GENETICS, BREEDING AND EVALUATION OF WINTER SMALL GRAINS CROPS FOR NEBRASKA

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0012887
• Project Start Date: Apr 1, 2008
• Project End Date: Mar 30, 2013
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
(N/A)
LINCOLN,NE 68583

Performing Department
Agronomy & Horticulture

Non Technical Summary
This project is the primary winter small grains (wheat, barley, and triticale) breeding project for Nebraska. It will use conventional (crossing, inbreeding, and selection) and modern (molecular markers, transgenes) plant breeding methods coupled with sophisticated statistical analyses packages to identify superior lines for release to growers. Results will be published in scientific journals, and presented at scientific workshops and conferences. Through extension activities, results will be provided to the general public as appropriate. This project is expected to develop released cultivars, germplasm, and scientific publications. It is further expected to education students to become future geneticists and plant breeders.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
201	1540	1080	50%
201	1544	1080	30%
201	1550	1080	10%
201	1599	1080	10%

Knowledge Area
201 - Plant Genome, Genetics, and Genetic Mechanisms;

Subject Of Investigation
1550 - Barley; 1540 - Hard red winter wheat; 1599 - Grain crops, general/other; 1544 - Hard white wheat;

Field Of Science
1080 - Genetics;

Keywords

wheat

barley

triticale

triticum

hordeum

Goals / Objectives
The main objective of this project is to develop improved winter wheat, triticale, and barley germplasm and cultivars that will be winterhardy, disease resistant with high yield and end-use quality, environmentally stable in production and provide an increased return per grower input. Our main emphasis will be on dryland production systems. However we will have an increased effort on irrigated (due to reduced water availability of water and growers switching to wheat from more water intensive crops) and organic winter wheat. Note, P. S. Baenziger may be retiring in the next 12 years (the time it takes from making a cross to having a released cultivar), so some effort will be to positioning the program for the next plant breeder if the decision is to replace him. Specific objectives are: a. To increase the yield level and stress tolerance of Nebraska winter wheat (grain and organic production systems), triticale (forage and grain), and barley (grain) through the effective use of improved screening procedures, conventional breeding methods, and biotechnology. To work more closely with the Plant Quality Laboratory and end users to meet their general needs and determine if unique opportunities exist (e.g. organic wheat). b. To develop improved wheat cultivars for organic or other specialty markets (e.g. imi-tolerant wheat). c. To develop an improved genetic understanding of important agronomic traits through the use of reciprocal recombinant inbred line chromosome lines or other mapping populations. d. Incorporate improved information management techniques for data summarization and statistical software to more effectively analyze and use field data to select elite germplasm. Improve project equipment for greater efficiency.

Project Methods
This research will involve normal procedures for hybridization, selection, and evaluation in greenhouses and breeding locations (Mead, Lincoln, Clay Center, North Platte, Sidney, and Alliance). In the organic breeding effort, we test at (Concord, Mead, Clay Center, and Sidney). If resources allow, an evaluation site at McCook will be added. This project will provide germplasm materials to other projects and in turn utilize information and germplasm from these projects. Specific procedures: a) Crosses will be made among selected wheat germplasm parents (approximately 650 crosses), among selected triticale germplasm parents (60 crosses), and among selected barley germplasm parents (40 to 60 crosses) possessing various combinations of adequate winterhardiness and heat and drought tolerance, high yield, disease and insect resistance or tolerance, improved end use quality attributes, and good straw. For many traits with good molecular markers, we will use marker assisted selection for allele enrichment in the early generations and genotyping advanced lines for line characterization. Also, transgenic wheat lines will be crossed into elite lines for specific traits and experiments. For herbicide tolerance screening, F2 and F3 bulks will be sprayed with herbicides, thus killing the susceptible genotypes and we are converting our program from single gene herbicide tolerance to two gene herbicide tolerance which provides greater tolerance to the herbicide. F3 derived lines will continue to be selected with statewide testing beginning in the F6. b) We will have samples from four organic testing sites. Two will be major breeding sites and four will be for the state variety trials. Hence our first goal will be understand the unique characteristics of organic and conventional testing to determine if there are significant genotype by production system interactions and then to determine how to capitalize on the differences and similarities between the organic and conventional production systems to develop excellent cultivars for both systems. c. Work will concentrate on evaluating reciprocal recombinant inbred chromosome lines. The first population, CNN(RICL(3A+6A)), will be grown and harvested from one location per year. The second population, WI(RICL(3A), is currently being grown in three environments for harvest in 2008 and will be grown at three environments for harvest in 2009. We are developing a map and evaluating the Wheat Coordinated Agricultural Program population, TAM 107-R7 x Arlen, at three locations ins 2008 and will repeat the experiment for harvest in 2009. d. We are incorporating Agrobase GenII software as our primary relational database for our program. The effort to study and develop gene-based models for wheat development and growth will be part of an interdisciplinary team.

Progress 10/01/12 to 03/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Most of the research in this project was previously reported or will be reported in the new REEport. The period of time covered from Oct. 2012 to March 2013, missed the key parts of the breeding program (planting and field harvest). Changes/Problems: A new REEport and Hatch project was developed and submitted. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Professional deveolpment is ongoing. We currently have two NIFA funded graduate students, two Monsanto Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars, two graduate students funded by their government, and two shared students funded by their government. We also hire between 6 and 10 undergraduates to work on various project. All of the graduate and undergraduate students are involved in professional development. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? We disseminate our results through field days, seed days, public speeches, twitter, and lay publications. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Please see the new REEport.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The key porject goals will be either previously reported or reported in the new REEport.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2012 Citation: Nilthong, S., R. A. Graybosch, and P.S. Baenziger. 2012. Enzyme activity in wheat breeding lines derived frm matings of low polyphenol oxidase parents. Euphytica 190: 65-73.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Nilthong, S., R. A. Graybosch, and P.S. Baenziger. 2012. Inheritance of grain polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity in multiple wheat (Triticaum aestivum L.) genetic backgrounds. Theor. Appl. Genet.. 125:1705-15.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Fisk, S., A. Cuesta-Marcos, L. Cistue, J. Russell, K. Smith, P. Baenziger, Z. Bedo, A. Corey, T. Filichkin, I. Karsai, R. Waugh, and P. Hayes. 2013. FR-H3: A new QTL to assist in the development of fall-sown barley with superior low temperature tolerance. Theor. Appl. Genet. 126:335-347.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Wang, D., I. S. El-Baysoni, P.S. Baenziger, J. Crossa, K. M. Eskridge, and I. Dweikat. 2012. Prediction of genetic values of quantitative traits with epistatic effects in plant breeding populations. Heredity 109: 313-319.

Progress 04/01/08 to 03/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Our target audiences are: small grains growers, seed producers, mills, bakers, and consumers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? We were involved with training 2 graduate students and a number of undergraduates. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? We disseminated our results in refereed journal articles, popular articles, field days, seed days, interviews, and tweets. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We began the release process of NE05548 (wheat) and NT06427 (an awnletted triticale).

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Fisk, S., A. Cuesta-Marcos, L. Cistue, J. Russell, K. Smith, P. Baenziger, Z. Bedo, A. Corey, T. Filichkin, I. Karsai, R. Waugh, and P. Hayes. 2013. FR-H3: A new QTL to assist in the development of fall-sown barley with superior low temperature tolerance. Theor. Appl. Genet. 126:335-347.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Bakhsh, A. N. Mengistu, P. S. Baenziger, I. Dweikat, S. N. Wegulo, D. Rose, G. Bai, and K.M. Eskridge. Effect of Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance gene Fhb1 on agrnomic and end-use quality traits of hard red witner wheat. Crop Sci:.53:793-801.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: 194. Wang, D., I. S. El-Baysoni, P.S. Baenziger, J. Crossa, K. M. Eskridge, and I. Dweikat. 2012. Prediction of genetic values of quantitative traits with epistatic effects in plant breeding populations. Heredity 109: 313-319.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Bakhsh, A. N. Mengistu, P. S. Baenziger, I. Dweikat, S. N. Wegulo, D. Rose, G. Bai, and K.M. Eskridge. Effect of Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance gene Fhb1 on agrnomic and end-use quality traits of hard red witner wheat. Crop Sci:.53:793-801.

Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The 2012 Nebraska wheat crop continued to decline in part due continued pressure from other crops for acres, delayed harvest in parts of the state, and mainly due to drought. 1,380,000 acres were planted with 1,300,000 acres harvested. Due to widespread drought, the average yield was 41 bu/a for a total crop of 53,300,000 bu. The main thrusts of the program are to: 1. Incorporate modern molecular biology into our breeding program (initially by marker assisted breeding until we can develop a training population for genomic selection), 2. Diversify our sources of resistance to stem rust, 3. Increase the development of wheat streak mosaic virus resistance lines, 4. Improve the quality of our bread and noodle wheat germplasm and releases, and incorporate high throughput phenotyping platforms. Marker assisted breeding is proving its value in that we are better able to monitor our genetic diversity (retaining as much as possible, while retaining agronomic performance) and in our augmented design trials are able to replicate alleles where we have insufficient seed to replicate lines. The choice of marker platform is evolving with marker technology. We have used DArTs, SNPs, and most recently genotype by sequencing (by far the least costly platform, but alsot he one with the most missing data). Tying the marker datasets together over years as well as determining which platform will the best for making genomics selection predictions are critical future areas of research. Our results are promising enough that we will continued this effort and hope to fully incorporate genomic selection in the future. For stem rust, we are adding as many new alleles as are available, while increasing the number of crosses we make to CIMMYT lines with minor alleles and bringing back Sr2 which continues to be very stable in its resistance to new races of stem rust. For wheat streak mosaic virus, we have made some progress, but it is clear that the major gene for tolerance is not transmitted well and many fewer progeny than expected carry the gene. For end-use quality improvement, we continue to drop poor quality lines and are raising the selection criteria for good quality. We have added relatively fast canopy spectral reflectance equipment to study nitrogen use efficiency. It is the first year in this effort and many improvements will be needed, but the capability to better understand our phenotypes in the field is critical. PARTICIPANTS: P. S. Baenziger, S. N. Wegulo, R. Graybosch, I. Dweikat, G. Bai, D. Santra, H. Walia, B. Waters, R. French, S. Tatineni, Y. Jin, J. Poland, T. Clemente, G. Hein, M. Chen, D. Lyon, G. Kruger, D. Rose, L. Xu, B. Seabourn, K. Eskridge, W. Stroup, A. Lorenz, D. Wang, J. Crossa, and K. Vogel. We also work closely with the Nebraska Wheat Board, Nebraska Crop Improvement Association, ConAgra, BASF, and Bayer Crop Science. TARGET AUDIENCES: Wheat, barley, and triticale breeders abd growers in the northern Great Plains, wheat millers and bakers, consumers of barley and triticale forage (mainly cattle or dairy producers), and consumers interested in superior products. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
No new wheat, triticale, or barley cultivars were released in 2012. However, NE06545 hard red winter wheat and NB99845 were recommended for release. The pedigree of NE06545 is KS92-946-B-15-1/ALLIANCE where the pedigree of KS92-946-B-15-1 is ABI86*3414/Jagger//Karl 92. NE06545 is a medium early, medium height semi-dwarf wheat with good winter hardiness and average straw strength It is moderately resistant to resistant to wheat soilborne mosaic virus, stem rust and leaf rust; moderately susceptible to moderately resistant Hessian fly; moderately susceptible to susceptible to yellow (stripe) rust; and susceptible to Russian wheat aphid and wheat streak mosaic virus. It is moderately susceptible to scab. It was tested in the SRPN in 2010 and in the NRPN in 2011 and in the Nebraska State Variety Trials. Based upon the data we have collected so far, NE06545 seems to be fairly broadly adapted and best suited for production in virtually all parts of Nebraska and states north and west of Nebraska. Based upon our end-use quality data to date, NE06545 would be similar in end-use quality to McGill. NB99845 is a higher yielding line for the southern Great Plains. It does not have the grain yield potential or witnerhardiness for Nebraska production, but has excellent grain and forage yield capabilities in Kansas and states further south. Other wheat lines that continue to be under consideration for possible release include NE05496 (southwestern NE production), NE05548 (western NE production), and NI08708 (irrigated production). All three lines are semi-dwarfs, though NE05548 is tallest semi-dwarf in the program. Overland was the most popular wheat cultivar in Nebraska (11% of the acreage) followed by Pronghorn (10% of the acreage). All other cultivars were grown on 8% or less of the acreage. The advantage of have numerous cultivars being grown in Nebraska is that the genetic vulnerability of the crop is generally less when more and diverse cultivars are grown. An increase of 1 bu/a in Nebraska will increase farm income by approximately $7,500,000. In 2011, over 60% of the wheat acreage planted in Nebraska was plants to cultivars developed by the USDA-ARS and University of Nebraska wheat improvement program.

