MISSOURI

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

Department of Agronomy and the USDA-ARS, Curtis Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.

J.P. Gustafson, K.D. Kephart, A.L. McKendry, D.N. Tague, M.K. Kroening, L. Wang, B. Rauh, T. Vogt, K. Houchins, K. Ross, D.J. Somers, P. Belbeli, X. Zhang, I. Lee, E. Butler, Z. Zhou, S. Madsen, A Mahmoud, and M. Christophers.

1995 Missouri winter wheat crop.

Projected Crop Statistics. Missouri's 1995 wheat crop was harvested from an estimated 1.2 million acres, up 9 % from the wheat acreage harvested in 1994 (Table 1). The statewide average yield projected by the Missouri Agricultural Statistical Service is 38 bu/acre, down from 44 bu/acre and 40 bu/acre reported for 1994 and 1993, respectively. Projected district average yields ranged from a high of 46 bu/acre for the South-East district to a low of 26 bu/acre in the South-West district. Total projected production of the 1995 Missouri wheat crop is 44.6 million bushels, nearly 4 million bushels lower than 1994 production levels and representing an 8 % decline.

Table 1. 1995 Missouri winter wheat crop statistics. Estimated acreage, yield, and production

of winter wheat in Missouri by reporting district for 1995. Estimates are based on the 1 July

USDA forecast provided by the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service.

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Reporting Acreage Acreage Acreage Estimated Estimated

District planted harvested abandoned yield production

1,000 acres % bu/acre 1,000 bu/acre

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North-West 86 80 7 31 2,500

North-Central 143 133 7 36 4,800

North-East 207 191 8 36 6,900

West-Central 165 152 8 37 5,650

Central 166 154 7 35 5,400

East-Central 120 112 7 42 4,700

South-West 87 81 7 26 2,100

South-Central 8 5 38 30 150

South-East 318 292 8 46 13,400

STATE 1,300 1,200 8 38 44,600

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1995 Missouri winter wheat performance tests.

Either excessive rainfall or near-drought conditions at critical periods of crop development were the major constraint to wheat production at most test locations in Missouri during 1995. All locations were planted in a timely fashion, and adequate stands developed for most entries at all sites. Temperatures during the fall and early winter months were moderate, permitting wheat growth almost to 1 January as far north as Trenton and Novelty. Winterkill and heaving problems did not develop to the degree observed in previous years. Winter survival averaged 84 % across all locations. Soil moisture conditions were unusually dry over the winter at Charleston and Portageville, eventually impacting tiller development and reducing overall plant height of most varieties grown at these locations. Average to above average moisture conditions prevailed during the winter and early spring at Columbia, Novelty, Trenton, Lamar, and Mt. Vernon.

The occurrence of foliar diseases was modest to severe depending on the test locations during the 1994-95 growing season. Warmer and continued wet weather throughout May and early June promoted a number of foliar and head diseases, especially at the Lamar location where scab was most severe. Powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici) was observed at Charleston during early portions of the growing season. Septoria leaf blotch (S. tritici), Septoria glume blotch (S. nodorum), and/or tan spot (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis) were evident at most locations, but symptoms for these three diseases could not be separated easily among the varieties tested. Take-all (Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici) occurred in small areas throughout the field at the Charleston location. The heaviest disease pressure occurred at Lamar, where leaf (P. recondida f.sp. tritici), stem (P. graminis f.sp. tritici), and stripe (P. striiformis) rusts; Cephalosporium stripe (Cephalosporium gramineum); Rhizoctonia sharp eyespot (Rhizoctonia cerealis); scab (Fusarium graminearum); Septoria leaf and glume blotches; and barley yellow dwarf all were observed. Extended water-logging at the northern sites appeared to hasten maturity of the plants, yet delayed harvest 10 to 14 days later than normal. The excessive rain and associated delay in harvesting also accounted for some of the lower test weights recorded. Sprout damage was not observed in grain harvested from the plots in 1995.

