Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

COLORADO In fall 2011, three hard red winter wheat (HRW) lines were released: Byrd (experimental CO06424; TAM 112/CO070547-7 pedigree), Denali (experimental CO050303-2; CO980829/TAM 111 pedigree), and Brawl CL Plus (experimental CO06052; Teal 11A/Above//CO99314 pedigree; two-gene Clearfield*). Byrd and Brawl CL Plus have excellent end-use quality with high loaf volumes (~1.050 L vs. 0.915 L for Hatcher) and good crumb grain scores. In fall 2011, two hard white (HWW) winter wheat lines were advanced to enable release in fall 2012. These lines, CO07W245 (KS01HW152-1/TAM 111 pedigree) and CO05W111 (CO980829/TAM 111 pedigree), have shown good grain yield, test weight, and stripe rust resistance. End-use quality of both lines is comparable to Hatcher and neither line carries Glu-B1a1. Routine screening in 2010-2011 included over 2,100 SKCS, 1,400 Mixograph, 1,100 PPO, and 725 Quadrumat Senior milling and pup-loaf bake tests. Included among these were 144 variety trial samples (four locations) and these data were reported in the CSU variety trial summary. From one variety trial location, we conducted rapid visco analyzer (RVA) testing to enable detection of late maturity alpha-amylase (LMA). In May 2011, we isolated near-isogenic line (NIL) selections for Glu-B1 and Glu-D1 alleles in a Ripper background (Glu-B1a1/Glu-B1b and Glu-D1a/Glu-D1d). In fall 2011, NILs were planted with checks at six locations. In May 2011, we completed increase of a training panel of hard winter wheat genotypes (n=400) for genomic selection model development for grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and end-use quality. In fall 2011, the panel was planted in two replications at two locations under high and low nitrogen treatments for NUE assessment. The quality-related aspects of these research projects will form the basis for a PhD dissertation of graduate student Jessica Cooper. IDAHO We had a very productive year and accomplished original objectives in basic and applied research. The basic research is centralized on identifying molecular markers associated with yield under diverse water stress environments in elite spring and winter lines, and with water and nitrogen use efficiency in materials from NSGC. The basic research has involved in four referred publications this year. In the applied research, "UI SRG" was released and an invention disclosure is being filed. This new cultivar has good yield and quality performance and resistance to several fungal diseases adapted in water limited areas in southern Idaho and west of Colorado. Three elite high yielding spring wheat lines IDO599, IDO686, and IDO671 identified from the elite line evaluation are being released and several collection lines identified from NSGC evaluation have been used in crossing in several breeding programs in PNW region. We also made significant progress and selected several elite lines of all market classes using wheat by maize doubled haploid system, molecular marker-assisted selection, and EMS-mutagenesis. In training of future plant breeders, we have one PhD student passed a preliminary exam; we recruited one PhD and one M.S. students. We also hired one post doctorate starting Jan. 2012. MONTANA Spring Wheat Program The leading hard red spring variety in Montana is Choteau. Choteau is primarily grown due solid stems that confer resistance to the wheat stem sawfly. The next two most widely grown varieties are Reeder and Vida. Vida derives from a Reeder/Scholar cross, and was selected for its ability to retain green leaf tissue for an extended time period after heading, which was inherited from Reeder. This trait provides enhanced yield stability under hot and dry conditions typical in Montana during grain filling period in spring wheat. A new experimental line, MT0832, is being proposed for release. MT0832 is cross between MT0249 (a sib of Vida) and Choteau, and has been selected for long green leaf duration and solid stems. Other objectives for the breeding program include selection for resistance to the orange wheat blossom midge, which is a serious concern in the northwestern portion of the state. Efforts in development of herbicide resistant Clearfield and hard white wheat varieties are ongoing. End-use quality targets for all varieties remain excellent bread-making properties, including selection for high grain protein, strong gluten, good water absorption, and large loaf volume. MONTANA