Winter Barley Cultivars Research Articles

Вплив абіотичних факторів на розвиток борошнистої роси на сортах ячменю озимого в умовах західного лісостепу України

Вплив абіотичних факторів на розвиток борошнистої роси на сортах ячменю озимого в умовах західного лісостепу України

Freezing tolerance and tolerance to de-acclimation of European accessions of winter and facultative barley

Due to global warming, winter hardiness may seem to become less important for plant survival and yield. However, this is a superficial assumption, as probably only the most important factors locally affecting plant overwintering will change. For example, the frequency, degree, and length of extreme winter warming events may increase, leading to de-acclimation of plants. This study aimed to investigate existing variability in de-acclimation tolerance in Polish winter barley breeding materials and European winter and facultative barley cultivars, and to identify accessions with the highest and the lowest tolerance to de-acclimation by means of visual estimation of regrowth after freezing, measurements of electrolyte leakage and chlorophyll fluorescence, and LT50 assessment. The results of this study showed that freezing tolerance and tolerance to de-acclimation are independent traits, and even highly freezing tolerant plants can be susceptible to de-acclimation. Our results highlight the role of photosynthetic apparatus in de-acclimation, proving that chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, especially ET0/CS, can be useful indicators of tolerance to de-acclimation. This study also confirmed that although the mechanisms of response to de-acclimation seem to be common for susceptible barley accessions, the mechanisms of tolerance are different, and may be related to the accession’s origin.

Immunological assessment of winter barley cultivars against leaf net blotch

Immunological assessment of winter barley varieties sown in the south of Russia in relation to leaf net blotch infestation for further use in agricultural production has been carried out. Barley net blotch is dominant in the pathologic complex of barley diseases worldwide. The pathophysiological processes of infection development depend on the type of resistance of the variety. Net blotch on resistant varieties is noted as small dark rounded spots. Infection often occurs as a result of mechanical damage to the leaf plate. The symptoms of net blotch disease on a susceptible variety have a characteristic reticulate pattern with pronounced necrosis and extensive chlorosis. One of the main ways to protect crops from the disease is the cultivation of resistant varieties. The study was conducted during the growing seasons of 2020–2022 on artificial infectious background in the sprouting phase phase of the vegetation experiment and in the adult plant on the natural infectious background in field conditions. 10 varieties of winter barley of domestic and foreign selection were selected. Immunological assessment in the sprouting phase revealed two varieties resistant to leaf net blotch, score: Vivat (1.7) and Kvant (1.6); the varieties Artel (3.8), Fox-1 (2.3) of domestic selection and Carioca (2.7) of foreign selection showed moderate resistance. Field moderate resistance was detected in four winter barley varieties, %: Vivat (18.3), Kvant (26.6), Marusya (19.9), Fox-1 (24.9). Immunological assessment of barley varieties recommended for sowing in the south of Russia is one of the main components in the strategy of increasing the efficiency of plant protection measures and improving the ecological component of crops.

Barley yield and malt quality affected by fall and spring planting under rainfed conditions.

