Source: UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA submitted to
GENETICS, BREEDING AND EVALUATION OF WINTER SMALL GRAINS CROPS FOR NEBRASKA
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0232571
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
NEB-22-361
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Apr 1, 2013
Project End Date
Mar 31, 2018
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Baenziger, P..
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
(N/A)
LINCOLN,NE 68583
Performing Department
Agronomy & Horticulture
Non Technical Summary
Winter small grains are important crops in Nebraska and needed to provide growers and consumers with the necessary food and feed crops for a diverse agriculture. Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is by far the most important winter small grain crop and was planted on slightly more than 600,000 hectares in southern and western Nebraska in 2012. Having one program specifically targeting Nebraska production is needed to ensure that the Nebraska wheat producer has well adapted, high yielding cultivars. Winter triticale (X.Triticosecale rimpaui Wittm.) is an emerging crop that is slowly increasing in acreage, but has great potential as a feed grain and forage crop. Winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) has the smallest potential market, perhaps due to the increased risks involved with growing the least winterhardy small grain when compared to winter wheat and triticale. However, barley is the most drought tolerant grain crop of the three cereals and, with climate change, may increase its production area in the Great Plains. In addition to the changes in where and how small grains are grown, the end-use markets are rapidly evolving. . The purpose of this project is to develop new winter small grains (wheat, triticale, and barley) cultivars with improved performance and stability over diverse environments. The project will also develop germplasm and improved breeding methods. In the germplasm area, transgenic and hybrid wheat are the last great frontiers in wheat and both have potential for significant productivity gains. Hence small efforts in both frontier areas should be undertaken. Biotic and abiotic stresses continue to be the major constraints to increasing productivity and the greatest cause of yield and end-use quality instability. The biotic stresses include diseases and insects. The abiotic stresses include low winter temperatures, high temperatures during grain filling, and drought, which can occur any time during the plant growth cycle, but especially affects winter small grain yields when it occurs during grain filling. Historically the USDA University of Nebraska collaborative research program has been the primary developer of wheat cultivars grown in Nebraska. Cultivars developed by this program are normally grown on 50 to 80% of the wheat acreage. As mentioned earlier, this program is the only public developer of winter barley cultivars, and along with the Texas A & M University program, we are one of only two public winter forage and grain triticale cultivar providers in the Great Plains. This market domination of UNL small grains cultivars has occurred due to the skill of the breeding team, the unique climatic conditions, and the people of Nebraska who provide funds to support cultivar development. Wheat cultivars that increase the state yield by one bushel per acre will increase farm revenue by $13,000,000. Additional benefits will accrue to the milling and baking industries and by the consumer.
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
2011540108020%
2011544108020%
2121540108110%
2121544108110%
2031550108110%
2031599108110%
2111544108110%
2111599108110%
Knowledge Area
212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants; 211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants; 203 - Plant Biological Efficiency and Abiotic Stresses Affecting Plants; 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
1081 - Breeding; 1080 - Genetics;
Goals / Objectives
Winter small grains are important crops in Nebraska and needed to provide growers and consumers with the necessary food and feed crops for a diverse agriculture. Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is by far the most important winter small grain crop and was planted on slightly more than 600,000 hectares in southern and western Nebraska in 2012. Having one program specifically targeting Nebraska production is needed to ensure that the Nebraska wheat producer has well adapted, high yielding cultivars. Winter triticale (X.Triticosecale rimpaui Wittm.) is an emerging crop that is slowly increasing in acreage, but has great potential as a feed grain and forage crop. Winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) has the smallest potential market, perhaps due to the increased risks involved with growing the least winterhardy small grain when compared to winter wheat and triticale. However, barley is the most drought tolerant grain crop of the three cereals and, with climate change, may increase its production area in the Great Plains. The purpose of this project is to develop new winter small grains (wheat, triticale, and barley) cultivars with improved performance and stability over diverse environments. The project will also develop germplasm and improved breeding methods. In the germplasm area, transgenic and hybrid wheat are the last great frontiers in wheat and both have potential for significant productivity gains. Hence small efforts in both frontier areas should be undertaken. Biotic and abiotic stresses continue to be the major constraints to increasing productivity and the greatest cause of yield and end-use quality instability. The biotic stresses include diseases and insects. The abiotic stresses include low winter temperatures , high temperatures during grain filling, and drought. Historically the USDA University of Nebraska collaborative research program has been the primary developer of wheat cultivars grown in Nebraska. As mentioned earlier, this program is the only public developer of winter barley cultivars, and along with the Texas A & M University program, we are one of only two public winter forage and grain triticale cultivar providers in the Great Plains. This market domination of UNL small grains cultivars has occurred due to the skill of the breeding team, the unique climatic conditions, and the people of Nebraska who provide funds to support cultivar development. 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. Wheat cultivars that increase the state yield by one bushel per acre will increase farm revenue by $13,000,000. Additional benefits will accrue to the milling and baking industries and by the consumer. As for publications, we expect them to be published in internationally recognized, peer-reviewed journals. Our students will work in universities, international centers, national programs, and in industry.
Project Methods
a. Crosses will be made among selected wheat germplasm parents (approximately 800-1000 crosses annually), among selected triticale germplasm parents (80 crosses), and among selected barley germplasm parents (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 reduced lodging compared to current cultivars. We will use marker assisted selection (in cooperation with Drs. Guihua Bai, USDA-ARS and Ismail Dweikat) for allele enrichment in the early generations and genotyping advanced lines (in cooperation with Dr. Jesse Poland, USDA-ARS) for line characterization. Also, transgenic wheat lines will be crossed into elite lines for specific traits and experiments. In our conventional crosses, the F1 seed will be increased in the greenhouse or Yuma, AZ F2 and F3 populations will be grown at Lincoln or Mead. F3 derived lines will continue to be selected with statewide testing beginning in the F6. Field testing will be supplemented with greenhouse testing for leaf and stem rust testing.. Quality evaluations begin with parents and F5 lines with more extensive quality evaluations in advanced lines. b. Our hybrid wheat program will collect wheat hybridization systems that are available. Currently we have acquired the cytoplasmic male sterile system from India, South Africa, and China. We will validate the efficacy of each system (ability to induce sterility, the ability to restore fertility) and develop adapted lines for all aspects of hybrid wheat production. c. We currently use bulk samples to determine the overall quality of our experimental lines. We will determine if we ought to bake by ecogeographic regions (e.g. east, southwest, and west/panhandle) to learn more about the stability of end-use quality. d. Initially our work will emphasize canopy spectral reflectance (CSR) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) as defined by the amount of N in the soil that is transported to the grain. Working with CALMIT, we have previous taken CSR measurements on over 300 lines in replicated trials to determine if we identify a CSR signature for NUE. Our goal will be to identify possible CSR signatures in 2013, repeat the experiment in 2013 and confirm the CSR signature in 2014 with having a workable model in 2014. In addition, we will work with others to determine if more automated procedures can be used (e.g. aerial robotics, aerial flyovers, etc. using the signature CSR bands). e. Work will concentrate on using genome-wide scans and genomic selection to select superior lines using genomic selection protocols. As genotype by environment interactions (GEI) are large in Nebraska, we will develop genomic selection models that account for GEI in collaboration with Dr. Aaron Lorenz. f. We are incorporating more aspects of Agrobase GenII software as our primary relational database for our program. We will increase the use of its statistical package as well as SAS to analyze mixed models over years for trials with rapidly changing entries.

