Jose M. Urbano and Maximiliano Hidalgo.
The 1994-95 season.
By far, the drought was the most limiting factor for all the wheat
acreage on the Iberian Peninsula in the 1994-95 season.
Fortunately, at the time I am writing this report, the period
of dry years seems to be finished, and the area is receiving a
good amount of rain.
Three locations of winter wheat in the north of Spain
were planted without important problems and with good moisture.
The same applies for the two locations of spring bread wheat and
durums in the northeast of Spain. In the south, we planted four
locations of spring bread wheat and durums, with very low moisture,
a warning of the terrible year that was coming. The adverse conditions
during most of the crop cycle, with a hot and windy spring, caused
almost a complete crop failure over wide cereal acreage.
We were able to harvest all the locations, but the
yields were so low that they were useful only in the multi-year
analysis.
In general, very little disease pressure occurred
(in any case, very little yield reduction attributable to diseases).
Only powdery mildew was important in some durum varieties in the
south, and a few cases of Ophiobolus occurred. Insect damage
was higher than usual, with important Mayetiola and thrip
attacks that probably went unnoticed by farmers.
In spite of the severe yield reduction, uniformity
remained acceptable in most spring and durums locations and enabled
us to select for drought tolerance in both species.
Winter wheat locations also suffered from drought,
frost, and BYDV. In this case, the uniformity of the trials was
unacceptable for making conclusions based on 1-year data.
The 1995 summer nursery went well in general, with
unusually low disease levels and good grain-filling conditions.
Varietal development.
No durum variety was registered, because most of the Official
Trials were lost.
In summer 1995, we submitted for registration two
spring bread wheat varieties and one durum, which confirmed their
good performance under drought conditions.
Paul Wilson.
The 1994-95 season.
In trials harvested in August 1995, three Pioneer high-yielding
feed wheat varieties yielded 110 % of the UK check varieties over
multiple locations. These varieties are being advanced with seed
purification and breeder seed production. Future crossing will
place major emphasis on the predominant feed wheat market, while
addressing a significant quality segment.
Past research in the UK has been predominantly a
testing program with observation nurseries and preliminary and
preregistration trials. The material was accessed from our French
program. However, climatic and disease pressure differences have
necessitated a more intensive research commitment in the UK, and
our first F3 headrow nursery was sown in the autumn of 1995.
Data collection. The UK
Station will be using Husky hand-held PC's to collect trial
data in the field and plot weights and moisture readings on the
combine, using a Pioneer software package. Data will be uploaded
to a PC from the Husky and then sent to Pioneer USA for analysis
and reporting.
8111 Timberline Drive, Bozeman, MT, 59715 USA.
Southern research.
Kim Shantz, Doug Holen; Chandler, AZ, USA.
Two hard red spring wheats `Brooks'
and `Cuyama' were released recently for production
in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Brooks is similar to
`Yecora Rojo', but has better resistance to the prevalent
races of leaf rust and is outyielding Yecora Rojo by about 10
%. Cuyama has good tolerance to the prevalent races of leaf rust
and has better yield than Brooks. The quality of both wheats is
similar to that of Yecora Rojo.
Two durums were released for the southwest desert
area. `Kofa' is a replacement for `WestBred
881', with greater yield stability and improved gluten
strength. `Cortez' is a replacement for `WestBred
Turbo'. Cortez has higher protein, improved semolina color,
better lodging resistance, and better blackpoint tolerance when
compared to W.B. Turbo.
Mike DeVries has moved from our southern research
office to Bozeman, where he will coordinate WPB's marketing
and seed production programs. It's nice to have someone
in marketing who has been down in the trenches with the breeding
staff!
Doug Holen joined our southern research office in
May as a research agronomist. Doug received a Master's
degree from Montana State University, where his major professor
was Dr. Phil Bruckner.
Dale Clark, Craig Cook, Earl Giard, and Jeanne Heilig;
Bozeman, MT, USA.
Two hard red spring wheats, `WestBred 936'
and `Fergus', and one soft white spring, `Vanna',
were released for the Pacific Northwest. The variety `Border'
was released as an early-maturing, high protein, HRSW for the
sawfly-problem areas of Montana. Both WestBred 936 and Fergus
are semidwarfs, have high quality protein, and are resistant to
shatter. Vanna has shown to be a competitive variety, especially
under moisture stress conditions.