As a result of the changing climate characteristics, it is necessary to reevaluate the planting time for crop plants. The aim of the present study was to determine the quality characteristics of malting barley cultivars in fall and spring plantings. Sixteen malting barley cultivars were used. Two fall-planted and two spring-planted trials were conducted in two consecutive years. The field trials were carried out in a randomized complete block design with four replications in Tokat province of Turkey under rainfed conditions. Grain yields varied between 4.38 and 5.71 t/ha in fall-planted trials and between 3.12 and 4.89 t/ha in spring-planted trials. Malt extracts were between 77.0% and 78.0% kg in fall-planted trials and between 73.9% and 76.9% in spring-planted trials. Alpha amylase activities ranged from 77.9 to 81.4 Ceralpha unit (CU)/g in fall-planted trials and from 80.8 to 100.9 CU/g in spring-planted trials. Diastatic power ranged from 194.5 to 331.1 Windisch-Kolbach unit (°WK) in fall-planted trials and from 129.0 to 259.8 °WK in spring-planted trials. GGE biplot analysis indicated that winter barley cultivar Durusu and facultative barley cultivar Ince-04 were the best with consistent grain yields while Ince-04 was the best with stable malt extract across the trials. In scatter plot graphics, winter barley cultivars Durusu, Aydanhanim, Yildiz and facultative Ince-04 had superior performance in fall-plantings for grain yield and malt extract. In spring planting, facultative Ince-04 had higher performance than those of other cultivars. In spring plantings, facultative or winter barley cultivars that do not have strong vernalization requirement had better yield and malt quality. Appropriate planting time and cultivars can allow a better use of available water in malt barley production under rainfed conditions. Lastly, instead of evaluating the grain yield or malt quality alone, it would be best to evaluate the target product (malt extract percentage) obtained from a particular region, process, or production methodology.

Optimal timing of fungicide application to manage Fusarium head blight in winter barley.

Fusarium head blight is among the chief threats to profitable barley production, and fungicide applications are one of two main strategies for reducing FHB damage to barley crops. However, there is very little published information on optimal timing of such applications. A four-year field study was conducted with winter barley in Raleigh, North Carolina, to compare three timings for fungicide application: 50% spike emergence (Zadoks growth stage or GS 55), 100% spike emergence (GS 59), and six days after GS 59. Three winter barley cultivars with varying levels of FHB resistance were grown for four successive years (2018-2021) in a split-plot experiment and inoculated each spring with Fusarium-infected corn spawn. Three fungicides were compared: propiconazole + pydiflumetofen (Miravis Ace), prothioconazole + tebuconazole (Prosaro), and metconazole (Caramba). Correlations among visual symptoms and assays of harvested grain were modest, and were weakened by fungicide applications. Across years and cultivars, deoxynivalenol (DON) and percent Fusarium-infected kernels were most reduced relative to the nontreated control by fungicide applications at the latest timing (GS 59 + 6 d). The early (GS 55) timing resulted in DON not significantly different from the nontreated control. Based on these results, it is recommended that to minimize damage from FHB, fungicide should be applied to winter barley several days after GS 59 (100% spike emergence), and not before GS 59.

Phenological, morphological and physiological drivers of cereal grain yield in Mediterranean agroforestry systems

Climate change will pose a major threat to food supply worldwide. Agroforestry has been proposed as an effective approach to minimize its effects on crops. However, to design sustainable and productive agroforestry systems, net responses of crops to trees need to be clarified, particularly in regions where competitive interactions will outweigh facilitative ones. The study of plant traits has become a useful approach to select best-adapted plants, yet the sensitivity of yield components to agroforestry and their relationship with plant traits needs investigation. In this experiment, we assess the phenological, morphological and physiological responses of shade-adapted cultivars of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), growing in an agroforestry system (AF) with walnut trees (Juglans x intermedia Mj209xRa), as compared to cereal monocrops (MC). Agroforestry reduced the light intercepted by crops by 58 %, buffered extreme temperatures at the crop canopy level and increased air relative humidity, advancing plant development for wheat and barley. Major tree effects on crops were observed after walnut budburst. Under trees, crops increased the relative water content (RWC), Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI) and P content of both wheat and barley leaves, increased Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of barley leaves, and reduced leaf mass area (LMA) in wheat and cell membrane damage in both species. In agroforestry, crops also reduced plant growth, leaf area (LA), leaf area index (LAI) and grain yield in both wheat and barley. Drivers of grain yield differed among agroforestry and open conditions in both species, showing for the first time that the selection of cereal cultivars for specific conditions could be based on plant traits, along with the shade tolerance, to establish successful agroforestry systems.