Publications

• Baenziger, P.S., R. A. Graybosch, T. Regassa, L.A. Nelson, R. N. Klein, D. K. Santra, D.D. Baltensperger, L. Xu, S. N. Wegulo, Y. Jin, J. Kolmer, Ming-shun Chen, and Guihua Bai. 2012. . Registration of 'NE01481' hard red winter wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations 6:49-53.
• Baenziger, P.S., R. A. Graybosch, T. Regassa, L.A. Nelson, R. N. Klein, D. K. Santra, D.D. Baltensperger, J. M. Krall, S. N. Wegulo, Y. Jin, J. Kolmer, Ming-shun Chen, and Guihua Bai. 2012. . Registration of 'NI04421' hard red winter wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations 6:54-59.
• Baenziger, P. S., Ismail Dweikat, Kulvinder Gill, Kent Eskridge, Terry Berke, Maroof Shah, B. Todd Campbell, M.L. Ali, Neway Mengistu, Abid Mahmood, Anyamanee Auvuchanon, Yang Yen, Sachin Rustgi, Benjamin Moreno-Sevilla, A. Mujeeb-Kazi, and M. Rosalind Morris. 2011. Understanding Grain Yield: It is a Journey, Not a Destination. Czech J. Genet. Plant Breed. 47: S77-S84.
• Mengistu, N., P. S. Baenziger, K. M. Eskridge, I. Dweikat, S. N. Wegulo, K. S. Gill, and A. Mujeeb-Kazi. 2012. Validation of QTL for grain yield-related traits on wheat chromosome 3a using recombinant inbred chromosome lines. Crop Sci. 52: 1622-1632.
• Bockus, W. W., Baenziger, P. S., and Berzonsky, W. 2012. Reaction of Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota winter wheat accessions to Fusarium head blight (FHB), 2011. (online) Plant Disease Management Reports 6:CF003. DOI:10.1094/PDMR06. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN.
• Hernandez Nopsa, J. F., P. S. Baenziger, K.. M. Eskridge, K. H. S., Peiris, F. E. Dowell, S. D. Harris, and S. N. Wegulo. 2012. Differential accumulation of deoxynivalenol in two winter wheat cultivars varying in FHB phenotype response under field conditions. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 34:380-389.
• Byamukama, E., Tatineni, S., Hein, G. L., Graybosch, R., Baenziger, P. S., French, R., and Wegulo, S. N. 2012. Effects of single and double infections of winter wheat by Triticum mosaic virus and Wheat streak mosaic virus on yield determinants. Plant Dis. 96:859-864.

Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The 2011 Nebraska wheat crop continued to decline in part due to wet weather in eastern Nebraska which prevented wheat to be planted after soybeans as a rotational option. 1,500,000 acres were planted with 1,450,000 acres harvested. Fortunately, Nebraska missed most of the drought of the southern Great Plains. Drought was present in southwestern Nebraska, but heavy rains and hail hurt the grain yield in eastern Nebraska. The average yield was 45 bu/a for a total crop of 63,000,000 bu. No new wheat, triticale, or barley cultivars were released in 2011. However, numerous lines continue to be advanced for possible release in 2012 (NE05496) and 2013 (NI08708 and NE05548). These new lines are adapted to southwestern, irrigated and western, and the drought prone areas of Nebraska, respectively. NE05496 and NI08708 are semi-dwarfs and NE05548 is a new tall wheat. The main thrusts of the program are to: 1. Incorporate modern molecular biology into our breeding program (initially by marker assisted breeding until we can develop a training population for genomic selection), 2. Diversify our sources of resistance to stem rust, 3. Increase the development of wheat streak mosaic virus resistance lines, and 4. Improve the quality of our bread and noodle wheat germplasm and releases. Marker assisted breeding is proving its value in that the lines recommended through this procedure appear on average to do better (by approximately 250 kg/ha) than those lines selected using our traditional methods. The emphasis is on average because poor lines can be selected by marker assisted breeding and by traditional breeding, but overall the marker assisted breeding seems to be adding the potential to identify genetically superior lines that may have been not selected due to poor phenotyping due to field variation, etc. This result is based upon our first year of using the marker assisted breeding process, but the results are promising enough that we continued it this year and are hoping to fully incorporate it in the future. The choice of marker system is evolving with marker technology. For the first two years we used DArTs, but have tried SNPs and will try genotype by sequencing in the next year. Tying the marker datasets together over years will an interesting theoretical problem, but needed as marker technology is constantly changing and is expected to continue to improve in coverage and cost. For stem rust, we are adding as many new alleles as are available, crossing to the CIMMYT lines with minor alleles, and bringing back Sr2 which continues to be very stable in its resistance to new races of stem rust. For wheat streak mosaic virus we are relying upon a phenotypic field assay as it the linkage between the molecular marker and the trait may have been broken with continued crossing. For end-use quality improvement, we continue to drop poor quality lines and are raising the selection criteria for good quality. PARTICIPANTS: P. S. Baenziger, S. N. Wegulo, R. Graybosch, I. Dweikat, G. Bai, D. Santra, H. Walia, B. Waters, R. French, S. Tatineni, Y. Jin, T. Clemente, G. Hein, M. Chen, D. Lyon, G. Kruger, D. Rose, L. Xu, B. Seabourn, K. Eskridge, W. Stroup, A. Lonrenz, D. Wang, J. Crossa, and K. Vogel. We also work closely with the Nebraska Wheat Board, Nebraska Crop Improvement Association, ConAgra, BASF, and Bayer Crop Science. TARGET AUDIENCES: Wheat, barley, and triticale growers in the Great Plains, wheat millers and bakers, consumers of barley and triticale forage (mainly cattle or dairy producers), and consumers interested in superior products. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Foundations seed sales of McGill and Robidoux (our most recent releases and released in 2010) were very good in 2010 and 2011, hence they will most likely continue the impact of the USDA-ARS and University of Nebraska wheat improvement program. Overland was the most popular wheat cultivar in Nebraska (11% of the acreage) followed by Pronghorn (10% of the acreage). All other cultivars were grown on 8% or less of the acreage. The advantage of have numerous cultivars being grown in Nebraska is that the genetic vulnerability of the crop is generally less when more and diverse cultivars are grown. An increase of 1 bu/a in Nebraska will increase farm income by approximately $7,500,000. In 2011, over 60% of the wheat acreage planted in Nebraska was plants to cultivars developed by the USDA-ARS and University of Nebraska wheat improvement program.

Publications

• Bockus, W. W., Baenziger, P. S., and Berzonsky, W. 2011. Reaction of Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota winter wheat accessions to Fusarium head blight (FHB), 2010. Plant Disease Management Reports (online). Report 5:CF008. DOI:10.1094/PDMR05 The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN.
• Graybosch, R. A. C.J. Peterson, P. S. Baenziger, D. D. Baltensperger, L. A. Nelson, Y. Jin. J. Kolmer, B. Seabourn, and B. Beecher. 2011. Registration of 'Anton' hard red winter wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations 5:339-344..
• Baenziger, P.S., R. A. Graybosch, T. Regassa, L.A. Nelson, R. N. Klein, D. K. Santra, D.D. Baltensperger, L. Xu, S. N. Wegulo, Y. Jin, J. Kolmer, Ming-shun Chen, and Guihua Bai. 2012. . Registration of 'NE01481' hard red winter wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations., In Press.
• Baenziger, P.S., R. A. Graybosch, T. Regassa, L.A. Nelson, R. N. Klein, D. K. Santra, D.D. Baltensperger, J. M. Krall, S. N. Wegulo, Y. Jin, J. Kolmer, Ming-shun Chen, and Guihua Bai. 2012. . Registration of 'NI04421' hard red winter wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations., In Press.

Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The 2010 Nebraska wheat crop was smaller than normal due to wet weather at planting. 1,600,000 acres were planted with 1,490,000 acres harvested. Hail was common throughout the wheat belt. The average yield was 43 ub/a for a total crop of 64,070,000 bu. The breeding program continued make progress with numerous elite lines being advanced to the pre-release stage. Two new wheat lines were released, namely McGill (named after Dr. David McGill, a legendary professor of genetics at the University of Nebraska) and Robidoux (named after a French fur trader whose trading post was in Robidoux pass that links Nebraska with Wyoming). Robidoux was co-released with the University of Wyoming, hence the name. McGill, is a high yielding line in southeast, southcentral, and southerwestern Nebraska with good end-use quality and wheat soilborne mosaic virus (WSBMV) resistance. McGill is the first wheat in a number of years from the Nebraska breeding program that has WSBMV resistance, so it is expected to do well wherever the disease is present. Robidoux is a high yielding irrigated wheat that appears to also have good drought tolerance. Hence it can be grown in western Nebraska and Wyoming under irrigation or under rainfed conditions which is a benefit to irrigated producers who misjudge the water requirements of their irrigated production. It also has good end-use quality. PARTICIPANTS: The small grains improvement effort is a highly collaborative effort involving, breeders, geneticists, plant pathologists, entomologists, physiologists, crop management specialists, cereal chemists, and food scientists. TARGET AUDIENCES: Small grains producers, wheat millers and bakers, and consumers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Foundation seed sales of McGill and Robidoux were very good, hence they will most likely continue the impact of the USDA-ARS and University of Nebraska wheat improvement program. An increase of 1 bu/a in Nebraska will increase farm income by approximately $7,500,000. In 2010, over 60% of the wheat acreage planted in Nebraska was plants to cultivars developed by the USDA-ARS and University of Nebraska wheat improvement program.

