ITEMS FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND FRANCE

RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF CROP PRODUCTION - RICP

Drnovska 507, CZ-161 06 Prague 6 - Ruzyne, Czech Republic.

Progress in the European Wheat Database development.

I. Faberova1 and A. Le Blanc2.

1 Research Institute of Crop Production (RICP), Genebank Department, Prague, Czech Republic

2 Groupement d'Etude et de Controle des Varietes et des Semences (GEVES), Le Magneraud Surgeres, France

The European Wheat Database (EWDB) has been developed by collaboration between Research Institute of Crop Production (RICP), Prague, Czech Republic and the Groupement d'Etude et de Controle des Varietes et des Semences (GEVES), Surgeres, France, in the framework of the European Cooperative Programme for Genetic Resources (ECP/GR).

The expected number of all wheat accessions in European collections is approximately 220,000. Data were collected from European wheat-holding institutions and gene banks during 1997 and will continue. Until now, approximately 50 % of the estimated data were sent to both database managers. An application for the Internet peresentation of the EWDB has been developed in the RICP Prague. The first provisional on-line searchable version running on the server of RICP with a limited number of records (9,429) was presented in the workshop of central crop database managers, which was held in the Nordic Gene Bank in Alnarp, Sweden, in February 1998.

Database managers are ready to incorporate step-by-step all gathered wheat data and present them on-line to users not later than at the beginning of June, 1998, at the following address: http://genbank.vurv.cz/ewdb/.

On the EWDB home page you also will find other links to worldwide wheat-related pages.

Please E-mail all questions concerning the EWDB to database managers: faberova@genbank.vurv.cz or annick.leblanc@geves.fr.

Note: The new RICP home page is accessible on: http://www.vurv.cz.

Screening of spelt wheat genetic resources aimed at evaluating their suitability for use in human foods.

Z. Stehno, M. Vlask, and L.M. Manev.

Triticum spelta is grown in Europe (e.g., Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and Austria) as a supplementary crop for its quality. Spelt wheat has a high protein content and suitable parameters of gluten.

Twenty cultivars and landraces of T. spelta were evaluated at the Research Institute of Crop Production, Prague, for their suitability to be used in human foods. The percent of hulls in the total yield ranged from 30.2 (Rottweiler Fruenkorn) to 49.5 % (Steiner Roter Laupheimer). The percent of kernels released from spikelets during standard combine threshing was relatively low 3.5 (TRI 2400) to 24.9 % (Steiner Roter Laupheimer). The yield of naked kernels in comparison to the average for two T. aestivum cultivars (Siria and Samanta) ranged from 41.7 to 64.9 %. The grains of T. spelta are larger than those of bread wheat; their 1,000-kernel weight is 50.6 g on average (42.0-60.0 g). Resistance to lodging has been variable. Resistance to powdery mildew is at a very high level in all tested spelt lines. The highest protein contents were in Oberkulmer Rotkorn (16.27 %) and Altgold (16.26 %) (see Table 1).

Two selected spelt cultivars have been tested an the organic agricultural system as well. The firm PRO-BIO Ltd. used the harvested seed for preparation of 12 spelt meal formulas and introduced them into the market.

Rusts and powdery mildew.

P. Bartos and R. Hanusova.

Winter wheat cultivars registered in the Czech Republic in 1997 were tested with a set of selected pathotypes for specific resistance to leaf and stem rust with following results: Alana (Hana / Mercia) Lr+ , Sr+; Ebi (NIC 88-3297) no specific genes for leaf or stem rust resistance; Saskia (Hana / Viginta) Lr3, Sr29?; Rka (UH 677 / Mironovskaya nizkoroslaya // Avalon / Mironovskaya nizkoroslaya) Lr +, Sr+; and Versailles (CEB 947) no specific genes for leaf or stem rust resistance. All cultivars were highly resistant to yellow rust in the field. Of the cultivars registered in 1997, Versailles is assumed to have genes Pm2 and Pm6. No specific powdery mildew-resistance genes were detected in the others. A supressor of Pm8 (Su Pm8) was identified in Syria.

An analysis of the 1997 wheat leaf rust population from the Czech Republic showed that race UN3-61SaBa prevailed as in previous years. The proportion of race UN13-77SaBa increased. Of 44 analyzed samples, 29 % were virulent on Lr1, Lr2a, and Lr2b; 82 % on Lr2c; 95 % on Lr11, Lr17; and Lr26; and 66 % on Lr15. All rust samples were virulent on Lr3 and Lr21, and none were virulent on Lr9, Lr19, Lr24, and Lr28.

New short-straw winter wheat cultivar Sárka with very high and stable yield performance.

V. Síp, M. Skorpík, P. Amler*, L. Bobková*, and J. Chrpová.

* SELGEN, a.s., Breeding Station Uhoetice.

The winter wheat cultivar Sárka is a result of cooperation between RICP, Prague-Ruzyné, and Breeding Station, Uhoetice, SELGEN, a.s. The pedigree of Sárka is 'UH 677 / Mironovskaya nizkorostlaya // Avalon / Mironovskaya nizkorostlaya.

Careful selection of parents and F2 crosses preceded the selection of plants for GA-insensitivity (a check for the presence of Rht genes) in the F3 (Genet a lecht 33(2):99-106, 1997). Considering the pleiotropic effects of the Norin 10 Rht genes on yield components, selection was aimed at combining a high number of grains per spike (positively affected by Rht genes) with high 1,000-kernel weight at an optimum plant height. The standard pedigree method of selection for important characters then was applied. Reselection of GA-insensitive lines started in the F6. One selected line, denoted as RU 23, was tested in official trials from 1993 to 1996 and then registered as the cultivar Sárka in 1996.

Sárka is resistant to yellow rust (9) and has specific resistance to stem rust (race 11). Resistance to brown rust is average (5-6), and resistances to powdery mildew and to FHB are above average (RICP, Prague-Ruzyné). Frost resistance is above-average (value 6), with a critical temperature (LT50) around - 17 C (tests at RICP Prague-Ruzyné).

The quality of Sárka is B5-A6, with a low wet-gluten content (21-22 %) but high protein content (13 %). The SDS-sedimentation volume ranged from 42 to 52 ml (Hana: 46-62 ml) and falling number from 330 to 350s. The average loaf volume in the Rapid Mix test (from a 2-year examination in official trials) was 494 cm3/100 g. Sárka also has good sprouting resistance. The grain yield of Sárka outyielded the standards each year in all the growing regions in 3 years of official trials. Particularly high yields were reached in sugar beet (cereal)-growing regions (110-112 %). According to the latest trial results (1997) for the Recommended List, the average grain yields were 99 % in the maize growing region, 110 % in the sugar beet region, and 108-109 % in the potato regions compared to the mean of all cultivars (Table 2). Above-average grain yields in different environments indicate a general adaptability for this character.

Sárka is an early cultivars, with short, stiff straw (Rht2 gene); high harvest index (0.56); and very good resistance to lodging. The spike is white and tapered. Long scurs occur in the upper part of the spike. Grain weight is exceptionally high in comparison with other cultivars that have GA-insensitive Rht genes (Ritmo and Versailles). Owing to the short stature (resistance to lodging), resistance to the most of important diseases, and good performance also in marginal regions, this variety could be recommended for growing systems with lower inputs as well.

Publications.

Skorpík M, Bobkov V, and Chrpov J. 1997. Possibility of early generation selection for GA insensitive dwarfing genes in winter wheat. Genet a lecht Praha (Genetics and Plant Breeding) 33:99-106.