North Central Region Canola Research Program

NORTH CENTRAL REGION CANOLA RESEARCH PROGRAM

Sponsoring Institution

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Project Status

COMPLETE

Funding Source

OTHER GRANTS

Reporting Frequency

Annual

Accession No.

1007143

Grant No.

2015-38624-24214

Cumulative Award Amt.

$390,500.00

Proposal No.

2015-06551

Multistate No.

(N/A)

Project Start Date

Sep 1, 2015

Project End Date

Aug 31, 2019

Grant Year

2016

Program Code

[HW]- Supplemental and Alternative Crops

Recipient Organization
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV
1310 BOLLEY DR
FARGO,ND 58105-5750

Performing Department
North Central Research Center

Non Technical Summary
The North Central Canola Research Program (NCCRP) is a multi-state effort to enhance canola production in order to meet market demand. Canola's unique oil characteristics qualify it as the healthiest cooking oil on the market today. In 2006, the U.S. FDA ruled that canola oil is eligible to bear a qualified health claim based on its ability to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Also, canola is in demand for making biodiesel due to its high oil content, cold-flow characteristics, low saturated fat, and low iodine values (Canola Council of Canada).As part of the National Canola Research Program, a federally funded, multistate, coordinated effort, the NCCRP provides a framework for canola research and outreach activities for the states of North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The NCCRP provides funding for scientists to address issues that will increase canola productivity and profitability. Research proposals are solicited each year and reviewed by a committee consisting of canola researchers, industry leaders, producers, and representatives of the Northern Canola Growers Association and the Minnesota Canola Council. The recommendations of this committee form the basis of this proposal.In order to meet the demand for canola, production must increase by being grown more frequently on more acres, through development of cultivars with higher yield potential and oil percentage, or through improved agronomic practices that increase yield and quality.This project will focus on methods to enhance production by optimizing fertilizer use and increasing yield potential and disease resistance through superior breeding lines of spring and winter canola. Benefits and risks of straight combining canola with or without a desiccant will be determined. If straight combining can be successfully completed, growers may be able to eliminate the time-consuming swathing operation and may consider growing more canola acres. Efforts to improve production efficiency by reducing inputs, better disease management programs, and improved or new uses of canola for the northern Great Plains will also benefit other growing regions of the U.S.In 2006, North Dakota State University initiated a canola breeding program to 1) develop high oil content spring canola germplasm and 2) create canola germplasm with properties suitable for biodiesel applications. Through the NCCRP research, a greater number of lines will be developed and evaluated, and the breeding process will be accelerated by planting and evaluating winter nurseries. Collaboration is on-going with Kansas State University to identify winter canola germplasm that may be used in the more harsh climates of the northern plains.After epidemics of blackleg broke out in the late 1990s, the canola industry moved quickly to include genetic resistance against the prevalent strains (PG 2) into their cultivars. However, the discovery in 2004 of strains of pathogenicity groups not previously present in North Dakota (Bradley et al. 2005) has increased the risk of severe blackleg epiphytotics. It is possible that the steady increase in blackleg incidence in our state in recent years (Bradley and Lamey 2005) is due in part to this change in pathogen makeup. However, given the fact that new pathogenicity profiles are present in our fields is an indication that new and better sources of resistance are needed. This project will also evaluate other methods for blackleg control.This project will evaluate the impact of tight rotations on canola and soybean yield. Many growers choose to either grow soybean OR canola. If the results of this study are favorable, then more soybean growers may choose to plant soybean and canola rather than one or the other, thus increasing canola acres.Soybean acres have increased in ND in recent years. Many growers primarily use glyphosate to control weeds in RR soybean. However, the presence of volunteer RR canola will require the application of other herbicides. In the proposed study, the goal is to find cost-effective herbicide treatments for controlling volunteer RR canola in RR soybean.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

Applied

100%

Developmental

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
204	1848	1081	30%
212	1848	1160	30%
102	1848	3100	10%
205	1848	3100	30%

Knowledge Area
212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants; 204 - Plant Product Quality and Utility (Preharvest); 102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 205 - Plant Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
1848 - Canola;

Field Of Science
1160 - Pathology; 1081 - Breeding; 3100 - Management;

