield levels for generic MidE and Nordic HiL wheat ideotypes comprise only 50% of the theoretical maxi- mum yielding capacity level of 10 t ha-1 reported by Austin et al. (1980). Conclusions Modeling results obtained in this study with Mixed structural covariance analysis indicated that new high-latitude and mid-European ideotypes, introduced into cultivation after 1990s, have a significantly higher yield capacity compared with genotypes introduced for cultivation earlier. New mid-European genotypes produced a consist- ently higher yielding capacity (108%) than high-latitude genotypes (100%). These modeling results are supported by both practical field results on farm level in southern Finland (2009−2010) and also by MTT Agrifood Research Finland 1978−2007 official wheat variety trial results indicating a general trend of breaking the 5 t ha-1 baseline yield barrier with new high yielding mid-European and high-latitude genotypes. Path coefficient modeling results for high-latitude genotypes suggested, that especially grains/ear, harvest index (HI) and maximum 1000 kernel weight were significant factors defining the highest yield potential. Cultivation A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 404 Value modeling results indicated, that especially genotypes belonging to Elite class inside MidE New90 and HiL New90 Mixed contrast categories, obtained the highest Cultivation scoring values. Spring wheat modeling results obtained in this study can be utilized when designing new wheat genotypes with optimal ideotype profiles for agricultural adaptation strategies. Especially the wheat adaptation plasticity (C a ), cul- tivation certainty (C c ) and cultivation property (C p ) components are important selection factors when breeding the future wheat ideotypes adapted for elevated temperatures and CO 2 growing conditions in northern latitudes. The modeling results obtained in this study with new high yielding MidE and HiL ideotypes (MidE New90 , HiL New90 ) imply that the mid-European non-potential baseline yield (y b ) would be on average 5150 kg ha-1 (+ 108 %) vs. high-lati- tude ideotypes (y b 4770 kg ha-1, 100%) grown under the elevated CO 2(700ppm) ×temperature (+3°C) growing conditions projected by the year 2100 climate change scenario in southern Finland. Acknowledgments We wish to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Ari Rajala, Dr. Reijo Karjalainen, Dr. Kaija Hakala, MSci. Tapani Kan- gasmäki and Dr. Riitta Saarikko (MTT Agrifood Research of Finland) for providing the wheat genotype field data, support for statistical analysis and reviewing the manuscript versions. Appreciation is also acknowledged for Pro- fessor Pirjo Peltonen-Sainio (MTT Agrifood Research of Finland), Dr. Mervi Seppänen (Helsinki University, Depart- ment of Agricultural Sciences) and Professor Timothy Carter (The Finnish Environment Institute) for their support. †This publication is dedicated to the memory of late Dr. Jari Peltonen. References Aula, S. & Talvitie, H. 1995. The suitability of rye and spring wheat varieties for ecological Cultivation. Research Note 3. Jokioinen: MTT Agrifood Research Finland. 42 p. Austin, R., J. Bingham J. & Evans, L. 1980. Genetic improvement in winter wheat yields since 1900 and associated physiological changes. 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Definition, abbreviation Unit, [range] Explanation X Mean of sample SD Standard deviation of sample (n) SEM Standard error of mean Standard error of mean = SD √n RMSD d , t ha-1 Root Mean Square Difference algorithm (Laurila, 2001) C v % Coefficient of variation (%) = SD/X Ref. Reference genotype/cultivar/variety in field trials (Table 1) V p Phenotype variation (Eq. 1, Falconer & Mackay, 1996) V g Genotype variation (Eq. 1) V e Environmental variation (Eq. 1) cov ge Genotype x environmental covariance variation in broad sense (Eq. 1) Potential non-limited yield, yield potential kg ha-1, 15% moisture content Modeled maximum yield capacity and yield potential (kg ha-1) for a specific genotype without limiting environmental stress factors during growing season (vegetation water stress, nutrient deficiencies, pathogen epidemics etc.) Non- potential, limited yield kg ha-1, 15% moisture Modeled yield level (kg ha-1) for a specific genotype with limiting environmental stress factors during growing season reducing maximum yield capacity, see potential yield. y b kg ha-1, 15% moisture content Modeled baseline yield estimate for a cereal genotype growing under non-optimal field growing conditions. See potential and non-potential yield. ∆yb - Modeled baseline yield