Registration of 'Mela CL+' soft white winter wheat

Authors: GILL, KULVINDER - Washington State University; KUMAR, NEERAJ - Washington State University; RANDHAWA, H - Lethbridge Research Center; CARTER, ARRON - Washington State University; YENISH, J - Washington State University; Morris, Craig; Baik, Byung-Kee; HIGGINBOTHAM, RYAN - Washington State University; GUY, S - Washington State University; Engle, Douglas; Chen, Xianming; MURRAY, T - Washington State University; LYON, D - Washington State University

Submitted to: Journal of Plant Registrations
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/12/2019
Publication Date: 5/22/2020
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/7019781
Citation: Gill, K.S., Kumar, N., Randhawa, H.S., Carter, A.H., Yenish, J., Morris, C.F., Baik, B.V., Higginbotham, R.W., Guy, S.O., Engle, D.A., Chen, X., Murray, T.D., Lyon, D. 2020. Registration of 'Mela CL+' soft white winter wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations. 14(2):144:152. https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20006.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20006

Interpretive Summary: Soft white winter (SWW) is the major market class of wheat in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) region of the United States. Among the annual weeds, jointed goatgrass is the most problematic, causing significant yield losses. The imidazolinone group of herbicides, such as imazamox can effectively control many grassy weeds, including goatgrass, by inhibiting the enzyme involved in biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids valine, leucine and isoleucine. Nevertheless, imazamox cannot be used on non-modified wheat due to the presence of the wild form of the acetolactate synthase (ALS) genes. Two alleles (Als1 and Als2) with mutations in the ALS gene located on the long arms of group-6 chromosomes (6BL and 6DL) of bread wheat provide tolerance to imazamox herbicide and have been identified and patented by BASF Corporation. A mutation was identified in the ALS gene that stops the herbicide from binding to the protein, thus making the carried plant tolerant to the herbicide. This herbicide tolerance technology is marketed under the trade name ‘Clearfield®’ (single gene mutation) and ‘Clearfield® Plus’ (double gene mutation). Foundation seed of Mela CL+ is distributed by the Washington State Crop Improvement Association in cooperation with the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, and the WSU-ARC. The herbicide-tolerance trait of Mela CL+ is patented and owned by BASF Corporation. Access to Mela CL+ requires an MTA for research use or a commercial license. Seed of Mela CL+ has been deposited in the National Plant Germplasm System. Mela CL+ is protected under U.S. Plant Variety Protection.

Technical Abstract: Soft white winter (SWW) is the major market class of wheat in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) region of the United States. Among the annual weeds, jointed goatgrass is the most problematic, causing significant yield losses. The imidazolinone group of herbicides, such as imazamox can effectively control many grassy weeds, including goatgrass, by inhibiting the enzyme involved in biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids valine, leucine and isoleucine. Nevertheless, imazamox cannot be used on non-modified wheat due to the presence of the wild form of the acetolactate synthase (ALS) genes. Two alleles (Als1 and Als2) with mutations in the ALS gene located on the long arms of group-6 chromosomes (6BL and 6DL) of bread wheat provide tolerance to imazamox herbicide and have been identified and patented by BASF Corporation. A mutation was identified in the ALS gene that stops the herbicide from binding to the protein, thus making the carried plant tolerant to the herbicide. This herbicide tolerance technology is marketed under the trade name ‘Clearfield®’ (single gene mutation) and ‘Clearfield® Plus’ (double gene mutation). Foundation seed of Mela CL+ is distributed by the Washington State Crop Improvement Association in cooperation with the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, and the WSU-ARC. The herbicide-tolerance trait of Mela CL+ is patented and owned by BASF Corporation. Access to Mela CL+ requires an MTA for research use or a commercial license. Seed of Mela CL+ has been deposited in the National Plant Germplasm System. Mela CL+ is protected under U.S. Plant Variety Protection.