Keywords

Goals / Objectives
Goal 1: Develop agronomic methods that will enhance canola production.Objectives:Determine the optimal time to apply fertilizer (PPI, POST, or split-applied) and comparison of fertilizer types (Urea, ESN, or Agrotain).Determine the impact of seeding rate and row spacing on canola production.Determine the impact on yields from canola and soybean grown in a close crop rotation compared with wheat.Identify the most cost-effective herbicides for volunteer canola control.Goal 2: Develop better management strategies for canola diseases.Objectives: Identify superior genotypes within the NDSU canola breeding program with resistance to blackleg strains prevalent in North Dakota.Identify new sources of resistance against L. maculans among Brassica napus plant introduction materials and the markers associated with it.Develop B. juncea breeding populations with resistance against multiple pathogenicity groups of L. maculans.Goal 3: Develop canola varieties with better disease resistance and higher oil content.Develop high oil per acre conventional canola cultivars using six high seed yield and six high oil content breeding lines.Study the adaptation of the breeding lines across the state of North Dakota.Identify the genomic region associated with seed yield and seed oil content genes using genome wide association mapping on publicly available germplasm.

Project Methods
Goal 1. Develop agronomic methods that will enhance production.Objective: Determine the optimal time to apply fertilizer (PPI, POST, or split-applied) and comparison of fertilizer types (Urea, ESN, or Agrotain).Methods: The trial area will be soil sampled for N, P, K, and S and fertilized for a 2,000 lb/A yield goal. The experimental design will be a RCBD with four replicates. Plots will be approximately 5 by 20 feet and managed and harvested with small-plot equipment. Nitrogen treatments will include PPI urea (46-0-0) applied at 0, 45, 90, 135 and 180 lb/A. A 50/50 blend of urea and ESN (44-0-0) applied at 0, 45, 90, 135 and 180 lb/A. Post emergence standard urea and urea + Agrotain Ultra applied at 45, 90 and 135 lb/ac with or without a base PPI urea treatment of 45 lb N/ac. Data collection during the season will include percent ground cover, early season vigor, days to flower, days to maturity, lodging, plant height, and sclerotinia infection ratings. Seed yield, oil content, contribution margins, and weather data will also be collected.Objective: Determine the impact of seeding rate and row spacing.Methods: Canola will be planted at three row widths: 6, 12 and 24 inches in combination with four seeding rates of 3, 6, 9, and 12 pure live seeds/square foot for a total of 12 treatments. The design will be an RCBD with four replicates. Individual plots will be approximately 5 feet wide by 20 feet long. Field research sites will include Roseau, Langdon, and Prosper. Data collection will include % ground cover, early season vigor, days to flower, days to maturity, lodging, plant height, Sclerotinia infection ratings, seed yield, oil content, contribution margins, and weather data.Objective: Determine the impact of growing canola and soybean in a tight crop rotation compared with wheat.Methods: This study will be conducted at Minot, Carrington, Langdon, and Roseau as an RCBD with four replications. Individual research plots will be approximately 30 by 30 ft. Crops will be planted in research plots as shown in Table 1 with four crop sequences (treatments) from 2013-2015 and repeated in 2014-2016. Data to be collected include: yield, test weight, oil, protein, density, height, flowering date, physiological maturity, and sclerotinia evaluations.Table 1. Planned crop sequence to evaluate effect of previous crop on soybean and canola yield.Treatment2013201420151WheatWheatSoybean2WheatCanolaSoybean3WheatWheatCanola4WheatSoybeanCanolaObjectives: Evaluate volunteer canola control with various soybean herbicidesEvaluate effect of canola stage on herbicide efficacyIdentify the most cost-effective herbicides and stage for volunteer canola controlMethods: Approximately 18 herbicide treatments will be applied at three timings (preemergence, 3-leaf canola, or bolting stage canola). Each treatment will be applied to 10 by 30 ft plots arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Percent control will be evaluated visually at least three times after application.Goal 2. Development of Management Strategies for Canola DiseasesMethods:Identification of glyphosate-tolerant genotypes with resistance to blackleg: 26 elite B. napus lines will be evaluated under greenhouse conditions for reaction to PG-4. These