The Roles of Exotic Wheat Germplasms in Wheat Breeding and Their Impacts on Wheat Production in China

Wheat is the second most important food crop in China. Its yield has increased significant due to modern breeding program since early 1980s. This study examines the contribution of exotic wheat germplasm to wheat varieties and production in China. Using a unique dataset on major wheat varieties adopted by farmers and their pedigree in 17 major wheat production provinces in the past three decades, the results show that exotic germplasm from CIMMYT and other countries as a whole made a significant part of wheat varieties in China. Compared with the varieties with only Chinese germplasm that have increased by 111% in 1982-2014, varieties with exotic germplasm normally had higher yield, particularly for those with both local and exotic germplasm. The econometric analysis further confirms that, compared with the varieties with Chinese germplasm only, the varieties with exotic germplasm have contributed higher yield. While additional increase in wheat yield from CIMMYT and other countries germplasm were 2% and 0.2%, respectively, in 1982-2014, their contributions to average annual actual yield were 63 kg/ha from CIMMYT and 323 kg/ha from other countries in past three decades. The paper concludes with policy implications for plant breeding and policy makers in China. Acknowledgement : This research was supported by a grant from the CGIAR Research Program on Wheat (A4031.09.25), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (71333013 and 71303228), and National Platform for Sharing S&T Resources -- Crop Germplasm Resource (NICGR2017-97).