ITEMS FROM THE UNITED STATES

WASHINGTON

USDA-ARS, WHEAT GENETICS, QUALITY, PHYSIOLOGY AND DISEASE RESEARCH UNIT

Departments of Crop & Soil Sciences, Food Science and Human Nutrition, and Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.

Camille M. Steber, M.K. Walker-Simmons, L.D. Holappa, Benjamin Rangel, John Ray, Eric W. Storlie, Ryan Wagner, R.E. Allan, Roland F. Line, Xianming Chen, Ramon Cu, Zhixin Shi, B.L. Waldron, A.D. Fjeld, C.F. Morris, A.D. Bettge, H.C. Jeffers, G.E. King, B. Patterson, D.A. Engle, M. Baldridge, B. Davis, R. Ader, and J.A. Anderson.


Gibberellin-response genes.

Camille M. Steber.

A project has been initiated to identify GA-response genes in wheat related to the SLEEPY1 gene of Arabidopsis. The long-term goal of this project is to improve emergence and crop stand establishment in semidwarf wheat.


Cold hardiness.

M.K. Walker-Simmons, L.D. Holappa, Benjamin Rangel, John Ray, Eric Storlie, and Ryan Wagner.

A crown-freezing simulation test (LT50 tests) was developed that can differentiate cold-hardy and nonhardy Pacific Northwest wheat cultivars. New greenhouse and growth chamber facilities have enabled us to develop freezing simulation tests for multiple breeding samples. We have completed initial screening of cold hardiness levels in the advanced and elite breeding lines of the ARS club wheat breeding program.

A project was initiated to determine the effect of the Fr1Vrn1 interval and candidate genes on cold hardiness in wheat. In support of this initiative, we are developing RILs derived from crosses between cold-hardy and nonhardy cultivars and synthetic hexaploid lines.


Signal transduction and protein kinases.

Wheat protein kinases that are expressed in dormant and germinating wheat seeds are being characterized. The function of PKABA1, an abscisic acid-responsive protein kinase mRNA isolated from wheat embryos, was determined using a barley aleurone transient gene assay. Constitutive expression of PKABA1 markedly suppresses expression of low- and high-pI a -amylase and protease genes induced by gibberellic acid in barley aleurone layers. These results indicate that PKABA1 acts as a key intermediate in the signal transduction pathway leading to the suppression of GA-inducible gene expression in cereal aleurone layers.


Wheat seed proteins role in desiccation tolerance.

Heat-soluble proteins extracted from desiccation-tolerant wheat seeds have been demonstrated to improve survival and function of turkey sperm during storage. Our previous results have suggested that the heat-soluble proteins serve as hydration buffers in wheat seeds.


Publications.

Donoghue AM and Walker-Simmons MK. 1998. The influence of wheat dehydration-induced proteins on thefunction of turkey spermatozoa after 24 hours in vitro storage. Poultry Sci 78:235-241.

Gomez-Cadenas A, Verhey SD, Holappa LD, Shen Q, Ho T-H D, and Walker-Simmons MK. 1998. An abscisic acid-induced protein kinase, PKABA1, mediates abscisic acid-suppressed gene expression in barley aleurone layers. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96:1767-1772.

Storlie EW, Allan RE, and Walker-Simmons MK. 1998. Effect of the Vrn1-Fr1 interval on cold hardiness levels in wheat near-isogenic lines. Crop Sci 38:483-488.

Storlie EW, Walker-Simmons MK, Anderson JA, and Allan RE. 1998. Effect of the Fr1-Vrn1 interval on cold hardiness in wheat. In: Proc 9th Inter Wheat Genet Symp (Slinkard AE ed). University Extension Press, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. 4:92-94.

Walker-Simmons MK. 1998. Protein kinases in seeds. Seed Sci Res 8:193-200.


Seed stocks of dominant, male-sterile, soft white winter wheat.

R.E. Allan.

