HMN 2026: How early farming unintentionally bred highly competitive ‘warrior’ wheat

An evolutionary “arms race” for light and space led to the early domestication of wheat, according to new research that could offer fresh insights into crop design. The study led by Dr. Yixiang Shan and Professor Colin Osborne, in collaboration with the Autonomous University of Madrid and King Juan Carlos University and Wageningen University, examined how wild plants adapted to human exploitation, finding that early cultivation selected for plants with a significantly stronger competitive ability than their wild ancestors.

Published in Current Biology, the findings show that the act of planting seeds in managed fields created a high-stakes environment. Over a period of 1,000 to 2,000 years, this process favored plants that could outmaneuver their neighbors, leading to the development of “warrior” phenotypes in ancient landraces.

The research shows that early domesticated wheats were much stronger competitors for light and space in the field than wild varieties. This competitive edge was achieved through specific physical adaptations: larger, more upright leaves and a greater ability to maintain shoot growth even when crowded by other plants.

By using a functional-structural plant (FSP) model to simulate growth, the researchers identified that steeper leaf angles were the most influential trait. These upright leaves allowed domesticated plants to overtop their neighbors during the vegetative stage, capturing more sunlight and shading out rivals.

“While evolution has favored strong competitors, modern farming packs crops tightly into fields for high yields. This practice needs crops that are able to cooperate not compete, and has meant modern breeders needed to reverse the unhelpful effects of evolution,” says Professor Colin Osborne.

However, the research also reveals a stark reversal in this evolutionary trend during the modern era. While ancient landraces were bred for aggression, modern “elite” durum wheats produced by selective breeding programs have become less competitive. In contemporary farming, where herbicides and fertilizers are used to manage resources, breeders have favored varieties with smaller leaves and shorter stems to ensure energy is directed toward grain production rather than fighting for space.

The findings indicate that the traits responsible for the success of wheat during early human history are often unsuitable for conventional modern agriculture. This shift highlights how the specific environment of the field—and the transition from ancient cultivation to modern industrial farming—has fundamentally reshaped the architecture and behavior of one of the world’s most important food crops.

The content is provided for information purposes only.