A Systematic Review of Durum Wheat: Enhancing Production Systems by Exploring Genotype, Environment, and Management (G × E × M) Synergies

According to the UN-FAO, agricultural production must increase by 50% by 2050 to meet global demand for food. This goal can be accomplished, in part, by the development of improved cultivars coupled with modern best management practices. Overall, wheat production on farms will have to increase significantly to meet future demand, and in the face of a changing climate that poses risk to even current rates of production. Durum wheat [Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum (Desf.)] is used largely for pasta, couscous and bulgur production. Durum producers face a range of factors spanning abiotic (frost damage, drought, and sprouting) and biotic (weed, disease, and insect pests) stresses that impact yields and quality specifications desired by export market end-users. Serious biotic threats include Fusarium head blight (FHB) and weed pest pressures, which have increased as a result of herbicide resistance. While genetic progress for yield and quality is on pace with common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), development of resistant durum cultivars to FHB is still lagging. Thus, successful biotic and abiotic threat mitigation are ideal case studies in Genotype (G) × Environment (E) × Management (M) interactions where superior cultivars (G) are grown in at-risk regions (E) and require unique approaches to management (M) for sustainable durum production. Transformational approaches to research are needed in order for agronomists, breeders and durum producers to overcome production constraints. Designing robust agronomic systems for durum demands scientific creativity and foresight based on a deep understanding of constitutive components and their innumerable interactions with each other and the environment. This encompasses development of durum production systems that suit specific agro- ecozones and close the yield gap between genetic potential and on-farm achieved yield. Advances in individual technologies (e.g., genetic improvements, new pesticides, seeding technologies) are of little benefit until they are melded into resilient G × E × M systems that will flourish in the field under unpredictable conditions of prairie farmlands. We explore how recent genetic progress and selected management innovations can lead to a resilient and transformative durum production system

Meeting the challenges facing wheat production: The strategic research agenda of the Global Wheat Initiative

Wheat occupies a special role in global food security since, in addition to providing 20% of our carbohydrates and protein, almost 25% of the global production is traded internationally. The importance of wheat for food security was recognised by the Chief Agricultural Scientists of the G20 group of countries when they endorsed the establishment of the Wheat Initiative in 2011. The Wheat Initiative was tasked with supporting the wheat research community by facilitating collaboration, information and resource sharing and helping to build the capacity to address challenges facing production in an increasingly variable environment. Many countries invest in wheat research. Innovations in wheat breeding and agronomy have delivered enormous gains over the past few decades, with the average global yield increasing from just over 1 tonne per hectare in the early 1960s to around 3.5 tonnes in the past decade. These gains are threatened by climate change, the rapidly rising financial and environmental costs of fertilizer, and pesticides, combined with declines in water availability for irrigation in many regions. The international wheat research community has worked to identify major opportunities to help ensure that global wheat production can meet demand. The outcomes of these discussions are presented in this paper

Noor hard red spring wheat

Noor hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was developed using a modified bulk breeding method at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Noor is an apically awnletted, hollow-stemmed line with a combination of high yield potential, good lodging tolerance, and medium maturity. During the three years (2016-18) of evaluation in the Parkland Wheat Cooperative test, Noor yielded 12% higher than the mean of all checks, and matured similarly to Carberry and Glenn but 3.1 and 2.6 days later than AC Splendor and Parata, respectively. Noor was 94.9 cm tall, shorter than AC Splendor (98.4cm), similar in height to Glenn (94.0cm) and Parata (93.5cm) but taller than Carberry (86.0 cm). The lodging score of Noor (2.1) was lower than Parata (3.0) and AC Splendor (3.0) but similar to Carberry (2.3) and Glenn (2.1). The test weight (kg hL-1) of Noor (80.0) was higher than AC Splendor (78.6), similar to Carberry (80.2) and Parata (80.4) but lower than Glenn (82.2). Grain weight (35 g) and NIR Protein of Noor (14.1%) was lower than all checks. Overall, Noor was rated resistant (R) to the prevalent races of leaf, stem and stripe rusts during the three years of testing. Noor was rated Intermediate (I) to common bunt and Fusarium head blight. Three years of end-use quality evaluation indicated that Noor is acceptable for the Canada Western Red Spring class, with fewer flags.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Zealand hard red spring wheat

