Breeding field-ready Canada Western Red Spring cultivars for the eastern Prairies

This project is funded through the Canadian National Wheat Cluster.

  • Term:  5 years, ending in 2023

  • Status: Ongoing

  • Funding Amount: $285,868

  • Lead Researcher(s): Dr. Santosh Kumar (Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon)

  • Funding Partners: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Alberta Wheat Commission, Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association, Western Grains Research Foundation,

Project Description

Due to higher rainfall and temperatures in the Eastern Prairies, disease problems including leaf rust and fusarium head blight (FHB) occur annually, in addition to problems caused by the orange wheat-blossom midge. This project will develop CWRS cultivars that combine FHB resistance, broad-spectrum rust resistance, common bunt and loose smut resistance, and midge tolerance into the semi-dwarf genotypes that have high protein levels and are high yielding, as well as contribute to novel germplasm development of CWRS wheat for sustainable production of disease resistant high-quality export wheat.

Variety Development, Pests & Disease, FHB, Wheat MidgeSask Wheat2018-2019, All Projects