NEBRASKA
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AND THE USDA-ARS
Department of Agronomy, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
P.S. Baenziger, D. Baltensperger, L. Nelson, I. Dweikat, A. Mitra, T. Clemente, S. Sato, J. Watkins, J. Schimelfenig, and G. Hein (University of Nebraska;, and R.A. Graybosch, L. Divis, R. French, and D. Stenger (USDA-ARS).
The 2004 Nebraska Wheat Crop was estimated at 61,100,000 bu, which represented a 37 bu/acre state average yield on 1,650,000 harvested acres. 1,850,000 acres were planted to winter wheat in the autumn of 2003. The 2004 crop was 27 % lower than the 2003 crop (79,900,000 bu, which represented a 47 bu/acre state average yield on 1,700,000 harvested acres).
P.S. Baenziger, D. Baltensperger, L. Nelson, J. Watkins, J.
Schimelfenig, G. Hein, and R. Graybosch.
In 2004, two new cultivars (Hallam and Infinity) were recommended
for release. Infinity CL is a HRWW cultivar developed coöperatively
by the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station and the USDA-ARS
and released in 2005 by the developing institutions. Infinity
CL contains a patented gene owned by BASF and who retains ownership
of the gene. Infinity CL was released primarily for its superior
adaptation to rainfed-wheat production systems in Nebraska and
counties in adjacent states. The name Infinity CL was chosen because
it is a Clearfield™ wheat that will be used with Beyond®
herbicide. Infinity CL was selected from the cross 'Windstar//Millennium
sib/Above sib'. Infinity CL was evaluated as NH01046 in Nebraska
yield nurseries starting in 2002, and in Nebraska and Wyoming
cultivar performance trials in 2003 to 2004. In the Nebraska cultivar
performance trials, Infinity CL has performed well throughout
most of Nebraska. The average Nebraska rainfed yield of Infinity
CL of 3,870 kg/ha (27 environments from 2003-04) was lower than
the yield of Wesley (3,990 kg/ha), similar to that of Millennium
(3,860 kg/ha), and higher than those of Wahoo (3,790 kg/ha) and
Alliance (3,620 kg/ha). The average Wyoming rainfed yield of Infinity
CL of 2,220 kg/ha (five environments from 2003-04) was lower than
that of Goodstreak (2,350 kg/ha), similar to that of Buckskin
(2,280 kg/ha), and higher than that of Above (2,080 kg/ha). Infinity
CL has acceptable performance under irrigation, but other wheat
cultivars with superior performance, especially with better straw
strength (described below), would be recommended.
Hallam is a HRWW cultivar developed coöperatively by the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station and the USDA-ARS and released in 2005 by the developing institutions. Hallam was released primarily for its superior adaptation to rainfed wheat production systems in eastern Nebraska. The name Hallam was chosen to honor Hallam, NE, a town and its people rebuilding after a tornado. Hallam was selected from the cross 'Brule/Bennett//Niobrara' that was made in 1992. Hallam was evaluated as NE98471 in Nebraska yield nurseries starting in 1999, in the Northern Regional Performance Nursery in 2001 and 2002, and in Nebraska cultivar performance trials in 2002 to 2004. In the Nebraska cultivar performance trials, Hallam appears to be narrowly adapted and performs best in eastern Nebraska. The average Nebraska rainfed yield of Hallam of 4,110 kg/ha (41 environments from 2002 to 2004) was greater than the yields of Wahoo (4,030 kg/ha), Alliance (3,880 kg/ha), and Harry (4,000 kg/ha), but was lower than those of Millennium (4,180 kg/ha), and Wesley (4,210 kg/ha). In its primary area of adaptation (eastern NE), Hallam (five environments) has yielded 4,540 kg/ha, which was greater than those of Wesley (4,150 kg/ha), Millennium (4,250 kg/ha), Wahoo (3,940 kg/ha), and Alliance (3,900 kg/ha). Hallam was tested in the Northern Regional Performance Nursery in 2001 and 2002 and ranked 14th out of 30 in 2001 (12 environments) and 4th of 25 entries in 2002 (13 environments) and averaged 100 kg/ha more grain yield than Nekota.
P.S. Baenziger.
Based on last year's results and our recent releases, we have
decided to increase one line, NE99495. NE99495 is a HRWW with
the pedigree 'Alliance/Karl 92'. The cross was made in 1993. NE99495
is an F3-derived line that was selected in the F4 generation.
The F1 generation was grown in the greenhouse in 1993-94. The
F2 and F3 generations were grown in bulk at the Agricultural Research
and Development Center at Ithaca, NE, in 1995 and 1996, respectively.
Random heads were chosen from the F3 bulk and planted as head
rows, which were harvested in 1997. The F3-derived F5 family was
harvested as a single observation plot in 1998. NE99495 was identified
in 1999 and was grown at six unreplicated locations in 1997. NE99495
has been tested in replicated trials at six to seven locations/year
from 2000 to present. In addition, NE99495 was tested in the Northern
Regional Performance Nursery in 2002 and 2003 and in Nebraska
cultivar performance trials in 2003 and 2004. NE99495 is semidwarf
wheat with medium plant height for a semidwarf cultivar and acceptable
winter hardiness for production in Nebraska. NE99495 is slightly
later than Alliance and slightly earlier than Millennium for flowering
date.
R.A. Graybosch, P.S. Baenziger, B. Beecher, D. Baltensperger,
and L. Nelson.
The following hard white wheats are entered in the 2005 Nebraska
Statewide Small Grains Variety trial for testing and possible
release: NW99L7068, NW97S139-1, NW98S097, and NP-02. NW98S097
consistently has demonstrated low levels of grain PPO. We anticipate
at least one of these lines will be approved for cultivar release.
R.A. Graybosch, P.S. Baenziger, and M. Shipman.
To determine whether or not increased expression of glutenin genes in wheat endosperm can result in improved baking quality of hard winter wheat, we have developed winter wheats carrying transgenes that independently elevate expression of the HMW glutenin subunits 5 and 10. Five genetic populations, each composed of a series of transgenic and non-transgenic sister lines, were seeded in an augmented design, along with strong gluten check cultivars, in the autumn of 2003. The study contained approximately 60 transgenic lines and an equal number of nontransgenic sister lines. From each line, 12 head selections were obtained and tested for continued expression of the transgenic glutenins. A selected group of stably expressing lines was reseeded, along with controls and nonexpressing sister lines. Quality work on year one materials has revealed that total grain protein content was not affected, but mixograph mixing properties were drastically altered, demonstrating that processing quality, even in strong gluten backgrounds, can be altered by over-expressing specific endosperm proteins.
Approximately 30 winter waxy wheats were advanced to either
their second or third year of yield testing in Nebraska. In addition,
80 new winter waxy wheats were selected at Yuma, AZ, and advanced
to a two location preliminary yield trial in Nebraska. After several
cycles of mating and selection, waxy winter wheats now have been
developed with grain yields nearly equal to those of current cultivars
(Figure 1). A bit
of a yield drag remains, but we anticipate that the gap between
waxy and wild-type wheats shortly will be erased by continued
breeding efforts.
Dr. M Liakat Ali joined the project as a postdoctoral scientist who will be studying recombinant inbred chromosome lines for chromosome 3A. Dr. Brian Beecher accepted a position with USDA-ARS at Pullman, WA.