A dominant, male-sterile gene that is putatively the Ms3 gene was transferred into six U.S. SWWW varieties. The varieties were Madsen, Lewjain, Daws, and Stephens (SWWW commons), and Hyak and Tres (SWWW clubs). Each of these varieties are currently or were important varieties grown in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. The varieties have attributes that should make them useful in SWWW improvement. Hyak and Madsen have the Pch1 gene for resistance to eyespot foot rot and have combined resistances to stripe rust, leaf rust, and stem rust. Lewjain has excellent soft white wheat quality, good tolerance to Cephalosporium stripe, and very good nonrace-specific resistance to stripe rust. Daws has very good cold hardiness and both race-specific and nonrace-specific resistance to stripe rust. Stephens has wide adaptation, high-yield potential, heavy kernel weight, and both race-specific and nonrace-specific resistance to stripe rust. These varieties were registered in Crop Science (Daws 17:4, 674; Stephens 18:6, 1097; Lewjain 23:5, 1014; Madsen 29:6, 1575; and Hyak 30:1, 234). Additional information concerning these varieties can be found in their registration statements. The original germ plasm containing the dominant male-sterile gene was obtained from P.S. Baenziger in 1983.

Pedigrees, crop year, percent germination, and percent sterility of these F1 seed stocks are shown in Table 1.

Between 4 and 10 backcrosses were made to each variety. The club varieties Barbee and Tyee appear in the pedigrees of the Hyak and Tres seed stocks. Each genetic stock closely resembles the phenotype of its recurrent parent. In the case of Hyak, Daws, Lewjain, and Madsen, two or three different backcross generations were bulked together to obtain sufficient amounts of seed.

Small amounts of seed of these stocks are available upon request from bonafide wheat breeding and genetics programs. Seed of the recurrent parents will not be distributed. Intercrossing male-fertile plants with male-sterile plants within each seed stock will maintain its genetic integrity. Seed supplies are limited and will be distributed based on the date of request. Requests should be made to L.M. Little: lmlittle@.wsu.edu; Fax: 509-335-2553.


Publications.

Allan RE. 1997. Agronomic performance of plant height near-isolines of Nugaines wheat. Wheat Inf Serv 85:31- 34.

Schillinger WF, Donaldson E, Allan RE, and Jones SS. 1998. Winter wheat seedling emergence from deep sowing depths. Agron. J 90:582-586.


Control of rusts and smuts in the western United States, 1998.

Roland F. Line, Xianming Chen, Ramon Cu, and Zhixin Shi.

Using predictive models and monitoring data, wheat stripe and leaf rusts were accurately forecasted for the 20th and 16th consecutive years, respectively. Stem rust was accurately forecasted based on weather in June and July. Stripe rust continues to be the most widely important wheat disease in the western United States. Leaf rust is the second most widely important disease. In northwestern Washington and western Oregon, the autumn, winter, and spring environments were highly favorable for establishment, survival, and increase of stripe rust and leaf rust; however, barley yellow dwarf was so prevalent and severe that accurate recording of data and assessment of the impact of therusts was not possible. In eastern Washington and Oregon and northern Idaho, relatively wet weather during the autumn, unusually warm temperatures during the winter, and cool wet weather in April were favorable for establishment, survival, and increase of stripe rust. Wetter than normal weather in early July was favorable for stem rust in late-maturing fields of winter wheat and spring wheat in the Palouse region of Washington and northern Idaho. In California, the winter and spring weather was favorable for stripe rust, and susceptible wheat and barley cultivars were damaged by the disease.

In regard to potential rust for the 199899 growing season, the autumn weather in 1998 and the winter weather in 199899 were highly favorable for the establishment and survival of both stripe rust and leaf rust in the western United States. If the early spring is cool and wet, severe stripe rust in the western United States is probable in 1999. If the later spring is wet, leaf rust could be severe in the western United States.

The effects of naturally occurring stripe rust, leaf rust, and stem rust on 32 winter wheat cultivars at sites near Walla Walla and Pullman, WA, and on 20 spring wheat cultivars at sites near Pullman were determined by comparing untreated plots with plots sprayed with Folicur to control foliar diseases. Severity of the diseases on the cultivars differed at the sites because of differences in environment and pathogens. At Walla Walla, stripe rust and leaf rust developed at a later stage of plant growth, but by the hard-dough stage of growth in untreated plots of the most susceptible cultivars, stripe rust had increased to 99 %, and leaf rust had increased to 90 %. Stem rust occurred too late to affect yield at Walla Walla. At Pullman, stripe rust began to increase at an earlier growth stage and developed to 99 % by the soft-dough stage. The rain in early July provided favorable weather for stem rust. Leaf rust was less severe at Pullman. Losses caused by the rusts at the sites ranged from 0 % to more than 70 % depending upon resistance of the cultivars to the types and races of the pathogens. Powdery mildew and Septoria caused no significant losses.

