University of Missouri
Department of Agronomy, Curtis Hall,
Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
J.P. Gustafson, K.D. Kephart, A.L. McKendry, K. Ross, N. Tague, J.E. Berg, K. Houchins, D.J. Somers, A.C. Baier, J. Chen, P. Belbeli, X. Zhang, I. Lee, E. Butler, Z. Zhou, L. Wang, S. Madsen, M. Wanous, A. Mahmoud, and M. Christophers.
Genetics and cytogenetics.
Genes and restriction fragment
length polymorphisms (RFLP) that have been isolated from genomic
and cDNA libraries of wheat and rye (Secale cereale) are
being mapped physically onto mitotic chromosome preparations using
in situ hybridization techniques. The ends and translocation
breakpoints located on the genetic linkage maps from homoeologous
groups 4 and 7 of hexaploid wheat and ends of several linkage
groups in barley have been mapped physically to sites on chromosomes.
The data also are suggesting the presence of regions in all chromosomes
so far analyzed that do not contain any existing RFLP markers.
Genome-specific DNA sequences,
RAPDs, and minisatellites are being isolated currently from the
wild relatives of hexaploid wheat and rye. These sequences will
be utilized for phylogenetic studies on the origin of the B genome
of hexaploid wheat, as well as for use by plant breeders as genome-specific
markers. The rye genome-specific sequences will be used in mapping
rye genes integrated into a wheat background.
Genetic studies of aluminum
tolerance in wheat and triticale are showing that more than one
gene is present. Rye gene expression in a wheat background appears
to indicate that the rye genes are being expressed at a level
similar to that observed in rye. We currently are completing
the fourth backcross generation in the development of a ditelocentric
series in the highly aluminum-tolerant spring wheat BH1146.
The number of seed samples
requested from the USDA-E.R. Sears Wheat Genetic Stock Collection
exceeded 900 for the year 1994. The Chinese Spring nullisomic-tetrasomics
and ditelosomics continue to be the most frequently requested
lines. Replenishing the depleted stocks of these lines, the CS-Imperial
Rye disomic additions, and wild Triticum spp., of necessity,
has been the focus of our efforts in 1994 and 1995. Requests
are being filled twice yearly or as seed stocks become available.
According to our most recent information, genetic stocks of wheat,
rye, wild relatives, and grasses for research purposes are exempt
from phytosanitary or permit requirements for EU countries, Canada,
Belarus, Russia, and P.R. China. Phytosanitary certificates still
must accompany seed shipments into Hungary, Turkey, Pakistan,
Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Norway, and South Africa. Countries requiring
scientists to secure import permits from their own plant health
departments include India and Sweden.
Ernie Soft Red Winter Wheat. Ernie (MO12256) soft red winter wheat is a new variety developed by the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station from the cross `Pike /3/ (MO9965, Stoddard / Blueboy // Stoddard / D1707)'. Ernie is a short stature, awnletted, white-chaffed variety with excellent threshability and good shatter resistance. Maturity of Ernie is early, equal to that of Clark soft red winter wheat. Plant height of Ernie is approximately 1 and 6 inches shorter than Pioneer 2548 and Cardinal wheats, respectively. Ernie is moderately resistant to Septoria leaf blotch and powdery mildew. It has good tolerance to the barley yellow dwarf virus and appears to possess good field tolerance to scab. Ernie is susceptible to leaf rust, stem rust, and the Hessian fly. Yield potential of Ernie is very good. Ernie was either
the highest yielding or among
the highest yielding entries at 4 of the 7 Missouri test locations
in 1994. It ranked third highest in yield across all locations,
exceeded only by Pioneer 2552 and FFR 525W wheats. Test weights
were more than 1 pound per bushel heavier than the average of
all entries. Application for Plant Variety Protection of Ernie
will be made under the Title V option by the Missouri Agricultural
Experiment Station, with Ernie seed available only as Foundation
or Certified classes of certified seed. Foundation seed should
be available to certified seed growers in the fall of 1995.
