Changes in durum wheat root and aerial biomass caused by the introduction of the Rht-B1b dwarfing allele and their effects on yield formation

This study aimed to quantify the changes in root and aerial biomass of durum wheat brought about by the introduction of the Rht-B1b dwarfing allele and their effects on yield formation. A historical series of 24 Mediterranean cultivars with allelic variants a (tall) and b (semi-dwarf) at Rht-B1 locus was tested in tubes in three greenhouse experiments and six field experiments. The dwarfing allele reduced the aerial biomass of each plant at...