Implementing Genomic Selection for Development of Next Generation CPSR Wheat Cultivars

Term: 5 years, beginning in 2021

Status: Ongoing

Funding Amount: $100,000

Lead Researcher(s): Dr. Harpinder Randhawa (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

Funding Partners: Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC), Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR)

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Project Description

Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheat class was established in the mid-1980s as a lower protein alternative to Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat. Modern CPSR cultivars have hard kernel texture and strong dough properties along with very good milling performance. High flour yield is another quality which makes CPSR suitable for noodle and flatbread production. Good agronomics combined with 10-15 per cent yield advantage over CWRS and growing demand in the international market makes CPSR one of the most desirable classes in Western Canada. CPSR breeding should be accelerated in order to keep pace with growing global demand and to maintain yield advantage. Using Genomic Selection (GS), a molecular breeding tool that facilitates the selection of lines with genotypic information available only through prediction models constructed based on a training population, this project will integrate GS in routine CPSR breeding to improve traits such as grain yield, resistance to diseases, and early maturity. This will help to more rapidly develop high yielding competitive CPSR cultivars.