Jeanne Heilig has taken a permanent position with
Western Plant Breeders as the director of our quality lab. Jeanne
worked at WPB for the past 2 years, while completing a Master's
degree at Montana State University. Jeanne's thesis involved
studying sawfly damage in relation to the plant available water
holding capacity (PAWHC) of soil. There appears to be a strong
negative correlation between sawfly damage and the PAWHC. The
greatest sawfly damage was found in heavy clay and/or light sandy
soils, where water is less available to the plant.
Greg Fox, Fargo, ND, USA.
WPB will soon release the scab-tolerant HRSW `Sharpshooter'
for the Minnesota-North Dakota region. The scab resistance for
Sharpshooter came from `Sumai-3'.
ITEMS FROM ARGENTINA
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES INSTITUTE. INTA
Las Caba-as y Los Reseros s/n, (1712) Villa Udaondo, Castelar,
Pcia. de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Breadmaking quality and yield performance of 1BL-1RS
germplasm.
G. Tranquilli, L. Bullrich, L. Pfluger, E. Suarez,
and A. Barneix.
Rye (S. cereale). introgression into
bread wheat (T. aestivum L. em Tell) was used in
order to obtain disease resistance. The 1BL-1RS translocation
has been the most exploited in wheat breeding programs, because
it carries resistance genes to rusts and mildew. This translocation
also is reported to increase yield potential, but decreases breadmaking
quality.
The effects of the 1BL-1RS translocation chromosome
on breadmaking quality and agronomic traits were evaluated in
two kind of materials: isogenic lines for the 1BL-1RS translocation
and Argentinian varieties.
Evaluation of isogenic lines.
Forty isogenic lines for the wheat/rye translocation 1BL-1RS
were obtained after six generations of selfing heterozygous genotypes
(1B : 1BL-1RS), derived from an F1 of `Chinese Spring
x Sinvalocho MA'. The original cross (a `Bobwhite'
derivative with the 1BL-1RS translocation) was made by Don
Ernesto, INTA . Selection was by cytological markers.
Presence or absence of the rye chromosome arm in
isogenic lines also was verified through analysis of secalins
and gliadins. Background homogeneity was checked by plant phenotype,
HMW and LMW glutenins, and the Est-5 isozyme marker.
Twenty-four isogenic lines (12 families) showing
a homozygous background were evaluated in a randomized block design
with four replications. Ear-emergence time, plant height, yield,
yield components, grain protein concentration, and flour sedimentation
(SDS test) were measured.
The wheat/rye translocation increased grain weight
and spikelet number per spike, but reduced the spike number per
plant. No effect on yield was observed.
A significant reduction in SDS volume was observed
in 1BL-1RS carrier lines, with respect to their partners.
Only when the Glu-1 score reached 10 was the SDS volume
higher than 70 cm, but it was always about 20 % lower than its
nontranslocated partner.
Translocated and nontranslocated lines showed a negative
association between heading time and yield. Earliness was associated
with negative to grain protein concentration. On the other hand,
SDS volume was not associated with protein content in the grain.
Evaluation of Argentinian cultivars.
In Argentina, the source of the 1BL-1RS translocation has
been the CIMMYT germplasm. Twelve Argentinian cultivars possessing
the translocation were selected from different origins and heading
dates. Each of the cultivars was matched to a nontranslocated
variety of similar heading date and origin. Twenty-four selected
varieties were included in a randomized block design with six
replications. Ear-emergence time, plant height, yield, yield
components, grain protein content, flour sedimentation (SDS test),
mixing time, and W (alveogram) were measured.
All 1RS-carrier varieties had poorer quality attributes
than varieties without the translocation. On average, varieties
with the translocation had a 59.15 ml sedimentation volume (ranging
from 48.5 ml-64.5 ml), mixing time of 2'77 (ranging from
1'40-3'50), and a W of 200.55 (ranging from 163-268).
For the varieties lacking the translocation, the results were
77.92 ml (61.67-90.33), 3'95 (2'50-5'30), and 252.89
(183-327), for SDS, mixing time, and W, respectively. In
contrast, the grain protein content was higher in the translocated
group.
