Spring Bread Wheat Research Articles

Breeding adult plant resistance to stripe rust in spring bread wheat germplasm adapted to Sichuan Province of China

Sichuan is an important wheat producing province of China where severe stripe rust epidemics occur annually. Developing high-yielding wheat varieties with good and stable stripe rust resistance is a foremost breeding objective of all breeding programs. Because minor gene based adult-plant resistance (APR) is considered durable, a shuttle breeding program between Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SAAS) and CIMMYT was initiated in 2000 to transfer APR identified in CIMMYT wheats to wheat germplasm adapted in Sichuan. During 2007–2009, a total of 669 advanced generation lines obtained from this shuttle breeding effort were provided to the Plant Protection Research Institute, SAAS for official multi-environment stripe rust tests, and 231 elite lines were characterized for yield performance by the agronomists at the Crop Research Institute, SAAS. Between 11–39% lines were highly resistant depending on the year of testing and 17 (7.3%) lines had 5% or higher yields than the check mean. The adapted resistant lines are being used by various breeding programs to enhance resistance diversity, and three lines are being tested in National or Provincial Yield Trials for possible releases.

Indirect selection for grain yield in spring bread wheat in diverse nurseries worldwide using parameters locally determined in north-west Mexico

SUMMARYThe relationships of normalized water index three (NWI-3) and canopy temperature (CT) with grain yield in north-west Mexico were determined in a set of wheat lines planted in multi-location yield trials. Advanced wheat lines developed by The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) were included and tested internationally in the trials including the 24th Elite Spring Wheat Yield Trial (ESWYT), the 11th Semi-Arid Wheat Yield Trial (SAWYT) and the 11th High Temperature Wheat Yield Trial (HTWYT). In north-west Mexico, NWI-3, CT and grain yield were determined in three growing seasons (2006, 2007 and 2008) and three environments (well irrigated, water-stressed and high-temperature), while grain yield was measured at international locations in the same advanced lines of the 24th ESWYT, the 11th SAWYT and the 11th HTWYT . The CIMMYT database was used to obtain grain yield from worldwide nurseries. The mean grain yield ranged from 0·8 to 12·7 t/ha for the 24th ESWYT (59 international sites), from 0·6 to 8·2 t/ha for the 11th SAWYT (28 international sites) and from 0·4 to 7·5 t/ha for the 11th HTWYT (26 international sites). NWI-3 and CT for the advanced lines in the three yield trials measured in north-west Mexico in distinct environments showed significant associations with the grain yield from a few international locations (0·12–0·23 of sites). Locations from Central Asia and North Africa had the best associations with NWI-3 and CT. The lack of more associations may be due to either an interaction of other factors (low rainfall and limited irrigations), which affected yield performance, or few of the advanced lines were well adapted to local growing conditions at each testing site, or a combination of these factors. The present results indicate that NWI-3 and CT have limited potential to predict yield performance at international sites.

Millán-INIA, New Variety of High Quality Early Spring Bread Wheat for Irrigated Soils in Central-Southern Chile

Millan-INIA is a variety of spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) originating from a cross carried out in the Wheat Plant Breeding Project of the Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), in the Centro Regional de Investigacion Quilamapu in 1995. This is a spring wheat variety with an early to medium-early head emergence and upright growth habit in the seedling stage. The adult plant is low to medium height and varies between 75 and 90 cm, with a mean of 85 cm. The spike is white with long awns along its full length. The grain is large-sized, white, and vitreous. The weight of 1000 grains varies between 50 and 59 g. It was sown in mid-August at the Santa Rosa Experimental Station (36°31? S; 71°54? W), Chillan. Head emergence occurred 88 to 89 d after sowing, which is 2 to 3 d after Ciko-INIA. On average, Millan-INIA reached a yield similar to that of the var. Ciko-INIA. This line stands out for its good resistance to disease, high protein content (11.5% mean), high sedimentation value, and high W value.