The variety is named after
the late Dr. Ernest R. Sears, former USDA-ARS scientist at the
University of Missouri-Columbia, in recognition of his many contributions
and life-long commitment to wheat research.
Wheat-rye translocation
work. Two phases
of a cooperative study with Agripro Seeds Inc. on the impact of
the 1BL-1RS
translocation on yield potential and quality of soft red winter
wheats have been completed. Studies were based on 80 1BL-1RS
and non-rye sister lines in two soft wheat backgrounds, developed
by Dr. Koy Miskin and screened by Dr. Adam Lukaszewski of the
University of California, Riverside. The presence of 1BL-1RS
had no significant effect on grain yield, thousand kernel weight,
biological yield, kernels per spike, or spikes per sq. meter.
The translocation significantly reduced height and improved lodging
resistance across both backgrounds and was associated with a delay
in flowering in one background. Test weight was reduced in one
background, when 1BL-1RS
was present, but unaffected in the other. Quality analyses indicated
that 1BL-1RS
caused a 1.7 % reduction in adjusted flour yield and a significant
reduction in the milling quality score in both backgrounds. The
alkaline water retention capacity was increased across both backgrounds
in translocation lines. The effect of 1BL-1RS
on flour protein, softness equivalent, and the overall baking
quality was not significant. Rheological studies of flours made
from rye and non-rye lines are underway.
Near-isogenic lines, containing
either the 1BL-1RS
or 1AL-1RS
translocation, have been developed in six soft wheat genetic backgrounds.
Studies on aluminum tolerance indicate that the presence of the
translocation (regardless of source) results in a significant
increase in the tolerance of the plant to aluminum. However,
the background effect is large relative to the effect of the translocation.
Studies on milling and baking quality utilizing these lines are
underway.
1994 Missouri Winter Wheat Performance Tests.
Delayed emergence and poor
fall tiller development from late planting dates and early cold
weather were the primary concerns for winter wheat in Missouri
during the 1993-94
cropping season, especially at the southeastern and southwestern
locations. Adequate stands eventually did develop for most entries
at all sites. The seed lots used to establish `Coker 9543' and `Coker 9803'
expressed poor germination and produced poor stands at most test
locations. Winterkill and heaving problems did not develop to
the degree observed in previous years. Winter survival averaged
greater than 85 % across all locations. Cool and drier than normal
weather during late April and throughout May permitted spring
tiller development. Dry weather and cool nighttime temperatures
occurred during the first 10 to 14 days after flowering. Conditions
during this period were excellent for kernel development and grain
fill. Conditions became unusually hot and dry during the first
2 weeks of June, hastening maturity of the wheat particularly
at the Columbia, Novelty and Trenton locations. Foliar diseases
were not major problems, except at Portageville, which experienced
substantial Septoria leaf blotch and some bacterial stripe.
The overall yield of the 63 soft red winter wheats tested in 1994 was 65.5 bushels per acre, 21.4 bushels per acre more than in the previous year and the highest average yield achieved in the last 10 years of testing. Yields at the seven soft red winter wheat test locations varied from 51.4 bushels per acre at Mt. Vernon to 71.8 bushels per acre at Charleston. `Pioneer 2552' averaged 76.3 bushels per acre across all locations. Only `FFR 525W' equaled the yield of Pioneer 2552 during the 1993-94 cropping season. The highest-yielding public variety was `Ernie', a recent release from the University of Missouri, averaging 72.5 bushels per acre. FFR 525W (63.2 bu/acre) and `Pioneer 2548' (65.1 bu/acre) have been the highest yielding varieties tested for the past 2 and 3 years, respectively. Although only two entries rank in the top yield group based on the 1994 statewide average, the next five entries (Ernie, `Wakefield',
MO12258, `BTX 105' and `Madison')
have yields statistically equal to those of FFR 525W, the second
highest yielding variety. Five additional entries (`AGRIPRO
Hickory', `Merschman Katie VII', `Verne', `AGRIPRO Clemens', and `AGRIPRO Boone')
of the 63 soft red winter wheat entries produced above average
yields compared to the remaining 50 entries. Hard red winter
wheat yields varied from 46.0 bushels per acre at Mt. Vernon to
77.4 bushels per acre at the Trenton site. `Karl
92' was the highest yielding hard red winter wheat entry, averaging
65.3 bu/acre across three locations.