Stripe rust, leaf rust, stem rust, and other wheat diseases are annually monitored in the western U.S. to determine their distribution, prevalence, and severity and to determine the vulnerability of cultivars to local races of the pathogens. Barley stripe rust, which was introduced into North America from Europe by way of South America and Mexico in 1991, has spread north and west from Texas. The disease, now indigenous in the western U.S., has significantly impacted barley yields in Colorado, Arizona, Utah, California, Oregon, and Washington. We have clearly determined by pathogenicity and RAPD analysis that the wheat stripe rust pathogen is different from the barley stripe rust pathogen. The wheat stripe rust pathogen, which attacks primarily wheat and triticale, can attack some barley and rye cultivars, and the barley stripe rust pathogen, which attacks primarily barley, can attack some wheat, triticale, and rye cultivars. At least 59 wheat stripe rust races and 50 barley stripe rust races have been detected in North America. In 1998, the most prevalent wheat stripe rust races were those that were virulent on Moro, Tres, Hatton, Weston, Westbred 470, Lee, Fielder, Express, and Vanna; on seedlings of Stephens and Madsen; and on cultivars developed in regions of the United States where stripe rust does not normally occur. Stripe rust was most severe in fields of Westbred 470 and Vanna in the Pacific Northwest and fields of Express in California. The rust on Westbred 470 was not a new race. Rust collections from Express and Vanna may be new races. No new leaf rust or stem rust races were detected in the western U.S. Powdery mildew, common bunt, flag smut, and dwarf bunt each caused insignificant losses in the western United States, less than 0.1 %. Karnal bunt, which is now present in Arizona, has had an impact on marketing wheat. However, current evidence shows that it has not spread to any new regions and reduced wheat yields or affected the quality of flour in the region where it occurs.

Each year, we evaluate a new group of entries from the National Small Grain Germplasm Collection for high-temperature, adult-plant resistance to stripe rust in environmentally different field plots at Mount Vernon and Pullman, WA, and for seedling resistance to selected stripe rust races that include all of the virulences that have been identified in North America. This information is added to their database. Cultivars and breeding lines developed by public and private breeders in the western United States also are annually evaluated in field plots at various sites for resistance to stripe rust and other diseases. Currently, most of the major SWWW cultivars and spring wheat cultivars grown in the western U.S. have high-temperature, adult-plant resistance, and their resistance has remained durable against all North American races of stripe rust. New lines with resistance to the rusts were identified, and cultivars with superior resistance were released. High-temperature, adult-plant resistance continues to be the most effective and durable type of stripe rust resistance. In regions where stripe rust occurs, high-temperature, adult-plant resistance has annually prevented severe losses. Multiline cultivars developed in the northwestern U.S. for stripe rustresistance also have remained durable. The major club wheat cultivar grown in the state of Washington has multiline resistance. Molecular markers associated with high-temperature, adult-plant resistance genes in Stephens and resistant F8 progeny from crosses with Stephens show possibilities as tools for identifying plants with high-temperature, adult-plant resistance. Selection for the markers associated with the high-temperature, adult-plant resistance genes should be easier and faster than selecting for high-temperature, adult-plant resistance by field testing advanced generations of large populations. This should be especially valuable in transferring high-temperature, adult-plant resistance into club wheats.

We recently developed a technique for detecting molecular markers for resistance genes that is referred to as Resistance Gene Analog Polymorphism (RGAP). The RGAP technique requires less DNA; does not require restriction enzymes and radioactive isotopes; and is faster and more efficient, consistent, and more reliable than other techniques. The RGAP technique was used to screen NILs with stripe rust resistance genes Yr1, Yr5, Yr7, Yr8, Yr9, Yr10, Yr15, Yr17, Yr18, and YrA. We have identified at least one unique RGAP maker (in some cases many more) for each gene. Four RGAP markers were directly associated with Yr9, and two were closely linked with Yr9. The four markers had sequence similarities to disease-resistance genes in rice. A probe derived from a Yr9 marker has the same kinase-gene pattern as a probe for the leaf rust-resistance gene Lr10. Segregating populations are being produced for mapping the 10 Yr genes. The markers are being used to select for a combination of Yr5, Yr8, Yr9, and Yr15, the most effective race-specific genes in the U.S.