Progress 04/01/13 to 03/31/18

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience will be small grains producers and their value chain from seed dealers to grain buyers, millers/maltsters/livestock producers, bakers and brewers, and consumers. While consumers are sometimes overlooked, they are the main determinant in our freedom to access new technologies, hence are critically important in understanding the value and safety of the research that is undertaken. Our scientific target audience will be plant and animal breeders, geneticists, and genomicists, crop physiologists and production specialists, plant pathologists, entomologists, and applied statisticians. Changes/Problems:We had no major changes to the program, however small modifications were continuously made to improve efficiency. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Four graduate stduents attended the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) annual meeting. I attend the Scab Forum. Dr. Belamkar attended the Plant and Animal Genome Meeting and the ASA meeting. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We disseminated the outcomes of our research through cultivar and germplasm releases, scientific papers, at scientific meetings, at lay audience meetings (seed producers and with their customers, field days), and using social media (Twitter). 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 had 6 objectives in our project. 1. To increase the yield level and stress tolerance (drought, heat, disease, and insect) of Nebraska winter wheat (predominantly grain), triticale (forage and grain), and barley (malting, feed grain, and forage) through the effective use of improved screening procedures, conventional breeding methods, and biotechnology. For the past 12 years we produced annually about 1000 new crosses in wheat, 100 in triticale, and 80 in barley. In addition, we produce about 700 new hybrids (in cooperation with Texas A&M University) for testing as part of our hybrid wheat efforts. We advance these wheat populations through bulk breeding at Mead and Sidney Nebraska, and through doubled haploids in cooperation with a seed company, and single seed descent for wheat stem sawfly resistance. We continue our screens for winter hardiness (at Mead NE) for wheat barley and triticale, stem rust resistance (using race QFCSC in the greenhouse on wheat), agronomic performance (8 rainfed locations and one irrigated location in Nebraska using augmented or alpha lattice designs for wheat, 3 locations for barley and triticale--this year every location except Sidney [lost to hail] were harvested), and wheat end-use quality (measured in our wheat quality lab). Thirteen wheat lines and 5 barley lines were submitted for regional testing (there is no regional trial for triticale) and 10 wheat lines were evaluated in our State Variety Trial. The impact of this effort was the release or licensing of small grains wheat lines with excellent stem rust resistance that are adapted to the northern Great Plains (Seige, Link, Valiant) and a forage triticale. Perhaps the greatest accomplishments was the identification of a truly awnless triticale (F3:4 generation) and adapted hooded barleys (F3 generation) which will be highly desired in our forage/biomass markets. The awnless triticale lines are already being used as parents to make new crosses in our greenhouse as they should have great economic value. 2. Continue our hybrid wheat program. As mentioned above, 700 wheat hybrids were made. Last year's hybrid seed was used to grow ~ 700 hybrids at 6 locations (3 in TX and 3 in NE) using augmented experimental designs. The data are still being analyzed, but we are finding the hybrids to be more climate resilient (e.g. more stable in adverse stress conditions--heat and drought). At North Platte, an environment that was stressful, but high yielding, numerous hybrids performed very well. This result highlighted that hybrids tend to be more stress tolerant (more stable) to environmental factors. Hybrids are a risk avoidance tool for the vagaries of the Great Plains weather. Additional testing is needed before the full impact of this research is known. 3. To work more closely with the Seed Quality Laboratory and end-users to meet their general needs and determine if unique opportunities exist (e.g. emerging or novel wheat markets). To develop improved wheat cultivars for specialty markets (e.g. herbicide-tolerant wheat). Proven protocols for selecting herbicide-tolerant wheat will be used. One new herbicide line derived from our breeding protocols (see objective 1) met the herbicide tolerance standards, but may lack sufficient end-use quality to be released. One white wheat is currently being considered for licensing with a milling/ingredient company. The line has excellent quality, stem rust resistance, agronomic performance, and winter hardiness. If licensed, it will have considerable potential in the market to enhance profitability of Nebraska farmers. Furthermore for a white wheat, licensing is useful to diversify the market. Historically Nebraska has been a red wheat commodity market. 4. Work with Biological Systems Engineering (BSE) and others to incorporate high throughput phenotyping technology into our breeding program so as to maximize the information from our field, greenhouse, and growth chamber plots/plants. Here our preliminary, advanced, elite, and hybrid wheat trials, our advanced and elite barley and triticale trials were phenotyped using a ground based cart or with drones. The data are currently be analyzed, but one paper was published looking at the sensor data for high throughput phenotyping. 5. To develop an improved genetic understanding of important agronomic traits through the use of genome-wide scans (e.g. high throughput genotyping), genome-wide association studies (GWAS), genomic prediction, and other mapping populations in wheat predominantly though we hope to expand this effort into triticale. In 2018, ~ 1500 lines in our preliminary observation nursery (see objective 1) were genotyped by genotype-by-sequencing (GBS) and using various bioinformatic tools, roughly 200,000 SNP markers were created. These markers were filtered and used to identify major qualitative traits in these lines (e.g. stem rust and disease resistance, plant height, Fusarium head blight, and end-use quality genes), as well as develop genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) using this and previous years' data. Our preliminary observation nursery is too large to use replicated designs, so we have to use augmented designs analyzed by ASREML to remove spatial variation. However, every year in the Great Plains is different, so our GEBVs greatly assist us in identifying lines that did well this year, but more importantly should do well in normal years. Our first genomic selection paper was published and genomic selection is now being widely used in the program. We have found that those lines with high phenotypic agronomic performance and high GEBV tend to be those that are selected for release. High phenotypic agronomic performance and low GEBV or low phenotypic agronomic performance and high GEBV are not climate resilient and are eventually dropped from the program. The impact of this research is that we may be able to reduce the number of lines tested without reducing our genetic gain. 6. 