NEBRASKA
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AND THE USDA-ARS
Department of Agronomy, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
P.S. Baenziger, B. Beecher, D. Baltensperger, L. Nelson, I. Dweikat, M. Dickman, A. Mitra, T. Clemente, and J. Watkins, (University of Nebraska), and R.A. Graybosch, R. French, and D. Stenger (USDA-ARS).
The 2002 Nebraska Wheat Crop was estimated at 48,600,000 bu, which represented a 32 bu/acre state average yield on 1,520,000 harvested acres. Winter wheat was planted on 1,650,000 acres. The 2002 crop was the smallest crop since 1944 and had the lowest yield since 1991. Despite continued genetic improvement, the main determinant in wheat production seems to be acres harvested, government programs, and weather (which also affects disease pressure). Drought was the main cause for these low yields. Alliance (16.6 % of the state) continued to be the most popular cultivar in Nebraska, followed by Arapahoe. Pronghorn is the third most widely grown cultivar followed by 2137 and Niobrara. Cultivars developed by the coöperative of USDA-University of Nebraska wheat improvement program occupied 75 % of the state acreage, other public cultivars occupied 17 %, and private cultivars occupied 8 % of the state acreage.
In 2002, Harry and Goodstreak were recommended for release with foundation seed distributed in 2002. In addition, NE97638 (a sister line to Harry) and NE97426 (an awnless line) were recommended for licensing with seed available in 2002. All of the lines will be sold with a research and development fee assessed at $0.01/pound of seed sold. In the case of Harry and Goodstreak, the research and development fee will be assessed on certified seed sold. For licensed lines, certified and quality assured seed may be sold, hence the assessment may be slightly different.
Goodstreak (PI 632434) is a HRWW cultivar developed coöperatively by the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station and the USDA-ARS and released in 2002 by the developing institutions and the Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station. Goodstreak was released primarily for its superior adaptation to rainfed wheat-production systems in western Nebraska where conventional height wheat cultivars with long coleoptiles are needed for good emergence and harvest in low-moisture conditions. The name was chosen for the area in which it will most likely be grown, known as Goodstreak, because the grasslands were better than the surrounding areas. In this area, drought is common and Goodstreak is an indication that water use efficient annual crops, such as wheat can be grown. The release notice can be accessed at http://agronomy.unl.edu/grain/goodstreakrelwy.PDF.
In positioning Goodstreak, based on performance data to date, it is best adapted to low-rainfed wheat-production systems where conventional height wheat cultivars are grown. Where it is adapted, Goodstreak should be a good replacement for Buckskin, because it has higher yield potential, similar straw strength, and superior disease and insect resistances. Goodstreak is genetically complementary to 2137, Alliance, Buckskin, Culver, Jagger, Millennium, Niobrara, Pronghorn, Vista, and Windstar. Goodstreak was developed with partial financial support from the Nebraska Wheat Development, Utilization, and Marketing Board.
Harry (PI 6322435) is a HRWW cultivar developed coöperatively by the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station and the USDA-ARS and released in 2002 by the developing institutions. Harry was released primarily for its superior adaptation to rainfed wheat-production systems in western Nebraska. The name Harry was chosen to honor Mr. Harry Cullan, deceased, who was a proponent of well-adapted cultivars and certified-seed production in western Nebraska. The release notice for Harry can be accessed at http://agronomy.unl.edu/grain/harryrel.PDF.
In positioning Harry, based on performance data to date, it
should be well adapted to most rainfed wheat-production systems
in western Nebraska and in adjacent states with similar growing
seasons where its later maturity and full-season, grain-filling
capabilities are favored except in times of drought. Being a
later maturity wheat may explain its exceptional performance in
the Northern Regional Performance Nursery, where later wheat genotypes
(by Nebraska standards) are preferred. Where adapted, Harry should
be a good replacement for Arapahoe, Windstar, and 2137, because
it has a higher yield potential and similar or superior disease
and insect resistances. Harry is genetically complementary to
2137, Alliance, Buckskin, Jagger, Pronghorn, and Windstar, but
is noncomplementary to Arapahoe, Culver, Millennium, Niobrara,
and Vista. Harry was developed with partial financial support
from the Nebraska Wheat Development, Utilization, and Marketing
Board.
Based on last year's results and our recent releases, we have decided to slow down the release process by 1 year. The feeling was that our seed producers were having trouble knowing which lines to produce and in what quantity. An additional year of testing should greatly help them identify the best lines for production, while minimizing their risk. The new plan will be for us to test lines in the state variety trial for 2 years and then make the release decision (as was done before), but that the seed increase will not be made until after the line is released. Hence, 1 year before foundation seed is available, the seed producers will know which lines are tracking for release and can adjust their seed inventories accordingly.
