MISSOURI
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
Department of Agronomy and the USDAARS, Curtis Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
J.P. Gustafson, K.D. Kephart, A.L. McKendry, K. Ross, D.N. Tague, M.K.
Kroening, R. Wright, B. Rauh,
M. Christophers, B. Kim, X. Ma, S. Madsen, A. Mahmoud, Z. Wang, and M. Xie.
1997 Missouri winter wheat crop.
Crop statistics. Favorable weather conditions resulted in high yields and heavy test weights for most commercial Missouri winter wheat farmers during 1997. Missouri's wheat crop was harvested from approximately 1.04 million acres, a 20 % reduction from the wheat acreage harvested in 1996. The statewide average yield was a record 53 bu/A, 4 bu/A greater than the previous record level set in 1988. Projected district average yields ranged from a high of 55 bu/A for the southwest district to a low of 44 bu/A in the south central district. Total production for the 1997 Missouri wheat crop was 55.1 million bushels, which despite fewer acres planted, represented an 8 % increase over the previous year.
1996 Missouri winter wheat performance tests.
Field conditions during 1997 were generally favorable for winter wheat growth and development, resulting in high yields and heavy test weights compared to those observed in Missouri over the past several years. Wet conditions and late maturation of spring plant rotation crops delayed planting in some locations. The delayed establishment and slow crop growth associated with the delayed planting and/or cool fall weather resulted in small plants and less foliage, reducing the opportunity for the development of diseases such as powdery mildew and Septoria leaf blotch.
Stand losses resulting from freezing injury and soil heaving were not as prevalent as those experienced in 1996. Winter injury generally was confined to the most northern portions on the state and included test sites at Trenton and Novelty. Substantial stand losses occurred at Portageville because of the combined effects of excessive rainfall during the winter and poor field drainage, which resulted in water puddling across portions of the plot area for extended periods of time. Much cooler and drier than normal weather from mid-April to early June occurred in all wheat growing regions of Missouri, promoting spring tiller development. Conditions throughout the state during the latter half of this period were excellent for kernel development and extended the grain-fill period 7 to 10 days longer than normal. These conditions resulted in the record grain yields recorded throughout the state.
The overall yield of soft red winter wheats tested in 1997 was 71.1 bu/A.
This is the highest average yield recorded by the Missouri Winter Wheat
Performance Test Program. This state-wide average yield was 22.3 bu/A more
than the average yield of the previous year and 5.6 bu/A more than the previous
high yield recorded in 1994. Average yields over test locations ranged from
57.7 bu/A at Novelty to 80.5 bu/A at Lamar. Grain yields of the northern
locations averaged 67.8 bu/A compared to 75.2 and 72.1 bu/A for the southeastern
and southwesters regions, respectively.
For the second consecutive year, the cultivar Pioneer Variety 2540 was the
highest yielding SRWW tested, averaging 78.2 bu/A across all locations.
Two entries, Lewis 8404 and Pioneer Variety 25R26 averaged 78.1 bu/A across
all seven locations. In addition 13 additional private entries produced
yields equal to Pioneer Variety 2540 including: NeCo S80 (77.7 bu/A), Willcross
795 (76.8 bu/A), Merschman Julie IV (76.6 bu/A), Pioneer Variety 2568 (76.2
bu/A), Willcross 795 (75.8 bu/A), Agripro Elkhart (75.6 bu/A) DK 9027 (75.4
bu/A), Merschman Katie IX (75.3 bu/A), Agripro Shiloh (75.0 bu/A), Pioneer
Variety 25R57 (74.9 bu/A), Terra SR211 (74.8 bu/A), Agripro Clemens (74.7
bu/A), and FFR 539W (74.6 bu/A). The highest yielding public SRWW was Jackson
released by the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station in 1993. Jackson
averaged 70.4 bu/A.
The four HRWWs (plus Ernie as a SRWW check entry) averaged 59.4 bu/A across the three test locations in 1997. Location yields varied from 54.2 bu/A at Columbia to 68.5 bu/A at Trenton. Ernie (64.4 bu/A) and 2137 (58.6 bu/A) were the highest yielding entries in the HRWW test at Mt. Vernon, whereas Jagger (73.1 bu/A) and 2137 (73.0 bu/A) were the highest yielding entries in the HRWW test at Trenton. Yield differences among varieties tested at Columbia in the HRWW test were not significant.
Environmental conditions that enhanced grain yields also promoted heavier grain test weights in 1997. Test weights of 48 of the 64 SRWWs tested in 1997 averaged >= 58 lb/bu, which is the minimum necessary for U.S. No. 2 grade SRWW. Test weights in 1997 were nearly 3.5 lbs heavier than those recorded in 1996. Mean test weight for varieties tested during 1997 varied from 58.4 lb/bu at Novelty to 59.8 lb/bu recorded at Lamar. For the second straight year, Coker 9474 (61.9 lb/bu) produced the heaviest test weight among all SRWWs tested. Test weights of HRWWs tested were highest at Trenton where all four varieties exceeded 60 lb/bu.
Wheat genetics.
Genes and RFLP markers isolated from wheat, barley, oats, rice, and rye
genomic and cDNA libraries are being mapped onto the ITMI rye mapping population.