lines will be planted using an RCBD with three replications. Four commercial cultivars will be used as controls. Plants will be inoculated at the seedling stage and will be evaluated both as seedlings and mature plants. Seedling evaluation will be conducted using a 1-9 scale based on lesions on the cotyledon leaves. Adult plant evaluation will be conducted by estimating the amount of internal discoloration of the stems at the crown area. Severity will be evaluated using a scale of 0 to 5. A disease severity index (DSI) value will be calculated for each line: DSI=(mean disease severity x % incidence)/5.Screening of B. napus for resistance to multiple PGs: About 270 B. napus accessions will be evaluated for reaction to PG-3 in greenhouse conditions. The reaction to inoculation will be recorded in at least two trials. In each trial, accessions will be planted in triplicate with 10 seedlings per replication. Seedlings will be inoculated at the cotyledon stage by depositing 10 µl of a spore suspension containing 107 spores ml-1 in wounds made on the cotyledons. Inoculated seedlings will be incubated overnight in a moist chamber and returned to the greenhouse. Two weeks after inoculation, disease severity will be evaluated using the 0-9 scale. DNA samples from at least 250 seedlings already screened for reaction to PG-4 will be screened using the genotype-by-sequencing (GBS) method. This would allow us to locate the markers in a high density genetic map setting and serve for future work in marker-assisted selection of blackleg resistant lines. Markers associated with resistance will be identified and crosses made between resistant plants to develop breeding populations in the second phase of this project. At the same time, doubled haploids will be produced from the most resistant lines to develop mapping populations.Development of breeding populations from B. juncea plant introduction materials with resistance to L. maculans strains from diverse pathogenicity groups: The F2 population of a cross between B. juncea PI649123 x PI432389 was evaluated for resistance to PG-4. F3 seeds from the 10 most resistant and most susceptible plants will be advanced using single-seed descent until the F6 generation is reached. At that time, crosses will be made between resistant and susceptible lines to create mapping populations. At the same time, another population of the same cross will be evaluated for reaction to PG-3 and PG-T. Also, doubled haploids will be developed from F1 plants from the cross between PI649123 and PI432389. These F1 seeds contain genes for resistance to PG-2, 3, T, and 4.Goal 3. Developing Varieties with Higher Oil ContentMethods: Two different experiments (classical breeding and genome wide association mapping) will be conducted to identify and improve breeding lines for high seed yield and high oil content.Year one (2014-2015):Classical breeding: We have selected six high yield and six high oil content conventional breeding lines. Diellal crosses will be employed. The F1 will be advanced to F2 in spring 2014 GH program. A total of 1,000 F2 lines will be planted, evaluated, and advanced to F2:3 level of inbreeding in 2014 single row summer nursery at Prosper, ND. The plants will be self-pollinated using micro-perforated selfing beg in the field. Data on early vigor, plant height, days to flowering, lodging, and days to maturity will be taken. Selection will be performed among and within populations. A total of 400 F3 lines will be selected and will send to 2015-2016 winter nursery programs in Chile for F3:4 generation advancement. Seed from each selected F2-3 plant will grow as individual rows. Three to five plants per row will be self-pollinated and advanced to F3:4 generation to increase the homozygosity of the breeding lines. The remainder of each row will be bulk-harvested, and the seed will be used to conduct early generation testing (EGT) in 2015.Genome wide association mapping: 380 accessions of winter and spring Brassica napus from 29 different countries will be used. These accessions have been genotyped using Ilumina (GBS) platform to obtain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A combined analysis of seed yield and seed oil content along with SNP markers profile will be subsequently utilized to identify the genomic regions associated with the seed yield contributing genes and seed oil contributing genes. The desired genes information will be used to introgress the alleles into elite canola breeding lines. A total of 300 spring type accessions will be planted at Prosper and Langdon. Days to flowering, seed yield and seed oil content will be determined.

Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/19

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience includeds farmers, ag consultants, dealers, farm managers, private ag companies, and agricultural scientists. Changes/Problems:Project: Identification of B. napus sources of resistance to and development of B. juncea breeding populations with resistance to blackleg. This project has not been completed due to delays in developing breeding populations for molecular marker identification. We made crosses with Topas, a cultivar more amenable for doubled-haploid production and plan to finish production of the mapping population and conduct greenhouse evaluations needed to conduct the molecular marker analyses. Target timeline to complete the project: Development of DH population from Topas x PI633134........ June 2019 Screening of advanced breeding lines ............................. Feb-April 2019 Planting and screening mapping population ..................... Sept - Nov. 2019 DNA extraction and sequencing .................................... Nov 2019 Data analysis and final report ....................................... Dec 2019 What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been communicated through written reports, summer field days, winter research conferences, summer and winter county grower meetings, and regional and national professional societies. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?An extension has been requested for this project. During this extension period, we will evaluate 30 additional breeding lines and develop the mapping population for the cross Topas x 633134.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The objectives of this project are: 1) identify superior genotypes within the NDSU canola breeding program with resistance to blackleg strains prevalent in North Dakota; 2) identify sources of resistance against L. maculans among Brassica napus plant introduction materials and the markers associated with it; and 3) develop B. juncea breeding populations with resistance against multiple pathogenicity groups of L. maculans and identify markers associated with it. Identify superior genotypes within the NDSU canola breeding program: We conducted greenhouse trials to evaluate the reaction of 54 elite breeding lines to a mixture of five PG-4 isolates in 2016 and 2017. Breeding lines 16-WC-05 and BL-P505 showed consistent resistant reaction to PG-4 with an average severity infection of 2.3 in the 0-9 scale compared to 4.8 of DKL 71-14, a commercial hybrid used as control, and 7.5 of Westar a susceptible control. Three plant introductions, O-84, Flint and Bienvenue, produced resistant reactions to PG-4 as well. The remaining 37 breeding lines evaluated were considered moderately susceptible or susceptible and had higher severity scores than the commercial hybrid. We intend to evaluate 30 additional breeding lines during the extension period. Identify sources of resistance among Brassica napus plant introduction materials and markers associated with it: the reaction of 186 Brassica napus plant introductions to a mixture of five strains of L. maculans belonging to pathogenicity group (PG) 3 was completed in greenhouse conditions using the scale described above. A total of 21 B. napus plant introduction materials previously identified as resistant to blackleg were evaluated in replicated field trials at Langdon between 2015 and 2017. These lines, along with commercial controls and 'Westar', were exposed multiple times to lab- and field-produced inoculum. Disease severity was recorded as the percentage of internal discoloration of stems at the crown region at maturity. Accessions 469726, 633134, and 634754 had a collective average of less than 10% severity compared to 32% of the commercial controls and 61% of 'Westar' the susceptible standard. Efforts to produce mapping populations from the cross between these accessions and Westar using doubled haploid techniques were unsuccessful and after repeated attempts, a decision was made to cross these lines with Topas, a more DH-amenable cultivar. We intend to use this extension to develop the mapping population for the cross Topas x 633134. All other projects have been completed.

Publications

Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience includeds farmers, ag consultants, dealers, farm managers, private ag companies, and agricultural scientists. Changes/Problems:Complications in developing breeding populations for molecular marker identification have not allowed us to complete project. We made crosses with Topas, a cultivar more amenable for doubled-haploid production and plan to finish production of the mapping population and conduct greenhouse evaluations needed to conduct the molecular marker analyses. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated through summer field days, winter farmer meetings, journal articles, newsletters, and websites. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? A change in methodology is needed to complete the objectives in Goal 2 and an extension was requested. All other objectives have been completed. The objectives of Goal 2 are: 1) identify superior genotypes within the NDSU canola breeding program with resistance to blackleg strains prevalent in North Dakota; 2) identify sources of resistance against L. maculans among Brassica napus plant introduction materials and the markers associated with it; and 3) develop B. juncea breeding populations with resistance against multiple pathogenicity groups of L. maculans and identify markers associated with it. Identify superior genotypes within the NDSU canola breeding program: We conducted greenhouse trials to evaluate the reaction of 54 elite breeding lines to a mixture of five PG-4 isolates in 2016 and 2017. Breeding lines 16-WC-05 and BL-P505 showed consistent resistant reaction to PG-4 with an average severity infection of 2.3 in the 0-9 scale compared to 4.8 of DKL 71-14, a commercial hybrid used as control, and 7.5 of Westar a susceptible control. Three plant introductions, O-84, Flint and Bienvenue, produced resistant reactions to PG-4 as well. The remaining 37 breeding lines evaluated were considered moderately susceptible or susceptible and had higher severity scores than the commercial hybrid. We intend to evaluate 30 additional breeding lines during the extension period. Identify sources of resistance among Brassica napus plant introduction materials and markers associated with it: the reaction of 186 Brassica napus plant introductions to a mixture of five strains of L. maculans belonging to pathogenicity group (PG) 3 was completed in greenhouse conditions using the scale described above. A total of 21 B. napus plant introduction materials previously identified as resistant to blackleg were evaluated in replicated field trials at Langdon between 2015 and 2017. These lines, along with commercial controls and 'Westar', were exposed multiple times to lab- and field-produced inoculum. Disease severity was recorded as the percentage of internal discoloration of stems at the crown region at maturity. Accessions 469726, 633134, and 634754 had a collective average of less than 10% severity compared to 32% of the commercial controls and 61% of 'Westar' the susceptible standard. Efforts to produce mapping populations from the cross between these accessions and Westar using doubled haploid techniques were unsuccessful and after repeated attempts, a decision was made to cross these lines with Topas, a more DH-amenable cultivar. We intend to use this extension to develop the mapping population for the cross Topas x 633134.

