R. M. DePauw

Strongfield durum wheat

Strongfield durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var durum) is adapted to the durum production area of the southern Canadian prairies. It combines high yield, high grain protein concentration, and low grain cadmium concentration. Strongfield has shorter, stronger straw than Kyle, and has similar maturity and disease resistance to other currently registered durum cultivars. Key words: Triticum turgidum L. var durum, durum wheat, cultivar description, yield, protein, disease resistance

Lillian hard red spring wheat

Lillian, hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), exhibited reduced cutting by the wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus Nort.) and is adapted to the Canadian prairies. Lillian produced significantly more grain yield than AC Abbey and Neepawa and its grain yield and protein concentration were similar to AC Barrie. It matured significantly earlier than Superb and Laura, and had improved resistance to leaf rust and leaf spotting diseases compared to AC Abbey. Lillian is eligible for all grades of the Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat class. Key words: Triticum aestivum L., cultivar description, grain yield and protein, resistance wheat stem sawfly, leaf and stem rust

Shifting undesirable correlations

Wheat functions as a complex well-integrated organism with adaptation to many environments. Traits of wheat may be correlated to each other in a positive or a negative manner. The direction of the correlation is independent of breeding objectives and may change from one production environment to another. Grain yield is correlated positively with time to maturity in environments without terminal stress. The negative correlation between grain yield and grain protein concentration exemplifies an undesirable relationship in a wheat quality type in which protein concentration is positively correlated with bread loaf volume. However, this same correlation has an advantage to those end-products that are favored by low protein concentration such as confectionary products. To shift the negative correlation between grain yield and protein concentration requires assembling a more photosynthetically efficient, nitrogen-use efficient and\or water-use efficient genotype in combination or separately. Simultaneous selection for quantitative and quality traits is a breeding strategy, which with the inclusion of marker assisted selection, can shift undesirable correlations.

Inheritance of yellow pigment concentration in seven durum wheat crosses

Yellow pigment concentration of the endosperm due to the presence of xanthophyll and other related compounds is an important processing quality characteristic in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum). There is also interest in plant pigments for health reasons because lutein, a major component of durum grain pigment, may play a role in prevention of age-related macular degen eration. Selection for pigment concentration of durum wheat is thus an important breeding objective. Clarification of environmental effects and the mode of inheritance would aid planning of crosses and selection strategies to improve pigment concentration. This study evaluated seven durum wheat crosses of high by low pigment concentration parents in five field trials grown at two or more locations for 2 or more years in western Canada. Pigment concentration varied with environment. A portion of the variability could be ascribed to environmental effects on kernel weight, which tended to be negatively correlated with pigment con...

AC Navigator durum wheat

AC Navigator durum wheat is adapted to the Brown and Dark Brown soil zones of the Canadian prairies. It combines high yield with strong gluten properties. It is a semidwarf with shorter straw than all other registered cultivars in Canada, and has similar maturity to Kyle. Key words: Triticum turgidum L. var durum, durum wheat, cultivar description, yield, protein, disease resistance

AC Avonlea durum wheat

AC Avonlea durum wheat is adapted to the durum production area of the southern Canadian prairies. It combines high yield with high grain protein concentration. It has shorter, stronger straw than Kyle and Plenty, and has similar maturity and disease resistance. Key words: Triticum turgidum L. var durum, durum wheat, cultivar description, yield, protein, disease resistance

Commander durum wheat

Commander durum wheat is adapted to the durum production area of the Canadian prairies. It combines high yield, high grain pigment concentration, and very strong gluten properties. Commander is a semidwarf with strong straw, and has similar maturity and disease resistance to other registered durum cultivars. Key words: Triticum turgidum L. var durum, durum wheat, cultivar description, yield, gluten strength, disease resistance

AC Crystal red spring wheat

AC Crystal is a red-seeded spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In combining high grain yield and resistance to prevalent races of common bunt in a semidwarf, photoperiod-insensitive background it is similar to AC Taber. It has improvements relative to AC Taber: resistance to prevalent races of loose smut, except race T9, and stronger gluten properties. AC Crystal has improved resistance to leaf spots compared to Neepawa, AC Karma, and AC Foremost. It is eligible for grades of the Canada Prairie Spring (Red) wheat class. Key words: Triticum aestivum L., cultivar description, loose smut resistance, common bunt resistance, high yield, red spring wheat

AC Pathfinder durum wheat

AC Pathfinder durum wheat is adapted to the Brown and Dark Brown soil zones of the Canadian prairies. It combines high yield with strong gluten properties. It has shorter, stronger straw than Kyle. Key words: Triticum turgidum L. var. durum, durum wheat, cultivar description, yield, protein, disease resistance