Publications

• Bockus, W. W., Baenziger, P. S., and Berzonsky, W. 2010. Reaction of Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota winter wheat accessions to Fusarium head blight (FHB), 2009. Plant Disease Management Reports (online). Report 4:CF013. DOI:10.1094/PDMR04 The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN.
• Mi, Xiajuan, Kent Eskridge, Dong Wang, P. Stephen Baenziger, B. Todd Campbell, Kulvinder S. Gill, and Ismail Dweikat. 2010. Bayesian mixture structural equation modeling in multiple-trait QTL mapping. Genetics Research Cambridge. 92:239-250.
• Mi, X. Kent Eskridge, Dong Wang, P. Stephen Baenziger, B. Todd Campbell, Kulvinder S. Gill, Ismail Dweikat, and James Bovaird. 2010. Regression-Based Multi-Trait QTL Mapping Using a Structural Equation Model. Statistical Applications in Genetics and Molecular Biology: Vol. 9 : Iss. 1, Article 38. DOI: 10.2202/1544-6115.1552.
• Baenziger, P. S., Ismail Dweikat, Kulvinder Gill, Kent Eskridge, Terry Berke, Maroof Shah, B. Todd Campbell, M.L. Ali, Neway Mengistu, Abid Mahmood, Anyamanee Auvuchanon, Yang Yen, Sachin Rustgi, Benjamin Moreno-Sevilla, A. Mujeeb-Kazi, and M. Rosalind Morris. 2010. Understanding Grain Yield: It is a Journey, Not a Destination. In Proc. 8th International Wheat Conference. St. Petersburg, Russia, June 1-4, 2010.

Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The conditions across Nebraska had much higher rainfall than normal, as was the state average or 48 bu/a and a much higher incidence of scab. Fortunately the weather was cooler than normal, so only in the warmest parts of the state (southwestern NE) was scab considered a problem. Low levels of scab was found virtually state-wide which is extremely unusual as the western production fields usually have 10 to 14 inches of annual rainfall. Grain yields in our breeding nurseries ranged from 82.9 bu/a (Alliance) to 56.0 bu/a (Clay Center). Clay Center was hurt by a severe infection of soilborne wheat mosaic virus, though the average of 56.0 bu/a indicated that even the infected lines had a good season due to the abundance of moisture. It also indicates that a number of experimental lines in our nurseries now are resistant to soilborne wheat mosaic virus. The highest yielding line at Clay Center yielded over 77 bu/a. In 2008, we formally released NE01604 as Camelot and NH03614 as Settler CL, a new Clearfield wheat (e.g. herbicide tolerant wheat). Camelot continued to perform well throughout the state, but its home seems to be in central and western NE. Settler CL had a remarkable year and is an extremely high yielding line in central and western NE. Settler CL seems to have very good winterhardiness and drought tolerance. It can be successfully grown in South Dakota, Colorado, and Wyoming in areas near Nebraska. Settler CL will fill a need in the northern Great Plains and also diversifying growers' choices for these unique wheat cultivars. NE01481continued to perform very well and is targeted for release in late 2009 or early 2010 to conventional and organic growers because it has very good grain yield, excellent end-use quality, and soilborne mosaic virus resistance which will be useful in eastern NE, thus complementing the area of adaptation of our first organic wheat release, NE99495. NI04421 is being increased for irrigated production and for dryland production in western NE. Much like the cultivar 2137, NI04421 performs well under irrigation except at the very highest grain yields and also performs extremely well under drought stress in dryland conditions in western NE. NI04421 seems to be ideally suited for those irrigated wheat producer that perhaps end their irrigation protocol one irrigations too soon, so the crop finishes under some moisture stress. NI04421 is highly susceptible to stinking smut and must be treated with seed fungicides to ensure good growth, hence is not recommended for the organic market despite its excellent grain quality. We are also increasing our efforts on stem rust resistance. In 2009, we began a modest hybrid wheat breeding effort as one of the last frontiers in wheat improvement. Our winter barley and winter triticale breeding program continues to make small improvements in diversifying agriculture in the Great Plains. We are increasing a number of lines in both crops for future release. Because we are one of the northern most winter barley and triticale breeding efforts, we are actively seeking commercial partners to test and potentially market our triticale cultivars outside of Nebraska. PARTICIPANTS: Nebraska Wheat Board, Nebraska Wheat Growers Association, USDA-ARS. TARGET AUDIENCES: Wheat producers and end-users. Consumers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
In 2009, 1,6300,000 acres of winter wheat were harvested with an average yield of 48 bu/a for a total production of 76,800,00 bu. Genetic improvement accounted for 20% of this yield increase. Varieties developed by this program were grown on 61% of the acreage. Hence approximately 9,573,393 million bu of increased grain yield were due to this program. Using the Kansas City Board of Trade prices for hard red winter wheat (about $5.60/bu) this improvement added $54,000,000 to wheat producers in Nebraska. The genetic gains also produced enough wheat to feed an additional 3,039,172 people. These figures do not include the impact of cultivars developed by the program that are grown in other states or value chain enhancements by milling and processing (e.g. baking).

Publications

• Graybosch, R.A., C.J. Peterson, P. S. Baenziger, D. D. Baltensperger, L. A. Nelson, Y. Jin, J. Kolmer, B. Seaborn, R. French, G. Hein, T.J. Martin, B. Beecher, T. Schwarzacher and P. Heslop-Harrison. 2009. Registration of 'Mace' hard red winter wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations 3:51-56.
• Jauhar, P. P., S. S. Xu, and P. S. Baenziger. 2009. Haploidy in cultivated wheats: induction and utility in basic and applied research. Crop Sci. 49:737-755.
• Wegulo, S. N., J. A. Breathnacht, and P.S. Baenziger. 2009. Effect of growth stage on the relationship between tan spot and spot blotch severity and yield in winter wheat. Crop Protection 28:696-702.
• Baenziger, P.S., R.A. Graybosch, L.A. Nelson, R. N. Klein, D.D. Baltensperger, L. Xu, S. N. Wegulo, J.E. Watkins, Y. Jin, J. Kolmer, J. H. Hatchett, Ming-Shun Chen, and Guihua Bai. 2009. Registration of 'Camelot' wheat. J. Plant Registrations 3:256-263.
• Sidiqi, J., S. N. Wegulo, P. E. Read, and P.S. Baenziger. 2009. Frequency of resistance to stem rust race TPMK in Afghan wheat cultivars. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 31:250-253.
• Baenziger, P.S., P. W. Simon, and T. C. Wehner. 2009. Educating the next generation of plant breeders: The need and the challenge. In N. Berding (ed). Proc. Of the Joint 14th Australasian Plant Breeding Conference and the 11th SABRAO Congress. Cairns, Australia. August 10-14, 2009.
• Baenziger, P.S., I Dweikat, and S. N. Wegulo. 2009. The future of plant breeding. In A. Swanepoel (ed.) Proc. of the 9th Aftican Crop Science Society Meeting. Cape Town, Republic of South Africa. September 28 to October 1, 2009.
• Baenziger, P.S., and R.M. DePauw. 2009. Wheat breeding: Procedures and strategies. In B.F. Carver (ed.) Wheat: Science and Trade. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Ames, IA. p. 275-308.
• Baenziger, P., R. Graybosch, D. Van Sanford, and W. Berzonsky. 2009. Winter and specialty wheat. In: (M. J. Carena, ed.) Handbook of Plant Breeding, Vol. 3 Cereals. Springer. p.251-265.

Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: In 2008, 1,950,000 acres of wheat were planted in Nebraska and 1,700,000 were harvested with an average yield of 44 bu/a for a total production of 74,800,00 bu. The conditions across Nebraska were highly variable as determined by our breeding nurseries. Grain yields ranged from 82.9 bu/a (North Platte) to 31.8 bu/a (Mead). Mead was hurt by heavy rains at planting that reduced emergences (also true at Lincoln) and heavy rains during flowering which led to a major scab infection. Scab was also a common disease at Clay Center (40.7 bu/a) and Lincoln in our nurseries and from eastern NE to North Platte in rainfed production fields, and further west in irrigated fields. Western NE was affected by drought but he yields at Alliance (52.9 bu/a) and Sidney (52.9 bu/a) were remarkably similar and better than expected. Lincoln (59.2 bu/a) had good grain yields despite a wheat soilborne mosaic virus infection. In eastern Nebraska, leaf rust and Fusarium head blight were the main constraint on productivity, while in western NE the major constraint was drought. We formally released NE01604 as Camelot and NH03614 as Settler CL, both of which will be marketed through NuPride Genetics Network. Camelot is a high yielding line with excellent quality and stem rust resistance. Settler CL is broadly adapted and was co-released with WY and SD. Settler CL is a new Clearfield wheat with good winterhardiness and end-use quality that will fill a need in the northern Great Plains and also diversifying growers' choices for these unique wheat cultivars. NE01481is targeted for release to conventional and organic growers because it has very good grain yield, excellent end-use quality, and soilborne mosaic virus resistance which will be useful in eastern NE, thus complementing the area of adaptation of our first organic wheat release, NE99495. NI04421 is being increased for irrigated production. Unfortunately it is highly susceptible to stinking smut and must be treated with seed fungicides to ensure good growth. We are also increasing our efforts on stem rust resistance in our lines, though it seems more and more our resistance genes are breaking in Africa (e.g. the new race attacks lines with Sr6, Sr24, and Sr36). We are very actively acquiring new genes for resistance. Our winter barley and winter triticale breeding program continues to make small improvements in diversifying agriculture in the Great Plains. Sales remain strong for barley (mainly as a forage and feed grain) and triticale (mainly for a forage). We are increasing a number of lines in both crops for future release. Winter triticale may have excellent potential as a feedstock for future cellulosic ethanol production. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Growers, millers and bakers, consumers, PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
In 2008, 1,950,000 acres of wheat were planted in Nebraska and 1,700,000 were harvested with an average yield of 44 bu/a for a total production of 74,800,00 bu. Genetic improvement accounted for 20% of this yield increase. Varieties developed by this program were grown on 56% of the acreage. Hence approximately 8,548,346 million bu of increased grain yield were due to this program. Using the Kansas City Board of Trade prices for hard red winter wheat (about $7.00/bu) this improvement added $60,000,000 to wheat producers in Nebraska. The genetic gains also produced enough wheat to feed an additional 2,713,761 people. These figures do not include the impact of cultivars developed by the program that are grown in other states or value chain enhancements by milling and processing (e.g. baking).

