Extremes of Moisture: Using plants to manage extreme moisture

mca2022dev on May 16, 2023

This project consisted of two parts, an on farm experiment and a small plot experiment. In the on-farm experiment four fields prone to excess moisture were identified to establish if overwintering cover crops established in the fall will facilitate fall and spring soil drying and have a positive impact on future crop yields. In the small plot experiments traditional agronomy experiments were established on loam and clay textured soil to evaluate management practices to “green seed” into living rye cover crops. Treatments analyzed timing of rye termination and the use of strip tillage.

Extremes of Moisture: Optimizing nitrogen management under conditions of extreme moisture

mca2022dev on May 16, 2023

On Manitoba farms, excess moisture can be the source of many challenges, including soil erosion, reduced field trafficability, reduced crop yield and quality and loss of farm income. This project aimed to help farmers to manage excess moisture by assessing the impact of excess moisture on crop yield and farm income as well as the downstream costs and benefits of an excess moisture event. The use of water reservoirs, tile drainage, landscaping and cover cropping were evaluated using a cost-benefit analysis. Using 30 years of historical climatic data and local soil and cropping practices, a yield forecasting model was calibrated that can be used to simulate excess moisture management scenarios in Manitoba. Finally, the downstream impacts and costs of extreme moisture events were evaluated.

Canadian wheat alliance: standing strong: maximizing yield potential by optimizing stem strength and biomass partitioning

mca2022dev on March 22, 2023

Little is known about how stem properties such as strength, diameter, wall wall width and height contribute to standability and few markers exist to select for preferred traits. This project will identify, dissect, and prioritize traits that contribute to maximum standability and harvest index in different environments in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

MCA special projects at Diversification Centres – Management practices for high yield wheat

mca2022dev on March 22, 2023

This information will help producers make decisions on where to focus their input dollars and will provide an opportunity to highlight the effects of PGR’s in spring wheat production. This information can also be used to determine if the variety rankings that result from yields collected in the MCVET trials may differ if those same varieties were grown under intensive management.

Targeting mycotoxin resistance to control fusarium head blight

mca2022dev on March 14, 2023

Generating barley varieties with enhanced FHB resistance is complex because multiple fungal compounds and plant genes influence disease severity. We recently discovered a fungal compound called gramillin that promotes FHB severity in barley and is toxic to plants, killing cells within hours. Gramillin resistance varies across Canadian barley varieties where the ‘Lowe’ malting variety is resistant to this toxin. By better understanding the mechanisms and genes involved in gramillin resistance, this work will enable breeders to track and transfer the gramillin resistance into elite barley varieties.

Examining fusarium growth and interactions with barley trichomes under the hull

mca2022dev on March 14, 2023

Preliminary observations in Dr. Bakker’s lab have revealed that there are trichomes on the inner surface of the hull; these have never been explored for potential interactions with Fusarium growth. Using field-grown barley, including multiple different lines and varieties, we will characterize barley phenotypes related to trichomes on floral tissue (type, length, density) and to the thickness of the hull and of the seed coat. Samples will be collected across locations and years, so that we can gauge the environmental plasticity of these phenotypes. We will also microscopically examine barley that is infected with Fusarium, linking the growth of the pathogen to the phenotypes that we measure. This work will accelerate improvements in FHB resistance in barley, by indicating whether selection on floral traits could reduce infection by Fusarium.

Establishing a seed testing protocol and greenhouse/growth cabinet based disease evaluation method to improve disease management against bacterial leaf streak in barley

mca2022dev on March 14, 2023

This project aims to establish a simple, rapid and cost-efficient seed testing protocol by using a novel technique, named loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). Meanwhile, a greenhouse/growth cabinet disease evaluation method will be developed to screen barley germplasm for resistance, and to determine the virulence of the pathogen. The methods and knowledge from this study will support barley breeding programs and secure the barley industry against BLS.

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