difference (%) between genotypes ∆y b(CO2,700ppm) %, change range (min. – max.) Change (%) on y b (baseline yield, kg ha-1) with doubled atmospheric CO 2 concentration (700 ppm , Carter 2004) ∆y b(∆T,+3°C) %, change range (min. – max.) Change (%) on y b (baseline yield, kg ha-1) with +3°C mean diurnal temperature change (Carter 2004) ∆y b(CO2,TempCov) %, change range (min. – max.) Covariance mean change (%) on y b (baseline yield, kg ha-1) with concurrent doubled atmospheric CO 2 concentration (700 ppm) and with +3°C mean diurnal temperature change (Carter 2004) C ValTot Cultivation total scoring value of a genotype in growing zones I-III C a Adaptation Value in Cultivation Value model C q Cultivation Quality in Cultivation Value model C C Cultivation Certainty in Cultivation Value model C b Baking Quality in Cultivation Value model HiL high-latitude genotype/ideotype (growing latitude > 60° N) MidE mid-European genotype/ideotype (growing latitude < 60° N) ItPrf (HiL,MidE) Donald’s ideotype profiles for generic HiL and MidE genotypes (Donald, 1968) Ref. Reference genotype/cultivar in the corresponding category in the statistical analysis or in the dynamic model. Dependent or response variable is scaled to relative base value in the category (1 or 100). r a, r b, .. r x [0.. 1.0] Correlation coefficients for independent variables, indirect effects in Path-model (Eq. 5, Table 6) p a, p b, .. p x [0.. 1.0] Path-coefficients for independent variables, direct effects in Path-model (Eq. 4) p v [0.. 1.0] Vegetation Path-coefficient (Table 7) p y [0.. 1.0] Yield Component Path-coefficient (Table 8) U Residual factor, the variance not explained by the Path coefficient model (Eq. 6). R2 [0.. 1.0] Coefficient of determination, R-square, total variance, explained by the Path-model (Eq. 7) Temperature degree [ C°] Mean diurnal temperature as calculated from minimum and maximum values ∆T degree [ C°] Mean diurnal temperature change T b degree [°] Threshold temperature dd degree days [°] [°] ETS(T b ) dd – degree days Cumulative temperature sum over threshold temperature (T b = 5 °) ppm Parts per million (CO 2 concentration) CO 2 ppm Atmospheric CO 2 concentration [ppm] PAR MJ/D m-2 [10-20] Photosynthetically Active Radiation (l=400-700 nm) RUE DW g *MJ–1 d–1 [PAR: 1.0-5.0, Glob. Rad. 0.5- 2.5] Radiation Use Efficiency: Dry matter (DM) increase/ absorbed PAR or global radiation A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C E H. Laurila et al. (2012) 21: 384–408 408 Table 10. Cont. CERES-Wheat Submodel Jones et al. (2003) Genetic coefficients Description, process or yield component affected Range Unit I Phenological development PHINT Phyllochron (plastochron) interval as leaf appearance rate. Measures the age of a plant dependent on morphological traits rather than on chronological age. <100 dd , °C d leaf−1 P1V Vernalization 0-9 - P1D Photoperiodism 1-5 - P5 Grain filling duration 1-5 - II Yield component G1 Grains/ear (GPP), Grains/m2 (GPSM) 1-5 - G2 1000-seed weight 1-5 - G3 Spike number, affects lateral tiller production (TPSM) 1-5 - A comparative ideotype, yield component and cultivation valueanalysis for spring wheat adaptation in Finland Introduction Materials and methods Data sources Modeling process and system analysis Soil type variation in the experimental sites Statistical analysis Mixed Structural Covariance analysis Correlation, PCA and Path analyses for High-latitude (HiL) vegetation and yieldcomponents Path analysis Wheat Cultivation value model CERES-Wheat dynamic crop model with calibrated genetic coefficients Results Variation in vegetation, leaf area and dry weight components Mixed contrast category results for baseline yield (yb) estimations Mixed and Cultivation value modeling results for generic HiL and MidE genotypeevaluation Generic HiL and MidE genotypes derived from the Mixed and Cultivation valueanalyses Path coefficient analysis results with yield (py) and vegetation (pv) components Vegetation Path-coefficient (pv) estimations and leaf area and dry weight variation Yield component Path-coefficient (py) estimations Ideotype profiles (ItPrf) for generic HiL and MidE spring wheat genotypes Discussion Spring wheat yield trends in Finland Optimum vegetation and yield components for high yielding wheat ideotypes Genotype×environmental (G×E) variation and covariances Source-sink variation and adaptation between ideotypes Implications from the ideotype profile analysis for generic HiL and MidE wheatgenotypes Implications for future adaptation strategies using high yielding spring wheatideotypes Conclusions Acknowledgments References Appendix 1