The overall yield of the 64 soft and hard red winter wheats tested in 1994 was 43.2 bu/acre, 22.3 bu/acre less than the previous year. Average yields at the seven test locations varied from 34.2 bu/acre at Mt. Vernon to 53.3 bu/acre at Trenton. MO92-599 was the highest-yielding entry tested in 1995, averaging 51.1 bu/acre across all locations. MO92-599 is an advanced line developed by the Missouri Soft Red Winter Wheat Breeding Program. The highest-yielding commercial variety was Pioneer 2548, averaging 50.1 bu/acre. Only Pioneer 2548 equaled the yield of MO92-599 during the 1994-95 cropping season. The highest-yielding public variety was Jackson, released by the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station in 1993. Jackson averaged 48.5 bu/acre. Pioneer 2552 (60.6 bu/acre) and FFR 525W (58.6 bu/acre) have been the highest yielding varieties tested for the past 2 and 3 years, respectively. Although only two entries rank in the top yield group based on the 1995 statewide average, the next eight entries (Merschman Genie VI, Jackson, MPG EX782, Coker 9803, Stine 501, Ernie, FFR 525W, and NECO EX-3020) have yields statistically equal to those of Pioneer 2548, the second highest-yielding variety. Eight additional entries (Pioneer 2571, Pioneer 2552, AGRIPRO Clemens, MFA Commander I, Coker 9543, MO91-19, Madison, and Terra SR204) of the 64 soft and hard red winter wheat entries produced above-average yields compared to the remaining 46 entries. Jagger and Karl 92, the only hard red winter wheats tested in 1995, averaged 39.7 and 39.1 bu/acre, respectively.

Test weights among the soft and hard red winter wheats were nearly 2 lb/bu lighter in 1995 as compared to test weights achieved in 1994, but still nearly 5 lbs heavier than the test weights reduced by scab in 1991. Location means during 1995 varied from 53.1 lb/bu at Mt. Vernon to 58.8 lb/bu at Charleston. Coker 9474 produced the heaviest test weight at 58.6 lb/bu. Only Coker 9474 and MO92-599 soft red winter wheats averaged a test weight equal to or exceeding the 58 lb/bu minimum necessary for U.S. No. 2 grade soft red winter wheat. Among the hard red winter wheats tested during 1994, Karl averaged 57.9 lb/bu compared to 55.8 lb/bu for Jagger.

Genetics and cytogenetics.

Genes and RFLP markers that were isolated from genomic and cDNA libraries of wheat, barley, oats, rice, and rye are being mapped physically onto mitotic chromosome preparations using in situ hybridization techniques. The ends and translocation breakpoints located on the genetic linkage maps from homoeologous groups 4 and 7 of hexaploid wheat and ends of several linkage groups in barley and rice have been mapped physically to sites on chromosomes. The data suggest that regions are still present in the genomes so far analyzed that do not contain any mappable markers. The data also suggest that significant differences can exist in recombination frequencies within a genome or even an individual chromosome.

Genome-specific DNA sequences and minisatellites have been isolated and characterized from hexaploid wheat and rice. The wheat sequences have been utilized for phylogenetic studies on the origin of the B genome of hexaploid wheat, as well as for use by plant breeders as genome-specific markers. The wheat and rice minisatellite sequences will be used in DNA fingerprinting varieties, evolutionary studies, backcross-mediated breeding, and gene complexes integrated into a wheat background.

Wheat-rye translocation research.

Near-isogenic lines containing either the 1BL-1RS or 1AL-1RS translocation have been developed in six soft wheat genetic backgrounds. Al tolerance of this set of isolines was measured in solution culture at pH 4.0. Root tolerance index (RTI), calculated as the mean seminal root length in the Al treatment divided by the mean seminal root length in the control, provided a measure of aluminum tolerance. Although large differences in tolerance were detected among genetic backgrounds, the presence of neither the 1BL-1RS nor the 1AL-1RS translocation had a significant effect on tolerance of the plant to Al in solution culture. A collaborative study with the USDA-ARS Soft Wheat Quality Laboratory in Wooster, OH; the Biscuit and Cracker Manufacturer's Association; and the University of Missouri Wheat Breeding Program currently is underway to investigate the effects, if any, of these translocations on soft red winter wheat studies. Previous quality studies using only the 1BL-1RS translocation in rye and nonrye sister lines in two backgrounds indicated that 1BL-1RS caused a 1.7 % reduction in adjusted flour yield and a significant reduction in the milling quality score in both backgrounds. The alkaline water retention capacity was increased across both backgrounds in translocation lines. The effects of 1BL-1RS on flour protein, softness equivalent, and the overall baking quality were not significant.

