PACIFIC NORTHWEST SPRING WHEAT BREEDING AND GENETICS

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1009005
• Project Start Date: Dec 21, 2015
• Project End Date: Mar 31, 2019
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
240 FRENCH ADMINISTRATION BLDG
PULLMAN,WA 99164-0001

Performing Department
Crop & Soil Sciences

Non Technical Summary
The Washington State University (WSU) spring wheat breeding program is focused on improving production options, profitability and sustainability of wheat production for four classes of spring wheat. The economic benefit of growing wheat varieties developed by the WSU spring wheat program is evidenced by their significant acreage. In total, ~57% of the 2014 Washington spring wheat acres were planted to WSU spring wheat varieties. A single "perfect" wheat variety will never exist. Washington and Pacific Northwest production environments vary considerably across relatively small geographic distances, while four market classes of spring wheat are produced with variable end-use quality characteristics. Changing production systems, disease and insect pest problems, market preferences/end-uses, and variable weather patterns all demand a long-term integrated effort to respond to and improve yield potential/protection and grain quality. Yield limiting biotic (including stripe rust, root diseases, and insect pests) and abiotic (including heat, drought, poor fertility, herbicide carryover) stresses reduce wheat production across the state. Our aim is to provide genetic solutions to these production limitations in the form of new, high-yielding, pest-resistant, high-quality varieties. Variety development and germplasm enhancement are accomplished by conventional plant breeding activities, including cross-pollination, followed by selection of superior lines and yield testing at multiple locations throughout the state. New higher-yielding wheats with pest resistance and superior end-use quality will be released to Pacific Northwest wheat growers and increase spring wheat profitability and sustainability, while decreasing the use of pesticides.

Animal Health Component

40%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

30%

Applied

40%

Developmental

30%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
201	1541	1081	30%
201	1543	1081	40%
202	1549	1080	10%
203	1549	1080	10%
212	1549	1080	10%

Knowledge Area
212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants; 203 - Plant Biological Efficiency and Abiotic Stresses Affecting Plants; 202 - Plant Genetic Resources; 201 - Plant Genome, Genetics, and Genetic Mechanisms;

Subject Of Investigation
1549 - Wheat, general/other; 1541 - Hard red spring wheat; 1543 - Soft white wheat;

Field Of Science
1081 - Breeding; 1080 - Genetics;

Keywords

wheat breeding

stripe rust

hessian fly

wheat quality

genomic selection

wheat genetics

Goals / Objectives
Our primary goal is to enhance rural economies, crop production sustainability, and minimize environmental impact due to wheat production in the inland Pacific Northwest The development of superior varieties in each market class is expected from future breeding activities.New higher-yielding germplasm with useful diversity for Hessian fly and stripe rust resistance andsuperior end-use quality will increase spring wheat profitability. By utilizing different resistancesources in different market classes of wheat, we will further increase diversity of stripe rust resistanceand potentially reduce vulnerability to race changes in the stripe rust population at the regional level.This could have a tremendous economic impact. This project will implement cutting-edge genomicselection for difficult or expensive traits, like grain quality, protein content, and yield, while developing theframework for implementation of genomic selection at a breeding program scale. Improved and moreefficient selection procedures and information will accelerate the rate of genetic gain in future breedingefforts, benefitting long-term competitiveness of Washington wheat production systems. Public wheatbreeding programs at WSU and across the country payback consistently on research dollars invested anddemonstrate highly visible impact in agricultural . It is commonly referenced that public wheat breedingprograms consistently return > ~60% on investment. With over 50% of the spring wheat acres inWashington planted to WSU varieties, growers continue to realize a return on research dollars investedat WSU in spring wheat breeding.Research results will be presented through publication in peer-reviewed journals, presentations atregional, national, and international meetings, and directly to Washington wheat producers throughpresentations at field days and other grower meetings. Primary publications will include genetics ofstrip rust resistance, heat tolerance, and genomic selection efficiency in wheat.