Publications

• Baenziger, P.S., B. Beecher, R.A. Graybosch, A. M. H. Ibrahim, D.D. Baltensperger, L.A. Nelson, Y. Jin, S. N. Wegulo, J.E. Watkins, J. H. Hatchett, Ming-Shun Chen, and Guihua Bai. 2008. Registration of NE01643 wheat. J. Plant Registrations 2: 36-42.
• Ali, M., J. Rajewski, P. S. Baenziger, K. S. Gill, K. M. Eskridge and I. Dweikat. 2008. Assessment of genetic diversity and relationship among a collection of US sweet sorghum germplasm by SSR markers. Molec. Breeding. 21:497-509.
• Ibrahim, A.M.H., S.D. Haley, P. S. Baenziger, Y. Jin, M.A.C. Langham, J. Rickertsen, S. Kalsbeck, R. Little, J. Ingemansen, O.K. Chung, B.W. Seabourn, G.H. Bai, Ming-Shun Chen and D.V. McVey. 2008. Registration of Alice wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations 2:110-114.
• Ibrahim, A.M.H., S.D. Haley, P. S. Baenziger, Y. Jin, M.A.C. Langham, J. Rickertsen, S. Kalsbeck, R. Little, J. Ingemansen, O.K. Chung, B.W. Seabourn, G.H. Bai, Ming-Shun Chen and D.V. McVey. 2008. Registration of Darrell wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations 2:115-119.
• Bockus, W. W., Baenziger, P. S., and Ibrahim, A. M. H. 2008. Reaction of Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota winter wheat accessions to Fusarium head blight (FHB), 2007. Plant Disease Management Reports (online). Report 1:CF009. DOI: 10.1094/PDMR02. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN.
• Mahmood, A. and P. S. Baenziger. 2008. Creation of salt tolerant wheat doubled haploid lines from wheat by maize crosses. Cereal Res. Comm. 36:361-371.
• Lekgari, L.A., P. S. Baenziger, K. P. Vogel, and D. D. Baltensperger. 2008. Identifying winter forage triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) strains for the central Great Plains. Crop Sci. 48:2040-2048.
• Baenziger, P.S., R. A. Graoybosch, I. Dweikat, S. N. Wegulo, G. L. Hein, and K. M. Eskridge. 2008. In R. Appels, R. Eastwood, E. Lagudah, P. Langridge, M. Mackay, and L. McIntyre (ed) Proc. 11th International Wheat Genetics Symposium. August 24 -29, 2008. Brisbane, Australia. http://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/2123/3325/1/O51.pdf

Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07

Outputs
OUTPUTS: In 2007, 2,050,000 acres of wheat were planted in Nebraska and 1,960,000 were harvested with an average yield of 43 bu/a for a total production of 84,280,00 bu. The conditions across Nebraska were highly variable as determined by our breeding nurseries. Grain yields ranged from 71 bu/a (North Platte) to 36 bu/a (Clay Center). Clay Center was hurt by a freeze and then by Fusarium head blight. In addition to North Platte, Lincoln (66 bu/a) had excellent grain yield. Mead (52 bu/a), Sidney (50 bu/a), and Hemingford (50 bu/a) had better grain yields (47 bu/a) than would be expected. In eastern Nebraska, leaf rust and Fusarium head blight were the main constraint on productivity, while in western NE the major constraint was drought. We formally released NE01643 which will be co-released with South Dakota State University. And marketed as "Husker Genetics Brand Overland" with the variety listed as NE01643 on the certified tag. It had a spectacular year with over 3000 bu of foundation seed being sold. We continue our development of NE99495 for organic production, which anecdotally had a very good year also. Three new lines are being increased for possible release in 2008. They are NE01604, a very good lines with broad adaptation and excellent end-use quality that will be released to NuPride Genetics. NH03614 is a new Clearfield wheat with good winterhardiness and end-use quality that would be targeted for northern NE and South Dakota, thus filling a need in the northern Great Plains and also diversifying growers' choices for these unique wheat cultivars. NE01481is targeted for release to the organic growers because it has very good grain yield, excellent end-use quality, and soilborne mosaic virus resistance which will be useful in eastern NE, thus complementing the area of adaptation of NE99495. We are also increasing our efforts on stem rust resistance in our lines, though it seems more and more our resistance genes are breaking in Africa (e.g. the new race attacks lines with Sr6, Sr24, and Sr36). We are very actively acquiring new genes for resistance. Our winter barley and winter triticale breeding program continues to make small improvements in diversifying agriculture in the Great Plains. Sales remain strong for barley (mainly as a forage and feed grain) and triticale (mainly for a forage). We are increasing a number of lines in both crops for future release. Winter triticale may have excellent potential as a feedstock for future cellulosic ethanol production. PARTICIPANTS: Baenziger, P.S., B. Beecher, R.A. Graybosch, A. M. H. Ibrahim, D.D. Baltensperger, L.A. Nelson, Y. Jin, S. N. Wegulo, J.E. Watkins, J. H. Hatchett, Ming-Shun Chen, and Guihua Bai. Nebraska Wheat Board, Nebraska Foundation Seed Division, Nebraska Crop Improvement Association. TARGET AUDIENCES: Wheat producers and breeders.

Impacts
In 2007, 2,050,000 acres of wheat were planted in Nebraska and 1,960,000 were harvested with an average yield of 43 bu/a for a total production of 84,280,00 bu. Genetic improvement accounted for 22% of this yield increase. Varieties developed by this program were grown on 60% of the acreage. Hence approximately 11,114,000 million bu of increased grain yield were due to this program. Using the Kansas City Board of Trade prices for hard read winter wheat on December 6, 2007 ($9.15/bu) this improvement added $101,700,000 to wheat producers in Nebraska. The genetic gains also produced enough wheat to feed an additional 4,5000,000 people. These figures do not include the impact of cultivars developed by the program that are grown in other states or value chain enhancements by milling and processing (e.g. baking).

Publications

• Erayman M., Abeyo B. G., Baenziger P. S., Budak H., Eskridge K. M. 2006. Evaluation of seedling characteristics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through canonical correlation analysis. Cereal Research Communications 34 (4): 1231- 1238.
• Divis, L.A., R. A. Graybosch, C.J. Peterson, P. S. Baenziger, G. L. Hein, B.B. Beecher, and T. J. Martin. 2006. Agronomic and quality effects in winter wheat of a gene conditioning resistance to wheat streak mosaic virus. Euphytica 152:41-49.

Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06

Outputs
In 2006, 1,800,000 acres of wheat were planted in Nebraska and 1,700,000 were harvested with an average yield of 36 bu/a. The conditions across Nebraska were highly variable as determined by our breeding nurseries. Grain yields ranged from 78 bu/a (Lincoln) to 39 bu/a (North Platte). In addition to Lincoln, Mead (73 bu/a) and Clay Center (74 bu/a) had excellent grain yields, while Alliance had much better grain yields (47 bu/a) than would be expected for the very little moisture that the plots received. Sidney was severely affected by drought and then damaged by hail so badly that it had to be abandoned. The decision was made to recommend NE01643 which will be co-released with South Dakota State University. Due to intellectual property and marketing concerns, NE01643 will be marketed as Husker Genetics Brand Overland with the variety listed as NE01643 on the certified tag. This line has truly exceptional agronomic performance but is minimally adequate for end-use quality (basically lacks the strength and tolerance that we would like), hence our decision to add more weight on end-use quality in future releases. The certified seed industry when presented with the data seems to want Husker Genetics Brand Overland and all of the Foundation Seed has been sold. Four lines were advanced for initial seed increase to the Foundation Seed Division. We also are in the process of releasing NE99495 for organic production. In an organic grower's increase field, the line did very well and samples were sent to a major cereal company. They like the quality very much and are recommending a significant seed increase to meet their needs for organic wheat grain. The company is marketing organic cereals and presumably this cultivar will fit well into their growth plans. The organic market is an emerging market with excellent growth potential; hence we hope to increase our cooperation with this segment of the wheat industry. We are also increasing our efforts on stem rust resistance in our lines. A new race, Uganda 99 (Ug99), was identified in east Africa. This new race attacks lines with Sr6, a very common gene in our program. We have numerous genes that continue to be resistant to this new race (e.g. Sr2, Sr24, and Sr36) and are actively acquiring new genes for resistance. We recently received from Dr. Guihua Bai, USDA-ARS and Kansas State University, about 300 lines with improved Fusarium head blight resistance in a Wesley background. These lines are a very important germplasm for resistance to this disease. Our winter barley breeding program continues to make small improvements in diversifying agriculture in the Great Plains. For the first time, all of the certified barley seed was sold (approximately 30,000 units where a unit is a 50 lbs bag of seed). This compares very favorably with the previous years where less than 5,000 units of barley seed were sold. Winter triticale continues to also do well with all of the certified seed of our grain and forage triticales being sold. Due to increase market demand we are increasing 5 lines for possible release. Winter triticale may have excellent potential as a feedstock for future cellulosic ethanol production.

Impacts
In 2006, Nebraska harvested 61,200,000 bu of wheat from 1,700,000 acres with an average yield of 36 bu/a. Genetic improvement accounted for 22% of this yield increase. Varieties developed by this program were grown on 62% of the acreage. Hence approximately 8,500,000 million bu of increased grain yield were due to this program. Using the Kansas City Board of Trade prices for hard read winter wheat on November 28, 2006 ($5.10/bu) this improvement added $42,500,000 to wheat producers in Nebraska. The genetic gains also produced enough wheat to feed an additional 3,300,000 people.

Publications

• Baenziger, P.S., B. Beecher, R.A. Graybosch, D.D. Baltensperger, L.A. Nelson, Y. Jin, J.E. Watkins, J.H. Hatchett, Ming-Shun Chen, and Guihua Bai. 2006. Registration of Hallam wheat. Crop Sci. 46:977-979.
• Baenziger, P.S., B. Beecher, R.A. Graybosch, D.D. Baltensperger, L.A. Nelson, J. M. Krall, Y. Jin, J.E. Watkins, D. J. Lyon, A. R. Martin, Ming-Shun Chen, and Guihua Bai. 2006. Registration of Infinity CL wheat. Crop Sci. 46:975-977.
• Hu, Qi, A. Weiss, S. Feng, and P. S. Baenziger. 2006. Earlier winter wheat heading dates and warmer spring in the U.S. Great Plains. Agric. and Forest Meteorology 135: 284-290.
• Mishra, R., P. S. Baenziger, W. K. Russell, R. A. Graybosch, D. D. Baltensperger, and K. M. Eskridge. 2006. Crossover interaction for grain yield in multi-environmental trials of winter wheat. Crop Sci. 46: 1291-1298.
• Baenziger, P. S., W. K. Russell, G. L. Graef, and B. T. Campbell. 2006. Improving lives: 50 years of crop breeding, genetics and cytology (C-1). Crop Sci.46: 2230-2244. Baenziger, P.S. 2006. Plant breeding training in the U.S. HortScience 41:40-44.

Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05

Outputs
The data for the elite nursery [Nebraska Intrastate Nursery (NIN)] was excellent in 2005. The grains yields ranged from 46 bu/a at North Platte to 73 bu/a at Mead and Hemingford (which was sprayed with fungicide, hence was disease-free). The fungicide treatment at Hemingford helped the grain yield and the grain quality (some of the finest seed in recent history at the breeding project). In general, seed quality was excellent, but North Platte seemed to have suffered numerous calamities (severe disease and weather grain) and visually had the poorest seed quality. Somewhat remarkably, a number of lines that previously did very well, had difficult years this year. Harry, in the absence of fungicide was injured by stripe rust in eastern Nebraska (fortunately not its main area of adaptation). Wesley also performed below expectations in this trial. Fortunately, both lines performed better in the State Variety Trial. Lines that had an exceptional year in this nursery were Goodstreak, Infinity CL, and Millennium. Infinity CL also did very well in the State Variety Trial in Nebraska and in northern Kansas. It is superior to all Clearfield wheat varieties in southern Nebraska and northern Kansas. In western Nebraska, it seems to be very competitive with a new Colorado wheat (Bond CL) though Infinity CL has superior test weight. One line, NE99495 was licensed to the Kansas Organic Producer Association. It has superb end-use quality and very good agronomic performance. Of the experimental lines under increase, NE01643 looks like a sure release with its being co-released with South Dakota State University. Of the lines tested across the state, NE01643 (56.7 bu/a dryland) was 4.3 bu/a better yielding than the second highest yielding line in the trial (Infinity CL). Two lines that appear to have done well in the NIN were removed from release consideration due to poor end-use quality. They are NE02495 and NE02592 and were retained for further testing as parent lines to better quality parents. Two white wheat lines are being increased, NW03638 and NW03681, for future possible release. Our efforts on white wheat development continue to expand so that we can create very high yielding white wheat lines to meet the emerging market needs for this class. One other wheat that deserves mention is NI02425 that was developed in our irrigated wheat-breeding program. NI02425 seems to have excellent dryland adaptation and good performance under irrigation. It may be the new 2137 which had performed well in dryland and irrigated production systems.