Five lines were advanced for intermediate-scale increase (goal is to have 1,000 kg of breeder seed) at the Nebraska Foundation Seed Division for possible release in 2004. Five lines were advanced to small-scale increases at the Nebraska Foundation Seed Division. They are
| NE97V121 | (Pedigree: N87V106/OK88767). |
| NE98471 | (Pedigree: NE90461/NIOBRARA), |
| NE98632 | (Pedigree: NIOBRARA/NE91525), |
| NI98439 | (Pedigree: NE90476/(10Ax88-1643)X10927 592-1-5), and |
| NE98466 | (Pedigree: KS89H50-4/NE90518). |
S. Baenziger, K. Vogel, C. Thompson, and J. Jannink.
Our efforts in forage triticale continue. Our recent releases,
NE422T and GroGreen Plus are being well accepted by producers
and the market continues to grow, perhaps due to the persistent
drought in the Great Plains. One new line, NE95T426, which has
exceptional grain yield and good autumn forage characteristics
(determined by Dr. Carlyle Thompson of Kansas State University,
Hays, KS whose help and interest in fostering triticale production
is invaluable) is under increase. Our goal will be to develop
triticale blends involving NE95T426 with our forage triticales
(which are haying or spring-forage types), so that the blend will
have good autumn and spring forage potential and will have less
costly to produce. Excellent collaborations were established
with a team of triticale researchers at Iowa State University
(the breeder is Dr. Jean Luc Jannick) who are interested in grain
triticale to diversify their cropping systems.
T. Clemente, M. Dickman, A. Mitra, S. Baenziger, and J. Watkins.
Wheat transformation continues to be a key strategic effort in
the wheat improvement overall effort. In our current research,
we are emphasizing the development of wheat lines with improved
FHB resistance as part of the U.S. Wheat and Barely Scab Initiative.
To date, we have concentrated on putting in wheat the following
genes: a) inhibitors of apoptosis (programmed cell death): ced9,
IAP, and BCL X(L), b) lactoferrin and a related
derived protein, lactoferricin, and c) related antifungal proteins
that have been derived based on similar protein structures. Based
on our screening data, it appears that inhibitors of apoptosis,
and lactoferrin and lactoferricin inhibit FHB. The level of inhibition
in our transgenic lines is less than that of Alsen (an elite FHB-tolerant
spring wheat with resistance derived from Sumai 3). However,
the tolerance indicates our concept is good.
S. Baenziger, K. Gill, M. Erayman, T. Campbell, H. Budak, Y.
Mater, I. Dweikat, and R. Graybosch.
In this research we expect to learn more about the wheat genome
so that better breeding strategies can be developed. The work
will be in collaboration with Drs. Kent Eskridge, Kulvinder Gill
(now the Vogel Chair at Washington State University), and Ismail
Dweikat. Dr. Mustafa Erayman, a former graduate student, has
continued as a postdoctoral research associate. Mustafa is putting
into bins the known probes for chromosome 3A (including the recently
developed ESTs) using deletion stocks developed at Kansas State
University. His research is helping us understand the recombinational
map and the physical map for chromosome 3A. Todd Campbell, completed
his Ph.D. and evaluated 95 recombinant inbred chromosome lines
(RICLs) for Cheyenne (CNN)-Wichita (WI) chromosome 3A lines [e.g.
CNN(RICLs3A)] in the field. Because Todd had more replications
in each testing location than we have had in the past, he was
able to more tightly link markers to traits of interest and to
thoroughly study 'genotype x environment' interactions. Thanks
to excellent collaborations with Dr. Mujeeb-Kazi of CIMMYT, we
have created a larger population of CNN(RICLs3A), which will greatly
assist our fine mapping of traits on chromosome 3A and in the
future chromosome 6A.
Hikmet Budak studied a series of D-chromosome substitution lines in Presto triticale. The goal of this research was to determine if the genomic constitution of hexaploid triticale could be improved by replacing some of the chromosomes from the D genome of common wheat. As expected, groups 1 and 6 D chromosomes greatly improved end-use quality (these chromosomes contain major glutenin and gliadin genes). No D-genome chromosome substitution improved agronomic performance. At least with the limited substitutions that were tested, the D-genome chromosomes do not have promise for agronomically improving triticale. Perhaps translocations involving D-genome chromosome segments would be more successful.
In a very sad note, Mr. Yehia Mater died in a car accident.