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. We continue to use Agrobase SQL to drive our breeding program, but use ASREML and R for experimental analyses. Numerous program as used for our genomic "pipelines" that convert GBS data to SNPs, do our genome wide association studies, to do our genomic selection studies. The impact of this effort is that the massive datasets we are creating from genomic and phenomic data are being coupled to develop improved cultivars (see objective 1). The other impact of this effort is that we are developing the tools for future breeders and ourselves to efficiently create new knowledge and cultivars.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Tyrka, M., S. Oleszczuk, J. Rabiza-Swider, H. Wos, M. Wedzony, J. Zimny, A. Ponitka, R. J. Metzger, P. S. Baenziger, and A. J. Lukaszewski. 2018. 248. Elbaysoni, I.S., A. J. Lorenz, M. Guttieri, K. Frels, P.S. Baenziger, J. Poland, E. Akhunov. 2018. A comparison between genotyping-by-sequencing and array-based scoring of SNPs for genomic prediction accuracy in winter wheat. Plant Science 270: 123-130
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 249. Hussain, W., M. J Guttieri, V. Belamkar, J. Poland, A. Sallam, P. S. Baenziger. 2018. Registration of a Bread Wheat Recombinant Inbred Line Mapping Population Derived from a Cross Between Harryand Wesley. J. of Plant Registrations 12:411-414.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 250. Belamkar, V., M. J. Guttieri, W. Hussain, D. Jarqu�n, I. S.El-basyoni, J. Poland, A. J Lorenz, P. S. Baenziger. 2018. Genomic Selection in Preliminary Yield Trials in a Winter Wheat Breeding Program. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics 8:2735-2747. https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.118.200415
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 251. Bhatta, M., A. Morgounov, V. Belamkar, J. Poland, P. S. Baenziger, Unlocking the novel genetic diversity and population structure of synthetic Hexaploid wheat. BMC Genomics. 19, 591 (2018).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 253. Mourad, A. M. I., A. Sallam, V. Belamkar, E. Mahdy, B. Bakheit, A. A. El-wafaa and P. S. Baenziger. 2018. Genetic architecture of common bunt resistance in winter wheat using genome- wide association study, BMC Plant Biology, 18: 280.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 254. Sallam, A. A. Amro, A. EL-Akhdar, T. Kumamaru, and P. S. Baenziger. 2018. Genetic diversity and genetic variation in morpho-physiological traits to improve heat tolerance in Spring barley. Molecular Biology Reports214: 169, doi:10.1007/s11033-018-4410-6.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 255. Venegas, J.P., R. A. Graybosch, P. S. Baenziger, G. Bai, P. St. Amand. 2018. Registration of Great PlainsAdapted Reduced Phytate Winter Wheat Germplasm. Journal of Plant Registrations. 12, 405.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 257. Yuan, W., J. Li, M. Bhatta, Y. Shi, P. S. Baenziger, and Y. Ge. 2018. Wheat Height Estimation Using LiDAR in Comparison to Ultrasonic Sensor and UAS. Sensors, 18(11), 3731. https://doi.org/10.3390/s18113731
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 258. Bhatta, M., A. Morgounov, V. Belamkar, and P. S. Baenziger. 2018. Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Novel Genomic Regions for Grain Yield and Yield-Related Traits in Drought-Stressed Synthetic Hexaploid Wheat. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19(10), 3011. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19103011
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 259. Mourad, A., E. Mahdy, B. R. Bakheit, A. Abo-elwafaa, and P. S. Baenziger. 2018. Effect of common bunt infection on agronomic traits in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L .). Journal of Plant Genetics and Breeding, 2(1), 17.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 260. Sallam, A., A. M. I. Mourad, W. Hussain and P. S. Baenziger. 2018. Genetic variation in drought tolerance at seedling stage and grain yield in low rainfall environments in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Euphytica, 214(9). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-018-2245-9
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 262. Kariyawasam, G., W. Hussain, A. Easterly, M. Guttieri, V. Belamkar, J. Poland, J. Venegas, S. Baenziger, F. Marais, J. B. Rasmussen, Z. Liu. Identification of quantitative trait loci conferring resistance to tan spot in a biparental population derived from two Nebraska hard red winter wheat cultivars. 2018. Molecular Breeding 38:140. [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11032-018-0901-3
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 261. Graybosch, R. A., P. S. Baenziger, R. L. Bowden, F. L., Dowell, L. Dykes, Y. Jin, Y., D. Marshall, J. Ohm, and M. Caffe-Treml. 2018. Release of 19 Waxy Winter Wheat Germplasm, with Observations on Their Grain Yield Stability. Journal of Plant Registrations, 12(1), 152. https://doi.org/10.3198/jpr2017.03.0018crg
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 241. Frels, K., M. Guttieri, B. Joyce, B. Levitt, P. S. Baenziger. 2018. Evaluating canopy spectral reflectance vegetation indices to estimate nitrogen use traits in hard winter wheat. Field Crops Res. 217: 82-92.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 242. Navrotskyi, S., P. S. Baenziger, T. Regassa, M. J. Guttieri, and D. J.Rose. 2018. Variation in asparagine concentration in Nebraska wheat. Cereal Chem. DOI: 10.1002/cche.10023
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 243. Bhatta, M., T. Regassa, S. N. Wegulo, and P. S. Baenziger. 2018. Foliar fungicide effects on disease severity, yield, and agronomic characteristics of modern winter wheat genotypes. Agronomy Journal. 110. 1-9. 10.2134/agronj2017.07.0383.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 244. Eltaher S, A. Sallam, V. Belamkar, H. A. Emara, A. A. Nower, K. F. M. Salem, J. Poland, and P.S. Baenziger. 2018. Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of F3:6 Nebraska Winter Wheat Genotypes Using Genotyping-By-Sequencing. Front. Genet. 9:76.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 245. Mourad, A. M.I., A. Sallam, V. Belamkar, S. Wegulo, R. Bowden, Y. Jin, E. Mahdy, B. Bakheit, A. A. El-Wafaa, J. Poland, and P. S. Baenziger. 2018. Genome-Wide Association Study for Identification and Validation of Novel SNP Markers for Sr6 Stem Rust Resistance Gene in Bread Wheat. Front. Plant Sci. 9:380. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00380
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 246. Montesinos-L�pez, O. A. , P. S. Baenziger, K. M. Eskridge, R. S. Little, E. Mart�nez-Cr�z, E. Franco-Perez, 2018. Analysis of genotype-by-environment interaction in winter wheat growth in organic production system. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture. 2018. 30(3): 212-223
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Tyrka, M., S. Oleszczuk, J. Rabiza-Swider, H. Wos, M. Wedzony, J. Zimny, A. Ponitka, R. J. Metzger, P. S. Baenziger, and A. J. Lukaszewski. 2018. Populations of Doubled Haploids for Genetic Mapping in Hexaploid Winter Triticale. Molecular Breeding 38 (4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11032-018-0804-3.


Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Wheat, barley, and triticale breeders and 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.he audience for this project is: small grains seed producers, small grains growers, brewers, millers and bakers, agronomicst, cover crop specialists, and consumer of winter wheat, barley, and triticale. Changes/Problems:Our major problem will be those that are beyond our control, specifically inclement weather which greatly affects the quality of our data. Furthermore, this is a labor intensive and expensive project, so state budgets and ability to attract funds will affect this project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Vikas Belamkar attended a R-workshop on "Advanced R Programming for Statgen package development" at the Summer Institute in Statistical Genetics 2017, University of Washington, Seattle, WA July 12-14, 2017 and will be transferring this knowledge to our group. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In preparation for the launch of hybrid wheat and for new winter wheat, barley,and triticale cultivars, talks were given to the Nebraska Crop Improvement Association (80 seed dealers in attendance) in January 2017, at fields days throughout Nebraska (approximately 350 growers in attendance) in June, 2107, and at three seed days in western Nebraska ( approximately 300 growers in attendance) in August, 2017. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to breed new cultivars of wheat, triticale, and barley. We will continue to publish our research, specifically write the registration article on Ruth and our genomic selection research. A major emphasis will be on developing a public, transparent platform for hybrid wheat research. We will continue to acquire germplasm, make crosses, select on pehnotypic data in winter wheat, barley, and triticale imporvment. For winter wheat, our pehnotypic data will be combined with genomic selelction ffor a more efficient way to select outstanding lines.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The 2017 Nebraska wheat crop was estimated to be 46,000,000 bushels with an average yield of 46 bu/a from 1,002,000 harvested acres. The planted acres were 1,112,000 acres. The winter barley and triticale acres are not reported due to their small size. However, our program is one of the few programs that still breeds winter barley and triticale, so while the acreage is small, we are a major supplier of winter barley and winter triticale. This year one new winter wheat was released in cooperation with Limagrain Cereal Seeds who jointly owns the line with the University of Nebraska. It will be marketed under the LCS Link. It is a high yielding line that does particularly well under irrigation, but also does well under rainfed production. It is moderately resistant to barley yellow dwarf virus, soildborne mosaic virus, leaf rust, stem rust, stripe rust, and tan spot. It moderately susceptible to moderately resistant to stripe rust. Six new winter triticale lines were released. NT05421 (not yet for sale) is a winter triticale with prostrate growth habit in the winter. It was derived from a complex cross mainly involving NE422T which the final cross was made in 1999. The F1 was grown in the greenhouse in 2000 and the F2 seed was planted as a bulk at Lincoln, NE and harvested with a combine in 2001 and replanted that fall at Lincoln, NE as an F3 bulk. In 2002, F3:4 heads were snapped from the F3 bulk and planted in Lincoln, NE that fall as individual short rows (approximately 75 cm long with 25 cm between rows). In 2003, based upon visual selection for the absence of disease, good straw strength, and agronomic appearance, the better rows were selected. The harvested seed was visually inspected for seed quality and ergot and those samples with poor seed quality (shriveled grain) and ergot were discarded. The remaining lines (F3:5) were planted at Lincoln, NE in four row plots that were 3 m long with 25 cm between rows in the fall of 2003 and combine harvested in 2004. The center two rows were cut and threshed using a plot thresher. There was no further selection thereafter. Based upon grain yield, seed quality, and agronomic and resistance to disease, F3:6 lines were advanced for planting in fall of 2004 and harvesting in 2005 in a multilocation trial at Lincoln (single replication), Mead (two replications), and Sidney, NE (single replication). The name NT05421 is derived from the line being selected in Nebraska (N) being a triticale (T) in 2005 (hence 05) and being derived from plot 421. Thereafter it was tested in multilocation trials with three replications at the same three NE locations. The plant color at boot stage is blue-green and the stem is without anthocyanin. The neck is moderately hairy and straight. The flag leaf is upright, not twisted, and with a waxy bloom. The auricle is colorless. The head is awned and the color is yellow. The seed is amber in color, oval, wrinkled, and with a large and long brush. NT07403 is being marketed and is a winter triticale with prostrate growth habit in the winter. It was derived from the cross NE98T424/FLOOD//NT00418 which was made in 2001. The pedigree of NE98T424 is PRESTO/NE91T409 and the pedigree of NT00418 is RAH-123/NE94T409. The same breeding procedure as described for NT05421 was used beginning with the cross being made two years later. The plant color at boot stage is green and the stem is without anthocyanin. The neck is hairy and straight. The flag leaf is drooping, twisted and with a waxy bloom. The auricle is colorless. The head is mid-dense, clavate, awned, and the color is tan. The glumes at maturity are pubescent, mid-long, narrow, with a wanting shoulder. The beak is acute. The seed is amber in color, oval, slightly wrinkled, and with a large and long brush. NT09423 is a winter triticale with prostrate growth habit in the winter. It was derived from the cross NE426GT/NT01417, which was made in 2003. The pedigree of NT01417 is NE85T121/NE87T148//RAH-123. The same breeding procedure as described for NT05421 was used beginning with the cross being made four years later. The plant color at boot stage is green and the stem is without anthocyanin. The neck is hairy and straight. The flag leaf is upright, not twisted and with a waxy bloom. The auricle is colorless. The head is mid-dense, fusiform, awned, and the color is tan. The glumes at maturity are glabrous, mid-long, narrow, with a wanting shoulder. The beak is acuminate. The seed is amber in color, ovate, wrinkled, and with a large and long brush. T11406 is being marketed ad is a winter triticale with prostrate growth habit in the winter. It was derived from the cross NT04427//NE92T422/NE426GT sib/3/NT02458//CTM86.101/GWT 88-12 which was made in 2005. The pedigree of NT04427 is NE422T/TX95V711, the pedigree of NE92T422 is 85LT401/NE83T24, and the pedigree of NT02458 is RAH-123/NE90T413. The same breeding procedure as described for NT05421 was used beginning with the cross being made six years later. The plant color at boot stage is yellow-green and the stem is without anthocyanin. The neck is hairy and straight. The flag leaf is upright, twisted and with a waxy bloom. The auricle is colorless. The head is mid-dense, oblong, awned, and the color is yellow. The glumes at maturity are slightly pubescent, mid-long, and mid-wide with a wanting shoulder. The beak is obtuse. The seed is amber in color, oval, slightly wrinkled, and with a mid-size and short brush. NT11428 is being marketed and is a winter triticale with prostrate growth habit in the winter. It was derived from the cross NE03T413/3/NT02458//CTM86.101/GWT 88-12 which was made in 2005. The pedigree of NE03T413 is NE426GT sib//TRICAL 2700. The same breeding procedure as described for NT05421 was used beginning with the cross being made six years later. The plant color at boot stage is green and the stem is without anthocyanin. The neck is hairy and straight. The flag leaf is upright, twisted and with a waxy bloom. The auricle is colorless. The head is mid-dense, fusiform, awned, and the color is yellow. The glumes at maturity are slightly pubescent, mid-long, and mid-wide with a wanting shoulder. The beak is obtuse. The seed is amber in color, oval, slightly wrinkled, and with a large and long brush. NT12434 has been licensed for sale and is a winter triticale with prostrate growth habit in the winter. It was derived from the cross NT01451/NT05434 which was made in 2006. The pedigree of NT01451 is OMI-4MI-3MI/NE91T410//RAH-123 and the pedigree of NT05434 is NE98T424/PLAI. The same breeding procedure as described for NT05421 was used beginning with the cross being made six years later. The plant color at boot stage is blue green and the stem is without anthocyanin. The neck is hairy and wavy. The flag leaf is drooping, twisted and with a waxy bloom. The auricle is colorless. The head is mid-dense, oblong, awned, and the color is tan. The glumes at maturity are slightly pubescent, long, and wide with a wanting shoulder. The beak is acuminate. The seed is amber in color, ovate, wrinkled, and with a large and long brush. No new winter barley cultivars were released in 2017.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: 1. Bhatta, M., K. M. Eskridge, D. J. Rose, D. K. Santra, P. S. Baenziger, T. Regassa. 2017. Seeding rate, genotype, and top-dressed nitrogen effects on yield and agronomic characteristics of winter wheat. Crop Science 57: 951-963