Test weights among the soft
red winter wheats were nearly 3 pounds per bushel heavier in 1994
as compared to test weights achieved in 1993 and the heaviest
test weights achieved since 1988. Location means varied from
55.8 pounds per bushel at Novelty to 60.4 pounds per bushel at
Portageville. Reductions in test weight at the Columbia, Novelty
and Trenton sites are attributed to the hot and dry conditions
that prevailed during the last two weeks of the grain fill period
for these locations. Most entries had matured beyond the point
of being substantially affected by these conditions at the Charleston,
Portageville, Lamar, and Mount Vernon locations. `Coker
9474'
produced the heaviest test weight at 60.8 pounds per bushel.
Eighteen other soft red winter wheat entries averaged test weights
exceeding 58 pounds per bushel. Among the hard red winter wheats
tested during 1994, `Karl'
averaged 61.1 pounds per bushels. Only Karl and Karl 92 produced
test weights above the 60 pounds per bushel level needed for U.S.
No. 1 hard red winter wheat.
In memory.
Dr. John Milton Poehlman. 9 May, 1910 - 16 January, 1995.
John Milton Poehlman's life
represented the spirit of service to others. He was a man dedicated
to his family, his students and friends, the University, and education.
His mission was to reduce worldwide hunger through better food
production in Third World countries.
John Milton Poehlman was born May 9, 1910, to George C. and Sadie Beal Poehlman on a farm in Macon County, Missouri. He graduated from Macon High School in 1928. He then attended the University of Missouri and received a B.S. in Agriculture in 1931 and a Ph.D. in Botany in 1936. He has been on the faculty at the University of Missouri ever since, serving as a Professor in the Departments of Field Crops and Agronomy, an adviser to over 250 students, and Professor Emeritus since 1980.
Between 1936 and 1980, Dr.
Poehlman did extensive research on genetics and breeding of wheat,
oats, barley and rice, which resulted in the release of over 20
new cultivars. He also performed research through grants from
the University and the U.S. Agency for International Development
on the mungbean, a high protein pulse crop grown in underdeveloped
countries for food. Additionally, he served as a consultant for
several agencies, including World Bank, International Agricultural
Development Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, addressing
world hunger. In 1963, Dr. Poehlman travelled to Orissa University
of Agriculture and Technology in Bhubaneswar, India where he served
for 2 years as research advisor, and he lectured in Romania in
1971 and China in 1982.
Dr. Poehlman was a Fellow
of the American Society of Agronomy , Indian Society of Genetics
and Plant Breeding, and Crop Science Society of America. He was
presented the Senior Faculty Award by Gamma Sigma Delta, the Thomas
Jefferson Award, the Distinguished Faculty Award, and the Faculty
Alumni Award by the University of Missouri.
Of all his accomplishments,
Dr. Poehlman was most proud of his many publications. He is author
of several books including four editions of Breeding Field Crops,
Breeding Asian Field Crops, History of Field Crops in the University
of Missouri, and The Mungbean. He has also authored more than
150 journal and technical articles.
Dr. Poehlman married Rose
Kentner on August 2, 1936. They have a daughter, Joyce P. Otten,
Associate Circuit Judge of Adair County, Missouri. Their son,
George S. Poehlman, is a Professor of Family Medicine at East
Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. Dr. Poehlman's
grandchildren are Joan McKervey, a travel agent in Washington,
DC; Christin Poehlman Bellian, a Registered Nurse in Cleveland,
Ohio; and John A. Poehlman, a recent graduate from the University
of Virginia, currently living in Aspen, Colorado.