Publications

Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Wrucke DF, Horvath D, and Rahman M (2018) Genome-wide association study for electrolyte leakage in rapeseed/canola (Brassica napus L.). In Mol. Breeding (Springer) 38:129.
Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Wrucke DF, Mamidi S, and Rahman M (2018) Genome-wide association study for frost tolerance in rapeseed/canola (Brassica napus L.) under field conditions. In J. Plant Biochem. Biotechnol. (Springer). DOI: 10.1007/s13562-018-0472-8.

Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience includeds farmers, ag consultants, dealers, farm managers, private ag companies, and agricultural scientists. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Two canola-specific summer field tours were held in Minot and Langdon, ND and one in Roseau, MN in addition to several smaller field tours. Canola-specific grower education meetings were held in multiple counties in ND and MN. A research conference was held in November 2016 for all canola researchers to present results to the NCGA, MNCC, and the technical review committee. Research results will also be available on university or grower organization websites or newsletters. Research results will also be presented at professional society meetings and in appropriate refereed journals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Studies were conducted in ND, MN, and MT to enhance canola production practices. These studies demonstrated enhanced fertilizer efficiency, ideal planting configurations, more profitable crop rotations, pest management, and improved varieties. These studies will help reduce input costs, manage pests, and improve overall production. Goal 1: A field study was conducted to evaluate canola yield response from various nitrogen fertilizer types and rates applied PPI and postemergence (3-5 leaf canola). The four-year fertility trial average yield was 103, 105 and 107% of the mean for urea applied as 100% PPI, urea 50% PPI + 50% ESN (coated urea), and urea 45#/ac PPI + POST urea, respectively. Nitrogen efficiency improved slightly by using a coated nitrogen product or a base rate of nitrogen PPI followed by POST urea. A field study was conducted to compare canola planted at three row widths: 6, 12 and 24 inches in combination with four seeding rates of 3, 6, 9, and 12 pure live seeds per square foot. In 2015, yield and net return increased with seeding rate for 6 and 12 inch row spacing. In 2016, yield did not increase with seeding rate, but generally remained flat. Yield with 24-inch spacing was slightly lower than 6 and 12 inch in 2016, but similar when averaged across both years. A crop rotation study was conducted to: 1) determine if soybean yield is greater following canola than wheat, and 2) determine if canola yield is greater following soybean than wheat. These objectives were accomplished using a three-year crop sequence to evaluate soybean and canola grown back-to-back in rotation with wheat. Results showed no significant difference in yield at any location between soybean grown on wheat ground compared to canola. Similarly, there was no yield difference at any location for canola grown on soybean ground compared to wheat. Canola tolerance to an experimental herbicide (pyridate) was evaluated at the 4-leaf and bolting stage. Canola was injured less when applied at bolting stage than 4-leaf, but injury and yield reduction was unacceptable at either stage. Clubroot of canola is a new emerging disease in NE North Dakota. Clubroot was identified in five commercial fields in Cavalier county in 2014. The causal agent Plasmodiophora brassicae can infect a wide variety of cruciferous crops. Clubroot is a soil-borne disease that causes swellings or galls on canola roots leading to premature death. A survey was conducted in 2016 in seven northeastern counties to determine clubroot prevalence. A minimum of 15-20 canola fields per county were scouted. In 2016, clubroot was identified in only one field in Cavalier county. More than 10 clubroot awareness meetings were held in seven counties in the summer and winter. Goal 2.1: Greenhouse trials were conducted to evaluate the reaction of 54 elite breeding lines to a mixture of five PG-4 isolates. Breeding lines 16-WC-05 and BL-P505 showed consistent resistance to PG-4 with an average severity infection of 2.3 in the 0-9 scale. Twelve other breeding lines were considered moderately resistant and had severity scores slightly lower or similar to that of the commercial control (hybrid DKL 71-14). Three plant introductions, used as controls, produced resistant reactions to PG-4 as well. The remaining 