Current wheat yield and consumption is considered in the context of the historical development of wheat, from early domestication through to modern plant breeding, the Green Revolution and wheat’s place as one of the world’s most productive and important crops in the 21st Century. The need for further improvement in the yield potential of wheat in order to meet current and impending challenges is discussed, including rising consumption and the demand for grain for fuel as well as food. Research on the complex genetics underlying wheat yield is described, including the identification of quantitative trait loci and individual genes, and the prospects of biotechnology playing a role in wheat improvement in the future are discussed. The challenge of preparing wheat to meet the problems of drought, high temperature and increasing carbon dioxide concentration that are anticipated to come about as a result of climate change is also reviewed. Wheat yield must be increased while not compromising food safety, and the emerging problem of processing contaminants is reviewed, focussing in particular on acrylamide, a contaminant that forms from free asparagine and reducing sugars during high temperature cooking and processing. Wheat breeders are strongly encouraged to consider the contaminant issue when breeding for yield.

中文翻译：

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粮食安全：提高小麦产量的挑战和不损害食品安全的重要性

当前的小麦产量和消费是在小麦的历史发展背景下考虑的，从早期驯化到现代植物育种、绿色革命以及小麦作为 21 世纪世界上产量最高和最重要的作物之一的地位。讨论了进一步提高小麦产量潜力以应对当前和即将到来的挑战的必要性，包括不断增长的消费以及对燃料和粮食的谷物需求。阐述了影响小麦产量的复杂遗传学研究，包括数量性状位点和个体基因的鉴定，并讨论了未来生物技术在小麦改良中发挥作用的前景。准备小麦以应对干旱问题的挑战，还审查了预计由于气候变化而导致的高温和二氧化碳浓度增加。必须在不损害食品安全的情况下提高小麦产量，并审查了加工污染物的新问题，特别关注丙烯酰胺，这是一种在高温烹饪和加工过程中由游离天冬酰胺和还原糖形成的污染物。强烈鼓励小麦育种者在育种时考虑污染问题。在高温烹饪和加工过程中由游离天冬酰胺和还原糖形成的污染物。强烈鼓励小麦育种者在育种时考虑污染问题。在高温烹饪和加工过程中由游离天冬酰胺和还原糖形成的污染物。强烈鼓励小麦育种者在育种时考虑污染问题。