Organic Research Database

OBJECTIVES: 1.Improve the sustainability of wheat production in the state through the use of increased genetic diversity, utilization of wild wheat germplasm and changing the wheat plant itself to function better in more sustainable systems. (Cai et al, 1996). 2.Identify and characterize novel sources of disease resistance and end-use quality (Iriki et al, 2001; Yildirim et al, 2000, 1998; Jones and Cadle, 1997; Li et al, 2004). 3.Map and tag these genes (Cai et al 2001). 4.Develop commercial varieties of winter wheat that possess resistances and end-use qualities such that the economic health of wheat production will be improved. (Jones et al, 2001; Murphy et al, 2004; Lammer et al, 2004; Greco et al, 2004). 5.Develop wheats for very low input and organic systems. (Murphy et al, 2004). 6.Develop participatory breeding programs with wheat farmers. (Murphy et al, 2004).

APPROACH: 1.Wide and traditional crosses are used to incorporate novel sources of disease resistance and end-use quality into advanced breeding lines of winter wheat. 2.Marker-based selection and backcrossing is used for single genes. 3.Wild relatives of wheat are screened as unique sources of resistance to several pathogens found in Washington State. 4.The main strategy that we are employing for rapid varietal development is to convert our existing types to either hard white or hard red. We are also attempting to exploit crosses between our adapted hard wheat lines and hard wheats from other countries. Early segregating generations from these crosses are highly heterozygous, but by establishing rigid selection criteria in the field, and through the use of greenhouse single-seed descent for the same lines, we are able to quickly isolate lines with a high degree of homozygosity. Those lines that are positively transgressive of the parents for the traits we are attempting to improve are then entered into advanced yield trials 2 to 3 years earlier than through traditional breeding methods. 5.Selection for varietal release is based on the following multi-year performance evaluations of field data: a)Agronomic (Intra and interstate nurseries) b)Quality c)Resistant to diseases, insects, misc. pests d)Winterhardiness e)Area of adaptation f)Seedling emergence g)Other important traits h)Weaknesses i)FGIS results

PROGRESS: 2006/01 TO 2006/12
Field trial evaluations in the low precipitation areas were challenged by low soil moisture conditions at planting this crop year. Field trials were conducted at the Lind Experiment Station, Lind, WA; Chris Herron's farm, Connell, WA; Jim Moore's farm, Kahlotus, WA; Keith and Owen Jorgensen's, St. Andrews; USDA Central Ferry Research Station, Pomeroy, WA and Spillman Agronomy Farm, Pullman, WA. Six elite breeding lines were entered into the Variety Testing (V.T.) Program's hard winter wheat trials. Two HRW breeding lines (WA007976, WA007977) were continued, and three new HRW (WA008001, WA008002, WA008003) and one new HWW (WA008004) were evaluated at the eight V.T. locations in Washington where hard wheats are typically produced. Three (WA007976, WA007977, WA008004) were evaluated at their irrigated site. Ninety-five advanced hard red breeding lines and 86 advanced hard white breeding lines were evaluated in replicated field trials at multiple sites. Included in these lines were 25 HRW lines (HiPro) we tested again this year for Dr. Kidwell that were developed through marker-assisted backcross breeding for increased protein content. One hundred forty-eight F5 lines and 135 F3 bulk families were advanced at the Lind Experiment Station using bulk breeding techniques. Additionally, 420 F2 experimental lines developed specifically for emergence from deep planting and 498 HRW F2 lines specific for dryland production were also evaluated for emergence from deep planting (>6.5 inches) and all other agronomic traits at the Lind Experiment Station (Table 1). Approximately 100 advanced hard wheat breeding lines were delivered to the USDA-ARS Western Wheat Quality Lab, Pullman, WA for full milling and baking quality analysis.

 PUBLICATIONS (not previously reported): 2006/01 TO 2006/12
1. Dawson, J., S. Jones, D. Huggins. 2006. Developing Perennial-based Cropping Systems. p. 19. In Burns, J. (ed), 2006 Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Extension, Washington State University, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Technical Report 06-2. http://css.wsu.edu/Proceedings/2006/2006 Proceedings.pdf.
2. Jones, S., S. Lyon, K. Balow, M. Gollnick, M. Arterburn, K. Murphy, J. Dawson, J. Piaskowski. 2006. Winter Wheat Breeding, Genetics and Cytology. p. 20. In Burns, J. (ed), 2006 Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Extension, Washington State University, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Technical Report 06-2. http://css.wsu.edu/Proceedings/2006/2006 Proceedings.pdf.
3. Jones, S.S., S.R. Lyon, K.A. Balow, T.D. Murray, X.M. Chen, B.P. Carter, C.R. Morris, K. Garland Campbell, J.W. Burns, W.F. Schillinger, P.E. Reisenauer, B. J. Goates. 2006. Registration of Masami Wheat. Crop Sci. 46: 476.
4. Murphy, K., S. Jones (2006). Perennial wheat cropping systems in the Pacific Northwest, Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Volume 4, no 3 p.6-8. September, 2006.