Project Methods
Variety development and germplasm enhancement are largely accomplished by the following conventional breeding activities. Germplasm from within the WSU breeding program, other public and private breeding and genetics programs in the Pacific Northwest, and national and international nurseries are the primary sources of genetic diversity for improvement of agronomic, quality, and pest resistance traits. Additional diversity/germplasm will also be directly requested from cereal gene banks, CIMMYT, Australian and European breeding programs as needed to increase sources of biotic and abiotic stress resistance/tolerance, components of grain quality, and yield potential. Evaluation of appropriate nurseries will be used to identify donor germplasm with potential to improve protein content (hard red spring wheat) and grain quality, Rhizoctonia/Pythium/wireworm tolerance, and diversity of resistance to stripe rust and Hessian fly as resources allow. Elite breeding lines (and exotic germplasm with promising potential) will be hybridized-advanced in fall and spring greenhouse cycles. Field nurseries will be used to evaluate and select superior populations/progeny/elite lines with acceptable agronomics, disease resistance, and quality. Single crosses will be primarily used for elite PNW x elite PNW breeding populations, while three-way or single backcross hybridizations will be primarily used when introducing variation from more diverse sources or inter-market class crosses. Yield trials are planted using an alpha lattice design with three replicates per location. Data is managed and analyzed with AgroBase database software.Numerous traits, screening procedures, selection techniques, and specific nurseries are employed, developed, or evaluated when they have potential to benefit spring wheat variety development. DNA marker development, stress phenotyping, selection protocols, and other related tools are investigated within the program and through extensive collaboration with other programs. We will continue to leverage the efficiency of the Spring Wheat Breeding Program to enhance traits and research of direct relevance to Washington producers. Current examples that will continue are development of DNA markers for useful sources of Hessian fly and stripe rust resistance, identification of superior germplasm through association mapping and prediction ofbreeding values, screening for tolerance to aluminum, development of facultative wheat, screening for drought and heat tolerance, development and screening of mutant populations (TILLING) and the development of high-throughput field phenomics selection methods. Additional research funded by USDA and other sources is conducted alongside the following trials, and core Spring Wheat staff provide critical leadership for each effort.

