Growing conditions for the 1996 growing season were variable across the state. In the southern Red River Valley, and near Minot and Williston, precipitation from June through harvest was below average, and temperatures were above average. Yields were relatively low in these areas; yet, kernel color, test weight, and kernel plumpness were excellent. In the northeastern quarter of North Dakota, growing conditions favored development of foliar and spike diseases that reduced quality of harvested grain.

Foliar diseases were most severe in the Langdon area. The predominant foliar disease at the Langdon site was septoria, incited by several Septoria spp. Septoria also was the predominant foliar disease found at Minot. Relatively little spot blotch, incited by Cochliobolus sativus (Ito and Kurib. in Kurib.) Dreschs ex Dast, was observed on barley in the Red River Valley. However, spot blotch caused yield losses and reduced seed quality of two-rowed cultivars in trials at Carrington. At Fargo, low levels of barley crown rust, incited by Puccinia coronata, and late infections of wheat stem rust, incited by Puccinia graminis Pers. f. sp. tritici, were observed. Pathotype QCC of wheat stem rust was found in barley nurseries and yield trials grown at Fargo, Casselton, and Prosper. Pathotype QCC is virulent on plants homozygous dominant for the Rpg1 gene and all cultivars currently grown in the Midwest barley growing region are susceptible to this pathotype. Leaf rust infection, incited by Puccinia hordei Otth, was adequate to score the reaction of plants in a late-planted nursery at Langdon. All six-rowed cultivars currently grown in North Dakota are susceptible to Septoria spp., leaf scald, powdery mildew, barley crown rust, wheat stem rust, and leaf rust. All two-rowed cultivars currently grown in North Dakota are susceptible to Septoria spp., leaf scald, barley crown rust, leaf rust, and wheat stem rust.

The major disease problem occurring on barley produced in northeastern North Dakota was Fusarium head blight (FHB), incited by several Fusarium spp. Production of a mycotoxin, deoxynivalenol (DON), is associated primarily with Fusarium graminearum. Overall, the percent of blight found in 1996 grain samples was lower than observed in 1995. Yet, FHB was found in north central North Dakota, an area of the state where FHB had not previously caused grain quality problems. In areas where FHB was severe in 1996, DON levels tended to be greater than levels observed in 1995. Barley with excessive levels of DON is not purchased for malting and brewing. All cultivars grown in North Dakota are moderately susceptible to the pathogens inciting FHB.

Foster, released by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station (NDAES) in 1995, was added to the list of varieties recommended for malting by AMBA in July 1996. Foster has yielded intermediate to Robust and Stander, and has similar straw strength as Stander. In the northern Red River Valley, Stander has out yielded Foster. Foster appears best adapted to all malting barley growing regions of North Dakota except the northern Red River Valley. Percent barley protein of Foster is approximately 1.5 percentage units lower than that of Morex. The lower grain protein of Foster may allow growers in the central and western malting barley growing region of North Dakota to produce barley with acceptable grain protein more consistently. Foster was grown on 97,000 acres in North Dakota in 1996, and about 24,000 of these acres were sown for production of certified seed.

In 1996, 2.6 million acres of barley were harvested. Six-rowed cultivars were grown on nearly 92% of those acres. The nearly 40% decline in the acreage of two-rowed barley in North Dakota can be partially attributed to a decrease in barley acreage in western North Dakota caused by high prices for wheat and partially to a shift to more six-rowed barley in northwestern North Dakota. To date, only six-rowed cultivars as grown in North Dakota are recommended by the American Malting Barley Association for malting and brewing. Azure and Hazen, released by the NDAES in 1982 and 1984, respectively, had been two of the best yielding cultivars in statewide trials before the release of Excel, Stander, and Foster. Acreage sown of Azure and Hazen continued to decline in 1996. About 42,000 acres of Azure were sown in 1996. Acreage of Azure is less than other barley cultivars recommended for malting because it has a blue aleurone; thus, it generally commands a lower price. In 1996, about 10,000 acres of Hazen were sown. Acreage of Hazen planted in North Dakota is low compared with other cultivars because Hazen is classified as a non-malting barley. To date, there is not a demand for a six-rowed feed barley in North Dakota.

Bowman and Stark, released by the NDAES in 1984 and 1991, respectively, were the two most widely grown two-rowed cultivars in North Dakota. These two cultivars are susceptible to spot blotch and a pathotype of net blotch, incited by Pyrenophora teres Drechs., that is observed frequently in western North Dakota. Logan and Conlon, two new two-rowed cultivars released by the NDAES in 1995 and 1996, respectively, are expected to replace acreage of Bowman and Stark.

Logan has fair malting quality and has the low-protein factor from Karl. It is being evaluated as a low-protein malting barley for export markets. Successful production of Logan in eastern North Dakota under irrigation is feasible because it has good straw strength, is moderately resistant to spot blotch, and is resistant to net blotch and powdery mildew (the gene Mlk), incited by Erysiphe graminis D.C.: Fr. f. sp. hordei.

Conlon, tested as ND13299 (Bowman*2/Birgitta mutant//ND10232) is a two-rowed non-malting barley cultivar recommended for production in western North Dakota. Conlon heads more than one day earlier than Bowman and is resistant to net blotch, moderately resistant to spot blotch, and resistant to local races of powdery mildew (the genes Mlg and Mlk confer this resistance). Yield comparisons with check cultivars suggest that the average yield of Conlon is slightly less than Hazen in statewide trials. The straw strength of Conlon is slightly better than that of Bowman, but inferior to Hazen.

Although Conlon was released as a non-malting barley for growers in western North Dakota, malt quality comparisons indicate Conlon has high extract values and a good malt quality profile. Diastatic power values for Conlon are lower than those for Morex, but -amylase values are about the same. The average grain protein value for Conlon is lower than that of Bowman or Morex, but Conlon does not have the low-protein gene from Karl.

New Personnel

Marci Green was hired as a Research Specialist II on the six-rowed barley breeding program. Marci's responsibilities will include overseeing production of doubled-haploids and managing the laboratory where the molecular marker research is performed.

New Graduates

Oswaldo Chicaiza from Ecuador and Mauro Zamora-Diaz from Mexico completed their Ph.D studies at NDSU and returned to their home countries to work as barley breeders in their respective National Research Institutes. Oswaldo's thesis problems dealt with identifying new genes for reseistance to leaf rust. Mauro's thesis problem allowed him to determine the inheritance of barley stripe rust.