Increasing grain yield in CWRS wheat while maintaining grain protein levels and baking quality

Term: 3 years, beginning in 2021

Status: Ongoing

Funding Amount: $17,941

Lead Researcher(s): Dr. Pierre Hucl (University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK)

Funding Partners: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture -Agriculture Development Fund (ADF), Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC), Manitoba crop alliance (MCA), and Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF)

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Project Description

This project focuses on developing CWRS wheat cultivars that are 10-15% higher yielding while meeting protein and baking quality targets.

Genes such as Glu-B1 Bx7OE, Gpc-B1 and active Glu-A1Ay subunit seem to be promising, as they are associated with improvements in grain protein content as well as in baking quality parameters, without any apparent negative effects on grain yield.  The inclusion of these genes has been shown to have additional benefits such as balanced dough properties, increased mineral levels, and improved stripe rust resistance (because of genetic linkage). In the light of these factors, the combination of the mentioned alleles in an adapted elite genetic background could be a possible alternative to break down the negative association between grain yield and grain protein content, allowing simultaneous improvement of both traits.

Thus, Near Isogenic Lines (NILs) of CDC Landmark with four combinations of high molecular weight glutenin Glu-B1 Bx7OE subunit and the protein boosting allele at the Gpc-B1 locus will be developed and further will be evaluated in field trials for grain yield, protein concentration and baking quality. Also, the emmer wheat accessions available at the CDC for the Glu-A1Ay glutenin subunit will be screened to identify a donor and to initiate introgression of this glutenin subunit into two CWRS wheat backgrounds.

The information that will be generated from this project will address the feasibility of achieving simultaneous genetic improvement in grain yield and baking quality-related traits to develop more resource-use efficient varieties.