Kipa-INIA, new high yield spring bread wheat variety for Chile

Kipa-INIA is a spring wheat variety (Triticum aestivum L.) originated from a cross carried out in the Wheat Plant Breeding Project of the Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), in the Centro Regional de Investigacion Quilamapu (36°31’ S; 71°54’ W) in 1993. It has an upright growth habit in the seedling stage. The adult plant is low to medium height and varies between 90 and 95 cm. The spike is white with long awns along its full length. The grain is ovate, white, and vitreous. It was sown in mid-August in the Santa Rosa Experimental Field, Chillan, head emergence occurred 90 to 95 d after sowing, i.e. is 4 to 6 d before ‘Domo-INIA’. On the mean, ‘Kipa-INIA’ sown under irrigation conditions reached a yield of 11.7% higher than the control var. Domo-INIA, and 18.1% higher in dryland soils.

English

  This study was aimed at evaluating some morpho-physiological parameters such as stomatal conductance (gs), canopy temperature (CT), canopy temperature depression (CTD) and stay green duration (SGD) in terms of heat tolerance. For this purpose, trials designed according to randomized complete blocks were conducted with twenty-four spring bread wheat genotypes as three replicated in the Research and Application Area of Field Crops Department of Agricultural Faculty of Cukurova University in 2002 to 2003 and 2003 to 2004 growth seasons. The measurements of gs were made at two different dates at heading stage in 2003 to 2004 growth season. CT was measured at two growth stages (late milky and soft dough) in 2002 to 2003 (first) season and it was also measured at two different hours at the complete heading stage in 2003 to 2004 (second) season. CTD was measured at two different hours at the complete heading stage in the second season. The other morpho- physiological parameter was SGD, which was determined in the first growth season. As a result:  (1) The high gs values were observed at both measuring dates even though there was no significant differences among the genotypes; (2) CT showed significant differences except T2 measurement in 2003 to 2004  season, yet  significant negative correlations were found between CT and grain yield (GY) in 2003 to 2004 season and in general mean; (3) Despite not being significant differences among the genotypes, a strong positive correlation was found between CTD and GY; (4) In spite of the fact that genotypes did not  show any statistical differences, it was found that SGD had a negative significant correlation with CT but positive non-significant correlation with GY. It is concluded from assessments of all physiological traits that such genotypes as Kauz/Altar 84//Ads, Varona Cno 79, Mon’s’/Ald’s’//Bow’s’ and WL6718 can be high yielding even if under heat stressed conditions, and can be used as gene pool in wheat breeding programs for tolerance to heat stress.   Key words: Spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), canopy temperature, stomatal conductance, stay green, heat stress tolerance.

Evaluation of a set of introgressive spring bread wheat lines developed for resistance to stem rust race Ug99 + Sr24 (TTKST) at the Southeast Agricultural Research Institute

Under conditions of a natural stem rust epiphytotic caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici race Ug99 + Sr24 (TTKST), a set of introgressive spring bread wheat lines developed at the Southeast Agricultural Research Institute was evaluated at KARI’s international stem rust screening nursery (Kenya). New sources of resistance to the pathogen and effective resistance genes have been revealed.

Genetic analysis of preharvest sprouting tolerance in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Thell.)

Rains during grain ripening in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) can cause preharvest sprouting (PHS), which drastically affects the grain yield and the baking quality of flour. In the present study, to screen 7 cultivars and 4 lines of spring bread wheat for PHS, germination tests were conducted with seeds obtained from wet spikes harvested immediately after natural rainfall. Germination tests were carried out as 3 different treatments: 1) seeds immediately germinated after hand-threshing on sampling day (T_1), 2) seeds germinated 1 week later after hand-threshing (T_2), and 3) 10 intact spikes kept on paper under laboratory conditions at room temperature, hand threshed and then put to germinate 7 days later (T_3). Red-grained cultivars Sagitario and Pandas, red-grained line F6 0314.76/Mrl, and white-grained cultivar Sunlin showed the higher PHS tolerance, while other wheat cultivars and lines were found to be susceptible to PHS under all treatment conditions. To evaluate the mode of inheritance and combining ability of PHS tolerance, a diallel cross was made between 3 white-grained (susceptible) and 2 red-grained wheat (resistant) cultivars. Analysis of variance for combining ability showed the predominance of an additive gene effect for PHS tolerance, as the variance of the general combining ability was higher than the specific combining ability for both percent germination and germination index. Pandas and Sagitario showed positive contributions toward increasing PHS tolerance in the F_1 progenies. Results presented in this study will provide useful information for wheat breeders about PHS tolerance or dormancy level in commonly grown wheat cultivars in the Mediterranean region of Turkey, and help them in the development of white wheat cultivars with an inherently higher sprouting tolerance.