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: 1. Guttieri, M.J., K. Frels, T. Regassa, B. M. Waters, and P.S. Baenzgier. 2017. Variation for nitrogen use efficiency in current and historical great plants hard winter wheat. Euphytica (doi:10.1007/s10681-017-1869-5)
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: 1. Al-Ajlouni, Z.I., A. Lataif, A. Al-Ghzawil, A. M. Al-Aabdallat, J. Y. Ayad, J. M. A. Elnein, N. A. Al-Quaraan, and P. S. Baenizger. 2017. Effect of pre-anthesis water deficit on plant height, peduncle length, and spike length in 13 barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes. Jordan J. of Agricultural Science 13: 163-173.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: 1. Morgounov, A., A.Abugalieva, K. Akan, B. Ak?n1, S. Baenziger, M. Bhatta, A. A. Dababat, L. Demir, Y. Dutbayev, M. El Bouhssini, G. Erginbas?-Orakci, M. Kishii8, M. Keser, E. Ko�, A. Kurespek, A. Mujeeb-Kazi, A. Yorganc?lar, F. �zdemir, I. �zturk1, T. Payne, G. Qadimaliyeva, V. Shamanin, K. Subasi, G. Suleymanova, E Yakis?ir, and Y. Zelenskiy. 2017. High-yielding winter synthethic hexaploid wheats resistnt to multiple diseases and pests. Plant Genetic Resources 16 (doi:10.1017/S147926211700017X)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: 1. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). 2017. Plant Breeding and GeneticsA paper in the series on The Need for Agricultural Innovation to Sustainably Feed the World by 2050. Issue Paper 57. CAST, Ames, Iowa. Writing Committee: P.S. Baenziger and R. H. Mumm (Cochairs), R. Bernardo, E.C. Brummer, P. Langridge, P. Simon, and S. Smith. CAST Liaison: W. Srnic
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: 1. Bhatta, M., T. Regassa, D. J. Rose, P. S. Baenziger, K. M. Eskridge, D. K. Santra, and R. Poudel. 2017. Genotype, environments, seeding rate, and top-dressed nitrogen effects on end-use quality of modern Nebraska winter wheat. J. Sci. Food Agri. DOI 10.1002/jsfa.8417
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: El-Basyoni, I., M. Saadalla, S. Baenziger, H. Bockelman,� and S. Morsy. 2017. Cell membrane stability and association mapping for drought and heat tolerance in a worldwide wheat collection. doi:10.3390/su9091606
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2017 Citation: Sallam, A., J. Sidiqi, S. Baenziger. 2017. Screening winter wheat lines in Nebraska for the Fhb1 gene using Kompetive Allele Specific PCR (KASP). J Plant Genet Breed 1: e104.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Li, G. R. Boontung, C. Powers, V. Belamkar, T. Huang, F. Miao, P.S. Baenziger, and L. Yan. 2017. Genetic basis of the very short life cycle of Apogee wheat. BMC Genomics 18:838.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: 10. Bhata, M., T. Regassa, D. J. Rose, P. S. Baenziger, K.M. Eskridge, D. K. Santra, and R. Poudel. 2017. Genotype, environment, seeding rate, and top-dressed nitrogen effects on end-use quality of modern Nebraska winter wheat. J. Sci. Food Agric. DOI 10.1002/jsfa.8417


Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Wheat, barley, and triticale breeders and 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 small grains products. Changes/Problems:Our major problem will be those that are beyond our control, specifically inclement weather which greatly affects the quality of our data. Furthermore, this is a labor intensive and expensive project, so state budgets and ability to attract funds will affect this project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We provide graduate training for 8 Ph.D. students and 1 M.S. student. Currently we have two visiting scientists and one Research Assistant Professor in the program. The research is quite varied, but all is in the area of small grains genetics and breeding. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We disseminate our results in many different formats depending on the audience. New cultivars are disseminated by seed sales or small shipments for breeding purposes. Most of our research is published in scholarly, international peer-reviewed journals and scientific presentations. We also do field days, seed days, and interviews with newspapers, radio, and television. For very rapid, concise dissemination, we use Twitter. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to breed new cultivars of wheat, triticale, and barley. We will continue to publish our research, specifically write the registration article on Ruth and our genomic selection research. A major emphasis will be on developing a public, transparent platform for hybrid wheat research.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The 2016 Nebraska wheat crop continued to decline in part due continued pressure from other crops for acres and diseases. 1,370,000 acres were planted with 1,310,000 acres harvested. Due to generally good moisture, the average yield was 54 bu/a (a record yield) for a total crop of 70,740,000 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. We now routinely use genotype by sequencing (GBS) and are doing it on our preliminary observation nursery (about 1800 lines). Our GBS data are being used in genomic selection (GS) and also in genome wide association studies (GWAS). GWAS has been very successful and a number of traits we previously used specific markers for can now be identified from the GBS data. GS proved to be invaluable this year because our preliminary observation nursery was severely damage by hail, hence our phenotypic data was very poor. We continue to add new disease alleles to our germplasm and have at least eight different major genes (singly or in pyramids) in our elite lines. We continue to incorporate genes for resistance to wheat streak mosaic virus and wheat soilborne mosaic virus, as well as Fusarium headblight. Our hybrid wheat research continues and this year we harvested trials with 650 experimental hybrids (three in NE and one in TX). We continued our hybrid crossing block. We also planted similar hybrid yield trials in 2016 for harvest in 2017. A new crossing block design was implemented. For end-use quality improvement, we continue to drop poor quality lines and are raising the selection criteria for good quality. In 2016, NE10589 (Husker Genetics Brand 'Ruth') was sold to certified seed growers to create certified seed for sale in 2018. The release notice can be found at: http://agronomy.unl.edu/baenziger-new-releases An increase of 1 bu/a in Nebraska will increase farm income by approximately $7,500,000. In 2016, over 60% of the wheat acreage planted in Nebraska was planted to cultivars developed by the USDA-ARS and University of Nebraska wheat improvement program. Our triticale efforts really seem to have found a niche with the following lines being recently commercialized: NT07403 and Short Bread Thunder (licensed line). NT05421, NT09423, NT11428, NT12414, and NT12434) are currently being increased for possible release. No new barley cultivars were released.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: 1. Bockus, W. W., Zhang, G., Fritz, A., Davis, M., Baenziger, P., and Caffe-Treml, M. 2015. Reaction of Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota winter wheat accessions to Fusarium head blight (FHB), 2014. (online) Plant Disease Management Reports 9:CF004. DOI:10.1094/PDMR09. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: 2. Fakthongphan, J., R. A. Graybosch; Guihua Bai, P. St. Amand, and P. S. Baenziger. 2016. Identification of markers linked to genes for sprouting tolerance (independent of grain color) in hard white winter wheat (HWWW). Theor. Appl. Genet 129: 419-430.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Guttieri, M.J., B. W. Seabourn, C. Liu, P. S. Baenziger, and B. M. Waters. 2015. Distribution of cadmium, iron, and zinc in millstreams of hard winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). J. Agric. Food Chem. 63:10681-10688.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Fakthongphan, J., R.A. Graybosch and P.S. Baenziger. 2016. Combining Ability for Tolerance to Pre-Harvest Sprouting in Common Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Crop Sci. 56: 1025-1035.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: 5. Baenziger, P. S., R. A. Graybosch, T. Regassa, R. N. Klein, G. R. Kruger, D. K. Santra, L. Xu, D. J. Rose, S. N. Wegulo, Y. Jin, J. Kolmer, G. L. Hein, M.-S. Chen, G. Bai, R. L. Bowden and J. Poland. 2016. Registration of NE05548 (Husker Genetics Brand Panhandle) Hard Red Winter Wheat. J. Plant Registrations 10: 276-282.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: 6. Grogan, Sarah M., Josh Anderson, P. Stephen Baenziger, Katherine Frels, Mary J. Guttieri, Scott D. Haley, Ki-Seung Kim, Shuyu Liu, Gregory S. McMaster, Mark Newell, P. V. Vara Prasad, Scott D. Reid, Kyle J. Shroyer, Guorong Zhang, Eduard Akhunov and Patrick F. Byrne. 2016. Phenotypic Plasticity of Winter Wheat Heading Date and Grain Yield across the US Great Plains. Crop Sci.56: 2223-2236.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: 7. Al-Ajlouni, Zakaria I., Ayed M. Al-Abdallat, Abdul Latief A. Al-Ghzawi, Jamal Y. Ayad,Jamal M. Abu Elenein, Nisreen A. Al-Quraan, and P. Stephen Baenziger. 2016. Impact of Pre-Anthesis Water Deficit on Yield and Yield Components in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Plants Grown under Controlled Conditions. Agronomy 6(2), 33 doi:10.3390/agronomy6020033
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: 8. Bai, G., Y. Ge, W. Hussain, P.S. Baenziger, and G. Graef. 2016. A multi-sensor system for high throughput phenotyping in soybean and wheat. Computers and electronics in agriculture 128:181-192.


Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project is diverse and includes wheat, barley, and triticale producers, those involved in cover crops, the purchasers of grain and forage, millers, bakers, brewers, animal feeders, and consumers. Changes/Problems:There were not significant changes to report. As expected in research we have made modifications in our program to increase on efforts on Cd, a toxic heavy metal that accumulates in some lines of wheat. We have identified low Cd accumulating lines and mapped the locus for Cd uptake. We have alo increase our efforts on developing the foundation for hybrid wheat. Over 600 putative crosses were made and hybrid yield trials have been planted at four locations. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Our granduate students attended the annual meeting of the Crop Science Society of America, a scientific meeting. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We diseminate our results by refereed journal publications, radio, and web based media. We have a very active twitter account, so we are also using social media. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will write the formal release statements and PVP applications for the wheat line, the two barley lines, and the four triticale lines. In addition, we have additional wheat, barley, and triticale lines under increase for possible release next year.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In 2015, the University of Nebraska Small Grains Release Committee recommended the release of NE10589 which will be marketed as Husker Genetics Brand 'Ruth' Hard Red Winter Wheat. It was named in honor of our greenhouse manager who was a huge aid to the breeding program and who died far too young. NE10589 genetically is a semi-dwarf wheat, containing the RhtB1b allele (formerly known as Rht1). NE10589 was evaluated in Nebraska replicated yield nurseries starting in 2010, in the USDA-ARS coordinated Northern Regional Performance Nursery in 2013 and 2014, in the Southern Regional Performance Nursery in 2014, and in the University of Nebraska Fall Sown Wheat Performance Trials in 2014 to 2015. In the Nebraska Intrastate Nursery (2012 to 2015), NE10589 performed extremely well across Nebraska in head-to-head comparisons for grain yield with the currently popularly available wheat cultivars. These data are supported by the 2013 and 2014 USDA-ARS Northern Regional Performance Nursery where NE10589 ranked 9th and 2nd region-wide of the 37 and 40 entries tested in those years (data available at http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htm?docid=11932). For a more northern adapted wheat cultivar, it also performed well in the 2014 Southern Regional Performance Nursery where it ranked 19th of the 40 lines tested in that year. In the last two years it has been tested in the Nebraska State Variety Trials across 25 environments (full data available at http://cropwatch.unl.edu/web/varietytest/wheat). NE10589 (3436 kg/ha) had higher grain yield than all currently popular winter wheat cultivars that were tested state-wide (e.g. Overland,3275 kg/ha; Freeman,3214 kg/ha; and Wesley, 32947 kg/ha). Based upon these data, NE10589 is adapted to all rainfed wheat production in NE. Other measurements of performance from comparison trials indicate that NE10589 is moderately late in maturity (147.2 d after Jan.1, data from 7 observations in eastern NE) which is very similar to Overland (147.9 d after Jan.1) and two days later than Freeman (145.4 d after Jan.1) and one day later than Settler CL (146.1 d after Jan.1). NE10589 is a semi-dwarf wheat cultivar and contains the RhtB1b (formerly Rht1,). The mature plant height of NE10589 is similar to Robidoux, but shorter than Camelot, Goodstreak, Panhandle, and Overland. NE10589 is taller than Wesley, Settler CL, and Freeman (Table 1). NE10589 has moderate straw strength for a semi-dwarf wheat with little lodging reported in the years it has been tested. The winter hardiness of NE10589 is good and comparable to other winter wheat cultivars grown in Nebraska. NE10589 is resistant to Soilborne wheat mosaic virus in field nurseries in Nebraska It is moderately resistant to stem rust (caused by Puccinia graminis Pers.: Pers. f. sp. tritici Eriks & E. Henn.) in field nursery tests at St. Paul, MN and to stripe rust (caused by P. striiformis Westendorp f. sp. tritici) ,in field nurseries in Nebraska. In greenhouse seedling tests, it is resistant or segregating for resistance to stem rust races QFCSC, QTHJC, MCCFC, RCRSC, RKQQC, and TMPKC, but susceptible to race TTTTF. It is moderately susceptible to susceptible for leaf rust (caused by P. triticina Eriks,) data obtained from field observations in the Great Plains). By molecular markers, it is believed to carry the Lr37/Sr38/Yr17 translocation. NE10589 is moderately susceptible to Fusarium head blight (caused by Fusarium graminearum, data from greenhouse and field observations in Nebraska and Kansas) and moderately susceptible to DON accumulation. NE10589 is moderately resistant to moderately susceptible to Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor Say,), but its reaction can be quite variable among greenhouse seedling tests. It is susceptible to Barley yellow dwarf virus, and Wheat streak mosaic virus (data obtained from the USDA-ARS Noirthern Regional Performance Nursery and field observations in NE). The committee also recommended the release of winter barleys: NB10403 and NB10409 for exclusive licensing. It also recommended the release of winter triticales: NT12414 and NT12434 for licensing; and NT07403 and NT09423 for general release. Because heavy metals can be toxic to humans, we initiated a project to reduce Cd in wheat. Peviously high Cd was thought to only be a problem in durum wheat. However we found that high Cd can be a problem in common (bread) wheat, that genetic variation exists for this trait, and that we can and shojld be breeding for lower levels of Cd in the eastern Great Plains.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Kumssa, T. T., P. S. Baenziger, M. N. Rouse, M Guttieri, I . Dweikat, G. Brown-Guedira, S. Williamson, R. A. Graybosch, S. N. Wegulo, A. J. Lorenz, and J. Poland. 2015. Characterization of stem rust resistance in wheat cultivar Gage. Crop Sci. 55: 229-239.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Eckard, J.T. M. Caffe, W. Berzonsky, W. W. Bockus, G. F. Marais, P. S. Baenziger, and J. L. Gonzalez-Hernandez. Native Fusarium head blight resistance from winter wheat cultivars Lyman, Overland, Ernie, and Freedom mapped and pyramided onto Wesley-Fhb1 backgrounds. 2015. Molec. Breeding 35:6-16.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Guttieri, M. J., P.S. Baenziger, K. Frels, B. Carver, B. Arnall,, and B. Waters. 2015. Variation for Grain Mineral Concentration in a Diversity Panel of Current and Historical Great Plains Hard Winter Wheat Germplasm. Crop Sci. 55: 1035-1052.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Guittieri, M.J., P. S. Baenziger, K. Frels, B. Carver, B. Arnall, S. Wang, E. Akhunov, and B. M. Waters. 2015. Prospects for selecting wheat with increased zinc and decreased cadmium concentration in grain. Crop Sci. 55:1712-1728.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Wegulo, S. N., P.S. Baenziger, J. Hernandez Nopsa, W. W. Bockus, and H. Hallen-Adams. 2015. Management of Fusarium head blight of wheat and barley. Crop Protection. 73:100-107. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2015.02.025
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Lopes, M.S., I. El-Baysoni, P. S. Baenziger, S. Singh, C. Royo, K. Ozbek, H. Aktas, E. Ozer, F. Ozdemir, A. Manickavelu, T. Ban, and P. Vikram. 2015. Exploiting genetic diversity from landraces in wheat breeding for adaptation to climate change. J. Exp. Bot. 66 : 3477-3486.


Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience of this project is primarily small grains growers (winter wheat, barley, and triticale) and the value chain that links these agricultural commodities to the consumer. Specifically, it is plant breeders; cereal chemists; plant pathologists; entomologists; researchers in genetics, genomics, and plant physiology; crop production specialists; millers; bakers; and consumers. Changes/Problems: Probably the biggest changes in our program were: 1. the access to a chemically hybridizing agent so that we can much more efficiantly make experimental hybrids to understand the genetic basis of wheat heterosis and 2. the discovery that our eastern Nebraska testing sites were high in cadmium so we have a very effective way of screening for low heavy metal lines. There were no major problems that led to these changes, mainly new discoveries leading to new opportunities. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? A number of my students have attended the Natonal Associaton of Plant Breeders, Crop Science Society of America, or the Plant and Animal Genome annual meetings. We retain a vigorous graduate education program supported primarily through grants, national fellowships, or endowments. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The science is mainly disseminated through peer-reviewed journal articles and presentations at scientific meetings. The impact and information on tangible products (new cultivars) is disseminated through field days, seed days, publically available varitey tests, newspaper articles, social media, and extension circulars and meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? In the next reproting period we will: 1. Continue our breeding pipeline (crosses to populations to selections to advance line testing to cultivar relsease) in winter wheat, barley and triticale, 2. make roughly 625 new wheat hybrids for large scale testing using chemical hybridizaing agents, 3. continue developing our cytoplasmic male sterile hybrid system, 4. expand our efforts to reduce heavy metals in our wheat grain, and 5. determine better ways of genotyping and phenotyping small grains lines including winter barley and triticale forage lines.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We released one new winter wheat cultivar (Panhandle, tested as NE05548). Panhandle is an interesting line in that it is genetically a true semi-dwarf cultivar, but phenotypically is similar to conventional (tall) wheat cultivars in height. It also is a very low cadmium accumlating line. Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal and highly undesirable in food grains. Our breeding programs in winter wheat, barley, and triticale continue to develop elite lines suitable for release and commercial production in the northern Great Plains. Interest in forage triticale continues to expand and our testing program now spans from Texas to New York to Washington state. Our crossing program remains strong with new germplasm being developed every year. This year was particularly hard due to winterkilling on winter barley, so we hope we have the developed from the surviving lines, the next generation of winterhardy and more climate smart winter barley lines. In the areas of new breeding methods, we successfully negotiated access to a European chemical hybridizing agent so that our hybrid breeding effort can be augmented with chemically made hybrids. As part of a three line, cytoplasmic male sterile hybrid system, we have successful acquired numerous R-lines (restorer lines of the timopheevi cytoplasm) and have begun increasing their seed, moving the restorer genes into winter wheat background, and determining that the R-lines are in the male sterile cytoplasm (an easy way to ensure the restorer genes are effective). Our previous winter wheat release, Freeman (NE06545) did well its first year after release and will become a popular cultivar in southeast Nebraska, if not across the state. Freeman is particularly interesting because it has very high nitrogen use efficiency. Ineffiective use of nitrogen adds const to wheat producers and nitrogen leaching form soils is a major pollutant of ground water. Hence improved nitrogen use efficient lines increase farm profitability and environmental sustainability.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Wortman, S. E., C. A. Francis, T. D. Galusha, C. Hoagland, J. Van Wart, P. S. Baenziger, T. Hoegemeyer, and M. Johnson. 2013. Evaluating Cultivars for Organic Farming: Maize, Soybean, and Wheat Genotype by System Interactions in Eastern Nebraska. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 37:915-932.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hernandez Nopsa, J. F., S.N. Wegulo, A. Panthi, H.E. Hallen-Adams, S. D. Harris, and P. S. Baenziger. 2014. Characterization of Nebraska isolates of Fusarium graminearum causing head blight of wheat. Crop Sci. 54:310-317.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Byamukama E.,, S. N. Wegulo, S. Tatineni, G. L. Hein, R. A. Graybosch , P. S. Baenziger, and R. French. 2014. Quantification of yield loss caused by Triticum mosaic virus and Wheat streak mosaic virus in winter wheat under field conditions. Plant Dis.98:127-133.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: El Siddig, M.A., S. Baenziger, I. Dweikat, and A. A. El Hussein. 2013. Preliminary Screening for water stress tolerance and genetic diverstiy in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars for Sudan. Journal of Genetic Edngineering and Biotechnology 11:87-94.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Graybosch, R., P.S. Baenziger, D. Santra, T. Regassa,,Y. Jin,,J. Kolmer,,S. Wegulo, G., Bai, P.S. Amand, X., Chen, B. Seabourn, F. Dowell, R., Bowden, D.M. Marshall.. 2014.. Release of Matter waxy (amylose-free) winter wheat. J. Plant Registrations 8:43-48.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hoegemeyer, T., C. Francis, and P.S. Baenziger. 2014. Our Daily Bread: a history of cereials. Book Review. Crop Science 2014 54:453-454
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hussein, A. A. E., M. A. E. Siddig, A. W. H. Abdalla, I Dweikat, and S. Baenziger. 2014. SSR and SRAP markers-based genetic diversity in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) accessions of Sudan. Int. J. Of Plant Breeding and Genetidcs 8:89-99.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Baenziger, P.S., R. A. Graybosch, T. Regassa, R. N. Klein, G. R. Kruger, D. K. Santra, L. Xu, D. J. Rose, S. N. Wegulo, Y. Jin, J. Kolmer, G. L. Hein, M.-S. Chen, G. Bai, R. L. Bowden and J. Poland. 2014. Registration of NE06545 (Husker Genetics Brand Freeman) Hard Red Winter Wheat. J. Plant Registrations 8:279-284.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Panthi, A., H. Hallen-Adams, S. N. Wegulo, ,J. F., Hernandez Nopsa, and P. S. Baenziger. 2015. Chemotype and aggressiveness of isolates of Fusarium graminearum causing head blight of wheat in Nebraska. Can. J. Plant Pathol. (in press).