Winter Wheat Program Leading hard red winter varieties are Genou (29.9%), Yellowstone (18.0%), Rampart (7.0%), CDC Falcon (6.8%), and Jagalene (4.9%). Genou was the most planted wheat cultivar in Montana for the 4th consecutive year. The winter wheat program emphasizes on-farm productivity characteristics and quality characteristics to compete in a global market place. Specific objectives include productivity, adaptation (cold tolerance, maturity, stress tolerance), pest resistance (wheat stem sawfly, wheat streak mosaic virus, stem rust), and dual-purpose end-use quality. End-use quality goals are high grain protein and gluten strength, high flour extraction and low ash content, good dough mixing and bread baking quality, and superior noodle color and textural characteristics. Decade hard red winter (HRW) wheat was developed and released jointly by the Montana and North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Stations in September 2010. Decade was derived from a composite of three closely related single crosses (N95L159/CDC Clair, N95L159/MT9602, and N95L159/MT9609) and tested under the experimental number MT0552. Decade is a high-yielding, winter-hardy HRW wheat line with medium to high test weight, early maturity, reduced height (Rht1), medium to high grain protein, and excellent milling and baking quality. Decade was released for its combination of good winter hardiness, short stature, and high yield potential and its excellent performance in eastern Montana and western North Dakota winter wheat production environments. MONTANA Small Grain Quality Program Our overall objective is to conduct studies on genes important to wheat grain quality and/or agronomic traits. The Puroindoline genes (Pina and Pinb) together comprise the wheat Hardness locus (Ha) and control grain texture. Hard wheats contain a mutation in either Pina or Pinb, but there is no puroindoline allelic diversity among soft hexaploid wheats as all carry the Pina-D1a/Pinb-D1a alleles. However, Pina and Pinb allelic variation exists within synthetic hexaploid wheats created using novel D genome donors. The effects of four Aegilops tauschii-derived Ha locus haplotypes (Pina-D1c/Pinb-D1h, Pina-D1e/Pinb-D1i, Pina-D1a/Pinb-D1i, and Pina-D1j/Pinb-D1i) found in synthetic wheat were tested by crossing them into the soft white spring wheats Alpowa and Vanna. The effect of each Ha haplotype on grain hardness was measured by analyzing backcross or F2-derived lines. All novel Ha loci increased grain hardness while still conferring soft wheat texture. None of the novel Ha locus haplotypes significantly affected Pina or Pinb transcript or protein expression levels. The Pina-D1c/Pinb-D1h haplotype was backcrossed into the soft white spring wheat cultivars Vanna and Alpowa to determine the impact on soft wheat milling and baking quality. The effects of the Pina-D1c/Pinb-D1h Ha locus haplotype were similar in both the Vanna and Alpowa backgrounds. The Pina-D1c/Pinb-D1h lines had significantly more large and fewer small flour particles in both backgrounds and 1.51% higher flour yield in the Alpowa background. Both Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and flour protein influence noodle color. Our goal was to determine the impact of selecting for Ppo-A1 allelic differences and high versus low protein on white salted noodle, bread and agronomic traits. MONTANA Quantitative Genetics Program We have generated novel allelic variation in the puroindoline genes as well as the high molecular weight glutenins. The preliminary results for these projects indicate that the alleles exhibit a range of function from full to partial to no function remaining. Crosses have been made with promising alleles that impart different functional properties. Completion of the end product quality tests of the new alleles will likely take at least one more year. Ultimately, alleles imparting specific milling, mixing, or baking properties will be selected for incorporation into new varieties. A winter wheat recombinant inbred line population segregating for Polyphenol oxidase genes, Ppo-A1 and Ppo-D1, was evaluated for white salted noodle quality. Allelic variation at Ppo-A1 showed the largest impact on PPO activity, while allelic variation at Ppo-D1 had largest impact on noodle color. OREGON The Oregon State University Wheat Quality Program investigated the molecular phenomena that control the processing and quality of wheat-based foods. 