Fungicides are annually evaluated for control of stripe rust, leaf rust, stem rust, common bunt, flag smut, dwarf bunt, and other diseases. In 1998, seed treatments and foliar fungicides were evaluated for control of stripe rust, leaf rust, and stem rust in winter and spring wheat plots near Walla Walla, Mt Vernon, and Pullman, WA. Treatment of seed with Baytan was most effective in controlling stripe rust when used with foliar treatments but of little value for control of leaf rust and stem rust. Foliar applications of Folicur, Tilt, Quadris, Govern, BAS-500, and Tilt + CGA279202 controlled stripe rust, leaf rust, and stem rust when applied according to various schedules. Effectiveness of the fungicides in preventing crop losses depended upon the type and race of rust, when the rust began to increase, susceptibility of the cultivars, stage of plant growth when the sprays were applied, and the weather. Applications early enough to prevent severe rust on the upper foliage were most effective. Most of the foliar treatments protected the crop for about 1 month. Protection from the boot to milk stage prevented most losses caused by stripe rust and leaf rust. Protection from the heading to soft-dough stage prevented most losses caused by stem rust.

A computerized, expert system for predicting and managing rusts and other diseases of wheat referred to by the acronym MoreCrop (Managerial Options for Reasonable Economical Control of Rusts and Other Pathogens) was developed in 1993. MoreCrop predicts what diseases should be problems based on geographical regions; agronomic zones; crop managerial practices (crop rotation, tillage methods, irrigation, planting date, and fertilized use); cultivar characteristics; prevailing weather; crop history; and disease history; provides information, options, and suggestions for managing the diseases; and provides a library with information about the diseases. MoreCrop is currently being updated, modified, and expanded to include new information on agronomic zones, 30 diseases and their characteristics, additional crop managerial practices, additional cultivars and their resistance, new seed treatments and foliar sprays, and cost-benefit relationships. New, up-to-date computer technology also will be utilized. The new version (MoreCrop 2.0) should be available in the spring of 1999.


Publications.

Chen XM, Hayes PM, Toojinda T, Vivar H, Kudrna D, Kleinholfs A, Leung H, and Line RF. 1998. Genetic mapping of genes for stripe rust resistance in barley using resistance gene analog polymorphism and AFLP markers. Phytopathology 88:S16 (Abstract).

Chen XM, and Line RF. 1998. Identification of genes for resistance to Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei in 18 barley genotypes using diallel Analysis. Phytopathology 88:S16 (Abstract).

Chen XM, Line RF, and Leung H. 1998. Resistance gene analogs associated with a barley locus for resistance to stripe rust. Plant and Animal Genome VI. Page 124 (Abstract).

Chen XM, Line RF, and Leung H. 1998. Recessive inheritance of resistance in barley to races of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei. Phytopathology 87:S18 (Abstract).

Chen XM, Line RF, and Leung H. 1998. Genome scanning for resistance gene analogs using high resolution electrophoresis. Phytopathology 87:S18 (Abstract).

Chen XM, Line RF, and Leung H. 1998. Recessive inheritance of resistance in barley to races of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei. Phytopathology 87:S18 (Abstract).

Chen XM, Line RF, and Leung H. 1998. Genome scanning for resistance-gene analogs in rice, barley, and wheat by high-resolution electrophoresis. Theor Appl Genet 97:345-355.

Chen XM, Line RF, Shi ZX, and Leung H. 1998. Genetics of wheat resistance to stripe rust. In: Proc 9th Inter Wheat Genet Symp (Slinkard AE ed). University Extension Press, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. 3:237-239.

Line RF. 1998. Management of wheat diseases in the United States. In: Proceedings of The National Wheat Industry Research Forum, NAWG Foundation, Washington, DC. Pp. 88-89.

