Improvement of Hard Red Winter Wheat for Kansas

Introduction:

The Kansas State University wheat breeding programs have a long history of developing varieties that meet the needs of Kansas producers and the wheat industry. In 2006, more than 43% of the Kansas wheat acres were planted to varieties developed at KSU, including the second third and fourth most grown wheats (http://www.nass.usda.gov/ks/whtvar/whtvar06.htm). Overley, the third leading wheat in 2006, has performed very well and will likely be the leading wheat in central Kansas south of I-70 for 2007. Fuller, a new release from the KSU-Manhattan program has a chance to be competitive statewide. The primary goals of the program are centered on continuing this high level relevance to the Kansas wheat industry, with exceptional productivity and quality serving as the cornerstones of the program. Plant breeding is more of a process than a project and, thus, requires consistent long-term planning and support.

The objective of this program is to develop new hard red winter wheat varieties that are adapted to Kansas. These varieties should have excellent yield, adequate protection against prevalent biotic and abiotic stresses and end use quality traits that are desired by domestic and international customers.

Progress report:

Overley should continue to see significant expansion of acreage in 2007. We also released a new wheat, named Fuller, in 2006. It is best adapted to central Kansas and has yield potential similar to Overley. It has an excellent disease resistance package, including resistance to leaf and stripe rust and intermediate response to tan spot. It has good tolerance to shattering and should be a good early maturing wheat adapted statewide. The quality of Fuller has been comparable to Jagger when grown in central Kansas. Two sister lines are on small scale increase for potential formal increase in 2007. These lines have had outstanding yield potential in central Kansas. These lines are resistant to stripe rust, tolerant of acid soils, moderately resistant to leaf rust and moderately susceptible to tan spot. Test weights are similar to Jagger and the baking quality has been acceptable. The program is now at full capacity in terms of populations and lines being evaluated and should be well positioned to continue to develop important varieties for Kansas producers.

Progress Report
Second Quarter FY08 (October 1, 2007-December 31, 2007)

Accomplishments since last report:

Planting operations were completed with nurseries established at Lane County, Barber County, Caldwell, Conway Springs, Hutchinson, Gypsum, Manhattan, Belleville and Everest. The leaf rust nursery was also planted in South Texas. Crossing was also largely completed in this time frame. More than 600 crosses were made with a focus on minor gene leaf and stripe rust resistance, overall disease resistance, Hessian fly resistance, yield and quality.

DaRT technology was used to add markers to the minor gene leaf and stripe rustresistance project and the second greenhouse analysis of leaf rust in the population is underway. The project will be concluded by May, 2008.

Near isogenic lines of a drought tolerance QTL in Jagger are nearing completion and will allow field verification of the value of the region.

Populations segregating for Hessian fly were screened. Resistant plants were retained and used for crossing as well as seed increase.

Casey McNeil, a new Ph.D. student has started mapping new genes for stem rust in collaboration with Mike Pumphrey. These are genes that are effective against Ug99. Several genes for Ug99 resistance are being incorporated into the breeding material, as well.