Ecophysiological determinants of biomass and grain yield of wheat under P deficiency

Grain yield of crops can be expressed as a function of the intercepted radiation, the radiation use efficiency and the partitioning of above-ground biomass to grain yield (harvest index). When a wheat crop is grown under P deficiency the grain yield is reduced but it is not clear how these three components are affected. Our aim was (i) to identify which of these components were affected in spring bread wheat under P deficiency at field conditions and (ii) to relate the grain yield responses to processes of grain yield formation during the spike growth period. Three field experiments were conducted in the potentially high wheat yielding environment of southern Chile. All experiments had two levels of P availability: with (155 kg P ha −1) or without P fertilization (average soil P-Olsen concentration of 10 ppm, a medium level of P availability). High wheat grain yields were obtained varying between 815 and 1222 g m −2 with P applications. Experiments showed a grain yield reduction caused by P deficiencies of 35, 16 and 18% in experiments 1, 2 and 3, respectively. This was related ( R 2 = 0.99, P < 0.01) to a reduction in the total above-ground biomass at harvest and not to the harvest index. Reductions in above-ground biomass were due to a reduction in radiation intercepted under P deficiency without effecting radiation use efficiency. Grain number per square meter was the main yield component ( R 2 = 0.99, P < 0.01) that explained the grain yield reduction caused by the P deficiency which was due to low spike biomass at anthesis ( R 2 = 0.96, P < 0.05). The reduction in spike biomass at anthesis was related ( R 2 = 0.86, P < 0.01) to reductions in crop growth rate during the spike growth period as a consequence of a lower radiation intercepted during this period. This study showed that under high wheat yield conditions the main effect of a P deficiency on grain yield reduction was a negative impact on the total above-ground biomass due to the negative impact on intercepted radiation, particularly during the spike growth period, affecting negatively spike biomass at anthesis and consequently grain number and yield.

Heat and drought resistances criteria in spring bread wheat: Drought resistance parameters

Some spring bread wheat genotypes were evaluated for drought resistance using drought tolerance efficiency (DTE) and drought susceptibility index (DSI) under rainfed conditions in this study. Field trials were conducted in the Research Area of Field Crops Department, Agricultural Faculty, Cukurova University during 2002 - 2003 with high rainfall and 2003 - 2004 with low rainfall growth seasons. High variations were observed for drought resistance parameters both DTE and DSI in this study. While DTE values ranged from 65 - 98%, DSI values changed 0.077 - 1.761. The genotypes with high DTE and low DSI were evaluated as drought resistant; meanwhile, genotypes with low DTE and high DSI were considered as drought susceptible. Thus, genotypes Croc 1/Aegilops squarrosa, Genc 99, Weawer/WL 3926, Oasis/Kauz//*4 Bcn, and Punjab 96 with the lowest DSI and the highest DTE values were accepted drought resistant genotypes which may be used as the genetic sources for drought resistance. Key words: Drought tolerance efficiency, drought susceptibility index.

Tocols of selected spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), einkorn wheat ( Triticum monococcum L.) and wild emmer ( Triticum dicoccum Schuebl [Schrank]) varieties

Wheat contributes significantly worldwide to antioxidant income with beneficial healthy effects. Two varieties of einkorn wheat ( Triticum monococcum L. – Escana and Schwedisches Einkorn), two varieties of wild emmer [ Triticum dicoccum Schuebl (Schrank)] (Rudico and Kahler Emmer) and three varieties of spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. – Granny, Kärtner Früher and SW Kadrilj) were evaluated for tocols – tocopherols and tocotrienols by high performance liquid chromatography – electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–ESI/MS/MS). Investigated emmer and einkorn wheat varieties have shown minor lower total tocols content in comparison with spring varieties, however significant typical levels of tocopherols and tocotrienols were found in these groups. In einkorn wheat varieties the major abundance of total tocols is represented by tocotrienols (Schwedisches Einkorn 65.0%, Escana 54.9%), in emmer wheat varieties the abundance of tocotrienols and tocopherols were similar (Rudico 48.9% of tocotrienols, Kahler Emmer 47.6%), whereas in spring bread wheat higher tocopherols (SW Kadrilj 54.5%, Kärtner Früher 60.2%, Granny 55.0%) were recorded.

