Tan spot.

Tan spot (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis) resistance was analyzed in a population of recombinant inbred lines of wheat derived from the cross of the synthetic bread wheat, W-7984 (resistant), and Opata 85 (susceptible). This population is also the subject of an extensive genome mapping effort by investigators of the International Triticeae Mapping Initiative (ITMI). Symptoms of tan spot are chlorosis and/or necrosis. This population was screened with conidia and toxin produced by isolates of three different pathotypes designated by their ability to cause chlorosis or necrosis on susceptible genotypes: (chl+ nec+), (chl+ nec-), and (chl- nec+). Segregation was observed for resistance to

(chl+ nec+) and (chl+ nec-) isolates. The entire population exhibited resistance to the (chl- nec+) isolate. This suggests that this population is segregating for resistance to chlorosis only. Markers on the ITMI map explain about 40 % of the variation for resistance to conidia inoculations of the (chl+ nec+) pathotype.

A second population of 60 F2:3 families from the cross of the synthetic bread wheat, W-7976 (resistant), and ND671 (susceptible), was screened with necrosis toxin produced by a (chl- nec+) isolate. The families segregated in a 1:2:1 ratio, suggesting a single recessive gene controlling necrosis. Mapping of this population is in progress to identify markers linked to necrosis resistance. This population will be screened with chlorosis-producing isolates to determine if chlorosis resistance is controlled by the same loci as in the recombinant inbred population. (Faris, Anderson, Francl, and Jordahl)

Linkage of RFLP markers to a wheat aluminum tolerance gene.

Our objectives were to 1) determine the number of genes for aluminum (Al) tolerance and chromosome location in BH 1146 and 2) identify DNA molecular markers linked to Al tolerance gene(s). Aluminum tolerance/susceptibility screening was performed on 98 recombinant inbred lines from the cross `BH1146/Anahuac 75' using two different methods of hydroponic nutrient solution. Seedling roots were exposed to 46 ppm Al for 17 h or 1 ppm Al for 72 h. Aluminum tolerance of the RI lines exhibited a bimodal distribution using either method, suggesting genetic control by a single gene. The correlation between methods was r = 0.73. Eighty-three low-copy RFLP clones were screened for polymorphism between the parents. Two markers closely linked to this Al tolerance locus were detected on chromosome 4DL. Clone bcd1230 is located at 1.1 cM from the gene and explains 83.2 % of the phenotypic variation. Clone cdo1395 is 10.5 cM from the gene and explains 43.3 % of the phenotypic variation. Therefore, we conclude that a major gene conditioning Al tolerance is present on chromosome 4DL in BH1146 (Riede and Anderson).

Mapping grain protein content from T. dicoccoides.

Genes from T. dicoccoides conditioning high grain protein content have been introgressed into hard red spring wheat germplasm. Recombinant inbred populations from crosses between lines containing these genes and lower protein HRS genotypes were evaluated for protein content in three environments. We are in the process of screening RFLPs to find markers associated with these genes (Mesfin, Frohberg, and Anderson).

Publications.

Ahn S, Anderson JA, Sorrells ME, and Tanksley SD. 1993. Homoeologous relationships of rice, wheat, and maize chromosomes. Mol Gen Genet 241:483-490.

Anderson JA, Sorrells ME, Finney PL, and Tanksley SD. 1994. Molecular mapping of grain quality traits in wheat. Plant Genome II Abstracts, San Diego, CA. p. 15.

Anderson JA, Sorrells ME, Finney PL, and Tanksley SD. 1994. Molecular mapping of grain quality traits in wheat. In: Progress in genome mapping of wheat and related species: Proceedings of the 4th Public Workshop of the International Triticeae Mapping Initiative (Qualset CO and McGuire P eds), San Diego, CA.

Anderson JA, Gill BS, Frary A, Autrique JE, Sorrells ME, and Tanksley SD. 1994. RFLP analysis of phylogenetic relationships in Triticum species. Abstracts of the North American Wheat Workers Workshop, Kansas City, MO.

Anderson JA and Maan SS. 1994. Identification of a DNA marker linked to a species cytoplasm specific gene in wheat. Agron Abstr:120.

Riede CR and Anderson JA. 1994. Linkage of RFLP markers to a wheat aluminum tolerance gene. Agron Abstr:127.

Durum wheat breeding and production in North Dakota.

E.M. Elias, S.Y. Xia, C.M. Rystedt, and P.W. Chee.

1994 durum wheat production. North Dakota produced 73.1 million bushels (2.0 million MT) of durum, which was 78 % of the total U.S. production. Producers in North Dakota harvested 2.25 million acres (0.91 million ha), an 18 % increase in acreage from 1993. The North Dakota average yield of durum in 1994 was estimated at 32.5 bu/acre compared to an average yield of 34.0 bu/acre in 1993. Renville was the leading cultivar in acreage, 31 %, followed by Monroe, 25 %.

Diseases. High moisture and moderate temperatures during the growing season promoted heavy infection with foliar disease such as tan spot (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis) and Septoria nodorum. In 1994, an estimated 7.3 million bushels of durum wheat with an approximate value of $40 million were lost because of scab (Fusarium spp.) in North Dakota, (M. McMullen and J. Helm, personal communications). In fact, except for the northwestern parts of the state, most of the durum wheat crop was lost because of scab. The durum wheat breeding nurseries at Prosper and Langdon, North Dakota, were heavily infected with scab. There were no differences among genotype in their reaction to scab, which made selection very difficult. The Prosper breeding nursery was not harvested because of scab.