He, in collaboration with Drs. Ismail Dweikat and Bob Graybosch
was developing a new T1A·1R chromosome in which he hoped
to combine the best attributes of T1A·1R from Amigo with
T1B·1R from Kavkaz. This research is possible because
of the elegant cytogenetic manipulations of Dr. Adam Lukaszewski
(University of California-Riverside) who created T1A·1R
lines where 1R was previously on 1B in Kavkaz. We are continuing
to evaluate his lines.
R.A. Graybosch, P.S. Baenziger, B. Beecher, D. Baltensperger, and L. Nelson.
Two HWWW lines, NW97S278 and NW97S182, were approved for release by the varietal release committee and moved to Foundation Seed Increase. Seed will be available for distribution to certified-seed growers in the autumn of 2003. NW97S278 (Pronghorn/Arlin) is a strong-gluten HWWW with excellent yield potential under irrigation and in other high yielding environments. The line has excellent resistance to lodging and genes for resistance to strip rust. NW98S182 (KS87809-10/Arapahoe) is a tall HWWW more suited for dry-land production and similar in adaptation and quality to Arapahoe. The cultivar generally produces above-average grain and flour-protein contents. Tentative cultivar names for these two lines are Antelope (NW97S278) and Arrowsmith (NW97S182).
Three new white wheat experimental lines were advanced from
regional trials to the Nebraska Statewide Small Grains Variety
trial for 2003. These lines are NW99L7068 and NW99L7083, sister
lines from the cross 'KS84HW1968*RioBlanco/HBY762A//Halt', and
NW99L7171 (VH09553-753/N91L019//AP-WI89-163). NW99L7068 and NW99L7083
are both high-yield potential, medium (Nuplains height) wheats
with some tolerance to prehavest sprouting, and medium-strength
glutens that will make them suitable for both bread and noodles.
NW99L7171 has excellent bread-making quality, is tolerant to
preharvest sprouting, and is a tall (Scout height), long-coleoptile
wheat that might be well suited for western Nebraska. These lines
also were reëntered in the 2003 USDA-ARS Northern Regional
Performance Nursery (NRPN).
R.A. Graybosch, P.S. Baenziger, and C.J. Peterson.
The following wheat germ plasm lines were jointly released by USDA-ARS and the University of Nebraska. Nineteen spring, amylose-free (waxy) wheats were developed. Waxy wheats have starch composed only of amylopectin and promise to find application in a number of food products. Also approved for release was N96L9970, a HRWW with resistance to multiple biotypes of greenbug. N96L9970 (PI 619231, GRS1201/TAM202) has resistance to greenbug biotypes B, C, E, G, and I. Finally, N95L11881 (PI 617064) and 97L9521 (PI 617066) HRWWs were released. These lines have the T1BL·1RS wheat-rye chromosomal translocation originally derived from Siouxland HRWW, but they possess improved gluten strength relative to this parent.
R.A. Graybosch, P.S. Baenziger, B. Beecher, and D. Baltensperger.
The relative effects of environment, genotype, and their interactions on the modification of Asian noodle-quality attributes were assessed using 38 winter wheat cultivars and breeding lines grown in replicated trials at three Nebraska locations in harvest year 2000. Noodle color was determined in both white-salted and yellow-alkaline procedures, and noodle textural features were investigated by producing white-salted noodles. Significant environmental, genotypic, and 'genotype x environment' variation was observed for nearly all initial and 24-hour, noodle-color traits in both types of noodles. Significant genotypic effects were observed for several textural traits, whereas significant environmental effects were observed only for noodle hardness and water uptake. Among the noodle textural traits, the 'genotype x environment' interaction, however, was significant only for noodle firmness. Noodle stickiness and springiness were not influenced by the main effects or their interactions. Noodle-color traits in the two noodle systems were highly correlated, suggesting that breeding wheat cultivars for use in a variety of noodle applications with diverse final product color requirements will be difficult. Textural traits largely were independent of noodle-color traits.
Dr. B. Todd Campbell completed his Ph.D. degree and took a
position at the California Rice Research Foundation. Dr. Hikmet
Budak completed his Ph.D. degree and is a postdoctoral scientist/turfgrass
breeder at the University of Nebraska. Dr. Soleman Al-Otayk completed
his Ph.D. degree and returned to Saudi Arabia to rejoin the faculty
of his university. Sadly, Mr. Yehia Mater, a Ph.D. student,
died in a car accident. He is greatly missed. Dr. Abid Mahmood
joined our program for 1 year as a visiting scientist. Mr. Beau
Bearnes joined our project as an M.S. student.