Competitive ability of Ethiopian spring bread wheat cultivars with &lt;i&gt;Avena fatua L.&lt;/i&gt;

Competitive interactions of four spring bread wheat cultivars ( Triticum aestivum L.) with four wild oat ( Avena fatua L.) seedling densities were assessed in field studies in southeastern Ethiopia during three cropping seasons (1991-93). Grain yield of wheat was linearly proportional to the seedling density of wild oats, but yield reductions at the maximum density of 90 weed seedlings m-2 ranged from 26 to 63% across the wheat cultivars. The semidwarf cultivar Dashen was the most sensitive to wild oat competition, while the intermediate height cultivar Enkoy was the least affected. Wheat cultivars varied markedly in their ability to suppress A. fatua tillering and seed production, differentially affecting wild oat seed and straw yield, panicle production, seed number panicle-1, and thousand kernel weight. Given the limited access of Ethiopian peasant farmers to grass herbicides, wheat breeders should be encouraged to exploit such variability, and develop germplasm with a greater inherent ability to compete with wild oats.

Yield stability analysis of nine spring bread wheat genotypes in the central highlands of Ethiopia

Eight promising bread wheat lines and one standard check cultivars were evaluated for grain yield performance, stability and adaptation across nine environments of the central highlands of Ethiopia. Results of the combined analysis of variance for grain yield showed highly significant effects of genotypes, environments, and genotype by environment interaction. The mean grain yields for individual lines ranged from 3249 to 4762 Kh ha-1. When the genotypic grain yields were subjected to stability analysis against an environmental index, the regression coefficients for individual lines ranged from 0.406 to 1.451. Among the lines tested, HAR 1696 and Enkoy were the two most stable genotypes across all environments, while two of the four highest yielding lines, HAR 1349 and HAR 1709, appeared to be specifically adapted to favorable growing conditions. The test line HAR 1685 exhibited superior yield performance across all environments, and was recommended for release in 1994 for commercial production in Ethiopia.

Plasticity and stability of spring wheat varieties and breeding forms according to grain productivity and quality

The plasticity and stability of 28 spring bread wheat varieties and breeding forms with respect to grain weight per spike, plant, and unit area, grain harvest index, grain vitreousness, sedimentation index, falling number, and dough-forming ability are shown.

Assessing drought tolerance and regional patterns of genetic diversity among spring and winter bread wheat using simple sequence repeats and phenotypic data

This study was conducted to assess drought tolerance and regional-based patterns of diversity of bread wheat accessions and to identify new sources of diversity that could accelerate the development of improved wheat varieties better suited to meeting the challenges posed by changing climate in Southern and Eastern Europe. For this, genetic diversity assessed by simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers was compared with diversity evaluated using 19 phenotypic traits averaged over irrigated and drought-stress field conditions. Thirty-six SSR were used to profile 96 wheat genotypes from the collection of genetic resources at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia. A total of 46 loci and 366 alleles were detected, with a range of 3–21 alleles per locus. The polymorphic information content was estimated to be 0.61. The genetic distance for all possible 4560 pairs of genotypes ranged from 0.06 to 0.91 with an average of 0.65. Genotypes were grouped according to their drought tolerance (high, medium, low) and region of origin. Analysis of molecular variance showed that over 96% of the total variation could be explained by the variance within the drought tolerance and geographical groups. As a whole, genetic diversity among the high drought tolerance genotypes was considerably higher than that among low drought tolerance genotypes. Comparative analysis of SSR diversity among six regional groups revealed that the genotypes from North America exhibited more genetic diversity than those from other regions. Two dendrograms were constructed based on phenotypic and molecular analyses using the Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean method and were found to be topologically different. Genotypes characterised as highly drought tolerant were distributed among all SSR-based cluster groups. This implied that the genetic basis of drought tolerance in these genotypes was different, thereby enabling wheat breeders to combine these diverse sources of genetic variability to improve drought tolerance in their breeding programs.