Pyrenophora teres: Population structure, virulence and aggressiveness in Southern Russia

The barley net blotch agent Pyrenophora teres (Died) Drechs. is one of the dominant fungal pathogens in agricultural crops worldwide. Here we aim to study the aggressiveness and virulence of P. teres populations collected at different ontogenesis stages (BBCH 30 and BBCH 47) from winter barley cultivars of various resistance types: moderately resistant, moderately susceptible and highly susceptible. We observed a direct proportional relationship between cultivar resistance and the aggressiveness of P. teres populations collected in both growth phases of the host plant. The isolates collected at an early stage of host plant development have a large difference in aggressiveness criteria: colony growth rate, sporulation intensity, latency period, plant damage degree, and the number of identified races. At the BBCH 30 growth stage, the growth rate of fungus colonies selected from a resistant cultivar is 1.2 times higher than that of a susceptible cultivar. The growth rate of colonies selected from resistant and susceptible cultivars in the earlier BBCH 30 stage is 1.04 times higher than the growth rate of colonies selected from the later phase. The sporulation intensity of fungal populations selected from a resistant cultivar is higher than that of populations selected from a susceptible cultivar (for BBCH 30–5.4 times, for BBCH 47–4.0 times); and it is 1.3 times higher in an earlier phase of plant development. Correlation between colony growth rate and spore formation rate in the BBCH 30 is r = 0.4. A high correlation level (r = 0.9) and notable difference between the variants were revealed when studying the duration of the latent period. The average value of plant damage by the P. teres from resistant cultivar is 4 times higher than from the susceptible cultivar in the BBCH 30 stage; and 12 times – in the BBCH 47 stage. There is a moderate negative correlation between the plant damage degree and the number of races identified from the fungal population, r = −0.59 for the BBCH 30, r = −0.8 for the BBCH 47. The number of races identified from P. teres populations collected in the late phase of plant growth was one third less. Our study helped to acquire new knowledge about intrapopulation processes under the influence of various factors – plant growth stage and cultivar genotype. The results obtained are the basis for the development of adaptive-integrated techniques for managing populations of the hemibiotrophic pathogen, barley net blotch.

Effects of phenological stages, growth and meteorological factor on the albedo of different crop cultivars

Albedo is a key component of the atmospheric, climatologic and remote sensing studies by means of global warming, energy balance, evapotranspiration, climate models, hydrological cycle etc. For these reasons, the accurate determination of surface albedo has become more important. In this study, the variation of measured albedo values of winter wheat, barley and sunflower cultivars according to phenological stages was investigated for the first time in the northwestern part of Turkey. Additonally, influences of leaf area index as growth indicator and rainfall as meteorological variable on albedo were also analyzed. The average albedo values of winter wheat, barley and sunflower in both growing periods varied from 0.176 to 0.190 for winter wheat, from 0.171 to 0.189 for sunflower and from 0.187 to 0.214 for barley cultivars. According to phenological stages, the minimum and maximum average albedo values were found for winter wheat as 0.121 between sowing and germination and 0.247 between stem formation and head emergence; for sunflower as 0.150 between sowing and germination and 0.212 between leaf initiation and immature bud; for barley as 0.144 sowing and germination and 0.261 between head emergence and flowering stages. Additionally, significant relationships were found between albedo and leaf area index for winter wheat, barley and sunflower as r2=0.87, r2=0.82 and r2=0.77, respectively.

Mutagenic effect of sodium azide on winter barley cultivars

Abstract. The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of the chemical mutagen sodium azide on winter barley cultivars Monika and Imeon for its efficient utilization in a mutation breeding program of winter barley. A preliminary study of the effect of concentrations of 1 mM, 2 mM, 3 mM, and 4 mM sodium azide on laboratory germination and shoot and root length was conducted. A significant decrease in laboratory germination, shoot, and root length was found in all applied mutagen concentrations. Based on the mean reduction in shoots and roots length 1 mM sodium azide was selected for induction of mutant populations. Analysis of variance showed that mutagenic treatment significantly affected all studied traits except the number of spikes per plant in the M1 generation. Genotype-treatment interaction had a significant influence on plant height, spike length, number of spikelets and grains per spike, grain weight per spike and per plant, and 1000-grain weight indicated that there was a genotype-specific response to the applied mutagen. Cultivar Imeon reacted with a higher reduction of yield-related traits compared to cultivar Monika in the M1 generation. The more sensitive to SA cultivar Imeon gave a higher frequency of chlorophyll mutations in M2 generation.