Progress 12/21/15 to 03/31/19

Outputs
Target Audience:Dr. Pumphrey taught annual cources in introductory plant science, crop growth and development, advanced plant breeding, and research presentation skills thorughout the award period, teaching over 500 students. Dr. Pumphrey extended research based information on wheat variety performance to over 1000 farmers, industry stakeholders, and others each year of the award period in person, and thousdands more through popular press article contributions, posdcasts, magazine articles, and other. At least 5 international wheat trade teams were hosted per year. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have trained numerous M.S. and PhD students with sucessful completion of degrees during the award period, including Paul Mihalyov (Ph.D.), Esraa Alwan (Ph.D.), Travis Ruff (M.S.), Itria Ibba (Ph.D.), Jeff Boehm (Ph.D.), Jayfred Godoy (Ph.D.), Weizhen Liu (Ph.D.), Kebede Tadessa (Ph.D.), and Megan Lewien (Ph.D.). Each participate in national conferneces, training workshops, regional meetings, and state and university based conferences and presenations. All have moved on to positition in the plant science and applied breeding industries. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In additon to routine scientific journal articles, Dr. Pumphrey presented and discussed wheat variety and production issues at no fewer than 10 field days annually, with direct contact to approximately 1000 farmers and industry professionals annually. These are primarily WSU Extension events, but I also participate in several industry organized events per year. Locations include Horse Heaven Hills, Dayton, Bickleton, Connell, Fairfield, Farmington, Lacrosse, Reardan, Lind, Palouse, Pullman, Colfax, Moses Lake, St. John, Lamont, Walla Walla, and Almira. He also presented either general wheat breeding and variety information, specific topics on wheat improvement and production (e.g. stripe rust, acid soils, Hessian fly, Fusarium head blight, Late-maturity alpha-amylase, falling numbers), general WSU plant science research, and other topics at least 10 times annually to groups including: International Wheat Trade Tours sponsored by Washington Grain Commission and US Wheat Associates, Western Wheat Workers, Senator Maria Cantwell tour, Washington Grain Commission, WSCIA Annual Meeting, Reardan Seed, Union Elevator, Washington Legislative Tours, Washington Grain Commission/Tri-state Growers Convention, Pacific Northwest Wheat Quality Council, Davenport-AgVentures/Davenport Growers, Ephrata-Wheat Growers, Reardan Seed, Co-Ag annual meeting, Spangle Direct Seed Meeting, McKay Seed, WSU Wheat Academy, Tours for Cathy McMorris-Rogers, Greater Spokane Incorporated Tour, Franklin County Wheat Growers, Eppich Grain, Crop Diagnostic Clinic, Friends of WSU Wheat Day, WSCIA PNW Seed Academy, Ritzville Wheat Growers, Connell Grain Growers, PNW Co-Op, Whitman County Grain Growers, Walla Walla Grain Growers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The WSU Spring Wheat Breeding program continues to develop and release hard red, soft white, club, and hard white spring wheat varieties with top-end yield potential, disease resistance, and most desirable end-use quality that are preferred by a majority of Washington farmers. Changing production systems and management options, disease and insect pest problems, market preferences/end-uses, and variable weather patterns all demand a long-term and integrated effort to respond to and improve yield potential, yield protection, input requirements, and grain quality. Approximately 450-600,000 acres of spring wheat are planted in Washington each year. As primarily a rotation crop, we continue to focus on improved economic return with minimal input costs on spring wheat acres. The economic benefit of growing wheat varieties developed by the WSU spring wheat program is evidenced by their significant acreage. WSU spring wheat varieties accounted for ~56% of total acres planted in the state each year based on certified seed sales over the past five years, leading the other spring breeding programs by a wide margin. WSU SWS releases JD, Diva, Whit, Seahawk, Tekoa, Ryan, Melba, and Louise, accounted for ~70% of all SWS acres in 2018, with Ryan, Seahawk and Melba quickly gaining acres. Kelse and Glee HRS were leading dryland HRS varieties again in 2018, with Chet and Alum also widely adopted and increasing in acres. Spring wheat variety trial data continues to document that the economic return from WSU varieties is superior across each market class and precipitation zone in the primary rain-fed spring wheat production areas of E. Washington.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Maccaferri, M., et al. 2019. Durum wheat genome reveals past domestication signatures and future improvement targets. Nature Genetics, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-019-0381-3.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Liu,W., J Kolmer, S Rynearson, X Chen, L Gao, JA Anderson, MK Turner, M. Pumphrey*. 2019. Identifying loci conferring resistance to leaf and stripe rusts in a spring wheat population (Triticum aestivum L.) via genome-wide association mapping. Phytopathology. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-04-19-0143-R.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Blake, N.K., M. Pumphrey, K. Glover, S. Chao, K. Jordan, J-L Jannick, E.A. Akhunov, J. Dubcovsky, H. Bockelman, L.E. Talbert. 2019. Registration of the Triticeae-CAP Spring Wheat Nested Association Mapping Population. Journal of Plant Registrations. 13(2): 294-297.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Ando, K., V. Krishnan, M. Rouse, T. Danilova, B. Friebe, D. See, M. Pumphrey*. 2019. Introgression of a novel stem rust (race TTKSK) resistance gene into wheat and development of Dasypyrum villosum chromosome specific markers via genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). Plant Disease. 103 (6), 1068-1074.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kiszonas, A. M., R. Higginbotham, X. M. Chen, K. Garland-Campbell, N. A. Bosque-P�rez, M. Pumphrey, M. N. Rouse, D. Hole, N. Wen, and C. F. Morris. 2019. Agronomic Traits in Durum Wheat Germplasm Possessing Puroindoline Genes. Agron. J. 111:1254-1265. doi:10.2134/agronj2018.08.0534
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Godoy, J. S. Gizaw, S. Chao, N. Blake, J. Dubcovsky, C. Pozniak, A. Carter, M. Pumphrey*, L. Talbert. 2018. Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS) of Agronomic Traits in a North American Elite Spring Wheat Panel. Crop Science 58:18381852.

Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Varieties of spring wheat released through this project were planted on approximately 50% of all spring wheat acres in Washington in 2018. This impacts an audience of over 1000 farmers, and thousands more industry stakeholders from seed sales to end-product processing and marketing of wheat both in the Unites states and in international markets. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two graduate students and six undergraduate students participated in variety development research and were trained in numerous aspects of field and laboratory research in agriculture. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Peer reviewed publications, directly by speaking to over 1000 farmers and other industry professionals, popular press coverage in magazine, newspaper, and radio. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to operate a high-impact, high return on investment wheat breeding effort.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Two new wheat varieties were released and multiplied for farmer availability. Dozens more of elite breeding lines were advanced for future testing and consideration for release. Two peer-reviewed journal articles on spring wheat research from this project were published

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2018 Citation: Gizaw, S.A., J. Godoy, M. Pumphrey, A.H. Carter. 2018. Use of spectral reflectance indices in indirect selection and genome wide association analyses of drought resistance and yield potential in North American spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Crop Science. in press.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Godoy, J. S. Gizaw, S. Chao, N. Blake, J. Dubcovsky, C. Pozniak, A. Carter, M. Pumphrey*, L. Talbert. 2018. Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS) of Agronomic Traits in a North American Elite Spring Wheat Panel. Crop Science 58:1838⿿1852.