English

&nbsp; Isolated microspores of many plants can be induced&nbsp;in vitro&nbsp;to switch their developmental process from the gametophytic to a sporophytic pathway under appropriate conditions and produce haploid plants. This research reports the effects of cold pretreatment with or without either mannitol or chemical + heat and 5 embryo induction media (NPB-99, C17, W14, CHB-2 and P2) on embryo production, percentage of total and green plant regeneration in isolated microspore culture of an Iranian spring bread wheat cultivar (Falat). The results showed that combination of 21 days cold (4&deg;C) with mannitol (0.3 M) produced the highest number of embryos/spike while the combination of cold with chemical + heat produced the lowest number. In the case of total and green plant regeneration, &quot;7 days cold + mannitol&quot; was more superior than other pretreatments. NPB-99, W14 and C17 media produced the highest number of embryos/spike, while CHB-2 medium appeared to be a better medium for green plant regeneration. &nbsp; Key words:&nbsp;Hexaploid wheat, haploid, isolated microspore culture, pretreatment, embryo induction medium, cultivar &ldquo;Falat&rdquo;.

Phenotypic correlations, G × E interactions and broad sense heritability analysis of grain and flour quality characteristics in high latitude spring bread wheats from Kazakhstan and Siberia

Grain and flour samples of 42 high latitude spring bread wheat genotypes from Kazakhstan and Siberia evaluated in a multi-location trial were analyzed for grain concentrations of protein, zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe), as well as flour quality characteristics. The genotypes showed high grain protein concentrations (14–19%), but low dough strength was a common feature for most of them. Significant positive correlations were found between grain protein and flour protein, gluten, gliadin, gli/glu ratio, Zn, and Fe contents. Grain protein was also correlated positively with hardness, sedimentation, farinograph dough development time (DDT), stability time and ash content. Grain Fe concentration was positively associated with sedimentation, stability time, water absorption and valorimeter value, suggesting that improvements in micronutrient concentrations in the grain parallels enhancement in gluten strength. Interestingly, glutenin content correlated negatively with the concentrations of grain and flour protein, gluten, and minerals; and also with gluten deformation index (IDK), DDT, and stability time. Conversely, gliadin content showed strong positive correlations with the concentrations of grain and flour protein, gluten, and minerals. Gliadin also correlated positively, but in lesser magnitude, with DDT, stability time and IDK. Environment and G×E interaction were important sources of variation for some quality characteristics. This was reflected in the low broad sense heritability (H) values for traits related to flour strength, such as sedimentation, IDK, stability time and gliadin content. Breeding strategies, including three testing locations at the advanced selection stages, are adequate for the enhancement of most of the quality traits, but faster improvement in flour strength could be achieved with a larger number of locations.

Genetic diversity of local spring bread wheats (Triticum aestivum L.) of West and East Siberia in gliadin genes

A considerable polymorphism in gliadin genes was detected in the local wheats of West Siberia (Altai krai, Omsk oblast, and Kurgan oblast) and the local cultivars characteristic of several East Siberian regions (Krasnoyarsk krai, Irkutsk oblast, Tuva, and Yakutia), and the genetic formulas were determined. The common alleles characteristic of the wheats of both regions were detected, namely, Gli-A1f, Gli-A1j, Gli-A1i, Gli-A1m, Gli-B1e, Gli-B1m, Gli-D1a, Gli-A2q, Gli-A2k, Gli-A2u, Gli-D2a, and Gli-D2q, as well as 14 novel alleles unknown earlier. It was demonstrated that several genotypes had formed in Siberia. Of them, the genotypes Gli-Alf_Gli-Ble_Gli-D1a and Gli-Alj_Gli-Ble_Gli-D1a occur both in West and East Siberia, whereas the genotypes Gli-Ali Gli-Blm Gli-D1a Gli-A2new10, Gli-A1m_Gli-B1b_Gli-D1a_Gli-A2f, and Gli-A1m_Gli-B1m_Gli-D1a_Gli-A2u are found only in East Siberia.