Progress 04/01/13 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: This project is to develop new small grains cultivars and new parental line germplasm for Nebraska and adjacent states. We concentrate on developing winter wheat, barley, and triticale germplasm. In 2013, we formally released NE06545 which was selected primarily for its agronomic performance in rainfed environments in Nebraska using a modified bulk breeding method, acceptable end-use quality , and stem rust and wheat soilborne mosaic virus resistance. NE06545 was selected from the cross 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 was tested in the SRPN in 2010 and in the NRPN in 2011 (data available at http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htm?docid=11932) and in the Nebraska State Variety Trials (data available at: http://cropwatch.unl.edu/web/varietytest/wheat). NE06545 was among the highest yielding lines across the state and was the highest yielding line in western NE. Based upon these data, NE06545 is adapted to all of Nebraska, but particularly to rainfed western NE wheat production. Based upon our end-use quality data to date, NE06545 would be similar in end-use quality to McGill. This line has been recommended for release to certified seed producers in 2013. Compared to Wesley (moderately susceptible to susceptible for scab reaction and susceptible for DON accumulation) and Overland (moderately resistance to scab reaction and moderately resistant for DON accumulation), NE06545 is considered as being moderately susceptible for scab reaction and moderately susceptible for DON accumulation. We also formally released P-845, a winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivar in 2013. It was released primarily for its superior grain yield and adaptation to rainfed small grains production systems in Nebraska and in states south of Nebraska. P-845 was selected from the cross Krasnodar ‘K304/2’/NB90701, where the Krasnodar line K304/2 was developed in southern Russia and used as a parent for its diversity and expected winterhardiness and the pedigree of NB90701 is NE80725 sel./OK77422. The pedigree of NE80725 is Sabbaton/Meimi*2/Decatur/3/Dundy//Nebar sel./Dundy. The pedigree of OK77422 is CI 13855/NC 6005-15. In the Nebraska Barley Variety Trial (2004 to 2011, Table 1), P-845 performed well across Nebraska and in western Kansas. Compared to the four commercially available cultivars, P-845 was the highest yielding line at Lincoln, NE and Colby, KS. It was the second and third highest yielding line at Mead and Sidney, NE respectively. These data are supported by the 2010 USDA-ARS Nursery where P-845 ranked 6th region-wide of the 16 entries tested. It was not significantly (P<0.05) lower than the highest yielding lines in the nursery. Based upon these data, P-845 is adapted to Nebraska and western Kansas and adjacent areas of the Great Plains. Other measurements of performance from comparison trials indicate that P-845 is moderately early in maturity (flowering 136.6 d after Jan.1), about 1 d later flowering than TAMBAR 501 and 1 day earlier flowering than P-713, P-721, and P-954. P-845 is a relatively short winter barley cultivar (26.7 in tall) which is similar to P-721 and P-954, but one inch shorter than TAMBAR 501 and 2 inches shorter than P-713. P-845 has moderate straw strength (8% lodged) which was lower than the comparison cultivars. The winter hardiness of P-845 is good and comparable to other winter wheat cultivars adapted and commonly grown in Nebraska and Kansas. Using a participatory approach involving our seed growers, we are preparing the release of NE05548. The pedigree of NE05548 is NE97426/NE98574 where the pedigree of NE97426 is BRIGANTINA/2*ARAPAHOE and the pedigree of NE98574 is CO850267/RAWHIDE. It is a medium late maturity, tall wheat with good winterhardiness, and fair straw strength. In our tests, it is moderately resistant to stem rust, yellow (stripe) rust, and Hessian fly, moderately susceptible to leaf rust, and susceptible to soilborne mosaic virus, and Russian wheat aphid. Compared to Wesley (moderately susceptible to susceptible for Scab reaction and susceptible for DON accumulation) and Overland (moderately resistance to scab reaction and moderately resistant for DON accumulation), NE05548 is considered as being moderately susceptible to scab reaction and moderately resistant for DON accumulation. Based upon the data we have collected so far, NE05548 would be considered as new tall wheat (though it has a semi-dwarfing gene) and would be used to complement Goodstreak, Pronghorn, and Buckskin in the regions where tall wheats are grown. It was tested in the NRPN in 2008 and 2009 (data available at http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htm?docid=11932) and in the Nebraska State Variety Trials (data available at: http://cropwatch.unl.edu/web/varietytest/wheat). Based upon our end-use quality data to date, NE055548 would have slightly lower end-use quality than McGill. Changes/Problems: No major changes or problems of significance. With the advent of a renaissance of microbrewing, we are adding malting barley as part of our barley breeding effort. We have also added a small hybrid wheat development program. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? 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? Plant breeding is a continuous project. As such much of or communication, research, and education strategies are similarly ongoing. We hope to enhance our use of social media.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We have released one new wheat cultivar (NE06545) which should be an impact cultivar. We have released one new winter barley P-845 which wil add diversity to the Great Plains. We are preparing NE05548 for formal release based upon a shared release process where growers and researcher work closely together to ensure the wheat grower has the germplasm that they need. In addition all phases of the wheat, barley, and triticale breeding program continue so that new cultivars will be coming in the future. Finally we have initiated a small hybrid wheat program.

Publications

  • 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. 2013. 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: 2013 Citation: Placido, D., M. Capmpbell, J. Jin, X. Cui, G. R. Kruger, P. S. Baenziger, and H. Walia. 2013. Introgression of novel traits froma wild wheat relativeimporves drought adaptation in wheat (Triticum aestivum). Plant Physiology 116 :1806-1819..
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Cavanagh, C. R., S. Chao, S. Wang, B. E. huang, S. Stephen, S. Kiani, K. Forrest, C. Saintenac, G. L. Brown-Guedira, A. Akhunova, D. See, G. Bai, M. Pumphrey, L. Tomar. D. Wong, S. Kong, M. Reynolds, M. Lopez da Silva, H. Bockelman, L. Talbert, J. A. Anderson, S. Dreisigacker, S. Baenziger, A. Carter, V. Korzun, P. L. Morrell, J. Dubcovsky, M. K. Morell, M. E. Sorrells, M. J. Hayden, and E. Akhunov. 2013. Genome-wide comparative diversity uncovers multiple targets of selection for improvement in hexaploid wheat landraces and cultivars. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 110:8057-8062.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: El-Siddig, M. A., I. Dweikat, S. Baenziger, A A. El Hussain, and I. S. El-Baysoni. 2013. Genetic diversity among Sudanese wheat cultivars as revealed by molecular markers. Middle-East J. Scientifc Research 14:1135-1142.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: El-basyoni, I., P.S. Baenziger , I. Dweikat I., D. Wang , K. M. Eskridge and M. Saadalla . 2013. Using DArT markers to monitor genetic diversity throughout selection: A case Study in Nebraskas winter wheat breeding nurseries. Crop Science 53:2363-2373.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Rustgi, S., M. N. Shafqat, N. Kumar1, P. S. Baenziger, M. L. Ali, I. Dweikat, B. T. Campbell, and K.S. Gill. 2013. Genetic dissection of yield and its component traits using high-density composite map of wheat chromosome 3A: bridging gaps between QTLs and underlying genes. PLoS ONE 8(7): e70526. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0070526.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Bockus, W. W., Zhang, G., Fritz, A., Davis, M., Baenziger, P., and Berzonsky, W. 2013. Reaction of Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota winter wheat accessions to Fusarium head blight (FHB), 2012. (online) Plant Disease Management Reports 7:CF019. DOI:10.1094/PDMR07. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN.