Research

Background

This project seeks to address this current lack of information regarding leaf rust resistance in western Canadian winter wheat. The data from this project will be used in
two types of analyses: (1) genome-wide association study (GWAS) and (2) genomic selection (GS). GWAS will identify specific DNA markers and/or DNA marker haplotypes highly correlated with individual leaf rust resistance genes. GS utilizes DNA markers spanning all wheat chromosomes to predict leaf rust resistance in breeding lines.

Objectives

1. Characterize leaf rust resistance in the association mapping population in field and indoor trials
2. Test the association mapping population with DNA markers spanning the entire wheat genome.
3. Indentify DNA markers associated with leaf rust resistance based upon GWAS
4. Identify the most likely leaf rust resistance genes controlling observed leaf rust resistance
5. Genomic selection (GS) models for predicting leaf rust resistance in breeding germplasm.