WERA81: Systems to Improve End-use Quality of Wheat
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
WERA81: Systems to Improve End-use Quality of Wheat
Duration: 10/01/2001 to 09/30/2006
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
Wheat quality is defined by its diverse end-uses. Wheat's unique chemistry and processing attributes, as well as tradition, has led to many market classes and specialized industries. Researchers from many scientific disciplines, both public and private, are studying ways to improve the quality components of all market classes of wheat. The farming community, milling and baking industries, and the entire wheat industry recognize the need to coordinate quality improvement efforts. The WCC-81 is a multi-disciplinary committee set up to exchange information on wheat quality among growers, researchers and industry. Its primary goal is to use industry input to focus public research efforts and to educate growers, researchers and industry about the newest research tools, cultivars and product specifications relevant to wheat quality.
Objectives
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Coordinate approaches for the development of all types of wheat grown in the PNW for both domestic and export end uses.
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Facilitate information exchange between research groups and industry representatives on end use quality needs for all market classes of wheat.
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Evaluate the quality of regional nursery entries and improve strategies and procedures for quality evaluation.
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Use regional nursery data to identify genotype by environment interactions as they influence variations in end use quality.
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Utilize molecular and biochemical tools to improve end-use quality of adapted cultivars.
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Procedures and Activities
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- Coordination of approaches for the development of all types of wheat grown in the Western Region With the exception of soft red wheat, all market classes of wheat are grown in the Western region. The historical target values and accepted ranges for many quality parameters are fairly well established. Others are less clear and none are completely static as industry processes and products continue to evolve. The milling and baking industry, through its largescale tests can provide important guidance to the research community. The USDA/ARS Wheat Quality Lab and the Wheat Marketing Center can translate these needs and information to small,-scale tests, so that breeders can implement procedures and information into cultivar improvement efforts. Further coordination of breeding efforts can be accomplished by identifying environmental areas conducive to high quality wheat production for specific market classes. Expertise, superior germplasm and optimal production areas can then be combined to meet market needs and opportunities. Facilitate information exchange Information exchange between interdisciplinary research groups and industry is largely accomplished at the yearly WCC81 meeting. Informal exchanges also occur among research groups and with industry throughout the year. A Web site could be established to facilitate information exchange in the interval between meetings. Evaluate the quality of regional nurseries Analysis of Regional nursery samples by the USDA/ARS Wheat Quality Lab provides quality information on a standard set of lines grown across a wide variety of environments. This information not only enables the breeder to know how widely adapted his or her lines are with respect to quality, but also could inform industry as to which cultivars have promise for their purchasing area. The relatively large amount of seed per cultivar generated by the regional nurseries allows the USDA/ARS Wheat Quality Lab to conduct more extensive quality evaluations. Identify genotype by environment interactions The influence of GxE on end-use quality can be established using regional nursery samples as well as yield trial seed from each breeding program. Individual laboratories will conduct small sample evaluation for protein quality (SDS sedimentation or SRC lactic acid), color (using ppo tests or minolta values on noodle sheets), test weight and kernel hardness, etc. This information can be shared at either the annual meeting or on the Web. Utilize new biotechnology techniques The whole biotech area is becoming more useful to the developers of wheat cultivars. Molecular markers are becoming available that may pinpoint quality traits that can only be determined by extensive testing, le, baking a loaf of bread or a cookie. Synthetic hexaploid wheat using improved durum varieties and wild D genome species are providing new genetic sources for quality improvement. Already some low polyphenol oxidase lines have been identified from these materials.
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
Annual meetings will continue to provide a major opportunity for educational outreach and exchange between industry and research. The WCC-81 will meet in conjunction with the Pacific Northwest Wheat Quality Council and the Pacific Northwest Division of the AACC. The Pacific Northwest Wheat Quality Council is an industry centered group that meets to discuss quality issues and collaborates on cultivar testing. Interaction with this group has proved to be enlightening and invaluable. For example, Nabisco has developed a set of solvent screening procedures to characterize soft wheat quality. Researchers throughout the Western Region now have access to this technique.
Along with research and industry, the participation by growers and their representatives at the state wheat commissions at the annual meeting either by individual farmers or their representatives on the state wheat commissions. This input by growers to the committee should be encouraged. It is important for farmers to understand the end products and markets available for their crops and how their cultural practices and varietal choices impact these products.
Researchers communicate the information gathered at the WCC-81 meeting with growers at field days, in growers meetings and through technical bulletins. More involvement by quality lab personnel in these activities should occur. If a web page is developed, this would further broaden the audience and make the information more timely.
Organization/Governance
Elected officers consist of a chair, chair-elect and secretary.
Literature Cited