37 breeding lines evaluated were considered moderately susceptible or susceptible and had higher severity scores than the commercial hybrid. Goal 2.2: The reaction of 186 Brassica napus plant introductions to a mixture of five strains of L. maculans belonging to pathogenicity group PG-3 was completed in greenhouse conditions using the scale described above. A total of 32 accessions were considered resistant with severity scores < 3. An elite group of 21 accessions with resistance to PG-4 were planted in replicated field trials in 2014-2016. These lines along with commercial controls and 'Westar' were inoculated multiple times at the seedling stage using a mixture of isolates and by spores produced on infested residues. Disease severity was recorded as the percentage of internal discoloration of stems at the crown region at maturity. At least three accessions had a collective average of less than 10% severity compared to 32% for the commercial controls and 61% for 'Westar' the susceptible standard. These accessions were crossed with Westar and DH production using F2 floral buds is underway. The canola breeder also has included them in the crossing program. Association mapping was used to identify markers significantly associated with resistance against PG-4 that was observed in greenhouse trials at the start of this project. A total of 28 markers were identified. Data analysis is being conducted to identify the set of markers that explain most of the phenotypic variation. These markers will be validated using the DH lines to be produced from the crosses between elite PI and Westar described earlier in this report. Six B. napus accessions considered among the most resistant to PG-3 were evaluated in the field in 2016. Low severity was observed in this trial and we will need to repeat this study in 2017. In 2015, however, PIs 458946, 470057, and Ames 26657 had average incidences below 24% and severities below 10% while the commercial controls and "Westar" had average incidences of 24 and 90%, respectively. Goal 2.3: In addition, in the 2017-2018 funding period we intend to continue screening NDSU elite breeding materials for resistance to PG-4 for objective 1; and continue the development of DH lines from plant introductions resistant to PG-4 (objective 2). DH lines will then be used to develop mapping populations that will allow us to identify additional markers associated with resistance to PG-4. Validation of these markers and of those discovered using association mapping will be started. Transfer of resistance into modern breeding lines will be initiated. Goal 3: Fieldevaluation 2016: The 80 F6 open-pollinatedbreeding lines were evaluated in six-row experimental plots (15ft x 5ft) as Advanced Yield Trials (AYT) in 2016 at four locations. Data on seed yield, test weight, seed oil, seed protein, fatty acid composition, early vigor,days to flowering, relative maturity and lodging were taken. The self-pollinated F6 lines were planted in the summer nursery of 2016 at Prosper. Three to five plants per line were self-pollinatedand advanced to F6:7 generation.A total of 30 advanced breeding lines (F7)were selectedfor 2017 summer field trial and were sent to winter nursery for generation advancement (F8). We have selected 90 breeding lines (F4:5) for early generation field testing conducted at three locations. A total of 364 new F2-3 lineshave been selected from new breeding population. Disease screening: The selected 30 advanced breeding lines were evaluated against blackleg and sclerotinia stem rot disease in the greenhouse. Ten breeding lines/accessions were identified as tolerant to sclerotinia stem rot, and eight breeding lines identified as resistant/tolerant to blackleg. Winter nurseryprogram 2016-17: A total of 30 F7 lines,90 F5 lines,and 364 F3 lineswere sent to winter nursery in Temuco, Chile for generation advancement and to have sufficient seeds for 2017 field trial. In the winter nursery, 3-5 desired plants from each row will be self- pollinated for increasing the homozygosity of the breeding lines. Genome wide association mapping: A total of 78 spring type canola germplasm with three commercial hybrid checks were planted in a replicated yield trial at two locations. Due to excessive rain, the 2016 trial was abandoned. Will repeat the experiment in 2017. The three years and two locations phenotypic data on seed yield, seed quality and other agronomic traits will be aligned with our high quality genotypic SNPs data for genome-wide association mapping (GWAS) study. The GWAS study will identify the genomic regions associated with the seed yield, seed oil and other agronomic traits.

