Recipient Organization
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
PO BOX 2275A
BROOKINGS,SD 57007
Performing Department
Plant Science
Non Technical Summary
Agriculture is the largest industry in South Dakota, and weed and pest control are critical elements of this industry. Weeds and pests reduce crop yields and can even impact the value of the crop, whether it is a grain, oilseed, or forage. Like any living organism, weeds and pests adapt to changing conditions. As weather and climatic patterns change, these crop pests adapt and/or shift to species that can most effectively grow and reproduce under those conditions. Similarly, these crop pests acclimate to mechanical and chemical control measures. Across South Dakota we have observed shifts in weed pressure, including the appearance herbicide resistant species. Similarly, insect pests and microbial pathogens continue to adapt to control measures. Therefore it is necessary to continually evaluate the effectiveness of new chemistries, new mechanical control measures, and more recently the advent of biological control agents.Another approach to address pests and microbial pathogens is the development of resistant varieties through the use of breeding. Improved varieties of oats and spring wheat are needed to counter increased and expanded virulence of bacterial and fungal pathogens. Moreover, breeding efforts also seek to increase yield and improve the value of the grain to end users. These new varieties must be extensively tested in several environments, under a range of insect pests and plant pathogens, to select the best strains for release. On-going research to develop new crop varieties and pest control strategies is therefore critical to producers, as well as the entire agriculture industry. The new varieties will be provided to farmers through Foundation Seed and the SD Crop Improvement Association. Agronomic information will be provided to agricultural producers through a variety of extension formats such as field days, individual consultations with landowners, extension publications, and presentations at various events throughout the year.
Animal Health Component
90%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
90%
Developmental
10%
Goals / Objectives
The overall goal of this project is to provide producers with new wheat and oat varieties and independently validated information regarding various agronomic practices for small grains. Research results from this work will be shared with producers via the release of new small grain varieties and through field days, individual consultations with landowners, extension publications, and presentations at various events throughout the year. Products will also peer reviewed publications and conference presentations as appropriate. Specific objectives include:Objective 1: To provide producers with independently validated information regarding the performance of various crop protection chemicals on the crops typically grown in South Dakota. Objective 2: To develop and release oat cultivars adapted to South Dakota and surrounding states that exhibit improved yield, composition, and end-use quality. Objective 3: To develop and release spring wheat cultivars adapted to South Dakota and surrounding states that exhibit improved yield, composition, and end-use quality.Objective 4: Provide insect pest management recommendations to South Dakota stakeholders.
Project Methods
Objective 1: To provide producers with independently validated information regarding the performance of various crop protection chemicals on the crops typically grown in South Dakota. (Johnson)Each year we will evaluate the control of multiple weed species in traditional and emerging cropping systems. These trials will utilize both existing and soon to be publicly released crop varieties and herbicide packages. In addition to conducting testing at the Northeast Research Farm, we will also use the Southeast Research Farm and various agronomy farm locations near Brookings and Volga. Crops will be planted under standard protocols into plots that have historic weed pressure for specific weed species.Herbicide treatments will be applied with special plot sprayers at appropriate stages of crop and weed development. Typically, applications are made at a flow rate of 20 gallons per acre and 35 psi using flat fan tips. Treatments will be prepared at different concentrations and will follow manufacturer's recommendations.Weed evaluations consist of visual ratings, averaged over replications or multiple ratings per plot. Weed control ratings below 70-75% are considered less than commercially acceptable control, while ratings greater than 90% represent a high level of effectiveness and generally reduce significant competition effects.Crop response ratings (VCRR) of 20% or less usually represents an acceptable level of stunting, discoloration, or other effects. Damage ratings over 30% are considered excessive, while 100% represents complete kill. Crops will be harvested to assess the impacts of herbicides on crop yield.Objective 2: To develop and release oat cultivars adapted to South Dakota and surrounding states that exhibit improved yield, composition, and end-use quality. (Caffe Treml)The methodology for the development of new cultivars will be as follows. New hybridizations (200-400) will be performed every year to develop segregating populations. The genetic source for these hybridizations will primarily include elite breeding lines from SDSU and other public and private oat breeding programs in North America. In addition, germplasm with specific desirable characteristics may be accessed through various sources including the Quaker International Nursery and the National Small Grain Collection. Line development will involve a modified bulk and single seed descent breeding method. Experimental lines will be evaluated at multiple locations throughout SD and in the region through participation of cooperative nurseries. A major location for testing will be the Northeast Research Farm. Selection will be based on yield, test weight, lodging resistance, disease ratings, seed characteristics, groat percent, and NIR predictions of beta-glucan, protein, and oil content. Promising lines for release will be evaluated in the South Dakota Crop Performance Testing Oat Variety Trial. Breeder seed of promising release candidates will be provided to Foundation Seed Stocks for large increase and presented to the variety release committee.Objective 3: To develop and release spring wheat cultivars adapted to South Dakota and surrounding states that exhibit improved yield, composition, and end-use quality. (Karl D. Glover)Continually increasing grower productivity through elevating yield, disease resistance and end-use quality levels are the ultimate goals of the Hard Red Spring Wheat (HRSW; Triticum aestivum L.) breeding and genetics program at SDSU. Objectives contributing to the ultimate goal are those that form an applied plant breeding program and are cyclical in nature. Procedures conducted in one year are carried out similarly in following years as the most desirable breeding populations and lines progress through various portions of the program. Key tasks of this program include: 1) Population Development of segregating populations from which to select desired plant traits, 2) Population Testing and Line Development, 3) Line Evaluation at various locations such as the Northeast Research Farm, and 4) Cultivar Testing through crop performance testing across the state.Objective 4: Provide insect pest management recommendations to South Dakota stakeholders. (Adam Varenhorst)The first major goal of this project is to provide insect pest management recommendations to SD stakeholders. This goal will be accomplished through the completion of the following objectives: 1) Monitor major and minor SD crops for insect pest populations, 2) conduct efficacy trials to provide best management recommendations, 3) conduct research to determine the phenology of major insect pests, 4) conduct insect pest surveys in SD using various trapping methods to monitor seasonal insect pest populations, 5) disseminate findings through peer-reviewed and extension publications.The second major goal of this project is to provide insect resistance management recommendations to SD stakeholders. This goal will be accomplished through the completion of the following objectives: 1) Assay insect populations from major crops to determine levels of susceptibility to commonly used foliar insecticides, 2) evaluate host plant resistant traits for major crops, 3) evaluate alternative management strategies for insects with reduced susceptibility, and 4) disseminate findings through peer-reviewed and extension publications.