Project Number: 5430-21000-005-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jul 19, 2003
End Date: Jun 22, 2008

Objective:
The goal of this project is to develop and provide genetic solutions to several economically important biotic and abiotic stress problems in hard winter wheat. The focus is on several recalcitrant and/or emerging problems. The objectives of this project are: 1) Enhance resistance of wheat to leaf rust; 2) Enhance resistance of wheat to Hessian fly; 3) Enhance resistance of wheat to Karnal bunt, 4) Enhance resistance of wheat to Fusarium head blight, 5) Enhance wheat post-anthesis heat tolerance; and 6) Develop improved methods of marker-assisted selection of wheat. PDRAM #72 new funds ($135,000) will expand the scope of current Objective 6: Develop improved methods of marker-assisted selection in wheat. Research in Objective 6 on wheat genotyping is to be expanded on developing innovative approaches to obtain reliable DNA markers utilizing genome characterization. This includes a new pilot project to determine if single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in wheat can be identified. PDRAM #108 new funds ($72,000) will expand the scope of Objective 3: Enhance resistance of wheat to Karnal bunt. Expand research to identify new sources of resistance or tolerance to Karnal bunt and introgress them into adapted hard winter wheat germplasm. This will include developing new innovative methods to identify molecular markers and developing new genetic resources to speed-up integration.

Approach:
Our approach is: A) Identify new sources of resistance or tolerance and introgress them into adapted hard winter wheat germplasm; B) Develop new molecular markers and methods for marker-assisted selection for these traits; C) Develop information about: i) host plant resistance or tolerance genes, and ii) parasite avirulence, virulence, or aggressiveness genes and/or parasite variability that will contribute to resistance gene discovery or improved strategies for selection or utilization of resistance or tolerance genes; and D) Provide resistant adapted germplasm, molecular markers, genotyping data, and improved selection methods or strategies to public and private wheat breeders for use in producing new varieties with multiple resistances or tolerances to biotic and abiotic stresses.