Line RF. 1998. Quarantines for control of flag smut of wheat: are they effective or necessary? In: Bunts and Smuts of Wheat: An international Symposium (Malik VS and Mathre DE eds). North American Plant Protection Organization, Ottawa. Pp. 49-60

Line RF. 1998. Control of stripe rust of spring barley in western Washington with foliar fungicides, 1997. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 53:283-284.

Line RF. 1998. Control of stripe rust of winter barley in western Washington with foliar fungicides, 1997: Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 53:285-286

Line RF. 1998. Control of stripe rust, leaf rust, and stem rust of spring wheat with foliar fungicides, 1997. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 53:293-294

Line RF. 1998. Use of foliar fungicides to assess winter wheat yield losses caused by stripe rust, leaf rust, stem rust, and powdery mildew in eastern Washington, 1997. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 53:295-296.

Line RF. 1998. Control of stripe rust, and powdery mildew of winter wheat in southeastern Washington with foliar fungicides, 1997. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 53:297-300.

Line RF. 1998. Control of stripe rust, leaf rust, stem rust, and powdery mildew of winter wheat in eastern Washington with foliar fungicides, 1997. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 53:301-307.

Line RF. 1998. Use of foliar fungicides to assess spring wheat yield losses caused by stripe rust, leaf rust, and stem rust in eastern Washington, 1997. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 53:308.

Line RF. 1998. Control of stripe rust and stem rust of spring barley with seed treatments and foliar fungicides, 1997. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 53:383-384.

Line RF. 1998. Control of stripe rust of winter barley with seed treatments and foliar fungicides, 1997. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 53:385-386.

Line RF. 1998. Control of flag smut of wheat with seed treatments, 1997. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 53:418.

Line RF. 1998. Control of stripe rust, stem rust, and powdery mildew of winter wheat with seed treatments and foliar sprays, 1997. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 53:419-420.

Line RF. 1998. Control of stripe rust, leaf rust, and stem rust of spring wheat with seed treatments and foliar sprays, 1997. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 53:421-422.

Line RF. 1998. Control of common bunt of wheat with seed treatments, 1997. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 53:423

Shi ZX, Chen XM, Leung H, Wellings C, and Line RF. 1998. Development of markers for genes resistance to stripe rust using genome scanning for resistance gene analog polymorphism. Phytopathology 88:S81 (Abstract).


Mapping genes for resistance to Fusarium head blight.

J.A. Anderson, B.L. Waldron, and A.D. Fjeld.

Our current map of the 'Sumai 3/Stoa' population that was phenotyped for FHB resistance in greenhouse studies consists of 360 RFLP and 151 AFLP markers. Four genomic regions containing putative QTLs were associated (P < 0.01) with FHB resistance from the combined analysis of two experiments, two from Sumai 3 (chromosomes 3BS and 6BL) and two from Stoa (2AL and 4BL). The two markers associated with FHB resistance from Sumai 3 in the 'Sumai 3/Stoa' population also were associated with resistance in an 'ND2603 (Sumai 3/Wheaton)/Butte 86' population. In addition, another RFLP marker associated with resistance from ND2603 on chromosome 3AL was identified in this population. Loci associated with FHB resistance from Stoa have not been mapped in 'ND2603/Butte 86' due to lack of polymorphism. Future research will focus on i) mapping additional markers on 3BS and obtaining PCRable markers for this region, ii) verifying these and other new markers in other populations, and iii) utilizing the markers for selection.


Personnel changes.

Dr. James Anderson resigned his position as research geneticist in July, 1998, and is now an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Blair Waldron resigned his position as postdoctoral associate in April, 1998, to accept a research geneticist position with the USDAARS in Logan, UT.


Publications.

Anderson JA, Cox DJ, Moore W, Miller JD, Rasmussen JB, and Francl LJ. 1998. Registration of 'Elkhorn' wheat. Crop Sci 38:1403.

Anderson JA, Waldron BL, Moreno-Sevilla B, Stack RW, and Frohberg RC. 1998. Detection of Fusarium head blight resistance QTL in wheat using AFLPs and RFLPs. In: Proc 9th Inter Wheat Genet Symp (Slinkard AE ed). University Extension Press, Saskatoon, Canada. 1:135-137

Anderson JA, Waldron BL, Moreno-Sevilla B, Stack RW, and Frohberg RC. 1998. DNA markers for Fusarium head blight QTL in two wheat populations. In: Proc 9th Inter Wheat Genet Symp (Slinkard AE ed). University Extension Press, Saskatoon, Canada. 3:57-59.