Publications

Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Rahman, M., S. Mamidi, L. E. del R�o Mendoza, A. Ross, M. M. Kadir, M. M. Rahaman, and M. Arifuzzaman. 2016. Association mapping in Brassica napus (L.) accessions identifies a major QTL for blackleg disease resistance on chromosome A01. Mol. Breeding 36:90. doi 10.1007/s11032-016-0513-8.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Mansouripour. S., K. Chittem, Z. Liu, and del R�o Mendoza, L. 2016. Changes in frequency of Leptosphaeria maculans avirulence genes in North Dakota. Phytopathology 106:S4.131.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Mansouripour, S. and L. E. del R�o Mendoza. 2016. Identification of Brassica napus plant introductions with resistance to pathogenicity group 4 of Leptosphaeria maculans. Phytopathology 106:S4.89.
Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Rahaman M, Mamidi S, and Rahman M (2017) Association mapping of agronomic traits of canola (Brassica napus L.) subject to heat stress under field conditions. Aust J Crop Sci. 11(09): 1094-1105 doi: 10.21475/ajcs.17.11.09.pne512.
Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Arifuzzaman M, Mamidi S, McClean P, and Rahman M (2017) QTL mapping for root vigor and days to flowering in Brassica napus L. Can J Pl Sci. 97: 99109. dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjps-2016-0048.
Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Arifuzzaman M, and Rahman M (2017) A Comparative Study on Root Traits of Spring and Winter Canola (Brassica napus L.) under Controlled and Water Stressed Conditions. J Agril. Sci. 9(7): 58-67.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Vollmer J, and Rahman M (2016) The Effect of Simulated Hail Damage on Yield of Spring Canola (Brassica napus L.). NDSU EXPLORE Undergraduate Research Showcase, November 01, 2016 at Great Plain Room, Memorial Union, NDSU, ND, USA.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Rahaman M, Mamidi S, and Rahman M (2016) Association Mapping of Heat Stress Tolerant Traits of Canola (Brassica napus L.). Abstract, 2016 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings, November 6-9, 2016, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Rahaman M, Mamidi S, and Rahman M (2016) Genome-wide association study of high temperature stress induced phenotypes in rapeseed/canola (Brassica napus L.). Abstract, Brassica 2016 Conference, which combines the 20th Crucifer Genetics Conference, and the 19th Australian Research Assembly on Brassicas, from October 3-6th 2016, Melbourne, Australia.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Danielle F, and Rahman M (2016) Breeding for frost tolerance in rapeseed/canola (Brassica napus L.). Abstract, Agricultural Bioscience International Conference 2016 (Connecting Public and Private Research), September 18-21, 2016, at Fargo, North Dakota, USA.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Rahaman M, and Rahman M (2016) Genome Wide Association Mapping of Heat Stress Tolerant Traits in Rapeseed/Canola (Brassica napusL.). Abstract, Plant & Animal Genome XXIV, January 9-13, 2016, at San Diego, CA, USA.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2017 Citation: V. Chapara, N. Kalwar, L. Lubenow, and A. Chirumamilla (2017). Survey and awareness plan for identification and management of clubroot on canola in North Dakota. American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas. August 5-9, 2017

Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience includeds farmers, ag consultants, dealers, farm managers, private ag companies, and agricultural scientists. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been communicated through summer field days, a winter research conference, summer and winter county grower meetings, and regional and national professional societies. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Identified methods to maintain good yield, improve nitrogen use efficiency, and potentially reduce fertilizer cost. Identified planting configuration that provides optimal yield. Demonstrated that growing two broadleaf crops such as canola and soybean in a short crop rotation may be agronomically and economically feasible. Identified methods to control volunteer canola, thus eliminating any potential impact on subsequent crops. Identified canola lines with high levels of resistance to blackleg and development of doubled haploid lines is under way, which may cut by one-half the time required to identify and transfer resistance genes. The canola breeding program has many potential high yield and high oil content lines in various stages of development. As these lines are commercialized, growers will be able to increase production while farming the same number of acres. Goal 1: 1. Determine the optimal time to apply fertilizer (PPI, POST, or split-applied) and comparison of fertilizer types (Urea, ESN, or Agrotain). All supplemental nitrogen (N) treatments produced higher canola yield than the control. Generally, canola yields tended to increase as N rate increased to 180#/A, regardless of N formulation or time of application. Top yields and highest net return over years indicate several possible options. If only one pre-plant application is desired, a higher N rate with half ESN, tended to be best. Better N use efficiency (NUE) was obtained by not applying high straight urea N rates prior to planting. If a pre-emergent followed by a post-emergent application is possible, a lower overall rate of N fertilizer can be used. Post-emergent urea applications made with the addition of Agrotain® Ultra were also shown to increase yields over time with highest benefits achieved with applications made during dry conditions. 2. Determine the impact of seeding rate and row spacing on canola production. Generally, row widths of 6 and 12 inches resulted in higher yield and net return compared to 24". Yield and net return increased as seeding rate increased up to 12 plants per square foot. Thus, wider rows (e.g., 24") and lower seeding rates generally produced lower yields and net returns. Based on this study, farmers utilizing conventional tillage can optimize yields using row widths of 6 to 12 inches and a seeding rates of 12 plants per square foot. Some farmers tend to plant too many seeds. Thus, they may reduce input costs and optimize yield by targeting the proper seeding rate and row spacing. 3. Determine the impact on yields from canola and soybean grown in a close crop rotation compared with wheat. Some farmers desire to include soybean and canola in their crop rotation because both are profitable. Despite the risk of sclerotinia, there is some evidence there may be an advantage to growing soybean on canola ground or vice versa. A study was designed to test that theory in the northern plains where soybean and canola are commonly grown. Growers would benefit from having two profitable broadleaf crops in their rotation. The objectives were to: 1) determine if soybean yield is greater following canola than wheat, and 2) determine if canola yield is greater following soybean than wheat. These objectives were accomplished using a three-year crop sequence to evaluate soybean and canola production grown back-to-back in rotation with wheat. Results showed no significant difference in yield, test weight, height, density, and oil between soybean grown on wheat ground compared to soybean grown on canola ground. Similarly, there was no significant difference at any location for canola grown on soybean ground. Based on one rotation cycle, we observed no advantage or disadvantage from growing soybean on canola ground or from growing canola on soybean ground. Sclerotinia incidence was very low at all locations. This is a positive result for farmers that want to grow both soybean and canola in a rotation with wheat. A repeat of this study will be completed in 2016. 4. Identify the most cost-effective herbicides for volunteer canola control. Canola seeds that fall to the ground before or during harvest lay in the soil and can germinate anytime over the next several years. Thus, volunteer canola must be controlled in subsequent crops. A study was conducted to find herbicides that will be cost-effective for controlling volunteer canola in soybean. Imazamox, fomesafen, bentazon, and glufosinate provided good to excellent control of 3-leaf volunteer canola one month after application. However, these herbicides provided only poor to fair control when applied to bolting canola. Thus, farmers do have some options for controlling volunteer canola, but must target smaller canola to be cost-effective. Goal 2: The objectives of this project are to 1) identify lines within the NDSU canola breeding program with resistance to blackleg strains prevalent in North Dakota; 2) identify new sources of resistance; and 3) develop breeding populations from a related species with resistance to blackleg. Blackleg prevalence continues to increase. In the 2016 growing season, a field survey of 30 fields conducted when canola plants were at the seeding stage revealed that more than 50% of them had blackleg present, and approximately 25% of fields had incidences >25%. Fields with this incidence are likely to experience severe yield losses. In the past, heavy blackleg infestations have reduced yields by 600 to 800 pounds per acre. At current market prices ($15.5 per hundred-weight; http://www.northerncanola.com/) this represents a loss of $93 to 124 per acre. The number of fields that experience this type of losses may increase in the near future as the strains capable of causing this become more prevalent. North Dakota planted 1.4 million acres in 2015. If only 1% of the area suffered this type of loss it means the impact of blackleg would range between $1.3 - 1.7 million per year. This project has identified five B. napus lines with high levels of resistance to blackleg and development of doubled haploid lines is under way. Production of double haploid lines may cut the time required to produce lines that could be used to identify and transfer resistance genes by one-half. Traditional methods would take anywhere between 6 to 8 years. Goal 3: The NDSU Canola Breeding Program is focused on development of spring canola lines with higher seed yield and higher oil content. Greenhouse activities (2014-2015): A total of 8 high seed yield and 8 high oil content conventional canola lines were selected from 2014 summer canola testing program. The selected lines were crossed with each other in the greenhouse to generate new breeding lines. Full plot trial at multiple locations: A total of 320 F4 canola breeding lines were evaluated in an early generation field testing in full plot (15ft x 5ft) at Prosper and Langdon. Data on early vigor, plant height, days to flowering, lodging, days to maturity, seed yield, seed quality traits such as seed oil, seed protein, and fatty acid compositions were taken. A total of 80 lines were selected based on seed yield, seed oil and other traits. The single row trial: The self-pollinated plants of 320 F4 generation were planted in a single row breeding nursery at Prosper to advance F4:5 generation. We have also planted 186 F2 families in the breeding nursery at Prosper in 618 single rows (about 61,800 F2 plants). A total of 324 F2-3 lines were selected. Winter nursery activities: The selected 80 breeding lines and 324 F3 lines were sent to 2015-16 winter nursery in Santiago, Chile for generation advancement for 2016 field trial. The winter nursery program significantly reduces the breeding cycle and increase the efficiency of the program. This program also allows us to evaluate the breeding lines twice in a year as well as in different environments.

Publications

Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Rahman et al. (2016) Association Mapping in Brassica napus (L.) accessions identifies a major QTL for Blackleg disease resistance on chromosome A01. Mol Breed 36:90.
Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Rahman et al. (2016) Behind the scenes of microspore-based double haploid development in Brassica napus - a review. J Pl Sci Mol Breed 5(1): 1-9.
Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Chittem, K., S. M. Mansouripour, Zhaohui, L., and del R�o Mendoza, L.E. 2015. Changes in frequency of Leptosphaeria maculans avirulence genes in North Dakota. Annual American Phytopathological Society meeting Tampa, FL. Poster 618.