Reed Canarygrass in Alaska

North American strains of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) frequently sustain severe winter injury or total winterkill in southcentral Alaska. Objectives of this study were to compare reed canarygrass strains adapted to extreme northern latitudes in Europe with North American cultivars for winter-hardiness and forage production in Alaska

Circular 101

This study was made possible by the financial support of the Alaska Science and Technology Foundation

Circular 82

The development of improved plant cultivars is accomplished through comprehensive plant breeding programs. Such programs: 1) evaluate genetically-diverse germplasm in order to identify superior-performing genotypes; 2) create new genetic recombinations from crosses or other means using selected parental genotypes; 3) evaluate segregating progeny from these families while exerting selection pressure for desirable characteristics; and 4) identify superior-performing genotypes in yield trials conducted in multiple environments. This circular documents the current status of research in cultivar development associated with the Alaska barley breeding program

Circular 111

In 1995, 27 head lettuce varieties were evaluated in a replicated study at the Palmer Research Center, and two growers’ fields in the Matanuska Valley. The 15 varieties that performed best in 1995 were selected for evaluation in 1996 and 1997. The performance of those 15 varieties in 1997 is summarized in this report. Results from the 1995 and 1996 trials may be found in UAF circulars 106 and 108 respectively

Circular 92

The development of improved plant cultivars is accomplished through comprehensive plant breeding programs. Such programs: 1) evaluate promising germplasm to identify superior-performing genotypes for use as parents; 2) create new genetic recombinations from these selected parental genotypes using crossing or other means; 3) evaluate segregating progeny from the resulting families while exerting selection pressure for desirable characteristics; and 4) identify superior-performing cultivars in yield trials conducted across multiple environments. This circular documents the current status of research in cultivar development associated with the Alaska barley breeding program

Circular 85

The development of improved plant cultivars is accomplished through comprehensive plant breeding programs. Such programs: 1) evaluate promising germplasm to identify superior-performing genotypes for use as parents; 2) create new genetic recombinations from these selected parental genotypes using crossing or other means; 3) evaluate segregating progeny from the resulting families while exerting selection pressure for desirable characteristics; and 4) identify superior-performing cultivars in yield trials conducted across multiple environments. This circular documents the current status of research in cultivar development associated with the Alaska barley breeding program

INHERITANCE OF SUBCROWN INTERNODE LENGTH IN WINTER BARLEY AND RELATED STUDIES INVOLVING WINTERHARDINESS

The inheritance of subcrown internode length in the winter barley cross NE62203 x MO B2632 was investigated as a component for increasing winter survival. Mean subcrown internode lengths of NE62203 and MO B2632 were 0.2 and 4.3 cm, respectively. F(,2) plants segregated in a continuous distribution except for 13% which were in the 0.0 to 0.5 cm class. Heritability estimates, calculated by the variance of F(,2) plants method and parent-offspring regression of F(,3) family means on F(,2) plants, were 85.3 and 86.9%, respectively. The high heritability of this character indicates that selection for short subcrown-internode length should be effective. Results from generation means analysis showed that additive gene effects accounted for 95.0% of the total genetic variation. However, significant dominance, additive x additive epistasis, and additive x dominance epistasis were also detected. Controlled environment tests investigating a genotype x environment interaction for field winter survival in winter barley were conducted. The variety Kearney dehardened at a faster rate, and had a greater reduction in survival at high crown-moisture contents that the three Nebraska lines tested. The differential effects of crown moisture content on cold injury in the cultivars studied could explain the genotype x environment interaction for field winter survival. Production studies conducted at two Nebraska locations for 3 years demonstrated that winter barley yields obtained with no-tillage were comparable to those obtained with conventional tillage. Fourier (harmonic) analysis was performed on soil temperature data measured at two depths under no-tillage and conventional tillage and temperature prediction equations were computed. Soil temperature fluctuations were smaller and minimum temperatures were warmer with no-tillage compared to conventional tillage. This was due to a more compact soil and the presence of protective residue with no-till. Because minimum soil temperatures at the depth of crown formation with no-tillage were often significantly warmer ((GREATERTHEQ) 2.0 C) than those with conventional tillage, the practice of no-tillage should increase winter survival

Research Progress Report, No. 35

This report presents results from the third and final trial of a three-year study by the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (AFES) investigating the use of Alaska-grown whole-seed canola in dairy cattle diets.This research was made possible by funding from the Alaska Science & Technology Foundation; the cooperation of Delta Junction producers Dennis Green and Paul Knopp; C.W. Knight of AFES; Don Quarberg of ACE; Ron Kincaid of Washington State Univ; Paul Windschitl of GTA Feeds; and the AFES dairy barn crew and laboratory personnel