Role of rhizosphere mechanisms in Cd uptake by various wheat cultivars

In each wheat type, cultivars have different propensities to accumulate Cd in their grains, likely depending on Cd uptake by roots and/or Cd distribution in the plant. This study investigates the processes in the root–soil interface and their role in high or low grain Cd accumulation. Twenty-four cultivars of spring bread, winter bread, durum, and spelt wheat with different grain Cd accumulation levels were investigated regarding removal of Cd from soil, pH, Cd and organic acids in root exudates, and cation-exchange capacity of roots (rootCEC). In addition, we investigated 109Cd uptake from a nutrient solution resembling soil solution. The removal of Cd from the rhizosphere soil increased, likely due to increased rootCEC with increased grain Cd accumulation propensity, except in spring bread wheat. The 109Cd uptake from solution did not differ between high and low grain Cd accumulators. If the soil Cd concentration was elevated, rootCEC increased, as did pH, and succinic acid levels in the exudates, while lactic and citric acid levels in root exudates decreased. This work indicates that high grain Cd accumulators take up more Cd from soil than do low accumulators. But not by a different capacity to take up Cd from soil solution. The higher rootCEC in high accumulating cultivars may influence the release of Cd from the soil particles.

Characteristics of the formation of the leaf surface in spring wheat varieties having a different ecogeographic origin in the forest steppe of the Orenburg cis-Ural region

The effect of contrasting moisture conditions on the dynamics of formation of the leaf surface in spring bread wheat having a different ecogeographic origin in the forest steppe of the Orenburg cis-Ural region has been revealed. It has been established that the leaf apparatus of varieties of the North Russian forest ecological group is subjected more strongly to the negative effect of drought conditions, and varieties of the West Siberian forest steppe and Volga steppe and forest steppe ecological groups are more resistant to a moisture deficit. The results of the investigation can be used in breeding for creating wheat varieties for the forest steppe conditions of the Southern Urals.

A review of wheat cultivars grown in the Canadian prairies

Wheat is Canada's largest crop with most of the production in the western Canadian prairie provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Since wheat production started in western Canada, over 100 yr ago, market classes of hexaploid spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were the dominant type of wheat, although production of durum wheat [Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum (Desf.) Husn.)] has grown significantly over this period, and hexaploid winter wheat was grown on a relatively small portion of the wheat area. Within hexaploid wheat there has been diversification into a number of market classes based on different end-use quality criteria. The predominant spring bread wheat class has been the Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) class. A few cultivars were grown extensively over a long period of time, such as the CWRS wheat Thatcher, which was the dominant cultivar from 1939 to 1968, and Kyle, which was the leading Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) cultivar from 1988 to 2004. Other cultivars dominated particular wheat classes for many years such as Glenlea, Canada Western Extra Strong (CWES) spring wheat and Norstar, Canada Western Red Winter (CWRW) wheat. The reasons for newer cultivars replacing older cultivars include improvements in grain yield, resistance to stem rust (Puccinia graminis Pers.:Pers. f. sp. tritici Eriks. &amp; E. Henn.), leaf rust (Puccinia triticina Eriks.), and other diseases, resistance to wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus Nort.), enhanced end-use quality, and other agronomic characteristics such as lodging resistance. Cultivars with improved pest resistance were often rapidly adopted, such as Thatcher and Selkirk, in response to the stem rust epidemics in the 1930s and 1950s, and Rescue and Lillian in response to wheat stem sawfly epidemics in the 1940s and 2000s. Improved grain yield led to the rapid increase of many cultivars including Marquis in the 1910s and 1920s, Neepawa, Wascana and Wakooma in the 1970s, AC Barrie in the 1990s, and Superb in the 2000s. Increased breeding efforts recently have led to many more highly adapted cultivars and subsequently more diverse wheat production. Wheat classes and cultivars in the prairies continue to improve and diversify to meet the challenges of the marketplace and the production concerns of wheat growers. Key words: Rust, fusarium head blight, cereal quality, protein