NORTH DAKOTA
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
Department of Plant Sciences, Fargo, ND 58078, USA.
W.A. Berzonsky and G.D. Leach.
1998 growing season and spring wheat production.
On average, spring wheat planting throughout the state
of North Dakota was approximately 2 weeks earlier than for the
previous 3 years. The first part of the growing season was generally
drier than normal in the western part of the state and wetter
than normal in the east. However, because of early plantings,
wheat development progressed rapidly throughout the state by the
end of May. The western part of North Dakota received enough moisture
during June and July to head off potential drought and crop losses,
but the central region remained dry. In June and July, the southeast
region experienced above-normal rainfall and some crop loss due
to flooding. At that time, there seemed to be potential for a
serious scab disease problem in some regions of the state, but
unlike previous years, the disease did not develop to the same
level. This may have been due in part to the generally earlier-planted,
earlier-maturing crop. At harvest in August, much of the state
was dry and warm. However, the northcentral and central parts
of the state were wetter than normal.
Approximately 6.7 million acres of HRSW were planted in North
Dakota in 1998, down about 24 % from that planted in 1997. However,
the production of 211.2 million bushels at an average of 32 bu/acre
was still higher than 1997, when the average yield was 25 bu/acre.
New breeding project description and cultivar release.
In February 1998, North Dakota State University (NDSU)
initiated a breeding program to emphasize the development of HWSW,
sawfly-resistant, and specialty wheat cultivars. Funded by the
state of North Dakota and the North Dakota Wheat Commission, this
project will build on the successful breeding program of Dr. Richard
Frohberg. Future white wheat cultivars will need to be competitive
with hard red cultivars for yield and yet still meet the quality
characteristics required of white wheat. With input from the North
Dakota Wheat Commission, NDSU is determining if new white wheat
cultivars should be developed for a domestic bread-use market,
an export noodle-use market, or both. If noodle types are to be
released, they will likely be released as identity-preserved to
help prevent mixing with bread-quality white wheat cutlivars.
Developed by Dr. Richard Frohberg, Argent HWSW was released
from NDSU in June 1998. Argent represents the first white wheat
released by the NDSU Experiment Station. Developed by backcrossing
to the HRSW Grandin, Argent has bread-making but not noodle-making
quality. Kernels of Argent are not as white as those of other
white wheat cultivars, especially the soft whites, but a new hard
white wheat standard is presently under consideration by the federal
government.
We are continuing to develop sawfly-resistant HWSW cultivars by
incorporating the solid stem characteristic into breeding lines.
Possible specialty wheat cultivars include high protein types
and types that perform well in frozen dough products.
Research activities and funding received.
In the spring of 1998, approximately 2 acres of research
plots were planted at both Casselton and Prosper, ND. Two trials,
a white wheat yield trial with 50 advanced lines/checks and a
sawfly yield trial with 40 advanced lines/checks, were planted
at each location. Several white wheat lines had an average yield
of 48 bu/acre or better, which was the same or significantly better
than the check cultivars (Argent, Grandin, and Keene). Several
sawfly lines had an average yield of 62 bu/acre or better, which
was the same or significantly better than the check cutlivars
(Cutless and Ernest).
Initial funding enabled us to purchase a small-plot tractor and
planter, a small-plot combine, a hauling trailer, a lawn and garden
tractor with rototiller, two small head threshers, a seed clipper/cleaner,
a gas generator, scales, two computers and printers, two refrigerators,
greenhouse lights, and miscellaneous field and lab equipment and
supplies for the project. We received a cash award from the North
Dakota Development Foundation to purchase a PCR machine for incorporating
a gene for high protein from T. turgidum subsp. dicoccoides
into white wheat. We also received funding from the North Dakota
State Board of Agriculture to study the rapid development of wheat
lines by double-haploid production. Partial State Board of Agriculture
matching funds were received from the NorthDakota Farmer's Union
and the North Dakota Wheat Commission. A 3-year alternative crops
proposal to study the development of white wheat for North Dakota
will be funded by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station
and the USDA. These funds will be used to study possible white
wheat markets, develop liasons with the milling and baking industry,
study proper white wheat production practices, and to determine
genetic variability in the NDSU white wheat breeding program.
For example, genetic traits of interest include kernel color,
polyphenol oxidase activity, preharvest sprouting, and bread and
noodle qualities.
Personnel.
Dr. William A. Berzonsky was hired as an assistant professor
to direct the new wheat breeding project at NDSU in February 1998.
He most recently served as a research agronomist on the Purdue
Small Grains Breeding Program. Mr. Gene Leach was hired as a research
specialist in April 1998. Mr. Leach has prior wheat breeding experience
at Hybritech Seed.
Publications.
Berzonsky WA. 1998. A possible method for directed transfer
of 1RS into hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In:
Proc 9th Inter Wheat Genet Symp (Slinkard AE ed). University Extension
Press, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. 2:12-13.
Berzonsky WA and Francki MG. 1999. Biochemical, molecular, and
cytogenetic technologies for characterizing 1RS in wheat: a review.
Euphytica (In press).