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

Outputs
Target Audience:The WSU spring wheat breeding and genetics research program continued to deliver high quality research, extension, teaching, and wheat varieties to support rural development, livelihoods, environmental stewardship, and increased crop production for marketing and export from the Pacific Northwest states in 2017. In 2017, over 50% of all spring wheat acres in Washington were planted with varieties developed through this long term agricultural experiment station project. Scientists supported by this project communicated research results and new methods and materials to over 2000 agricultural producers, consultants, grain industry professionals, and other industry stakeholders in 2017. Wheat varieties developed through this project directly supported increased agricultural production in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana in 2017. Changes/Problems:No major challenges have been encountered, so routine and established approaches will continue. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Four PhD students completed their degrees in 2017 and are now working in the agricultural industry to further contribute to agricultural production. Three undergraduate students were mentored in supervised work experience. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results from Dr. Pumphrey's program were disseminated through 12 peer-reviewed scientific publications in 2017, along with direct extension activities with over 1000 farmers and industry stakeholders in attendance, three newspaper and magazine articles, two radio interviews, and broad email distrubutiuon of wheat variety performance results. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to train highly experienced professionals, communicate through diverse scientific and popular press publication outlets, and develop wheat varieties of braod benefit to rural communities, international grain trade, and US agriculture.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Three new wheat varieties with superior performance in the Pacific Northwest were released in 2017. Each variety has higher yields, equal or better pest resistance, excellent end-use quality for market acceptance, and all have been aggrressively adopted by farmers and the entire supply chain. Of specific importance, two of these varieties are tolerant to alumuninum toxicity, which is an inreasing problem throughout Washinton, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana as soil become more acidic after decades of modern farming. Also, two of these varieties are resistant to an insect pest, called Hessian fly, which is a very concerning insect in the region and throughout many regions of the United States. Scientists associated with this project shared these research products by communicating to thousands of farmers through direct presentations, industry meetings, printeed extension documents, and by contributing to popular press articles about these developments.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Kidwell, K.K, M. O. Pumphrey*, J. S. Kuehner, G. B. Shelton, V. L. DeMacon, S. Rynearson, X. M. Chen, S. O. Guy, D. A. Engle, B.-K. Baik, C. F. Morris, and N. A. Bosque-P�rez. 2017. Registration of 'Glee" Hard Red Spring Wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations. doi:10.3198/jpr2016.04.0022crc.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2018 Citation: Kidwell, K.K, J. S. Kuehner, G. B. Shelton, V. L. DeMacon, S. Rynearson, X. M. Chen, S. O. Guy, J.M. Marshall, D. A. Engle, C. F. Morris, and M. O. Pumphrey*. 2018. Registration of 'Dayn" Hard White Spring Wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations. in press

Progress 12/21/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:The WSU Spring Wheat Breeding and Genetics program serves wheat farmers throughout Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Northern California. Farmers, seed distributors, millers, bakers, exporters, consultants, agrochemical suppliers, and others are the primary target audience. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Undergraduate, graduate students, and post-doctoral research associates have been actively involved in research, extension, and teaching efforts coordinated by the project leader. Graduate students participated in multiple advanced skill development workshops regionally, and nationally. Three project personnel were hired by private industry in 2016. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Three popular press magazine articles, two news releases to broad media, and dozens of industry stakeholder meeting presentations were disseminated by the project leader in 2016. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to support private industry, based on stakeholder feedback, and develop wheat varieties that help improve rural livelihoods and benefit farmers.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? he WSU Spring Wheat Breeding and Genetics program is a flagship wheat variety development program that affects over a million acres and thousands of farmers in the Pacific Northwest of the Unites States. WSU spring wheat varieties are grown on over 50% of spring wheat acres in Washington and Oregon, an add millions of dollars to annual farm gate value. New varieties released by WSU in 2015 and 2016 have been aggressively accepted by wheat farmers. Their natural disease resistance and stress tolerance will enhance food production and allow for reduced application of pesticides. Research conducted by Spring Wheat Breeding and Genetics personnel resulted in 8 peer-reviewed publications in 2016, two variety releases, and extension of information on critical industry issues to thousands of stakeholders.

Publications