Developing tools to detect late maturity a-amylase in Canadian wheat for creating germplasm resilient to environmental stress

Madison Kostal on April 12, 2024

Late maturity alpha-amylase (LMA) is a recessive genetic defect in wheat that is expressed only under certain environmental conditions. LMA results in the “synthesis of α-amylase (specifically the high pI isoform) during the later stages of grain development in the absence of pre-harvest sprouting, resulting in mature grain with high α-amylase and the low falling number”. This results in lower value for the grain, as the low falling number is an indicator of sprouting-related grain damage- LMA results in the appearance of sprouting-related grain damage where there may be none. LMA is very difficult to predict due to genotype x environment interaction as well as no physical sign of damage to the grain. LMA occurrence is increasing globally, likely due to climate change, this causes huge financial loss to farmers as well as wastage of several years of work by breeders when detected late in the process.

Searching novel genes for resistance to rusts, bacterial leaf streak, and tan spot in wheat

Madison Kostal on April 12, 2024

Wheat makes an annual contribution of approximately $11 billion to the Canadian economy. Diseases, particularly Fusarium head blight (FHB) and rusts are major threat to wheat production in Canada. Among rust diseases, stripe rust is becoming a major issue since last few decades. In epidemic years, such as 2011, stripe rust resulted in up to 35% yield loss in susceptible cultivars. Similarly, leaf and stem rust can cause significant losses to wheat, particularly in eastern Prairies. Bacterial leaf streak (BLS) is an emerging disease issue of wheat in western Canada. Among fungal diseases, Fusarium head blight (FHB), stripe rust, leaf rust, stem rust, and common bunt are classified as priority-one diseases. Breeders, geneticists, and pathologists are constantly working to prevent yield losses resulting from these diseases, particularly FHB, stripe rust and leaf rust. Even though rust diseases are relatively easier (compared to FHB) to manage due to complete resistance conferred by race-specific resistance genes when deployed in a cultivar. However, race specific rust resistance genes conferring such complete resistance can be defeated within a few years of deployment if not stacked with other genes. This proposal will target stripe rust, leaf rust, stem rust (including Ug99 race group), tan spot, and BLS disease issues in wheat with an aim to identify novel genes for resistance. This project builds on the previous work of Dr. Randy Kutcher where he screened (in un-replicated field nurseries) all ~11,000 wheat accessions from Plant Gene Resources of Canada (PGRC) and identified ~1,000 accessions with resistance to one or multiple pathogens.

High yielding wheat varieties via screening for water use efficiency and drought tolerance under thermal conditions

Madison Kostal on April 12, 2024

In Western Canada, wheat is the cereal crop with the largest acerage; however, increasingly variable climate conditions and stress suchs as drought can affect plant development, yield and profitability for growers. This places more ephasis ondeveloping tolerant varieties with high grain yield, yield stability and quality through selection and breeding efforts. Although significant progress has been made in improving the genetic gain of wheat, the crop rarely reaches its potential due to adverse growing conditions during the growing season. Improving drought tolerance and water use efficiency could greatly improve yield, yield stability and grain quality. Drought Tolerance and water use efficient wheat tends to have a yield advantage under moisture limited environment, however these traits are difficult to select for breeding lines. Therefore, Better research methods are required to resolve technical issues surrounding drought tolerance and water use efficiency phenotyping. This project Aims to screen Canadian spring wheat varieties registered for the past 20 years as well as advanced breeding lines for drought tolerance and water use efficiency. The work done with this information will allow for a better system to identify the genes associated with drought tolerance and water use efficiency for future breeding programs.

Getting the jump on spring corn growth

Madison Kostal on April 12, 2024

Climate change is increasing spring air temperature variation, we are seeing greater swings in temperature which can make spring growth difficult and risky. Genes for cold soil emergence and seedling growth are needed in Manitoba corn hybrids to hasten emergence, increase stand uniformity, and speed seedling growth. Improving emergence in cold soils will ensure that the corn crop gets the jump on spring in warm and cold years. Earlier maturity, resulting from faster growth, will increase dry down time in the fall and reduce fossil fuels needed for grain drying.

Determination of the impact of genetic and environmental factors and their interactions on the protein quality of sunflower seed

Madison Kostal on April 12, 2024

Oilseed sunflowers are used in bird food and the crushing industry for sunflower oil, producing one of the highest quality vegetable oils. Sunflower meal usually contains 35% of protein and is used in livestock feed. The main research gap to be addresses in this project is helping breeders evaluate the genetic and environmental (GxE) factors that influence amino acid composition and protein quality of sunflower seeds and meal using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, a highly promising method for rapid prediction of sunflower seed protein nd amino acid contents.

The Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network

Madison Kostal on April 12, 2024

This project is a continuation of the previously funded prairie crop disease monitoring network that was funded as part of the ICAC cluster from 2018-2023. This project will emphasize further development and refinement of the PCDMN, including
developing new methods and improving existing protocols for disease/pathogen monitoring, enhancing information dissemination online, and strengthening coordination of annual biovigilance efforts primarily via annual in-person meetings. This represents a significant improvement over the current project, which due to COVID-19 and logistical issues wasn’t done as part of the current PCDMN. Moreover, it will enhance monitoring protocols, and awareness regarding disease biology, identification and risk assessment, and key management strategies. An improved suite of awareness and risk assessment tools will be part of the proposed project and represents an advancement, while also providing significant additional value over the current project.

The effect of integrated crop management on weed phenology and weed persistence

Madison Kostal on April 12, 2024

Weed persistence and herbicide resistance are significant challenges for crop production in the prairies. Over the years,many crop production and weed management strategies focused on reducing the abundance of weeds by controlling their above-ground presence. All the success and failures of weed management strategies were assessed in terms of weed density and biomass and sometimes on weed seed production. However, it is rarely studied how crop and weed management strategies can affect long-term weed persistence via altered phenological development and seed persistence. Increasing the crop’s competitive ability is the fundamental component of most integrated weed management (IWM) programs often practiced by producers to reduce the reliance on herbicides. IWM practices can alter the maternal environment, changing weed dynamics beyond crop competition. Recognizing the long term benefits of IWM in weed adaptation (phenology and persistence) can enhance the adoption of IWM, thus reducing the risk of developing HR weeds and reducing the use of herbicide.

Soil and water management R&D site in an undulating landscape – monitoring, evaluation and knowledge transfer.

Madison Kostal on April 11, 2024

Tile drainage is in early stages of adoption in the undulating landscapes in southwestern Manitoba as a practice to manage excess soil moisture and soil salinity in agricultureal fields. It is anticipated that tile drainage will quickly become a prominent practice in this region as a means of reducing risk associated with inherent drainage limitations, optimized productivity, and improving soil health over the long-term.
As tile drainage changes the way water moves through agricultural landscapes there are ramifications for how water moves over the land and through the soil, including the volume and rate of runoff leaving the field and the quality of runoff water (nutrients and salts). In addition, performance of tile drainage across landscape positions in the variable topography of the region are not well researched or understood. Therefore, it is of value to industry to better understand the the performance and trade-offs associated with tile drainage in undulating landscapes in the region, including an evaluation of costs and benefits.

Building resilient soils with cover crops in Manitoba

Madison Kostal on April 11, 2024

Interest in adopting cover crops has been growing in Manitoba. Goals for growing cover crops on Prairie farms had expanded to include improving soil health, building soil carbon, adding and scavenging nitrogen, grazing, improving water infiltration, weed suppression, elevating soil carbon, and increasing biodiversity. These goals are relevant to address challenges of climate change unpredictable weather patterns. Farmers want to know how cover crops can advance their agronomic goals for resilience, efficiency, and profitability. Policy makers also want to know how cover crops can contribute to meeting Canada’s climate goals and to what is the potential for adoption in the Prairies. Answering these questions requires holistic research to effectively characterize how cover crops contribute to achieving on-farm agronomic goals in the shot term while addressing long term climate change impact.

Understanding the interactions of N fertilizer technologies, fungicides, and the soil microbiome to optimize sustainable agriculture.

Madison Kostal on April 11, 2024

Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers (EEFs) are emerging as a solution to improve N use efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, yet their interactions with other agricultural practices and microbial processes remains. Research has found that EEFs function less efficiently in wheat systems than in other crops. To fully understand and utilize the benefits of EEFs it is important to characterize their interactions with common agricultural practices, such as pesticide applications, and the impact these interactions may have on soil health and the soil microbiome. EEFs are actively being studied on experimental plots at AAFC Lethbridge to assess optimization of N management strategies for Canadian Western Red Spring wheat. To expand on this work, this project will leverage these sites and assess the potential for co-occurring impacts of EEFs and three important agricultural practices on the soil microbiome: 1) EEFs and fertilizer application rates; 2) EEFs and fungicide applications; and 3) EEFs and previous crops effects. Information obtained in this work will ultimately help to inform growers regarding optimal practices for N management and protecting and maintaining soil microbial communities and soil health.

Top