2789 F4 headrow samples from the 2011 harvest were tested for hardness before replanting and 1126 lines were culled as too hard or too variable. This substantially reduced the numbers of yield plots planted, strongly improving breeding efficiency. Full spectrum solvent retention capacity (SRC) testing was done on 43 soft winter Advanced lines prior to crossing season. Eight of these lines exceeded the high quality check (Skiles) for at least one critical quality trait. Two lines (OR2080637 and OR2090461) exceeded the best Skiles entry for all 5 critical quality traits (hardness, break flour yield, and the 3 relevant SRC values). These lines have been flagged as having high probability of superior soft wheat quality and are to be used in crossing in 2012.The beneficial outcomes of this testing are illustrated by the good-or-better quality of the 3 current soft wheat release candidates, OR2070870, OR2071628, OR8047P94. Preliminary work on pancake spread and texture was completed. Pancake batter viscosity was correlated with SRC tests, but no individual SRC test was predictive of pancake batter viscosity. Pancake batter viscosity was correlated with the viscosity of oxidatively gelled flour-water batters, suggesting a role for oxidative gelation in pancake spread. Some samples gelled without the addition of an oxidant. This observation led to the hypothesis that this spontaneous gelation related to the oxidative potential of the flour might be a way to index flour aging, work is ongoing. Work on exhaustive quality characterization of the Tubbs x NSA 95-0995 mapping population was concluded and the QTL are being analyzed at the time of writing. WASHINGTON The cool wet spring experienced in 2011 caused one of the highest average state yields on record, but also contributed to one of the highest epidemics of stripe rust. Over 90% of the winter wheat crop received one application of fungicide. As such, much of the breeding effort has been focused on developing high yielding, good quality, and stripe rust resistance lines. Other areas of disease resistance are foot rot resistance, Cephalosporium stripe resistance, and snow mold resistance. We have received data back on three mapping populations genotyped with SNP markers and have developed linkage maps for these. We have identified SNP markers associated with the stripe rust resistance from Louise, Coda, and Brundage. We have also identified SNP markers associated with cold tolerance and excellent end-use quality. Many of these markers are being used in MAS efforts or being validated in various genetic backgrounds. Association mapping efforts are also beginning at WSU with the focus on stripe rust resistance, end-use quality, and water-use efficiency. We have three breeding lines in breeders seed increase with 2-gene resistance to Imazamox, and intend to propose these for release shortly. Our double-haploid production is running smoothly with over 3,500 lines being produced in 2011. This has been coupled with our MAS process and we have over 1,000 lines planted in the field that have been selected to carry various genes of importance. A new soft white wheat line was released from the program, WA8092, which is intended for the <12 inch rainfall zones of Washington. It has foot rot resistance, excellent stripe rust resistance, snow mold resistance, dwarf bunt resistance, cold tolerance, and excellent emergence potential. The general agronomic characteristics are very similar to that of Eltan. WESTERN WHEAT QUALITY LAB The kernel texture, milling and baking properties of a unique 'super soft' kernel trait was characterized. Soft kernel texture was transferred to durum, resulting in soft durum wheat germplasm. Three papers were published from Dan Ramseyer's thesis on arabinoxylans and oxidative cross-linking. A book chapter on puroindoline diversity was contributed to the book, Gene Duplication/Book 2. A collaborative analysis examined the compressive material properties of wheat endosperm. Each year Doug Engle and Dr. Morris organize the Pacific Northwest Wheat Quality Council, with attendance of approximately 80, there are 22 collaborators which included ADM Milling, Agri-Pro/Syngenta, Central Milling, Cereal Foods Processors, ConAgra, Horizon Milling, Kraft/Nabisco, Continental Mills, Pendleton Flour Milling, USDA-GIPSA-FGIS, WestBred LLC, and others. Engle and Morris also organize the Overseas Varietal Analysis Project for Soft White and Club Wheats for U.S. Wheat Associates.