Evaluation of Winter Barley Cultivars for Resistance to Leaf Fungal Diseases and Yield in the Conditions of the Western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Currently, the issue of creating varieties with complex resistance to the most common diseases of winter barley, considering soil and climatic conditions, is extremely important. This is primarily conditioned upon the tasks of protecting the environment from pesticide pollution and contributes to a significant improvement in the sanitary situation. Important in this context is the search for and evaluation of samples with effective disease resistance genes to use them as parental components in crosses. The aim of this study was to identify varieties of winter barley with a high level of yield and resistance to leaf fungal diseases in the western region of Ukraine. The study was conducted using field (assessment of disease development in winter barley varieties), laboratory, analytical and mathematical and statistical methods. The results of research of winter barley variety samples in the competitive variety test for resistance to leaf fungal diseases are highlighted. Varieties with resistance to pathogens of dark brown spot Bipolaris sorokiniana Shoem – Zbruch, Shyrokolystyi, Liubomyr, Kormovyi, Dnister; and to the causative agents of rhinosporiosis Rhynchosporium graminicola Heinsen – Shyrokolystyi, Liubomyr, Kormovyi, Dnister, Babylon, Babylon x HE 0.05%. The highest grain yields on average in 2017–2019 among the studied varieties of winter barley were Zbruch, Obroshynsʹkyi x NE 0.05%, Dnister, Kormovyi, Shyrokolystyi, 3.63; 3.42; 3.33; 3.33, 3.25 t/ha. It was found that the most valuable are the varieties: Shyrokolystyi, Kormovyi, Dnister, which are characterised by a combination of high index of complex stability with productivity. The highest indicators of stress resistance were found in cultivars: Dnister (-0.07), Obroshynsʹkyi x NE 0.05% (-0.12), Liubomyr (-0.13). High genotypic plasticity was observed in the varieties: Zbruch (3.84), Obroshynskyi x NE 0.05% (3.62) and Dnister (3.51 t/ha). Further research will focus on the development of rhinosporiosis and dark brown spots of winter barley depending on environmental factors in the western region of Ukraine

Grain Morphometry Analysis of Romanian Winter Barley Cultivars Registered during 1959-2019 Period

Grain morphometry is presently among the main targets of modern barley breeding. Three yield trials with winter barley cultivars were performed in the 2018-2020 period at the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute Fundulea in order to analyze the weight of thousand grains and grain morphometry (grain length, grain width, grain area, grain circularity, grain length-width ratio, and factor form density) of six and two-row registered Romanian winter barley cultivars. Acquired image analysis of grains produced by 25 winter barley cultivars in three years with different grain filling conditions, showed that variation of climatic conditions significantly influenced the thousand grain weight (TGW), grain length (Gl), grain width (Gw), grain area (Ga), grain circularity (Gc), grain length-width ratio (L/W ratio) and factor form density (FFD). The barley cultivars were significantly different for all studied traits, which underlined a high level of diversity. All traits were on average different between six-row and two barley cultivars. TGW was highly correlated to Ga, Gw, and FFD. The PCA analysis revealed that PC1, PC2, and PC3 explain 99.1% of the amount of variation. Our paper provides extended information and the newest grain morphometry insight of an old, oldest, and modern barley germplasm released in three different breeding periods.