Although no differences in yield were observed between
both groups of varieties, a significant increase in 1,000-kernel
weight was shown by 1RS-carrier varieties.
These results clearly show that the 1BL-1RS
translocation in Argentinian wheats has an important effect on
quality, similar to other wheats around the world, but does not
have a remarkable effect on yield.
Study of the resistance to Septoria nodorum in single-chromosome
recombinant lines in wheat.
Silvina M. Lewis, Anthony J. Worland1, and Paul Nicholson1.
1Cambridge Laboratory, John Innes Centre, Colney
Lane, Norwich NR4 7UJ, UK.
Septoria nodorum
(Berk.) Berk. (perfect state Leptosphaeria nodorum
Muller) is the causal agent of the glume blotch disease of wheat.
Under severe epidemics, the kernels of susceptible wheat cultivars
are shrivelled and unfit for milling. Although resistance is a
high-priority breeding goal, not enough is known about the genetic
patterns that govern resistance to S. nodorum.
Single-chromosome recombinant lines for chromosome
5D of `Synthetic 6x', the complete 5D chromosome of
`Chinese Spring', and the long arm of chromosome 5D
were developed to study the resistance to S. nodorum glume
blotch. The genetic analysis of these lines showed that the resistance
was conferred by a single gene located on the long arm of chromosome
5D. Telocentric mapping placed the gene approximately 17 cM from
the centromere. Some morphological and biochemical markers also
were analyzed. Mapping of the resistance gene in respect to those
markers placed the gene near to Ibf-1. The association
of the resistance gene with morphological, biochemical, and molecular
markers could help breeders select for resistance without the
necessity of performing disease screening tests. At present, molecular
markers are being screened to find a tightly linked marker to
the resistance gene.
When grown under field and glasshouse conditions,
the recombinant lines showed variable levels of fertility with
the 5D chromosome of the Synthetic 6x linked to low fertility
under cool conditions and low light intensities. The low temperature
pairing gene (ltp), previously located on chromosome 5D,
might possibly be the cause of the low fertility. Further evaluation
of the lines will help resolve the fertility problems that have
occurred in several recent European winter wheat varieties.
Publications.
Barneix A and Suarez E. 1995. Grain nitrogen concentration
and flag leaf free amino acids in wheat. Cereal Res Commun 23:291-297.
Lewis SM, Martinez AJ, and Dubcovsky J. 1996. Karyotype
variation in South American Elymus (Triticeae). Int J Plant
Sci 157(1):142-150.
Sacco F, Favret E, Suarez E, Solari R, and Saione
H. 1995. Spontaneous genetic variation for leaf rust reaction
in Sinvalocho MA wheat. J Phytopath 143:251-255.
BIOTECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE - CICV - INTA.
CC 77, 1708 Moron, Castelar, Argentina.
Use of SSR markers in Argentine wheat germplasm characterization.
M.M. Manifesto, A.R. Schlatter, M. Echaide, H.E.
Hopp, and J. Dubcovsky.
The use of single-sequence repeat markers is becoming
common for fingerprinting and genetic mapping in wheat. Recently,
two sets of primers able to amplify microsatellite loci within
the gamma-gliadin and LMW-glutenin gene families were described
(Devos et al. 1995). Using ditelocentric lines and F2 segregant
populations, we confirmed the localization of these markers on
chromosomes 1AS and 1BS.
In order to test the feasibility of using these markers
to classify the Argentine germplasm bank, 30 representative accessions
were screened to calculate the detection level of polymorphism
among them. For the SSRs present in the FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol"g-gliadin
locus, five different alleles were detected. One of the alleles
was null, probably because of the absence of the microsatellite
in the rye genome present in the varieties carrying the 1RS-1BS
translocation. For the LMW-glutenin locus, eight different alleles
were detected. All of the alleles behaved as codominant markers
and, in contrast to RFLP markers, distinguished between homeoloci.