Impacts
In 2005, Nebraska harvested 68,600,000 bu of wheat from 1,760,000 acres with an average yield of 39 bu/a. Genetic improvement accounted for 22% of this yield increase. Varieties developed by this program were grown on 62% of the acreage. Hence approximately 9,500,000 million bu of increased grain yield were due to this program. Using the Kansas City Board of Trade prices for hard read winter wheat on November 15, 2005 ($3.60/bu) this improvement added $34,000,000 to wheat producers in Nebraska. The genetic gains also produced enough wheat to feed an additional 3,800,000 people.

Publications

• Kim, Kyung-moon and P. Stephen Baenziger. 2005. A simple wheat haploid and doubled haploid production system using anther culture. In Vitro Cell. Devel. Biol. Plant 41:22-27.
• Fufa, H., P. Stephen Baenziger, B. S. Beecher, R. A. Graybosch, K. M. Eskridge and L. A. Nelson. 2005. Genetic Improvement Trends in Agronomic Performances and End-use Quality Characteristics Among Hard Red Winter Wheat Cultivars in Nebraska. Euphytica 144:187-198.
• Gulsen, O., R. C. Shearman, K. P. Vogel, D. J. Lee, P. S. Baenziger, T. M. Heng-Moss, and H. Budak. 2005. Nuclear Genome Diversity and Relationships Among Naturally Occurring Buffalograss Genotypes Determined by sequence-related amplified polymorphism. HortScience 40: 537-541.
• Haliloglu, K., and P.S. Baenziger (2005). Screening Wheat Genotypes for High Callus Induction and Regeneration Capability from Immature Embryo Cultures. J. Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology 14: 77-82.
• Baenziger, P. S., Jean-Luc Jannink, and L.R. Gibson. 2005. Registration of NE426GT Winter Triticale. Crop Sci. 45: 796-797.
• Graybosch, R.A., C.J. Peterson, P.S. Baenziger, L.A. Nelson, B.B. Beecher, D.B. Baltensperger, and J.M. Krall. 2005. Registration of Arrowsmith Hard White Winter Wheat Crop Sci. 45: 1662-1663.
• Graybosch, R.A., C.J. Peterson, P.S. Baenziger, L.A. Nelson, B.B. Beecher, D.B. Baltensperger, and J.M. Krall. 2005. Registration of Antelope Hard White Winter Wheat. Crop Sci. 45: 1661-1662.
• Dhungana, P., K. M. Eskridge, and A. Weiss, and P.S. Baenziger. 2005. Designing crop technology for a future climate: An example using response surface methodology and the CERES-Wheat model. Agricultural Systems 87:63-79.

Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04

Outputs
In 2004, two new cultivars were recommended for release. They are NE98471, which will be released as Hallam in honor of the people who are rebuilding their town severely damaged by a tornado, and NH01046 that will be released as Infinity. The latter name was chosen because the line is a Clearfield wheat and the herbicide is named Beyond, hence Infinity and Beyond. Hallam will be recommend for eastern NE where it is the highest yielding line in the State Variety Trial for the past three years. It is an early wheat with good test weight patterns and seems to have a disease package that is moderately susceptible to many diseases but most importantly does not allow major losses to any disease. Infinity appears to be a broadly adapted wheat that is herbicide resistant. It is moderately resistant to stem, leaf, and stripe rust and seems to have some tolerance to wheat streak mosaic virus. It has good test weight and fairly good straw strength. Infinity should be an improvement agronomically and for end-use quality over Above and AP502CL, two popular wheats with herbicide tolerance. We have considerably less data on Infinity, but it has done well in the State Variety trial (2 years of testing) and the NIN and Triplicate Nursery. Both Hallam and Infinity have good end-use quality and should be well received by the domestic and foreign milling and baking industry. Development of forage and grain triticale cultivars continues. Historically NE426GT has been the top grain yielding line in Nebraska and has early forage potential. NE422T has been the best forage/hay producing line. Advanced experimental lines have been found that are superior to both of these lines. In our winter barley breeding efforts we struggle between having lines with sufficient winterhardiness to survive in Nebraska and with great early spring growth in Kansas and Oklahoma where our winter barley cultivars are sown. For example, one of our newer barley lines NE98919, was dropped in Nebraska because it lacked winterhardiness, but was outstanding in Oklahoma and southern Kansas where winterhardiness is less of a concern.

Impacts
With continued efforts in plant breeding, we hope to provide the winter wheat, barley, and triticale growers of the northern Great Plains with highly adapated and widely grown cultivars. In addition, end-users will have exceptional bread and noodle making wheat, feed barley, and feed and forage triticale.

Publications

• Graybosch, R. A., N. Ames, P. S. Baenziger, and C. J. Peterson. 2004. Genotypic and environmental modification of Asian noodle quality of hard winter wheat. Cereal Chem. 81:19-25.
• Haliloglu, Kamil and P. Stephen Baenziger. 2003. The effects of age and size of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) anther culture-derived embryos on regeneration of green and albino plantlets. Israeli J. of Plant Sci. 51:207-212.
• Xue, Q. , Albert Weiss, Timothy J. Arkebauer and P. Stephen Baenziger. 2004. Influence of soil water status and atmospheric vapor pressure deficit on leaf gas exchange in field-grown winter wheat. Env. Exp. Bot. 51: 93-181.
• Mater, Y., S. Baenziger, K. Gill, R. Graybosch, L. Whitcher, C. Baker, J. Specht, and I. Dweikat. 2004. Linkage mapping of powdery mildew and greenbug resistance genes on recombinant 1RS fro Amigo and Kavkaz wheat-rye translocations of chromosome 1RS.1AS. Genome 47: 292-298.
• Kim, K-M., D. E. Lee, H. Song, Y. I. Kuk, J. O., Guh, P. S. Baenziger, and K. Back. 2004. Influence of a selectable marker gene hpt on agronomic performance in transgenic rice. Cereal Res. Comm. 32: 9-16.
• Budak, H., P.S. Baenziger, B. Beecher, R A. Graybosch, B. T. Campbell, M. Shipman, M. Erayman, and K. M. Eskridge. 2004. The effect of introgressions of wheat D-genome chromosomes into Presto triticale. Euphytica 137: 261-270.
• Xue, Q., Albert Weiss, and P. Stephen Baenziger. 2004. Predicting leaf appearance in field-grown winter wheat: evaluating linear and non-linear models. Ecological modeling 175: 261-270.
• Kim, W., J. W. Johnson, P. S. Baenziger, A. J. Lukaszewski, and C. S. Gaines. 2004. Agronomic effect of wheat-rye translocation carrying rye chromatin (1R) from different sources. Crop Sci.44: 1254-1258.
• Budak, H., F. Pedraza, P. B. Cregan, P. S. Baenziger, and I. Dweikat. 2003. Development and utilization of SSRs to estimate the degree of genetic relationships in a collection of pearl millet germplasm. Crop Sci. 43:2284-2290.
• Haliloglu, K., and P. S. Baenziger. 2003. Response of wheat genotypes to Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation. Cereal Res. Comm.31: 241-248.
• Xue Q, A. Weiss, and P.S. Baenziger. 2004. Predicting phenological development in winter wheat. Climate Res. 25:243-252.
• Baenziger, P.S., B. Beecher, R.A. Graybosch, D.D. Baltensperger, L.A. Nelson, J.M. Krall, D.V. McVey, J.E. Watkins, J.H. Hatchett, and Ming-Shun Chen. 2004. Registration of Goodstreak wheat. Crop Sci 44: 1473-1474.
• Baenziger, P.S., B. Beecher, R.A. Graybosch, D.D. Baltensperger, L.A. Nelson, D.V. McVey, J.E. Watkins, J.H. Hatchett, and Ming-Shun Chen. 2004. Registration of Harry wheat. Crop Sci.44: 1474-1475.
• Baenziger, P.S., G. S. McMaster, W.W. Wilhelm, A. Weiss, and C.J. Hays. Putting genes into genetic coefficients. 2004. Field Crop Res. 90: 133-143.
• Graybosch, R. A., E. J. Souza, W. A. Berzonsky, P. S. Baenziger, D. V. McVey, and O. K. Chung. 2004. Registration of Nineteen Waxy Spring Wheats. Crop Sci. 44:1491-1492.

Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03

Outputs
In the last year, Harry and Goodstreak hard red winter wheats were formally released and NE97638 and NE97426 were licensed. In addition, NE426GT winter triticale and P-713 were recommended for release. NE426GT is a unique winter triticale with very high grain yields and excellent early spring forage potential. It is expected to be used as a feed grain triticale in Iowa and a part of a forage blend in Nebraska and Kansas. P-713 is a winter hardy barley that seems to have excellent feed grain potential for Kansas and the southern Great Plains. Two wheat lines (NE98471 and NH01046) were recommended for large scale seed increase with the intent to release in 2004. NE98471 is an excellent dryland wheat for eastern Nebraska. NH01046 is the first potential herbicide tolerant wheat developed by this program and seems to have broad adaptability. Both wheat experimental lines have excellent end-use quality and NH01046 is moderately resistant to leaf, stem and stripe rust. Hard white wheat development continues though no line has yet made it past the initial increase stage. Gradually we are increasing the number of crosses and lines tested that are white wheats. We are adding polyphenol oxidase testing to both our red and white wheat breeding efforts as this traits seems to be an increasingly important aspect of end use quality

Impacts
With continued efforts in plant breeding, we hope to provide the winter wheat, barley, and triticale growers of the northern Great Plains with highly adapated and widely grown cultivars. In addition, end-users will have exceptional bread and noodle making wheat, feed barley, and feed and forage triticale.

Publications

• Streck, N. Augusto, A. Weiss, Q. Xue, and P. Stephen Baenziger. 2003. Improving predictions of developmental stages in winter wheat: a modified Wang and Engel model. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 115:130-150.
• Kumlay, A. M., P. S. Baenziger, K. S. Gill, D. R. Shelton, R. A. Graybosch, A. J. Lukaszewski, and D. M. Wesenberg. 2003. Understanding the effect of rye chromatin in bread wheat. Crop Science 43: 1643-1651.
• Budak, H., P. S. Baenziger, D. R. Shelton, K. M. Eskridge, and M. J. Shipman. 2003. Genetic and environmental effects on end-use quality of diverse hard red winter wheats. Cereal Chem. 80:518-523.
• Erayman, M., P.S. Baenziger, R. French, and G. L. Hein. 2003. Application of mobile nursery method to determine temporal and spatial genetic variability of wheat streak mosaic virus in Nebraska. Cereal Res. Comm. 31: 105-112.
• Streck, N. A., A. Weiss, Q. Xue, P. S. Baenziger. 2003. Incorporating a Chronology Response into the Prediction of Leaf Appearance Rate in Winter Wheat. Annals of Botany 92(2):181-190.
• Graybosch, R. A., Edward Souza, William Berzonsky, P. Stephen Baenziger, and Okkyung Chung. 2003. Functional properties of waxy wheat flours: genotypic and environmental effects. J. Cereal Sci. 38:69-76.
• Streck, N. A., A. Weiss, and P. S. Baenziger. 2003. A generalized vernalization response function for winter wheat. Agron. J. 95:155-159.
• P. S. Baenziger, B. Moreno?Sevilla, R. A. Graybosch, J. M. Krall, M. J. Shipman, R. W. Elmore, R. N. Klein, D. D. Baltensperger, L. A. Nelson, D. V. McVey, J. E. Watkins, and J. H. Hatchett. 2002. Registration of 'Wahoo' Wheat. Crop Sci.48: 1752-1753.

Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/02

Outputs
Barley continues to be a minor crop in the central Great Plains, however one that has excellent potential as a feed grain, a food grain (mainly as a naked barley), and as a forage. With the advent of karnal bunt in the southern United States and barley's virtual immunity to this disease, barley is becoming an increasingly attractive feed grain in the Great Plains. The breeding program continues to make progress. Two previously released lines P-954 and P-721 continue to do well in Kansas and Oklahoma. In addition, NE95713 (P-954/Pennco) is being increased for future release. Breeding trials are planted at Colby, KS; Sidney, NE; and Lincoln, NE. While small, the program continues to be dedicated to providing crop diversity in the Great Plains.

Impacts
New cultivars will continue to be released to provide crop diversity to the Great Plains and to help reduce the impact of karnal bunt in small grains producing areas.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 10/01/00 to 09/30/01

Outputs
The efforts to breed improved winter barley continues. Winter barley now seems to have two very nice compettive advantages in the Great Plains. First, it is immune to karnal bunt, an emerging disease. Second it is an excellent feed grain that allows small grain producers to diversify their cropping systems. Barley sales increased in 2001 compared to 2000 in the southern Great Plains. In 2001, a new winter barley feed grain was shipped to Paramount Seeds of Quinter, Kansas for the initial increase prior to release. It will be tested in Kansas and should it performance continue to show its superiority to currently available barley cultivars, it could be released to commercial producers by fall, 2003.

Impacts
Improved winter feed barleys will become a useful cropping alternative in areas where the karnal bunt is disrupting commercial wheat production and sales. It also is an excellent feed grain that will add biological diversity to the souther Great Plains.

Publications

• None. 2001

Progress 10/01/99 to 09/30/00

Outputs
The winter barley efforts continue to focus on developing winterhardy feed barleys for Nebraska and the middle Great Plains (northern Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska). The cultivars developed by our program are exclusively released through Paramount Seeds of Quinter, Kansas. Currently we have identified three lines having superior performance at Lincoln and Sidney, NE and Colby, KS (in cooperation with Mr. Pat Evans of Kansas State University). These lines are currently under increase for possible release. While the grain performance of our barley cultivars is excellent, the main barley users (often dairies) would prefer to have dual purpose winter barleys (forage and grain). Our emphasis on winter survival requires a prostrate growth pattern which limits the forage/grazing potential. Additional efforts in this area are required to determine if we can couple forage potential with winter survival. We have made numerous crosses to Hordeum spontaneum to broaden our genetic base. We continue to test oat cultivars and advanced lines for use in Nebraska, however the oat acreage continues to decline (now less than 100,000 acres; 45,000 hectares). We are scaling our efforts appropriately.

Impacts
Our cultivars continue to be the most winterhardy, highest yielding lines in the middle Great Plains. However, farm policy may need to change to allow barley and oats to be grown profitably in this region.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 10/01/98 to 09/30/99

Outputs
In the five years of this effort, two new winter barley cultivars(P-721 and P-954)and one germplasm line were released. Both cultivars were exclusively released to Paramount Seeds of Quinter Kansas who is currently marketing the seed. While the volume of seed sales has been small, these are the two most modern winter barley cultivars in the upper Great Plains and were released to allow producers additional cropping options. The barley germplasm line has excellent malting quality, adequate witnerhardiness and may be a good parent for the creation of winter malting barley cultivars. In addition, numerous spring oat lines were tested for adaptation to Nebraska growoing conditions.

Impacts
The two winter barley cultivars have the potential to diversify cropping systems in the central Great Plains by providing producers with an additional cropping choice. They may replace sorghum as a feed grain is parts of Kansas.

Publications

• Baenziger, P. S. 1996. Reflections on doubled haploids in plant breeding. In S. M. Jain, S. K. Sopory, and R. E. Veileux (eds.) In vitro haploid production in higher plants. Vol. 1: Fundamental aspects and methods. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Norwell, MA, U.S.A. pp.35-48.
• Wesenberg, D. M., P. S. Baenziger, D. C. Rasmusson, D. E. Burrup, and B. L. Jones. 1998. Registration of 88Ab536-B barley germplasm. Crop Sci. 38:559.

Progress 10/01/97 to 09/30/98

Outputs
In 1998, two winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)cultivars were increased for commercial sale through Paramount Seeds of Quinter, Kansas who is currently negotiating exclusive rights for these lines. Both lines were released because they have excellent grain yield performance and winterhardiness, a critical trait for successful production in the Great Plains. P-954 (formerly tested as NE86954), six-rowed winter barley, has the pedigree 'Hitchcock'/'Maury'//'Hitchcock'. P-954 has rough awns, and its covered kernels have long rachilla hairs and a yellowish aleurone. The spike is medium lax and medium in length. P-721 (formerly tested as NE90721), six-rowed winter barley, has the pedigree 'Dundy'/'OK77559'. P-721 has rough awns, and its covered kernels have long rachilla hairs and a yellowish aleurone. The spike is medium lax and medium long. Both lines have good grain volume weight. In height, P-954 is about 2 inches (5 cm) shorter than 'Perkins' (32.5 in, 82 cm) and it has good straw. P-721 is about 4 in (10 cm) shorter than Perkins (31.6 in, 80 cm). P-954 and P-721 are similar in flower to Perkins, and earlier than Hitchcock and Dundy. P-954 and P-721 have better resistance to powdery mildew than 'Perkins' and 'Hitchcock', but is more susceptible than 'Dundy'. P-954 and P-721 is moderately susceptible to leaf rust and barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV). P-721 is moderately susceptible to leaf rust and is moderately resistance to BYDV.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

• None. 1998.

Progress 10/01/95 to 09/30/96

Outputs
After a highly successful year in developing winter barley germplasm and cultivars in 1995, 1996 was a year of almost complete disaster. Breeding nurseries were planted at Sidney, McCook, Nelson, and Lincoln, NE. Due to a hard winter and freezes and thaws in the spring, the nurseries were lost (nearly complete winterkilling of all barley lines) at Lincoln, McCook, and Nelson. About three fourths of the plots at Sidney survived the winter, but the trial suffered hail damage prior to harvest. Better lines yielded 4 t/ha, but this is considerably less that the lines would have yielded if there were no hail damage. Winter barley increases of two pre-release experimental lines in Kansas was also lost. In cooperation with the USDA-ARS at Aberdeen, ID, these lines are being increased over the spring and summer in hopes seed will be available for fall planting. The greenhouse crossing cycle was highly successful with over 100 crosses being made.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/95 to 12/30/95

Outputs
Both the spring and winter barley (<10,000 a) and spring oat (<200,000 a) acreage continued to decline in Nebraska in 1995. The barley acreage declined due to wheat being more profitable, whereas oats declined due to most summer annual crops being more profitable. However, interest in winter barley is increasing in the southern Great Plains (specifically Kansas) as more diverse cropping systems are implemented. This program is now the northernmost winter barley breeding effort in the Great Plains and is being positioned to become a supplier of improved winterhardy germplasm for this region. Two lines, NE86954 (Hitchcock/Maury//Hitchcock) and NE90721 (Dundy/OK77422) have been approved for release subject to sufficient seed being produced by Paramount Seeds of Quinter, KS. Paramount Seeds is negotiating an exclusive marketing agreement for these lines. Both lines have superior winterhardiness and are major improvements for grain yield. NE86954 has excellent straw strength and NE90721 is tolerant to infection with barley yellow dwarf virus. Oat testing will continue though at a reduced level. Cooperation remains excellent with neighboring states that have oat germplasm development programs.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/94 to 12/30/94

Outputs
Several major accomplishments were made from 1993-1994 with the winter barley breeding and the spring oat testing programs. An interest in winter feed barleys by "Paramount Seed" in Kansas, has established an exclusive market for Nebraska's barley breeding program. Two experimental lines, NE86954- Hitchcock/Maury//Hitchcock and NE90721-Dundy/OK77559 were sent to Kansas for evaluation. These results will be known by summer 1995. Nebraska's winter barley breeding program continues to focus on improving winterhardy, high yielding varieties. The spring oat testing program at the University of Nebraska continues to provide information to growers on the most recent oat varieties. In 1994, a total of seven experimental oat lines and two new releases from Ohio, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Illinois were grown in Saunders, Cheyenne, and Red Willow counties. This trial helps to identify varieties which are adapted to Nebraska's growing conditions. Therefore, it continues to be a valuable source of information for Nebraska oat growers.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/93 to 12/30/93

Outputs
The 1993 harvest for spring and winter planted barley in the state of Nebraska was estimated at 1.216 million bushels with an average of 38 bushels per acre. The estimated acreage was 35 thousand planted and 32 thousand harvested. The 1993 winter barley variety trials were grown at five locations: Lincoln, McCook, Clay Center, North Platte, and Sidney. Of the five sites, only Lincoln, McCook, and North Platte were harvested. The McCook site was the highest yielding, followed by the Lincoln and North Platte sites. A fall infection of barley yellow dwarf virus significantly reduced yields at Lincoln. The Clay Center site was not harvested due to heavy rains at harvest time. The Sidney site was lost to hail. Two promising Nebraska lines, NE86954 and NE90721 were increased for possible release within the next year. These varieties have had consistently high yields in the variety trials. The breeding program will continue to focus on improving winterhardiness in Nebraska feed barleys. Due to the yield losses this year from barley yellow dwarf, an emphasis will be placed on disease resistance in the development of new lines. The 1993 oat harvest for the state of Nebraska was estimated at 6.88 million bushels with an average of 43 bushels per acre. The estimated acreage was 270,000 planted and 160,000 harvested. The 1993 oat variety trials were grown at Mead, Concord, and Sidney. The Concord site yielded an average of 43 bushels per acre. The Mead site had an average yield of 47 bushels per acre.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/92 to 12/30/92

Outputs
The 1992 barley harvest was estimated at 30,000 acres with a state average of 50bushels per acre. The barley breeding program continues to focus on developing lines with good winterhardiness. Variety trials were conducted at Lincoln, Clay Center, McCook, North Platte, and Sidney. Yields averaged 60 bu/A at Lincoln with a high of 83 bu/A. Two experimental lines, NE86954 and NE91702, both yielded 83 bu/A (higher than current released varieties Hitchcock and Perkins). Two of the five nurseries were not harvested. Sidney was not harvested due to hail damage and Clay Center was not harvested due to extensive rain during harvest period. Three experimental lines were tested in the USDA Uniform Winter Hardiness Nursery. NE90710, NE89725, and NE90701 ranked 6, 8, and 10, respectively, out of 29 entries for winter survival. Two Nebraska releases were used as checks and ranked third and fifth for Dicktoo and Kearney, respectively. Perkins was rated at 90% winter survival in the USDA Cooperative Western Winter Barley Nursery compared to 50% or less survival for other entries in the test conducted at Lincoln. A preliminary vernalization study was conducted in Alaska, Idaho, and Nebraska and results suggests that early spring planted Nebraska winter barleys may perform as well or better than typical spring barley varieties in Nebraska. Additional vernalization and photoperiod response study will be conducted. Diseases were not prevalent in 1992.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/91 to 12/30/91