Sorrells ME and Anderson JA. 1998. Registration of 'Cayuga' wheat. Crop Sci 38:551-552.

Waldron BL, Anderson JA, Coyne C, Stack RW, and Frohberg RC. 1998. AFLP mapping of QTL for Fusarium head blight resistance in wheat. PAG VI Abstracts, San Diego, CA. p. 122.

USDA-ARS Western Wheat Quality Laboratory.

Wheat endosperm texture.

C.F. Morris, A.D. Bettge, H.C. Jeffers, G.E. King, B. Patterson, D.A. Engle, M. Baldridge,
B. Davis, and R. Ader.

We have recently shown that wheat endosperm texture (soft or hard) results from positive genetic control by the hardness locus (Ha) on chromosome 5DS, a complex locus coding for puroindoline-a and puroindoline-b, collectively known as friabilin. In the wild type, both puroindolines are normal (functional) and result in soft wheat. To produce hard wheat, one or the other puroindoline must be nonfunctional. A single nucleic acid base change in puroindoline-b causes a serine for glycine substitution at amino acid 46 and leads to hard-textured wheat. A complete absence of puroindoline-a (no transcript produced) also leads to hard-textured wheat. No recombination between puroindoline-a and puroindoline-b has been observed in several hundred genotypes examined to date. The puroindoline-b type mutation has been observed in 90+ % of hard winter wheat and half of hard spring wheat. The puroindoline-a type mutation has been observed in < 10 % of hard winter wheat and half of hard spring wheat.


Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and Asian noodle discoloration.

We have developed laboratory-scale alkaline noodle tests to assist in screening potential cultivars for suitability in Asian noodle applications. The test uses 100 g of flour and an alkaline salt solution to produce noodle sheets that are analyzed for color, especially the L* value (of the L*a*b* scale) at 0 and 24 hr after noodle production. The results provide information about the degree of discoloration in noodles brought about by PPO.

Additionally, a buffered L-DOPA test for rapid, small-scale assessment of PPO in single kernels has been developed. This test affords rapid (about 1 hr), nondestructive assessment of PPO content at early generations of wheat breeding programs and will assist breeders in producing low-PPO wheat for use in Asian style noodles.

Noting that two current cultivars Daws and Centennial have bimodal distributions of PPO content, we have used the L-DOPA PPO assay to physically separate low-PPO from high-PPO kernels and are in the process of increasing the low-PPO kernels as potential rereleased improved cultivars.


Starch quality.

Another important attribute of Asian noodles is texture. To a large extent, the texture of noodles and other products depends on the amylose/amylopectin (AM/AP) ratio of starch. The AM/AP ratio has an impact on water absorption during the gelatinization process of cooking and this impacts end quality and processing factors. The AM/AP ratio results from the action of granule-bound starch synthase. Apparent amylose content varies from about 22 % (0-gene waxy) to 0 % (3-gene waxy).

We have characterized the starch gelatinization/gelation properties of 0, 1, 2, and 3-gene waxy-state wheats and wheat flours using flour swelling volume and RVA tests and linked these results to end-use attributes.


Cultivar development program.

Our cultivar development program screened over 8,000 experimental breeding lines for milling and baking quality and provided the results to wheat breeders for use in their programs.

The WWQL-led PNW Wheat Quality Council held a forum to discuss potential new cultivars and the comments and concerns about wheat quality issues. The forum in Bozeman, MT, was attended by about 45 people representing growers, researchers, breeders, marketers, and end-users.


Personnel changes.

Morten Lillemo, from the Agricultural University of Norway, has joined the WWQL for 9 months of research on puroindoline-a and puroindoline-b wheat hardness effects in northern European wheats. Dr. Tigst Demeke, formerly of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, has joined the WWQL as a post-doctoral research associate to pursue research into PPO biochemistry and its genetic underpinnings.

Publications.