Zealand hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was developed using a modified bulk breeding method at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Zealand is apically awn-letted, hollow-stemmed cultivar with a combination of high yield potential, tall plant type, large leaves and early maturity. In three years of testing in the Western Bread Wheat Cooperative Registration Test during 2013-15, Zealand exhibited grain yield similar to Glenn and Carberry, and 5-6% lower than Unity and AAC Viewfield, though this difference was not significant (P > 0.05). Zealand yielded 37 % greater than the highest yielding CWRS check cultivar CDC Osler in A-level testing at a certified organic farm. Zealand matured 1-4 days earlier than the check cultivars, and was taller than all checks but exhibited lodging resistance better than Unity and similar to the other checks. Test weight of Zealand (79.1 kg hL-1) was lower than Glenn and similar to the other checks, while seed mass was in the range of the check cultivars. Overall, Zealand was rated resistant (R) to the prevalent races of leaf rust , moderately resistant (MR) to stripe rust and loose smut; intermediate (I) to stem rust and leaf spot, and moderately susceptible (MS) to common bunt and Fusarium head blight. Three years of end-use quality evaluation indicated that Zealand is acceptable for the Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) class, with relatively few weaknesses. The tall plant type, large leaves and early maturity render Zealand suitable for organic / high weed environments.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

The Effects of Split Application of Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers on Non-Winter Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Winter Wheat

This study tested if non-winter cumulative nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, emission factors, and yield-scaled N2O emissions were affected by split application of enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizers in a rain-fed winter wheat crop. Based on initial soil tests, fertilizers were applied at 84 kg N ha−1 in year 1 and 72 kg N ha−1 in year 2. Two trials were completed each year. Trial 1 applied (1) urea, (2) urea with nitrification inhibitor, (3) nitrification and urease inhibitors, and (4) polymer-coated urea as (1) 100% side-banded at planting, 30% side-banded at planting and (2) 70% surface-applied in late fall, or (3) 70% surface-applied in spring at Feekes growth stage 4 (GS4). Trial 2 applied (1) urea–ammonium nitrate (UAN), (2) UAN treated with nitrification inhibitor, (3) urease inhibitor, (4) a combination of both, (5) granular urea, and (6) polymer-coated urea, all applied 50% side-banded at planting and 50% surface-applied at GS4. Cumulative N2O emissions from fertilized soils ranged from 0.101 to 0.433 kg N ha−1. The emission factors for trial 1 were greater in year 1 than year 2 (P ≤ 0.05). There were no treatment differences in cumulative N2O emissions in trial 2. However, cumulative N2O emissions, emission factors, and yield-scaled N2O emissions from trial 1 were higher when fertilizer was split-applied in late fall compared with at GS4 (all P ≤ 0.05). This study demonstrates that under best management practices, it is better to apply the required rate in the form of conventional fertilizer at planting rather than split application.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Optimal Agronomics Increase Grain Yield and Grain Yield Stability of Ultra-Early Wheat Seeding Systems

Ultra-early seeding of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on the northern Great Plains can increase grain yield and grain yield stability compared to current spring wheat planting systems. Field trials were conducted in western Canada from 2015 to 2018 to evaluate the impact of optimal agronomic management on grain yield, quality, and stability in ultra-early wheat seeding systems. Four planting times initiated by soil temperature triggers were evaluated. The earliest planting was triggered when soils reached 0–2.5 °C at a 5 cm depth, with the subsequent three plantings completed at 2.5 °C intervals up to soil temperatures of 10 °C. Two spring wheat lines were seeded at each planting date at two seeding depths (2.5 and 5 cm), and two seeding rates (200 and 400 seeds m−2). The greatest grain yield and stability occurred from combinations of the earliest seeding dates, high seeding rate, and shallow seeding depth; wheat line did not influence grain yield. Grain protein content was greater at later seeding dates; however, the greater grain yield at earlier seeding dates resulted in more protein production per unit area. Despite extreme ambient air temperatures below 0 °C after planting, plant survival was not reduced at the earliest seeding dates. Planting wheat as soon as feasible after soil temperatures reach 0 °C, and prior to soils reaching 7.5–10 °C, at an optimal seeding rate and shallow seeding depth increased grain yield and stability compared to current seeding practices. Adopting ultra-early wheat seeding systems on the northern Great Plains will lead to additional grain yield benefits as climate change continues to increase annual average growing season temperatures

The role of genetics, growth habit, and cultural practices in the mitigation of Fusarium head blight