Dr. Poehlman was devoted
to his family, students, teaching, and research. He was selfless
and without concern for personal recognition of his many achievements
and accomplishments. His nonjudgmental acceptance of others and
strong devotion to his work resulted in admiration by all those
throughout the world who knew him.
Dr. Lotti Maria Steinitz
Sears. 2 May,
1916 -
28 January, 1995.
Dr. Lotti Maria Steinitz
Sears was born on May 2, 1916, in Berlin Germany to Kate and Ernst
Steinitz. She left Germany in 1933 to study horticulture at a
vocational college in England before joining her parents and sister
in the United States in 1936. She earned a Bachelor of Science
degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1938, during which
time she was supported by a scholarship from the National Council
of Jewish Women. In 1945, she received a Ph.D. in Genetics from
the University of California at Berkeley. After postdoctoral
work at CalTech, the University of Southern California and the
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dr. Sears accepted a position
at the University of Missouri School of Medicine and was subsequently
appointed to the Genetics Faculty at the University of Missouri.
Dr. Sears made noteworthy
contributions with two plant species during her tenure at the
University of Missouri. She worked on the development of a series
of telocentric wheat lines and also on the production of trisomics
in Arabadopsis. Both of these projects required the most
painstaking effort and superior cytogenetic ability. Lotti also
made an endless contributions to the general well-being of cytogenetics
by ensuring that a large number of students, postdoctoral fellows,
and visiting professors were established properly both in their
scientific endeavors and in their personal assimilation into the
department.
Lotti married Dr. Ernest
R. Sears on June 16, 1950. They had two daughters, Kathleen Sears
Lindblad of Lino Lakes, Minnesota, and Barbara Beate Sears of
Haslett, Michigan, and one son, John Jacob Sears of Columbia.
Lotti was also stepmother to Michael Allen Sears of Cincinnati.
In addition, she acted as a foster parent to several teenagers
from Germany and Canada.
She and her husband traveled
extensively throughout the world. Of note, they spent 6 months
in both Israel and Australia, where they conducted research with
former postdoctoral students. They shared a lifelong devotion
to cytogenetic research. She will be long remembered as a caring,
wonderful, human being.
Personnel changes.
Dr. Gordon Kimber retired
from the University of Missouri and is now residing in California.
James E. Berg left the wheat breeding program to accept a position
at Montana State University. David N. Tague has joined the wheat
breeding program from the variety testing program.
Visitors.
A.C. Baier, Brazil; J. Chen and X. Zhang, P.R. China; P. Bebeli,
Greece; and I. Lee, Korea.
Publications.
Jlibene M, Gustafson JP, and
Rajaram S. 1994. Inheritance of resistance to Mycosphaerella
graminicola in hexaploid wheat. J Plant Breed 112:301-310.
Somers DJ and Gustafson JP.
1994. A review of wheat/rye genomic interactions and gene expression
in triticale. Genet (Life Sci Adv). 13:57-63.
Gustafson JP and Flavell RB.
1994. Control of nucleolar expression in triticale. In: Proc
3rd Inter Triticale Symp, Lisbon, Portugal.
Somers DJ and Gustafson JP.
1994. Aluminum toxicity and protein synthesis in near isogenic
lines of Triticum aestivum L. differing in aluminum tolerance.
In: Proc 3rd Inter Triticale Symp, Lisbon, Portugal.
Kimber G and McKendry AL.
1994. The genetic effect of the proximal regions of wheat chromosomes.
Cereal Res Comm 22(3):159-164.
McKendry AL and Henke GE.
1994. Evaluation of wheat wild relatives for resistance to Septoria
tritici blotch. Crop Sci 34:1080-1084.
McKendry AL and Henke GE.
1994. Tolerance to Septoria tritici blotch in
soft red winter wheat. Cereal Res Comm 22(4):353-359.