Outputs
The 1991 barley harvest was estimated at 1.215 million bushels with a state average of 45 bushels per acre. The barley breeding program continues to focus on developing lines with good winterhardiness. Variety trials were conducted at Lincoln, Clay Center, North Platte, and Sidney. The two main breeding sites, Lincoln and Sidney, yielded well. Low yields were measured at Clay Center and North Platte. Powdery mildew disease was observed at Lincoln, leaf rust disease and winter kill affected yields at Lincoln, and drought decreased yields at North Platte. Four lines were tested in the USDA Uniform Winter Hardiness Nursery and two lines were tested in the USDA Uniform Winter Barley Yield Trials. NE89725 and NE86954 performed well in these tests and along with 6 other Nebraska Barley Yield Trial entries and 10 early generation lines from the breeding program were selected for additional testing in 1991. Lines with Russian wheat aphid resistance, stem rust resistance, and malting quality have been incorporated into the crossing nursery. The 1991 harvested oat acreage was 210,000 acres with an average yield of 54.0 bushels per acre.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/90 to 12/30/90

Outputs
The 1990 harvested barley acreage was estimated to be 22,000 acres with an average yield of 36 bu/a. The barley program continues to develop winter barley with good winterhardiness. The breeding nurseries were good at Lincoln and Sidney, the two main breeding sites. As in the past, diseases were absent. The nurseries at North Platte and Clay Center were only fair due to drought and weathering, respectively. The oat program due to extramural support was able to expand and test approximately 120 advanced lines from South Dakota and Illinois. The oat nurseries in the northeastern Nebraska were excellent. The main evaluation nursery at Mead was severely damaged by over 6 inches of rain.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/88 to 12/30/88

Outputs
Spring oats and barley variety testing was performed at five environments (2 irrigated) across Nebraska in cooperation with Profs. Dreier and Nelson, Nebraska Outstate Testing. Seventeen oat cultivars and three experimental lines (0-16, 0-18, and 0-19) were included in the oat trials. Four spring barley cultivars were included in the barley trials. A summarization of the data from these trials is presented in "Nebraska spring small grain variety tests--1988" (E.C. 88-102). The Uniform Early Oats Performance Nursery, Uniform Mid-Season Oats Performance Nursery, and the Mississippi Valley Barley Nursery were cooperatively evaluated at Mead, Nebraska. Despite a generally mild winter, there were severe cold spells that devastated the main winter barley breeding nursery at Lincoln. In addition, hail severely damaged the barley testing site at Sidney, Nebraska. Hence, 1988 can be summarized as a year in which little useful information was obtained in the winter barley breeding program. An experimental line, NE851808 (Nebar selection/Dundy) is currently under large scale increase for possible release. It may have high grain yield potential, improved straw strength, and superior winterhardiness. It is not as winterhardy as some of the recent Nebraska releases, however. Additional data is required before the decision to release the experimental line can be made.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/87 to 12/30/87

Outputs
Spring oats and barley variety testing was performed at six environments (one irrigated) across Nebraska in cooperation with Professor A. F. Dreier, Nebraska Outstate Testing. Sixteen oat cultivars, and three anonymous oat experimental lines (MN81229, SD810109, and WI X4872-2) were included in the oats trials. Five spring barley cultivars were evaluated. A summarization of the data from these trials is presented in "Nebraska spring small grain variety tests--1987" (E.C. 87-102). The Uniform Early Oats Performance Nursery, Uniform Mid-Season Oats Performance Nursery, and Mississippi Valley Barley Nursery were cooperatively evaluated at Mead, NE. Because of a mild winter, winter barley winter kill was minor. Favorable early spring weather conditions contributed to excellent winter barley grain yields especially in Lancaster and Cheyenne Counties. Two years of Nebraska Winter Barley Variety Trial data indicated that NE851808 (Nebar selection/Dundy) may have high grain yield potential, improved straw strength, and superior winterhardiness to warrant its possible release as a cultivar. Further scrutiny and increase of this line will be performed. Eight Nebraska lines were submitted for testing in the 1987 Uniform Barley Winter Hardiness Nursery (UBWHN). NE80719 and NE851808 ranked second and fifth, respectively, in this nationwide, cooperative winterhardiness screening nursery, both exceeding the hardiness of the long time hardy check 'Kearney'.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/86 to 12/30/86

Outputs
Barley acreage in Nebraska has continued an upward trend in recent years. In 1986 that acreage stood at 135,000 acres. As in past years, winter barley nursery trials were conducted at four locations across the state: Lincoln, Clay Center, North Platte, and Sidney. Severe winterkill at Clay Center forced abandonment of that experiment. Good survival and agronomic performance at all other locations identified several experimental lines with potential for eventual cultivar release. Five Nebraska lines were submitted for testing in the 1986 Uniform Barley Winter Hardiness Nursery (UBWHN). NE 80715 and NE 83810 ranked second and fourth nationally for winterhardiness, and both exceeded the hardiness of the long time hardy check 'Kearney'. Six Nebraska lines have been submitted for testing in the 1987 UBWHN. 'Dundy' (NE 76129) and 'Hitchcock' (NE 76138) continued to perform well. In response to increased grower interest, the winter barley breeding program has been expanded and now includes cooperative screening and selection nurseries at the High Plains Research Lab, Sidney, NE (Dr. Lenis A. Nelson). Cooperative research is also being conducted with John Lawless at Colby, KS, and via participation in three USDA sponsored Uniform Regional Winter Barley Nurseries. Research initiatives include a recurrent selection, population improvement scheme utilizing genic male sterility and derivation of dihaploid, homozygous lines via Hordeum bulbosum assisted techniques.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/85 to 12/30/85

Outputs
Barley acreage in Nebraska continued upward, reaching 48,583 hectares in 1985. Some of this is in winter barley acreage despite severe winter kill in 1983-84. Hazen spring barley from North Dakota continues to peform very well. Winter barley is contributing to the barley acreage. Sixty-nine hectares of the new cultivar Hitchcock were seeded and harvested as registered seed in 1985. Excellent yields from producer fields were reported and that spurred grower interest. In response to this grower interest, the winter barley breeding program was expanded through increased nursery seedings at the High Plains Agricultural Laboratory at Sidney, Nebraska. Materials seeded included F(2) bulk hybrids for selection purposes. Oat yields in Nebraska were at a record 2152 kg/ha in 1985. Diseases were at at minimin. Two new oat lines from Illinois and one from Minnesota were grown for increase. The two Illinois lines, Don and Hazel, will be distributed to Nebraska growers in 1986. Both are improvements over Ogle in hectoliter weight, an improvement asked for by growers.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/84 to 12/30/84

Outputs
Barley acreage was up in Nebraska in 1984, reaching 88,000 acres. Some of this acreage was in winter barley. Dundy, released in 1982, continues to perform well. Interest in winter barley continued for 1985 despite a very severe winter in 1983-84. NE76138 (PI 485594) from the cross Dicktoo/Reno//Shonan/Randolph/3/OAC WB2-11/Decatur was increased and released in 1984 as Hitchcock. It is similar to Dundy in winterhardiness and yield but has better straw strength at maturity. Winterkill of winter barley in the nurseries was too severe and too erratic to provide very useful data on winterhardiness. Because of continued grower interest in winter barley, a large number of crosses was made in 1984. The spring barley Hazen continues to perform well. Foundation seed from North Dakota was increased in 1984 for distribution to growers in 1985. Stem rust was the major oat disease in 1984. In the uniform nurseries, the principal resistance was in lines from North Dakota and Canada. Because of grower concerns about low test weights in oats, lines with above-average test weight received special attention in line evaluation.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/83 to 12/30/83

Outputs
Dundy winter barley (NE76129, PI 466738) released in 1982 had excellent on-farm performance in 1983. This was favored by a warmer than normal winter. Because of the performance of Dundy, winter barley acreage seeded in Nebraska in the fall of 1983 increased significantly. Dicktoo/Reno//Shonan/Randolph/3/OAC WB-2-11/Decatur (NE76138) was in preliminary increase in 1983 and has been seeded for increase and possible release in 1984. It has shown excellent winter survival under a range of conditions. A number of winterhardiness studies were completed in 1983. Long subcrown internode length was dominant and influenced by epistatic effects in an inheritance study. In crosses between NE62203 (short sub-crown internode 0.2 cm) and MOB2632 (long sub-crown internode 4.3 cm) the short sub-crown internode type was easily identified in all segregating generations. In a related study, there was a high negative correlation of -0.63** between internode length and field winter survival. In a third study, plants of Dundy and other new Nebraska winter barley lines were slower to deharden then plants of Kearney and survived at higher moisture contents than crowns of Kearney plants. This suggests that winter survival of new Nebraska lines have different factors for winter survival than those possessed by Kearney. Finally, it was demonstrated that minimum soil temperatures are warmer under no-till than under conventional tillage.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/82 to 12/30/82

Outputs
Dundy winter barley (NE76129, PI 466738) was released to certified seed growers in 1982. In 21 tests over the period of 1978-1982, Dundy has been 30% higher in yield then the long-time check cultivar, Kearney, and only 4% below Kearney in winter survival. Dundy has been 13% more productive and 7% better in winter survival than Nebar. Under preliminary increase is NE76138 which has been 37% more productive than Kearney and similar in winter survival. Both have greatly improved straw strength compared to Kearney. In laboratory tests on crown freezing in winter barley there was a high correlation between length of the subcrown internode and winter survival. Those with a short subcrown internode had the best survival. Genetic studies indicate a high heritability for the short subcrown internode trait and selection for it in segretating populations should be very effective. The two oat cultivars, Larry and Ogle, from Illinois, identified through regional nursery testing had an exceptionally productive year. Average oat per acre yield for Nebraska was 58 bushels in 1982.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/81 to 12/30/81

Outputs
Winter barley lines NE76129 and NE76147 were increased in 1981 by the Nebraska Foundation Seed Division. NE76129 performed better in 1981 than NE76147 partly because the winter was very mild and NE76129 was favored because of earlier maturity. NE76129 is the same maturity as Kearney but it outproduced it by 26 bu/a in 1981. Parentage of NE76129 is Sabbaton/Meimi//Decatur/3/Paoli. It will probably be released in 1982. No decision will be made on NE76147. NE76138 is in the initial stage of increase in 1982. Research is continuing on winterhardiness in winter barley. In the laboratory, research is conducted on increasing the efficiency of crown freezing tests. In the field, studies are continuing on the effect of no-till or minimum-till on winter barley winter survival. The two oat cultivars from Illinois, Larry and Ogle, had another excellent performance year in Nebraska. Ogle was in production in 1981 and foundation seed of Larry was produced in 1981. These two cultivars should have a favorable effect on oat production in Nebraska.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/80 to 12/30/80

Outputs
Performance of new winter barley lines relative to the Kearney check was not as favorable in 1980 as in previous years. Four lines were increased in 1980 and further increases of NE76129 and NE76147 are in progress. NE76138 is being reselected before being increased further. NE76129 is similar to Nebar in maturity, winter survival and yield, while NE76147 is similar to Kearney in winter survival but exceeded it in yield by 42% over four years and is much better strawed. It is later in maturity. Some new experimentals identified in 1979 as superior in winterhardiness had good agronomic performance in 1980. Bowers spring barley from Michigan performed well in 1980 tests and should provide a productive feed barley from Nebraska. Two new oat varieties from Illinois, Ogle and Larry, were outstanding in Nebraska tests in 1980. Nebraska joined Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania in the release of Ill 73-2664 as Ogle. Benson and Lancer varieties were made available to Nebraska growers in 1980.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/79 to 12/30/79