Septoria leaf blotch resistance.

Research continues to focus on mapping Septoria tritici resistance genes to T. tauschii chromosomes using RFLP, RAPD, and protein markers, in order to facilitate selection of these genes in T. aestivum background, while eliminating potentially deleterious flanking segments from T. tauschii. Resistances in three populations developed from crosses involving the resistant accessions TA2470, TA2479, and TA2377 with the susceptible accessions TA2405 and TA 2496, (derived from the Kyoto germplasm collection maintained by Kansas State University) currently are being investigated. Classical genetic studies of these sources of Septoria leaf blotch resistance will be completed in the fall of 1996.

Visitors.

X. Zhang and Z. Ma, Peoples Republic of China; P. Bebeli, Greece; and I. Lee and B. Kim, Korea.

Personnel changes.

Mary K. Kroening has joined the wheat breeding program as a research specialist.

Publications.

Abadid TE, Busch RH, and Gustafson JP. 1995. Effect of a 1D-1R chromosome substitution on two spring wheat cultivars. Crop Sci 35:1550-1555.

Butnaru G and Gustafson JP. 1995. Localizarea fizica a genei alpha-Amy-la la Secale cereale. In: Universitatea de Stiinte Agricole a Banatului, Romania. p. 97.

Chen JM and Gustafson JP. 1995. Physical mapping of genetically mapped RFLP clones in homoeologous group 7 chromosomes of wheat by in situ hybridization. Heredity 75:225-233.

Gustafson JP. 1995. Control of nucleolar expression in triticale. In: Universitatea de Stiinte Agricole a Banatului, Romania. p. 88.

Gustafson JP. 1995. The application of DNA fingerprinting in rice for germplasm. In: Universitatea de Stiinte Agricole a Banatului, Romania. p. 89.

Kephart KD, McKendry AL, Tague DN, and Kroening MK. 1995. 1995 Missouri winter wheat performance tests. Missouri Ag Exp Stn Special Report No. 478.

McKendry AL, Berg JE, Tague DN, and Kephart KD. 1995. Registration of `Ernie' wheat. Crop Sci 35:1513.

McKendry AL, Henke GE, and Finney PL. 1995. Effects of Septoria leaf blotch severity on soft red winter wheat quality. Cereal Chem 72:142-146.

McKendry AL, McVetty PBE, and Evans LE. 1995. Selection criteria for combining high grain yield and high grain protein concentration in bread wheat. Crop Sci 35:1597-1602.

Monte JV, Flavell RB, and Gustafson JP. 1995. WIS 2-1A: An ancient retrotransposon in the triticeae tribe. Theor Appl Genet 91:367-373.

Rudel RK, Kephart KD, and McCamley F. 1995. Using local crop condition information to modify future market positions for Missouri wheat producers. J Agric Appl Econ 27:317 (Abstract).

Somers DJ, Briggs KG, Butler E, and Gustafson JP. 1995. The search for molecular markerslinked to aluminum tolerance in cereals. In: Proc FAO/IAEA Inter Symp Use of Induced Mutations and Molecular Techniques for Crop Improvement, Vienna, Austria. pp. 335-346.

Somers DJ and Gustafson JP. 1995. The expression of Al-stress-induced polypeptides in a population segregating for Al tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Genome 38:1213-1220.

Song Y and Gustafson JP. 1995. The physical location of fourteen RFLP markers in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Theor Appl Genet 90:113-119.

Wanous MK and Gustafson JP. 1995. A genetic map of rye chromosome 1R integrating RFLP and cytogenetic loci. Theor Appl Genet 91:720-726.

Zhou Z and Gustafson JP. 1995. Genetic variation detected by DNA fingerprinting with a rice minisatellite probe in Oryza sativa L. Theor Appl Genet 91:481-488.

Zhou Z and Gustafson JP. 1995. Characterization of minisatellite sequences in rice and their application for DNA fingerprinting. In: Proc FAO/IAEA Inter Symp Use of Induced Mutations and Molecular Techniques for Crop Improvement, Vienna, Austria. pp. 205-214.