Genotype × environment × management analysis to define allometric rules between leaves and stems in wheat.

This article focuses on characterizing allometric relationships governing the distribution of green area and above-ground biomass between leaves and stems in wheat (Triticum aestivum) during the vegetative phase, considering genotype × environment × management (G×E×M) interactions. Using a large, multi-year, multi-location dataset encompassing over 110 genotypes and diverse management practices from major wheat-producing countries, the study found that leaf and stem area are linearly related with a genotype-specific scaling coefficient influenced by incident radiation, while biomass allocation follows a power-law relationship sensitive to genotype and nitrogen fertilization. Leaf mass per area (LMA) varies primarily with phenology and environment, whereas stem mass per area (SMA) is affected by phenology and management. The validated allometric models enable estimation of unmeasured traits from partial data, offering practical applications for phenotyping and crop modeling across diverse G×E×M contexts.