The impact of mineral nutrition on winter barley yields while using mustard as a precursor crop

The impact of mineral nutrition on winter barley yields while using mustard as a precursor crop

Reactions of Winter Wheat, Spring Wheat, and Barley Cultivars to Mechanical Inoculation with Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus

Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) causes sporadic epidemics in Montana, which can threaten profitability of the state’s small grains production. One challenge for WSMV management in Montana is that most commercially available wheat and barley cultivars are susceptible to WSMV or their performance under WSMV pressure is unknown. In a 3-year field study from 2017 to 2019 winter wheat, spring wheat, and barley cultivars were evaluated for their susceptibility to WSMV and yield performance under WSMV pressure. Plants were mechanically inoculated, and WSMV incidence was assessed using double antibody sandwich ELISA. There was effective resistance to WSMV in breeding line CO12D922, which had consistently low WSMV incidence, highlighting promising efforts in the development of WSMV-resistant winter wheat cultivars. Moderate WSMV incidence and minor yield losses were observed from WSMV infection of commercial winter wheat ‘Brawl CL Plus’ and Montana State University breeding line MTV1681. Spring wheat cultivars in this study had high WSMV incidence of up to 100% in ‘Duclair,’ ‘Egan,’ and ‘McNeal.’ High WSMV incidence was associated with severe yield losses as high as 85% for Duclair and ‘WB9879CLP’ in 2019, demonstrating a high degree of susceptibility to WSMV inoculation. Barley cultivars had considerably lower WSMV incidence compared with spring and winter wheat. Grain yield response to WSMV inoculation was variable between barley cultivars. The study provided an experimental basis for cultivar recommendations for high WSMV pressure environments and identified breeding lines and cultivars with potential resistance traits of interest to breeding programs that aim to develop WSMV-resistant cultivars.

Improving phenotyping in winter barley cultivars towards waterlogging tolerance by combining field trials under natural conditions with controlled growth condition experiments

Additional rainfall in Northern Europe due to global climate change is increasing the incidences of field flooding. Flooding causes hypoxic stress that results in a reduced capacity for photosynthesis, reduction in nutrient availability and uptake, increased production of toxic metabolites by anaerobic bacteria in the soil, and ultimately yield losses and crop death. To overcome hypoxic environmental conditions, new cultivars need to be bred and tested for waterlogging tolerance. We scored 403 winter barley cultivars from the ‘Association Genetics of UK Elite Barley’ (AGOUEB) population, taking advantage of the phenotypic changes associated with hypoxic stress. This enabled us to identify an initial set of waterlogging sensitive and tolerant cultivars. Comparative analysis of a subset of 65 cultivars exposed to waterlogging stress under field and growth cabinet environments showed variability in scores due to varying sensitivity to waterlogging over multi-season field trials. In field trials, we observed waterlogging damage resulting in reductions in biomass, grain yield and crop height. However, the effects varied between seasons and the severity of waterlogging due to differences in the topography of the field and the amount of rainfall. To overcome the seasonal variations in environmental conditions in multi-season field trials, we developed in parallel, an enhanced phenotyping method by complementing field experiments with phenotyping under controlled growth conditions. The phenotyping scoring method allows for the grouping of cultivars by sensitivity and tolerance to waterlogging, with limited variance between cultivars scored in the field and controlled conditions. Together, these two complementary approaches maximise the data available to breeders, allowing for the reliable selection of more tolerant cultivars able to grow under flooding conditions.

Targeted Knockout of Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4E Confers Bymovirus Resistance in Winter Barley.

The Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4E (EIF4E) is a well-known susceptibility factor for potyvirus infections in many plant species. The barley yellow mosaic virus disease, caused by the bymoviruses Barley yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV) and Barley mild mosaic virus (BaMMV), can lead to yield losses of up to 50% in winter barley. In autumn, the roots of young barley plants are infected by the soil-borne plasmodiophoraceous parasite Polymyxa graminis L. that serves as viral vector. Upon viral establishment and systemic spreading into the upper parts of the plants, yellow mosaics occur as first symptoms on leaves. In the further course of plant development, the disease entails leaf necrosis and increased susceptibility to frost damage. Thanks to the rym4 and rym5 allelic variants of the HvEIF4E gene, more than two thirds of current European winter barley cultivars are resistant to BaYMV and BaMMV. However, several strains of BaYMV and BaMMV have already overcome rym4- and rym5-mediated resistance. Accordingly, new resistance-conferring alleles are needed for barley breeding. Therefore, we performed targeted mutagenesis of the EIF4E gene by Cas9 endonuclease in BaMMV/BaYMV-susceptible winter barley cv. “Igri”. Small insertions were generated, resulting in a shift of the translational reading frame, thereby causing the loss-of-function of EIF4E. The mutations occurred in the homozygous state already in the primary mutants. Their progeny proved invariably homozygous and fully resistant to mechanical inoculation with BaMMV. EIF4E knockout plants showed normal growth habit and produced grains, yet exhibited a yield penalty.

Contribution of Winter Wheat and Barley Cultivars to Climate Change via Soil Respiration in Continental Croatia

Agricultural greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by the cultivation of cultivars with lower carbon footprint. Considering the hypothesis that there are differences in soil respiration, due to differences in physiological and morphological characteristics of wheat and barley, the aim of this study is an assessment of soil respiration rates and microclimate under different cover (bare soil, wheat, and barley) and cultivar (four barley and four wheat) types. Soil respiration was determined by in situ closed static-chamber method in continental Croatia, during the 2020/2021 season. The seasonal pattern of the soil respiration was similar for all cultivars, respiration was increasing with crop development stages until maturity, when it decreased until the harvest. Cover type did not have influence on soil microclimate but did have on soil respiration. Bare soil had significantly lower annual respiration rates, compared to the barley/wheat covers. Average annual respiration rates were similar between the barley and wheat covers, as well as between all studied barley cultivars. A significant difference between winter wheat cultivars have only been determined between the Renata (9.78 kg C-CO2 ha−1 day−1) and El Nino (12.67 kg C-CO2 ha−1 day−1) cultivars. However, the determination of the total carbon budget is needed, in order to determine the most suitable cultivar, in the light of climate change.

Greenbug resistance in barley landraces from Uzbekistan

Background. The greenbug (Sсhizaphis graminum Rondani) can significantly reduce the yield of barley and other cereals in the southern regions of Russia. Cultivation of resistant varieties can significantly limit the pathogen’s harmfulness. At the same time, specific interaction with the genotypes of the host plant, characteristic of S. graminum, requires a continuous search for new resistance donors to broaden the genetic diversity of barley cultivars. Materials and methods. The resistance of 178 accessions of barley landraces from Uzbekistan to the Krasnodar greenbug population was tested in laboratory experiments. Juvenile plants were infested with aphids of different ages, and when the susceptible control died (cv. ‘Belogorsky’), resistance was assessed on a 0 to 10 (plant death) rating scale. Plants with a damage rate of 1–4 points (up to 30% of the leaf surface being damaged) belonged to the resistant class; damage rate of 5–8 points indicated moderate resistance of plants, and that of 9–10 meant susceptibility. In addition, we assessed the aphid damage of the winter barley cultivar ‘Post’, protected by the previously identified resistance gene Rsg1.Results and conclusions. We identified 52 barley accessions as heterogeneous for the studied trait. In six accessions, plants with high (points 3 to 4) and moderate (5 to 8) resistance were identified; 6 accessions were differentiated into 3 phenotypic classes: resistant, moderately resistant, and susceptible; and in 40 accessions the manifestation of the resistance component varied within 5 to 7 points (from 31 to 60% of the leaf surface being damaged). The distinctly expressed resistance of 12 accessions is controlled by alleles of resistance genes that differ from Rsg1. After selection for resistance, the identified accessions can be used in breeding.