Outputs
The year provided a fourth consecutive severe winter and the coldest on record at Lincoln, NE. While this has eliminated more than 95% of the winter barley breeding material, it has identified lines equal to or superior in hardiness to the Kearney check variety and superior in other agronomic characteristics. Four experimentals NE76129, NE76138, NE76147, and NE76148 in Nebraska tests have yielded 129, 145, 147 and 153%, respectively, of the Kearney check variety. All have much improved straw strength. In the 1979 Uniform Barley Hardiness Nursery (35 stations) winter survival averages were NE76129 (79.7%), NE76138 (75.8%), and NE76147 (80.8%) as compared to Kearney (78.8%) and Dicktoo (78.1%). All four are being increased for 1980 and a release decision will be made in 1980. A few additional early generation lines were very promising at Lincoln in 1979. Spring barley and spring oat varieties that have merit for Nebraska are identified through uniform regional nurseries. From the Mississippi Valley Spring Barley Nursery, the Bowers variety from Michigan was identified as a variety for superior performance in Nebraska and will be suggested for production in Nebraska in 1980. In spring oats, three lines were identified in the Uniform Midseason Oat Performance Nursery as having value for Nebraska. Benson (Minnesota) and Lancer (South Dakota) will be made available to Nebraska growers in 1980.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/78 to 12/30/78

Outputs
Three consecutive severe winters have eliminated much of our winter barley breeding material. However, this has lead to the selection and identification of lines with improved hardiness. NE76138, Dicktoo/Reno/Shonan/Randolph/3/(OAC WB 2-11/Decatur) continues to be outstanding. In Nebraska tests in 1978 it had an average winter survival of 78% and yielded 42 bu/a compared to 70% survival and 24 bu/a for Kearney. In the 1978 Barley Winterhardiness Nursery it had the highest survival with 78.1% compared to 68.4 for Kearney. This line as well as similar lines are under increase. The early oat varieties Bates, Lang and Stout continued to perform well in Nebraska and have been well received by Nebraska growers. Bates was distributed to Nebraska growers in 1978. Potential oat varieties for Nebraska are identified through the Uniform Regional Oat Performance Nurseries. Spring barley acreage continues to decline. Varieties developed elsewhere have not been superior in yield to the long-time check variety Custer. However, no breeding program is anticipated. Thus potential varieties must come from the Mississippi Valley and Great Plains Uniform Nurseries.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/77 to 12/30/77

Outputs
Two severe winters, 1975-76 and 1976-77, have eliminated much of our winter barley breeding materials. However, in the process we have identified a number of lines with hardiness equal to the Kearney check variety and greatly improved in yield and straw strength. The most promising is NE76138, Dicktoo/Reno//Shonan/Randolph/3/(OAC 2-11/Decatur). In 1977 tests NE76138 was only 2% below Kearney in winter survival and 17% above Nebar and exceeded Kearney by 68% and Nebar by 13% in yield. NE76138 has good straw strength and bushel weight. Additional lines similar in performance are under study. Relationship of depth of planting to winter survival was studied with nine winter barley lines or varieties and Lindon winter wheat. Survival, on the average, was five times greater with deep planting as compared to shallow planting. The hardiest barley, NE76138 had 51% survival with deep planting compared to 18% with shallow planting. Comparable figures for Lindon winter wheat were 78 and 33%, respectively. This would suggest that under Nebraska conditions, deeper crown placement would promote better winter survival. Lang oats from Illinois distributed in 1977 had an excellent performance record in Nebraska. Bates oats from Missouri, released jointly with Nebraska, also performed well. Seed of Bates oats will be available to farmers in 1978. Oat varieties with potential for Nebraska are identified through Uniform Oat Performance Nurseries.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/76 to 12/30/76

Outputs
The severe winter weather of 1975-76 reduced yields of all winter barley varieties but Nebar continued to show superiority over Kearney (about 12% in 1976 compared to more than 50% over a long testing period). Two advanced experimentals, NE73104 and NE73264, were similar to Nebar in winter survival butoutyielded Nebar by 30% and 22%, respectively. Two new experimentals, NE76129 and NE76138, in preliminary tests were as winterhardy or hardier than Nebar and better strawed and outyielded Nebar by 29% and 35%, respectively, and approachedthe pound-per-acre yield of the hardy Centurk winter wheat check variety. Identification of superior oat varieties for Nebraska occurs in the Uniform Oat Performance Nurseries. In this manner two promising oat varieties recently havebeen identified -- Lang from Illinois and Bates from Missouri. The Nebraska Station will join the Missouri Station in the release of Bates on February 1, 1977. Both varieties should contribute effectivley to improved oat production in Nebraska.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/75 to 12/30/75

Outputs
Nebar winter barley continues to maintain a wide yield superiority over Kearney (58%) and a consistent narrower superiority over Paoli (11%) over a 6-year testing period. Its performance has been consistent enough to increase interestin winter barley production in Nebraska. A selection from Nebar, NE2637, is similar to Nebar in yield but much superior in lodging resistance. It is in preliminary increase. Another experimental, NE73264 out-yielded Nebar by 12% in1974-75 and has improved bushel weight. Identification of superior oat varieties through uniform nursery testing has helped to stabilize oat productionin Nebraska as indicated by 49 bu/a average yield the past five years. Two new experimental lines IL67-1514 and Mo. 06072 performed well in state-wide tests in1975 and hold much promise for future production.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/74 to 12/30/74

Outputs
Nebar winter barley developed and released by the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station in 1973 continues to maintain its yield superiority over Kearney and Paoli. In tests since 1970, Nebar has outyielded Kearney by 63 percent and Paoli by 6 percent and holds more than 1 pound/bushel advantage in test weight. New entries in tests in 1974 outyielded Nebar by as much as 25 percent. One winter barley test in a wheat field was grazed preferentially by cattle. Thus winter barley could have a dual role as a feed grain and for fall pasture. Spring barley acreage continues to decline in Nebraska. Newer varieties being evaluated in regional nurseries have not shown any great superiority over the adapted Custer variety. Trio oats released jointly by Kansas, Nebraska, and Ag. Res. Serv. USDA shows continued acceptance by Nebraskagrowers. Stout oats developed by the Indiana Exp. Sta. was distributed to Nebraska growers this year and was very well accepted. Otee has been above average in grain protein content in Nebraska tests and is being recommended partly for that reason.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/73 to 12/30/73

Outputs
Nebar winter barley developed by the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station was increased and released to Nebraska growers in 1973. In 21 tests over a five-year period, Nebar has averaged 67.7 bu/a compared to 63.3 for Paoli and 43.8 for Kearney. In 1972, Nebar was the hardiest entry in the Uniform Winter Barley Nursery (Hardy Varieties) grown at 16 sites across the U. S. The winter barley breeding program has been expanded considerably in the search for high yielding, high feed quality, winter barleys for southwestern Nebraska. In spring barley, Beacon (N.D. B140) developed at the North Dakota Station was increased for distribution to Nebraska farmers in 1974. Stout oats developed bythe Indiana Exp. Sta. was increased for distribution to Nebraska growers in 1974. It can serve as a dual purpose oat for grain production under high fertility or as a nurse crop for legume plantings. Its short stiff straw would be beneficial in either case.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/71 to 12/30/71

Outputs
Winter barleys with considerably greater yielding ability are being developed bythe Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station. In 9 tests over the past two years, three selections from the cross Sabbaton/Meimi//C.I. 10880 and one from the cross Sabbaton/Meimi//Decatur have outyielded the check varieties by nearly 60 percent. All are being increased for possible release. Cooperative researchwith personnel at Oregon State University has shown that NE62203 has a dominant gene(s) for depth of crown placement. This could be important in winter survival. In spring barley, N.D. B140 from North Dakota continued to perform well in Nebraska variety tests. A spring oat cultivar, C.I. 7698, was named Trio and released in 1971 by the Kansas and Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Stations and the Plant Science Research Division, ARS, USDA.

Impacts
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Publications

Progress 01/01/70 to 12/30/70

Outputs
The progress in increasing winter barley yields as reported in 1969 was substantiated in 1970. Five lines from the cross, C.I.10880 X NB62283, outyielded the top check variety Chase from 28-48 percent. The line that outyielded Chase by 48 percent in 1970 also outproduced Chase, the best check variety, by 50 percent in 1969. In addition these lines have better straw and bushel weight but are not as hardy as the check variety. In spring barley one line from North Dakota, N.D. B140, was identified as having promise for Nebraska. It will be tested more widely in 1971. A new spring oat variety, C.I.7698, has been increased and will be released in 1971 by the Kansas and Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Stations and the Crops Research Division, ARS, USDA. It is well adapted throughout Nebraska.

Impacts
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Publications

Progress 01/01/69 to 12/30/69

Outputs
Progress in increasing winter barley yields was shown in tests this year. Eightselections from the cross, C.I. 10880 x NB 62283 produced from 20 to 50 percent more grain than the best check variety. Bushel weight and straw strength were improved also. All eight lines are under initial increase. The crossing program emphasizes the addition of increased yield and straw strength to the present winterhardiness level. All three traits are important in order to establish winter barley as a successful feed crop in Nebraska. The spring oat varieties Pettis and Kota were placed on the Nebraska Certification list following testing in Nebraska. They were well received by Nebraska growers. Nonew outstanding spring barleys were identified during last year's testing program.

Impacts
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Publications

Progress 01/01/68 to 12/30/68

Outputs
Past winter barley breeding programs at the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station have centered on winterhardiness. Germplasm recombination programs using germplasm from various parts of the world have not produced any varieties hardier than Kearney or Dicktoo. The present program is geared to holding that level but adding strength and yield. Material in the breeding nursery currentlyappears to have better straw strength and yielding ability and, in rare instances, these are combined with the Kearney hardiness level. These are in yield tests for the first time. Breeder seed stocks of NB 62203 and NB 62281 will not be increased further. NB 62203 lacks straw strength and NB 62281 does not thresh well. A winter barley from the Purdue program, Pd 5924A7-14-1, has excellent draw strength and yield but lacks winterhardiness. It is being increased for possible distribution in Nebraska and also being used in crosses. New spring barley varieties were evaluated. None was superior to the present commercial varieties. NB 591035 will not be distributed due to its susceptibility to foliar diseases. Of the spring oat varieties evaluated, two, Pettis from Missouri, and Kota from South Dakota, were added to our certification program.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 01/01/67 to 12/30/67

Outputs
Primary emphasis is placed on the development of high-yielding, good-strawed, winterhardy barleys. Present varieties are deficient in all three attributes. Winterkilling was not a factor in 1967. Selections were advanced on the basis of yield potential, seed quality, and tolerance to foliar diseases. Excessive rainfall lodged all varieties uniformly and no distinctly superior good-strawedgermplasm was in evidence. Work continued on correlation studies of artificial crown freezing with field winterhardiness. Results are highly encouraging. Breeder seed increases of two experimentals NB 62203 and NB 62281 were harvested. They do not appear to be sufficiently superior to present varieties to warrant release. New spring barley varieties from the region were evaluated.Breeder's seed to NB 591035 was harvested. No decision on release of this variety has been made. Spring oat varieties from the region were evaluated for possible production on Nebraska. All commercial varieties evaluated were essentially susceptible to crown rust and most of them, also, were susceptible to stem rust.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications