Insights into progress of wheat breeding in arid and infertile areas of China in the last 14 years

•Breeding underpins approximate one-third of wheat yield gain in low-input areas.•Effective spike number and plant height confer wheat yield in low-input areas.•Breeding for high performance under low-input scenarios enhances yield stability.•Jinmai 47 is an elite parental material for wheat breeding in low-input areas.