The polymorphism information content (PIC) calculated showed the
following values: PIC (LMW-glutenin) = 0.70 and PIC (FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol"g-gliadin)
= 0.74. These values are much higher than RFLP PIC values, which
had a mean value of 0.41 for the Glu1-1A, Glu1-1B,
and Glu1-1D RFLP markers. These high PIC values allow a
finer characterization of the genetic variability present in the
germplasm bank. In addition, the SSRs were more reproducible PCRs
than RAPD markers, probably because of their higher annealing
temperatures.
Reference.
Devos KM, Bryan GJ, Collins AJ, Stephenson P, and
Gale MD. 1995. Application of two microsatellite sequences in
wheat storage proteins as molecular markers. Theor Appl Genet
90(2):247-253.
Association between RFLP and SSR markers and bread-making
quality parameters in Argentine wheats.
M.M. Manifesto, B.E. Tanos, S. Feingold, M. Echaide,
H.E. Hopp, and J. Dubcovsky.
`Klein 32' (an Argentine variety from
1932) displays a HMW-glutenin SDS gel electrophoresis pattern
identical to that of `Chinese Spring'. However, it
shows significant differerences in SDS-sedimentation tests, which
obviously is not explained by differences in HMW-glutenin patterns.
Analysis of Klein 32 substitution lines allowed the location of
breadmaking determinants on chromosomes 1B and 1D. A segregating
F2 population was generated from the cross `Klein 32/Chinese
Spring'. This population was used to correlate RFLP loci
and SDS-sedimentation values. After testing the F2-derived descendents
(F3), we found a significant correlation (p < 0.05) with RFLP
and SSR (microsatellite) markers belonging to genes Gli1-B
and Glu3-B (located on chromosome 1BS), indicating that
this locus is responsible for about 7 % of the detected variation.
GENETICS INSTITUTE `E.A. FAVRET' - CICA - INTA
1712 Castelar, Buenos Aries, Argentina.
Isolation of a wheat mutant that simulates a hypersensitive-like
phenotype in the absence of pathogens.
Alberto Acevedo.
A mutagenic treatment was applied to the Argentine
bread wheat (T. aestivum L.) cultivar Sinvalocho M.A. Seeds
were soaked overnight in an ethylmethane sulphonate (EMS, 2 %)
solution and planted in the field. Four spikes/M1 plant were harvested
individually and planted separately. M2 plants exhibiting a hypersensitive-like
phenotype on spikes, leaf blades, and sheaths were detected in
the progeny of one out of four spikes from an M1 plant. Progeny
tests using the mutant, both as a female or male parent, revealed
a 3:1 ratio, indicating a monogenic recessive character.
To further examine the expression of the mutated
character, mutant and motherline plants were grown in the greenhouse
in the absence of pathogens. As opposed to the motherline, the
mutant exhibited the hypersensitive-like phenotype. This characteristic
was not evident until the fifth leaf had emerged.
Root-tip mitotic analyses performed in the mutant
and its motherline demonstrated that they were euploid plants
(2n = 42) with no obvious chromosome abnormality. Electrophoretic
analyses of storage proteins (gliadins and glutenins) in the mutant
corresponded to the patterns of Sinvalocho M.A.
CÓRDOBA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
College of Agriculture, P.O. Box 509, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
Wheat yield during a drought.
R. Maich, P. Daher, and M. Bianchi.
During 1995, the Córdoba province suffered
the worst drought in history. A water deficit, accumulated from
the previous spring season, magnified the drought. Rarely are
results during a drought published or communicated. Two trials
were sown at two locations in Córdoba (Oliva and Villa
Maria). Twelve lines, nine experimentals and three commercials,
were evaluated using plots of 24 560-m rows spaced 15 cm apart
(2,240 sq m). Lines yielded from 100 kg/ha to 400 kg/ha. The experimental
lines performed better than the commercials, from 43 % (Villa
Maria) to 98 % (Oliva).
In situ vs ex situ plant breeding in the Argentine semiarid
region.
M. Bianchi, P. Daher, and R. Maich.
The objective of this study was to determine the
grain yield performance of experimental lines from our College
and commercial cultivars developed outside, in the central, semiarid
region of Argentina. Over two contrasting years (1994 and 1995)
in the same location (Oliva) and in two different locations (Oliva
and Costasacate) during 1994, the materials were evaluated using
demonstration plots (2,240 sq m). Differences in lines in both
trials were not significant. A descriptive analysis of the results
shows that the grain yield mean performance of the experimental
lines was the inverse of that of the commercial varieties in contrasting
environmental conditions of cultivation. The crossover point between
experimental and commercial lines is between 1,000 and 1,500 kg/ha.