Study on preharvest sprouting in durum wheat. Durum wheat is susceptible to sprouting during prolonged periods of rainfall before harvest. Thus, the incorporation of preharvest seed dormancy into durum wheat germplasm has become a breeding objective. Two hundred sixteen lines from Canada, North Dakota, Mexico, and the Middle East were evaluated at two North Dakota locations in 1992 for preharvest dormancy. Ninety-two lines were selected and evaluated at two locations in 1993. Seed dormancy was assessed at two harvesting dates by placing single intact spikes from each line in a rain-simulation chamber and by determining the falling number and relative FONT SIZE=2 FACE="WP Greek Century""-amylase activity of a line.

Significant correlations occurred among the assessment methods. Results indicated the presence of considerable variation among the lines evaluated. Several durum lines had preharvest dormancy approaching the levels found in the resistant hexaploid checks. The two lines `I.A. CT12/Kato//IBIS/FG (IA)' and `GTA/TC60/STK/3/Chahba 88 (GTA)' did not differ significantly from the most resistant checks RL 4137 and `K32/Butte//Butte 86'. These lines may provide useful germplasm to durum wheat breeders working on preharvest sprouting resistance.

Release of Munich durum wheat. Munich was selected from the cross `D8030/D8016' with the experimental line designation D8460. Munich has been tested in replicated trials for agronomic, disease resistance, and quality traits since 1985. It was entered in the Uniform Regional Durum Nursery (URDN) in 1988. It has excellent yield potential for the Langdon area, outyielding Renville by 10 % in this area. Munich has 1.8 % higher yield than Sceptre, Renville, Monroe, Vic, Medora, Rugby, and Lloyd when averaged across locations in North Dakota (ND) and Canada in the URDN trails. Munich also outyielded these cultivars when averaged across all test locations in Canada, Minnesota, Montana, ND, and South Dakota in the URDN. Munich has an average yield potential better than those of Sceptre, Monroe, Vic, Medora, and Lloyd, but similar to that of Rugby and slightly lower than that of Renville in North Dakota Research Centers tests.

On average, Munich is lower in test weight than Vic and Rugby but higher than Monroe and Sceptre. It is medium in maturity and plant height with very strong straw. Munich is resistant to both leaf and stem rust diseases. Its leaf disease ratings for tan spot and septoria are similar to those of Rugby. It has a moderate level of resistance to scab.

In Carrington, ND, Munich averaged 5.7 ppm vomitoxin level in comparison with 4.3 ppm for Rugby, where the vomotoxin level in all cultivars and experimental lines ranged from 3.4 to 14.0 ppm.

Munich is a strong gluten durum cultivar that has protein content similar to those of Vic, Renville, Monroe, and Sceptre. It has good color and semolina extraction. Mixogram scores for Munich are slightly lower than scores for Sceptre, Renville, Monroe, Vic, Medora, and Lloyd, but higher than those for Rugby.

The variety was named Munich to recognize the city of Munich, located in Cavalier County. This area historically is in the durum production triangle in North Dakota.

New Research. Mr. P.W. Chee joined the durum wheat breeding project as a Ph.D. graduate student working on molecular mapping of high grain protein content in durum wheat. High protein durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) cultivars are needed to satisfy the needs of human nutrition and end-use quality consideration. A few high grain protein germplasms have been identified in durum wheat, including those from the wild relative T. dicoccoides. Of particular importance to breeding programs is the 'Langdon' (T. dicoccoides) substitution lines [LDN(DIC)] developed by Joppa and Cantrell. LDN(DIC-6B) has a significantly higher grain protein content than the recurrent parent cultivar Langdon. The objective is to conduct a molecular analysis to map the chromosomal location of the high protein genes in LDN(DIC-6B) in an agronomically suitable background.

We have crossed the LDN (DIC) substitution lines to the durum wheat cultivar Vic, to assess the potential of using the LDN(DIC) lines in a breeding program to derive lines with increased grain protein content. We also have developed recombinant inbred populations derived from crosses of LDN(DIC-6B) and `LDN(DIC-6B)/Vic' to the durum wheat cultivar Renville. These inbred lines will be used to generate a linkage map of chromosome 6B using RFLPs and to collect phenotypic data for mapping analysis. Once the high grain protein genes are identified, the closest RFLP markers flanking the target gene will be sequenced from both ends, and STS-PCR primer sets will be synthesized for them.

This work will provide a better understanding of the genetics of the protein content trait in wheat and will help directly in the production of improved durum wheat cultivars. Durum wheat cultivars with high yield and excellent quality measured as high protein content and gluten strength are necessary to ensure the stability of high quality durum wheat production, the international export market, and the milling and national pasta industry.

Publications.

Chaney RL, Schniter AA, and Elias EM. 1993. Genetics and soil factors related to Cd levels in sunflower kernels and durum wheat grain. Agron Abstr:227.

Elias EM. 1993. Durum breeding in North Dakota. In: The 1993 Regional Scab Forum. Moorhead, MN. 3 Nov., 1993. p. 24.

Olmedo-Arcega OB. 1993. Evaluation of recurrent selection for grain yield and its effect on correlated traits in durum wheat. Ph.D. Thesis. 68 p.

Rystedt CM, Elias EM, and Francle LJ. 1993. Inheritance of tan spot in three durum wheat genotypes. Agron Abstr:101.

Xia SY and Elias EM. 1994. Evaluation of pre-harvest dormancy in durum wheat. Agron Abstr:127.