CO2 Responses of Winter Wheat, Barley and Oat Cultivars under Optimum and Limited Irrigation

Field crop production must adapt to the challenges generated by the negative consequences of climate change. Yield loss caused by abiotic stresses could be counterbalanced by increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration, but C3 plant species and varieties have significantly different reactions to CO2. To examine the responses of wheat, barley and oat varieties to CO2 enrichment in combination with simulated drought, a model experiment was conducted under controlled environmental conditions. The plants were grown in climate-controlled greenhouse chambers under ambient and enriched (700 ppm and 1000 ppm) CO2 concentrations. Water shortage was induced by discontinuing the irrigation at BBCH stages 21 and 55. Positive CO2 responses were determined in barley, but the CO2-sink ability was low in oats. Reactions of winter wheat to enriched CO2 concentration varied greatly in terms of the yield parameters (spike number and grain yield). The water uptake of all wheat cultivars decreased significantly; however at the same time, water-use efficiency improved under 1000 ppm CO2. Mv Ikva was not susceptible to CO2 fertilization, while no consequent CO2 reactions were observed for Mv Nádor and Mv Nemere. Positive CO2 responses were determined in Mv Kolompos.

Registration of ‘SB255’ winter barley

Abstract‘SB255’ (Reg. no. CV‐373, PI 693987) is a six‐rowed hulled barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivar with winter growth habit. The cultivar was released by the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station in May 2019. SB255 is widely adapted, high yielding, high grain volume weight, and medium tall. It has good winterhardiness and good straw strength. The spikes of SB255 are strap and slightly waxy with no overlapping lateral kernels and with long awns. Prior to being named, SB255 was tested under the experimental designation VA11B‐141 (LA). It was derived from the cross Spont03‐44/VA01B‐44 and developed using a modified‐bulk breeding method. It was evaluated from 2013 to 2019 in the Virginia Official Variety Trials at five to six locations. SB255's average grain yield (5,214 kg ha–1) was similar to the check cultivars ‘Secretariat’ and ‘Thoroughbred’ but significantly (P ≤ .05) higher than ‘Atlantic’, ‘Price’, ‘Callao’, ‘Nomini’, and ‘Wysor’. Average grain volume weight of SB255 (60.8 kg hL–1) was similar to Secretariat and Price but exceeded (P ≤ 0.05) those of Thoroughbred, Atlantic, Callao, Nomini, and Wysor. Head emergence of SB255 was similar to Thoroughbred and 2–5 d later than winter feed barley cultivars Secretariat, Atlantic, Price, Callao, and Nomini. SB255 was developed primarily as a feed barley cultivar. It provides barley producers and end users in the eastern United States with a high‐grain‐yielding cultivar having good to moderate resistance to all diseases prevalent in the eastern United States, including Fusarium head blight (FHB), and also lower deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation in the grain.

Reaction of winter wheat and barley cultivars to Fusarium pseudograminearum‐inoculated fields in the dryland Pacific Northwest, USA

AbstractFusarium crown rot (FCR) of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), caused by Fusarium pseudograminearm and Fusarium culmorum, is a yield‐limiting disease in arid wheat‐producing areas of the inland Pacific Northwest. Foliar fungicide applications and currently available seed treatments do not control FCR. Alternative crops that provide a rotational benefit to reduce disease are not economically feasible. Major‐gene resistance is unavailable, but there is preliminary evidence that some wheat and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars are more resistant than others. We followed up on preliminary work by growing 14 varieties of winter wheat, planted with in‐furrow FCR inoculum, in 2018 and 2019 in Morrow County, Oregon—one of the world's driest wheat producing regions. Two barley cultivars were added to the experiment during the second year of research. Evaluations of cultivar resistance were made by conducting aboveground visual assessments by counting whiteheads, prematurely senesced wheat heads that are indicative of FCR infection. Whitehead count information was correlated with yield and grain volume weight data. Maximum whitehead counts were measured in plots of the FCR‐susceptible check cultivar ‘Stephens’. There was no evidence of a cultivar‐specific relationship between whitehead count and corresponding values for yield and grain volume weight. There was limited evidence that some cultivars have the capacity to compensate for effects of disease.