At the high end of this range of production, the commercial lines
yielded more than the experimentals. However, at the low end,
the experimentals performed better. With a regional average yield
of 1,500 kg/ha, both types of lines are suitable for the central
semiarid region of Argentina.
Indirect and direct selection criteria for grain yield in
wheat.
A. Ordo-ez.
The objective of the present work was to measure
the response to direct and indirect selection for grain yield
using biological yield (BY), earweight (EW), and harvest index
(HI) as indirect selection criteria and grain yield (GY) per se.
In 1992, S1 plants of wheat (T. aestivum L.) from two crosses
with different biological cycles were measured for BY, EW, HI,
and GY. Two groups of 10 plants (superior and inferior) for each
selection criterion were constituted using a disruptive selection
intensity of 2.8 %. During 1993, at two sowing dates (May and
June), the 160 S1:2 progenies were evaluated and grain yield was
determined. An analysis of variance was performed on the superior
groups corresponding to BY, EW, HI, and GY selection criteria.
Simultaneously, superior and inferior mean groups were contrasted
using the Student t-test. Direct selection was more efficient
than harvest index as an indirect selection for grain yield. Differences
among superior and inferior mean groups selected for BY, EW, and
HI were not significant. The groups differed significantly only
for direct selection.
Changes in ear characteristics related to three cycles of
recurrent selection.
M. Bianchi.
A total of 30 families, 15 for each one of the two
cycles analyzed (C0 and C3), were evaluated in order to determine
the effect of three cycles of recurrent selection for grain yield
on spike length, number of spikelets, kernels per spike, and kernel
weight. Only the mean differences for spike length were significant.
Families with the highest level of microevolution (3rd cycle)
had longer spikes (7.6 cm) than those belonging to the base population
(6.8 cm).
Flag leaf studies in bread wheat lines improved through
a recurrent selection scheme.
P. Gil and A. Pascualides.
The objective of this research was to study three
cycles of recurrent selection for grain yield in bread wheat and
the influence on some associated biological aspects. Morphology
of the flag leaf, the main vegetative organ that contributes to
grain filling, was taken as a representative character. We worked
with five flag leaves for each family of the 15 per cycle (C0
and C3)analyzed. Among the flag leaf characters analyzed, a significant
increase from C0 to C3 cycle was observed only for leaf width.
Associated characters with competitive ability in wheat.
M. Zaninetti.
Four characters related to competitive ability in
30 wheat families, were recorded for 15 plants/family for each
of the two cycles studied (C0 and C3). The following traits were
analyzed for each plant: a) height, b) number of total tillers,
c) number of tillers with ears, and d) the ratio of c to b (number
of tillers with ears : number of total tillers). For the characters
studied, only the c:b showed a significant difference between
family means. The C0 families were 9.2 % more efficient than those
of the C3. Material of the C3 is known to have the highest capacity
to produce tillers. However, this tendency did not give more tillers
with spikes. The low performance of C3 families with respect to
the c:b could have been due to the drought that occurred in 1995.
Electrical conductivity in wheat seeds.
I. Arguello.
The objective of this study will be to measure seed
vigor by a quick and simple method in order to determine variation
between different cycles of a recurrent selection program in our
College. Ten families from each cycle (C0, C1, C2, and C3) will
be analyzed. The electrical conductivity will be measured on the
basis of 25 seeds/family.
Molecular markers.
L. Torres.
Genetic factors affecting economically important
traits such as grain yield are mediated through various biochemical
or physiological processes in populations subjected to selection
pressures. Concomitant changes would be expected in intermediary
biochemical traits. Remnant seeds from successive selection cycles
can be stored and used later to monitor any such changes. The
frequency of changes in alleles at several enzyme (allozyme) loci
will be monitored in wheat populations obtained through several
cycles of selection. Seedlings from each one of the cycles of
selection will be analyzed by electrophoretic assays for several
allozyme loci. Regression analysis will be performed between cycles
to measure allellic frequency.