The ITMI rye population currently contains 175 markers on seven linkage
groups. The ends of the genetic linkage maps from homoeologous groups 1,
3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of hexaploid wheat and the ends of several linkage groups
in barley, and all of the 1993 linkage groups in rice have been mapped physically.
The data suggested that regions are still present in the wheat, barley,
and rice genomes that do not contain any polymorphic markers, and that significant
differences do exist in recombination frequencies within a genome and even
within individual chromosomes.
Existing wheat and rice DNA fingerprinting sequences currently are being mapped to locations on existing linkage maps. In rice, over 50 % of segregating bands from minisatellite probes were placed on a rice linkage map.
Wheatrye translocation research.
Near-isogenic lines containing either the T1BL·1RS or T1AL·1RS
translocation have been developed in five soft wheat genetic backgrounds.
A collaborative study with the USDAARS Soft Wheat Quality Laboratory
in Wooster, OH; the Biscuit and Cracker Manufacturer's Association; and
the University of Missouri Wheat Breeding Program was completed in 1997.
The study investigated the impact of these translocations on soft wheat
quality. Three location-years of data confirmed 1997 reports that both translocations
have a negative impact on milling and baking quality in five SRWW backgrounds
studied. Both T1AL·1RS and T1BL·1RS significantly reduced
adjusted flour yield and overall milling quality. These translocations also
reduced overall baking quality by reducing softness equivalent and increasing
both alkaline water retention capacity and flour protein. Although the effects
of both translocations were significant, the effect of the T1AL·1RS
translocation was significantly more detrimental than that of the T1BL·1RS
translocation. Background effect was significant. The impact of the translocations
varied in degree across genetic backgrounds, and where the background has
superior milling and baking quality, the effects of the translocation may
not preclude their use in breeding programs. The effects of these translocations
on agronomic traits are being investigated, and preliminary data suggest
that the significant effects on grain yield observed in many hard wheat
studies are not apparent in these soft wheat backgrounds.
Septoria leaf blotch resistance in Aegilops tauschii.
Research continues to focus on genetics and mapping Septoria leaf blotch
resistance in Ae. tauschii. Classical genetic studies in crosses
involving the resistant accession TA2470 and susceptible accession TA2405
suggest that resistance is conditioned by a single dominant gene. Mapping
studies using bulk segregate analysis are underway in an attempt to find
a marker(s) tightly associated with this gene.
Fusarium head blight (Scab) research.
In 1997, a location of the Uniform Eastern Soft Red Winter Wheat Scab Nursery
was established at Columbia. Thirty-three lines are being evaluated in this
nursery through both single-floret greenhouse inoculations and field inoculations
using spore suspensions. A second study investigating potential interactions
of Fusarium isolate with resistance gene(s) is currently underway
in the greenhouse. Isolates for the study were acquired from soft wheat
breeders/pathologists at Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, Virginia, and Indiana.
Entries from the Uniform Eastern Scab Nursery were arranged in a split-plot
experiment with genotype as the main plot and isolate as the sub-plot. The
experiment was replicated 6 times. Data currently are being collected and,
following analysis, will be compared with those data collected for entries
in the nursery at individual locations across the SRWW region. Finally,
400 advanced lines from the breeding program were screened in the greenhouse
for resistance to scab. Sixty lines were identified that had Type II resistance
where the spread in the head was less than 30 %. Twenty-eight lines had
resistance equal to or better than Freedom. Results currently are being
verified.
Personnel.
Visiting scientists: Z. Wang and M. Xie, P.R. China; and B. Kim,
Korea.
Changes. Dr. Ken Kephart resigned from his position as Associate Professor of Small Grains Extension, in order to take a position in Montana. Mary Kroening resigned from her position with the Variety Testing Program and is currently working half time on scab research with the wheat breeding program and half time in entomology extension. Mr. Ray Wright has joined the wheat breeding program as a Research Specialist in charge of Variety Testing.
Publications.
Chen J and Gustafson JP. 1997. Study on chromosomal rearrangement of wheat
(T. aestivum) chromosome 4A by in situ hybridization. Acta Genet
Sinica 24:141-148.
Chen J and Gustafson JP. 1997. Chromosomal rearrangement of wheat (T.
aestivum) chromosome 4A by in situ hybridization. Chinese J Genet
24:39-47.
Houchins K, O'Dell M, Flavell RB, and Gustafson JP. 1997. Cytosine methylation
and nucleolar dominance in cereal hybrids. Mol Gen Genet 25:294-301.
Kephart KD, McKendry AL, Kroening MK, Tague DN, and Mattas RE. 1997. 1997
Missouri Winter Wheat Performance Tests. Missouri Agricultural Experiment
Station, College of Agriculture, Food and natural Resources, University
of Missouri-Columbia. Special Report 506.
Moore G and Gustafson JP. 1996. Comparative analysis of cereal genomes. In: DNA markers: Protocals, Applications and Overviews (Caetano-Anollos and Gresshoff eds). J. Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Wanous MK, Snape JW, and Gustafson JP. 1996. Factors influencing efficiency of genetic mapping projects. Maize Genet Newslet 71:28-29.