Field trials were conducted under natural infection and artificial inoculation from 2012 to 2014 at seven sites across the Canadian Prairies to determine genetic and management effects on Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat production systems. A system of management, which consisted of 1) a control of no fungicide was compared to 2) the seed treatment (ST) thiamathoxam+difenoconazole+metal-axyl-M+S-isomer, 3) an in-crop foliar fungicide (tebuconazole+prothioconazole), or 4) ST+foliar fungicide, was integrated with four wheat cultivars of contrasting growth habit and differential levels of FHB resistance. Results indicated the moderately resistant cultivars, Carberry (spring wheat) and Emerson (winter wheat), were superior over susceptible cultivars Harvest (spring wheat) and CDC Falcon (winter wheat) in reducing Fusarium damaged kernel (FDK) and deoxynivalenol (DON) levels, and displayed higher yield under high Fusarium pressure. Winter wheat displayed higher overall yield with Emerson producing the highest and most stable yields across environments. Application of foliar fungicide, with or without the ST, increased grain yield, kernel weight and test weight; and lowered FDK and DON. Seed treatment alone increased test weight, spring plant density of both winter wheat varieties, and kernel weight in Emerson. A management strategy of foliar fungicide and/or ST+foliar fungicide generally produced higher yields with usually greater stability, particularly for susceptible cultivars in high FHB environments. The results of this study reinforce that integration of FHB resistant cultivars with proper cultural practices is required and further enhanced with a winter vs. spring growth habit to reduce the risk of FHB and to optimize grain yield.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Optimal Agronomics Increase Grain Yield and Grain Yield Stability of Ultra-Early Wheat Seeding Systems

Ultra-early seeding of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on the northern Great Plains can increase grain yield and grain yield stability compared to current spring wheat planting systems. Field trials were conducted in western Canada from 2015 to 2018 to evaluate the impact of optimal agronomic management on grain yield, quality, and stability in ultra-early wheat seeding systems. Four planting times initiated by soil temperature triggers were evaluated. The earliest planting was triggered when soils reached 0–2.5 °C at a 5 cm depth, with the subsequent three plantings completed at 2.5 °C intervals up to soil temperatures of 10 °C. Two spring wheat lines were seeded at each planting date at two seeding depths (2.5 and 5 cm), and two seeding rates (200 and 400 seeds m−2). The greatest grain yield and stability occurred from combinations of the earliest seeding dates, high seeding rate, and shallow seeding depth; wheat line did not influence grain yield. Grain protein content was greater at later seeding dates; however, the greater grain yield at earlier seeding dates resulted in more protein production per unit area. Despite extreme ambient air temperatures below 0 °C after planting, plant survival was not reduced at the earliest seeding dates. Planting wheat as soon as feasible after soil temperatures reach 0 °C, and prior to soils reaching 7.5–10 °C, at an optimal seeding rate and shallow seeding depth increased grain yield and stability compared to current seeding practices. Adopting ultra-early wheat seeding systems on the northern Great Plains will lead to additional grain yield benefits as climate change continues to increase annual average growing season temperatures

An Artificial Neural Network Model to Predict Wheat Stem Sawfly Cutting in Solid-Stemmed Wheat Cultivars

The wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae), is a major pest of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the northern Great Plains of North America. The use of solid-stemmed cultivars helps mitigate crop losses and can also affect the survivorship of C. cinctus. The efficacy of ‘resistance’ is based on the plant’s ability to develop pith in the culm of the stem, which is influenced greatly by interactions between the genotype and the environment. Precipitation-related weather interacts with photoperiod to reduce pith expression in solid-stemmed wheat. A model that predicts pith expression could serve as a management tool to prevent losses by alerting producers if in-season precipitation patterns have caused less than ideal pith expression in a cultivar. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models are used to make predictions for complex, non-linear systems with many co-related variables. Our objective was to improve upon past models that used regression analyses by deploying an ANN model to predict in-season stem cutting of wheat by wheat stem sawfly. Results indicate that stem cutting is influenced by the precipitation within a 5-wk period from June 1 to July 5. These results were successfully deployed in a model that should assist with predictions of potential late season stem cutting. Deployment of this ANN model as a transferable executable file may facilitate predictions of stem cutting by wheat stem sawfly in any given year, which will empower producers to implement the appropriate harvest management strategies to reduce losses.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author