Stomatal size variation of the epidermal flag leaf blade
in bread wheat varieties.
S.P. Gil, A.L. Pascualides, and M.M. Cerana.
An analysis of the stomatal size was made in two
commercial varieties (Las Rosas INTA and PROINTA Oasis) and in
two experimental ones (T7 and T24) in relation to grain yield.
The varieties were sown early in the season at two different row
distances (15 and 30 cm) in plots of `11 m x 45 m'.
Our work showed that stomatal length gave significant differences
in the abaxial surface (P > 0.0147) and between varieties (P
> 0.0021). The `variety x distance' interaction
was not significant (P > 0.005). The stomatal length was greater
in the 15 cm spaced rows, in agreement with the higher grain yield
obtained from these rows. No differences were found between T24
and the commercial varieties. The stomatal width was not changed
significantly.
Introduction as a possibility for obtaining qualitatively
superior wheats.
Z.A. Gaido, G.A. Manera, and M.E. Dubois.
The quality of Argentine wheats has been in doubt.
The market attempts to improve their quality by improving cultural
practices or by developing qualitatively superior wheats. The
objective of this work was to evaluate the grain yield and quality
of wheat lines from CIMMYT, national varieties, and local experimental
lines to determine the necessity of using introducted materials
at the ground level of our breedings programs. Thirteen national
varieties and 26 experimental lines (13 local and 13 from CIMMYT),
adapted for the semiarid regions, were sown in the field at Ferreyra,
Argentina (31_ 30' lat. S and 64_ 20' long. N),
in 1994. The CIMMYT lines are useful because of their high protein
content, whereas the local lines presented higher protein yields.
The CIMMYT lines should be used as sources of genetic variability
for increasing the protein content of materials developed for
areas when needed.
Evaluation of a breadmaking test for wheat (T. aestivum
L.).
G.A. Manera, M.E. Dubois, and Z.A. Gaido.
Advanced lines of wheat adapted for the semiarid
region of central Argentina were baked experimentally in order
to evaluate their industrial performance. The breadmaking test
indicated the result of the interaction of the individual quality
factors. Ten F5 lines of wheat, obtained in a wheat breeding program
in the College of Agriculture, were selected in the F4 for agronomic
yield, total protein content, dry and wet gluten, alveogram, and
farinogram. The lines were baked using the official method of
an experimental breadmaking test modified in the laboratories
of Marcos Juarez at the Experimental Station of I.N.T.A. All lines
gave bread that was satisfactory in volume, crumb color, and texture.
In general, eight lines rated MB (very high quality) and two lines
were BMB (promissory quality). The excellent results obtained
in the breadbaking test confirmed the industial, high-quality
index traits that the lines showed in the F4, such as total protein
content, gluten content, flour strength, and dough developing
time and stability. Short dough, indicated by alveographic values
of a P/L > 1, did not have an influence on the results of the
breadmaking test.
The influence of sowing rate on grain yield and breadmaking
quality in commercial wheat cultivars.
M.E. Dubois, Z.A. Gaido, and G.A. Manera.
The new, commercial rules for bread wheat require
improvement of the genetic potential for protein percent, in order
to fix the bonifications and discounts that depend on grain protein
content. The objective of this work was to analyze the influence
of sowing date on grain yield, protein, and breadmaking quality
in the commercial wheat cultivars of the V North Argentine wheat
region. Eight wheat varieties and one wheat hybrid (all intermediate
cycle) were sown in the field in 1993 and 1994. In both years,
the first sowing date was superior to the second, with the protein
percentage higher (in 1993) and equal (in 1994) to that of the
commercial bread wheats. In highly fertile soils with adequate
moisture, the protein content was maintained, but when fertility
was lower and moisture limiting, it decreased at the second sowing
date.
Publications.
Maich R, Daher P, and Bianchi M. 1995. Globalizacion
de la produccion triguera: Productor, Tecnico y Empresario. Gac
Agr XV 85:171-174.
Manera G. and Maich R. 1995. Trigos hibridos: Pasado,
Presente y Futuro en Argentina. Gac Agr XV 86:270-274.