Location: Wheat Health, Genetics, and Quality Research
Project Number: 2090-21000-039-011-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2023
End Date: Aug 29, 2025
Objective:
1) Identify climate variables that induce late-maturity alpha-amylase (LMA) resulting in low falling numbers from field trials planted at multiple locations in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
2) Identify photosynthetic efficiency phenotypes associated with increased yield and better end-use quality for plants grown in specific combinations of climate variables.
3) Develop 'breeder friendly' screening methods to improve indirect selection of varieties targeted to specific combinations of climate variables.
Approach:
Field trials containing early breeding program material (F3-F4), elite program material (F5-F6), and those ready for variety testing (F7+), current and historic varieties, as well as resistant and susceptible LMA checks will planted by ARS or the cooperator at various locations in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Weather information will be gathered and collated from either WSU AgWeatherNet stations or cooperator stations located at the field trials. Heading and flowering dates will be recorded for each location. Select locations (repeated history of late-maturity alpha-amylase induction) will be evaluated for photosynthetic efficiency traits including but not limited to minimum, maximum, and variable chlorophyll fluorescence with a FluorPen. When plants reach physiological maturity, single heads will be collected from the checks at each location to determine if LMA was induced using the 'one pot' phadebas assay. Locations with induced LMA grain will be harvested and seed evaluated for test weight, protein, starch, and moisture content and subject to hyperspectral scans with a Malvern Panalytical ASD. Seed sub-samples will be taken and ground into wholemeal for total starch and phadebas assays, and falling number evaluation; wholemeal samples will also be subject to hyperspectral scans. The data will be analyzed to inform best conditions and traits associated with LMA induction for 'breeder friendly' screening methods. These trials will be repeated in subsequent years.
All information regarding LMA locations will be shared with WSU and USDA-ARS scientists and collaborators to maximize research efforts.