Giroux MJ, Babb S, and Morris CF. 1998. Wheat grain hardness is controlled by highly conserved puroindoline mutations. In: Prog Abstr Plant & Animal Genome IV (Grant D and Lazo G eds). Scherago Intl Publish. p. 119.

Giroux MJ and Morris CF. 1998. Wheat grain hardness results from highly conserved mutations in the friabilin components puroindoline a and b. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 95:6262-6266.

Morris CF. 1998. Genetic determinants of wheat grain quality. In: Proc 9th Inter Wheat Genet Symp (Slinkard AE ed). University Extension Press, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. 1:245-253.

Morris CF. 1998. Evaluating the end-use quality of wheat breeding lines for suitability in Asian noodles. In: Pacific People and Their Food (Blakeney AB and O'Brien L eds). American Association of Cereal Chemists, St. Paul, MN. pp. 91-100.

Morris CF. 1998. Assessing hard white wheat samples for end-use quality. In: Proc 21st Hard Winter Wheat Workers Workshop (Peterson CJ ed). USDAARS and Colorado State Univ. pp. 75-77.

Morris CF, Bettge AD, Giroux MJ, Zeng M, and King GE. 1999. Relationships between RVA pasting characteristics and amylose content of normal, partially-waxy, and waxy wheat flours and starches. In: RACI/AACC Symposium, Cairns, Australia. (In press).

Morris CF, DeMacon VL, and Giroux MJ. 1999. Phenotypic expression of and methods of measuring wheat grain hardness among chromosome 5D homozygous recombinant substitution lines. Cereal Chem (In press).

Allan RE, Morris CF, Line RF, Anderson JA, and Donaldson E. 1999. Registration of 'Coda' club wheat. Crop Sci (In press).

Kidwell KK, Shelton GS, Morris CF, Line RF, Miller, BC, Davis MA, and Konak CF. 1999. Registration of 'Scarlet' wheat. Crop Sci (In press).

Morris CF, Jeffers HC, and Engle DE. 1999. Effect of processing, formula and measurement variables on alkaline noodle color - towards an optimized system. Cereal Chem (Submitted).

Morris CF and Konzak CF. 1999. Registration of D-null 'Bai Huo' waxy wheat germplasm. Crop Sci (Submitted).

Morris CF, Bettge AD, Giroux MJ, Zeng M, and King GE. 1998. Relationships between RVA pasting characteristics and amylose content of normal, partially-waxy, and waxy wheat flours and starches. In: Pacific People and Their Food (Blakeney AB and O'Brien L eds). American Association of Cereal Chemists, St. Paul, MN. pp. 75-76.

Morris CF, Anderson JV, Bettge AD, and Correll ME. 1998. Distribution of PPO activity among a large number of hexaploid wheat genotypes using an improved L-DOPA assay. Cereal Foods World 43:518.

Morris CF, Lukow OM., and Perron CE. 1998. Grain hardness, dough mixing and pan bread performance among wheats differing in puroindoline hardness mutation. Cereal Foods World 43:533.

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY

Spring Wheat Breeding and Genetics Program, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, 201 Johnson Hall, Pullman, WA 99164-6420, USA.

Overview of cultivar development and genetic mapping efforts.

K. Kidwell, B. Barrett, V. DeMacon, and G. Shelton.

Nearly 400 crosses were made in 1998, and early generation soft white, hard red, hard white, and spring club germ plasms with novel Hessian fly and RWA-resistance genes were advanced to the field-breeding program. F1 seed from 395 lines was increased to generate segregating progenies for use in conventional breeding strategies, marker-assisted selection, and gene linkage analyses. Seed-storage protein and polyphenol oxidase analyses were used to select progeny with superior end-use quality potential for advancement. Progress was made towards developing PCR-based tags for genes associated with strawbreaker foot rot resistance, RWA resistance, and Vrn2. Efforts were initiated to identify potential gene donors for Rhizoctonia resistance among wild relatives of wheat, and the feasibility of developing spring wheat hybrids via inter-growth habit cross-hybridizations are under investigation. Approximately 695 F2 and 610 F3 families were advanced to the next generation, and 2,972 entries among 16,492 F4 and 23,394 F5 head rows were selected, based on stripe rust reaction and phenotype, for early generation end-use quality assessment. Approximately 700 lines with superior end-use quality potential will be advanced to 1999 field trials. Nine-hundred twelve F6, 216 F7, and 128 advanced lines (F8+) were evaluated at three to 15 locations under annual crop, crop/fallow, and irrigated conditions. Grain samples from 474 experimental lines with superior agronomic performance were sent to the Western Wheat Quality Laboratory for milling and baking tests.


