Wheat is the world's second-most produced cereal crop and an essential ingredient for bread, pasta, pizza, beer, breakfast cereals and many other foods. South Dakota plays a key role in the nation’s overall wheat production, with over 60 million bushels produced in 2023 — worth roughly half a billion dollars.
SDSU researchers work to improve heat tolerance in wheat crops
Ideal temperatures for growing wheat, according to NASA, vary between 70 F and 75 F, but some varieties. When temperatures exceed 90 F, heat stress can cause significant yield loss. A team from South Dakota State University intends to address this issue by editing the genetic code of wheat varieties to make them more tolerant to heat stress.
