An evolutionary “arms race” for light and space drove the early domestication of wheat, according to new research that could provide new insights into crop design.
In a new study led by Dr. Yixiang Shan and Professor Colin Osborne, working with international research partners, scientists examined how wild plants responded to early human cultivation.
Their results suggest that the first farming systems rewarded plants that could aggressively outcompete others for light and space.
Early farming selected aggressive traits
According to results published in Current Biology, the introduction of organized planting created an intense environment where plants had to compete directly for resources. Over roughly 1,000 to 2,000 years, this pressure favored individuals that could outcompete neighboring plants, giving rise to what the researchers describe as “warrior” traits in early domesticated varieties.
Evidence from the study shows that early domesticated wheat was significantly more effective at competing for light and space than wild wheat. These advantages came from distinct structural traits, including larger leaves that grew more upright and a stronger ability to sustain upward growth even when surrounded by dense vegetation.
Leaf structure drives competitive advantage
Using a functional-structural plant (FSP) model, the study examined how different plant traits influenced growth outcomes. The analysis revealed that leaf angle played a central role. Plants with more vertical leaves were better able to rise above their neighbors, capture sunlight, and limit the light available to competing plants below.
“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.” Professor Colin Osborne
Modern breeding reverses early evolution
The study also highlights a major shift in more recent agricultural history. While early domestication promoted aggressive competition, modern breeding has moved in the opposite direction. Today’s “elite” durum wheat varieties are less competitive, reflecting the needs of highly managed farming systems.
In modern agriculture, where fertilizers and herbicides control resource availability, plants no longer need to compete as aggressively. Instead, breeders have selected for traits such as shorter stems and smaller leaves, allowing plants to direct more energy into producing grain rather than competing for space.
Overall, the findings suggest that characteristics once critical for the success of early crops are no longer beneficial under current farming conditions. This transition shows how changes in agricultural practices, from early cultivation to industrial farming, have reshaped both the physical structure and growth behavior of one of the world’s most important staple crops.
Reference: “Evolution of competitiveness during wheat domestication” by Yixiang Shan, Alicia Gómez-Fernández, Jochem Evers, Robert P. Freckleton, Glynis E.M. Jones, Ruben Milla and Colin P. Osborne, 19 February 2026, Current Biology.
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2026.01.061
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