Variety releases and advanced lines with potential for release.

K. Kidwell, G. Shelton, V. DeMacon, C. Morris, and C. Konzak.

Scarlet HRSW was approved for final release as a replacement for Butte 86 in the semi-arid, nonirrigated wheat production region. Scarlet is moderately resistant to stripe rust but is susceptible to the Hessian fly. Based on 5-year averages, Scarlet produces from 5 to 10 bu/acre more grain than Butte 86 and Westbred 926, depending on location. Test weight of grain from Scarlet is 0.5 to 1 lb/bu lower than that of Butte 86 and equal to that of Westbred 926. Typically, grain protein content of Scarlet is similar to or higher than that of Butte 86 in the targeted production region. However, protein content of Scarlet tends to be 0.4 % to 0.6 % lower than those of Butte 86 and Westbred 926 when grown in locations receiving more than 14 inches of annual precipitation. Foundation seed of Scarlet will be available for spring planting in 1999.

The soft white experimental line WA7850 was approved for variety release as a replacement for Alpowa, Penawawa, and/or Wawawai. WA7850 has outstanding grain yield potential and end-use quality properties. This variety is stripe rust resistant, and preliminary data indicate that it also is resistant to the Hessian fly. The proposed name for this variety is Zak, and breeders' seed will be produced in 1999.

WA7824, a HRSW with exceptional gluten strength, was approved for preliminary seed increase. WA7824 is resistant to stripe rust and, preliminary results indicate that it is resistant to the Hessian fly. WA7824 has higher grain-yield potential and a higher test weight than of Westbred 926. However, the grain protein contentof WA7824 is slightly lower than that of Westbred 926. Based on milling and baking data generated by the Western Wheat Quality Laboratory and members of the PNW Quality Council, the end-use quality of WA7824 is superior to that of most HRSW varieties in commercial production in the PNW. Fertility trials are being conducted to develop management strategies to increase the grain protein content of WA7824. If the Hessian fly resistance is confirmed, WA7824 will be proposed for variety release in 2000.


Early generation, end-use quality assessment of wheat grain from F4 and F5 head rows.

K. Kidwell, C. Morris, V. DeMacon, G. Shelton, and D. Engle.

Following phenotypic selection, grain from selected head rows (~2,800) was visually evaluated for plumpness. Selections with sound grain were separated by market class, then entries from each market class were subjected to a specific assessment strategies depending on end-use goals. Grain protein content and grain hardness were determined on whole grain flour using the Technicon (NIR). Microsedimentation and flour-swelling volume were used to assess the end-use quality potential of selected lines. The microsedimentation test is used to assess protein quality and gluten strength, whereas the flour-swelling volume test produces starch swelling values that are highly associated with noodle quality. Polyphenol oxidase levels also were determined for soft white and hard white materials to assess noodle color potential before selecting lines to be advanced to 1999 field trials.


Enhancing heterosis of hybrid wheat via inter-growth habit cross-hybridizations.

K. Kidwell, B. Barrett, and D.B. Cooper.

Utilizing heterosis by developing high yielding, hybrid, spring wheat cultivars suitable for replacing erosion-prone winter wheat production is a viable genetic solution to a major environmental problem. A strategy to enhance grain yield potential of spring cultivars by capitalizing on heterosis between spring and winter wheat germ plasm pools via inter-growth habit crosses is described in this proposal. The objectives are to: 1) examine heterotic and maternal effects on F1 hybrids generated through intra- and inter-growth habit crosses using full diallel analyses; 2) determine the cold hardiness levels of wheat hybrids compared to their inbred parents; 3) assess heterotic and maternal effects on end-use quality properties of F2 wheat grain; and 4) examine the relationship between targeted DNA marker-based genetic diversity estimates and heterosis in hybrid wheat. Based on previous results, four elite spring and four elite winter cultivars were selected as parents for F1 hybr