A Field-Based Analysis of Genetic Improvement for Grain Yield in Winter Wheat Cultivars Developed in the US Central Plains from 1992 to 2014

Progress in plant breeding programs is the result of creating and selecting new lines with novel allele combinations that perform better than their parents. This year-on-year improvement is known as genetic gain and is a function of genetic diversity, selection accuracy, selection intensity, and selection cycle time. To estimate the gain in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding in the US Central Plains, lines that were submitted to the collaborative Southern Regional Performance Nursery (SRPN) between 1992 and 2014 were grown in a common nursery for 3 yr at two locations in a single-replicate augmented block design. Moderate to high broad-sense heritability was observed for plant height (H2 = 0.88), heading date (H2 = 0.79), and grain yield (H2 = 0.41). From the common grow-out, genetic gain for yield over the time period was estimated at 1.1% yr−1, whereas individual breeding program genetic gain varied between 0.3 and 1.9% yr−1. Increases in Kansas state on-farm yields during the same period showed a nonsignificant trend of 0.13% yr−1 with large year-to-year variation. These results suggest that although progress is being made in US Central Plains breeding programs, a yield gap remains that could be attributable to genetic progress not being realized in on-farm production

Genomic Analysis and Prediction within a US Public Collaborative Winter Wheat Regional Testing Nursery

The development of inexpensive, whole-genome profiling enables a transition to allele-based breeding using genomic prediction models. These models consider alleles shared between lines to predict phenotypes and select new lines based on estimated breeding values. This approach can leverage highly unbalanced datasets that are common to breeding programs. The Southern Regional Performance Nursery (SRPN) is a public nursery established by the USDA–ARS in 1931 to characterize performance and quality of near-release wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties from breeding programs in the US Central Plains. New entries are submitted annually and can be re-entered only once. The trial is grown at \u3e30 locations each year and lines are evaluated for grain yield, disease resistance, and agronomic traits. Overall genetic gain is measured across years by including common check cultivars for comparison. We have generated whole-genome profiles via genotyping-bysequencing (GBS) for 939 SPRN entries dating back to 1992 to explore the potential use of the nursery as a genomic selection (GS) training population (TP). The GS prediction models across years (average r = 0.33) outperformed year-to-year phenotypic correlation for yield (r = 0.27) for a majority of the years evaluated, suggesting that genomic selection has the potential to outperform low heritability selection on yield in these highly variable environments. We also examined the predictability of programs using both program-specific and whole-set TPs. Generally, the predictability of a program was similar with both approaches. These results suggest that wheat breeding programs can collaboratively leverage the immense datasets that are generated from regional testing networks

Occurrence of the Waxy Alleles \u3ci\u3ewxa\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3ewxb\u3c/i\u3e in Waxy Sorghum Plant Introductions and Their Effect on Starch Thermal Properties

The existence of two waxy alleles, wxa associated with no detectable granule bound starch synthase (GBSS) and wxb associated with apparently inactive GBSS, was recently reported in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. In this paper, the occurrence of the wxa and wxb alleles in the USDA-ARS photoperiod-insensitive sorghum collection was determined, and the effects of the wxa and wxballeles on thermal properties of sorghum starch (gelatinization temperatures and energy requirements) measured by differential scanning calorimetry. Of the 51 purported waxy accessions examined, 14 tested positive for presence of amylose by iodine staining and were considered to be previously misclassified wild type lines. Nine accessions were mixed for presence or absence of amylose. Twenty-four of the 28 accessions confirmed to be waxy by negative iodine staining for amylose had no detectable GBSS using sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) (wxa), and four were show to contain GBSS (wxb). Mean gelatinization onset, peak, and end temperatures were significantly lower for wild-type than either of the two waxy genotypes. Mean gelatinization onset temperature was slightly higher for waxy-GBSS+ genotypes than waxy-GBSS− genotypes. Mean gelatinization end temperature was slightly higher for waxy-GBSS− genotypes than waxy-GBSS+ genotypes. Significant genetic variation was observed within genotypic classes, suggesting influence of additional modifier genes affecting sorghum starch structure or micro-environmental effects

Occurrence of the Waxy Alleles \u3ci\u3ewxa\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3ewxb\u3c/i\u3e in Waxy Sorghum Plant Introductions and Their Effect on Starch Thermal Properties

The existence of two waxy alleles, wxa associated with no detectable granule bound starch synthase (GBSS) and wxb associated with apparently inactive GBSS, was recently reported in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. In this paper, the occurrence of the wxa and wxb alleles in the USDA-ARS photoperiod-insensitive sorghum collection was determined, and the effects of the wxa and wxballeles on thermal properties of sorghum starch (gelatinization temperatures and energy requirements) measured by differential scanning calorimetry. Of the 51 purported waxy accessions examined, 14 tested positive for presence of amylose by iodine staining and were considered to be previously misclassified wild type lines. Nine accessions were mixed for presence or absence of amylose. Twenty-four of the 28 accessions confirmed to be waxy by negative iodine staining for amylose had no detectable GBSS using sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) (wxa), and four were show to contain GBSS (wxb). Mean gelatinization onset, peak, and end temperatures were significantly lower for wild-type than either of the two waxy genotypes. Mean gelatinization onset temperature was slightly higher for waxy-GBSS+ genotypes than waxy-GBSS− genotypes. Mean gelatinization end temperature was slightly higher for waxy-GBSS− genotypes than waxy-GBSS+ genotypes. Significant genetic variation was observed within genotypic classes, suggesting influence of additional modifier genes affecting sorghum starch structure or micro-environmental effects

Octapartite negative-sense RNA genome of \u3c/i\u3eHigh Plains wheat mosaic virus\u3c/i\u3e encodes two suppressors of RNA silencing

High Plains wheat mosaic virus (HPWMoV, genus Emaravirus; family Fimoviridae), transmitted by the wheat curl mite (Aceria tosichella Keifer), harbors a monocistronic octapartite single-stranded negative-sense RNA genome. In this study, putative proteins encoded by HPWMoV genomic RNAs 2–8 were screened for potential RNA silencing suppression activity by using a green fluorescent protein-based reporter agroinfiltration assay. We found that proteins encoded by RNAs 7 (P7) and 8 (P8) suppressed silencing induced by single- or doublestranded RNAs and efficiently suppressed the transitive pathway of RNA silencing. Additionally, a Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV, genus Tritimovirus; family Potyviridae) mutant lacking the suppressor of RNA silencing (ΔP1) but having either P7 or P8 from HPWMoV restored cell-to-cell and long-distance movement in wheat, thus indicating that P7 or P8 rescued silencing suppressor-deficient WSMV. Furthermore, HPWMoV P7 and P8 substantially enhanced the pathogenicity of Potato virus X in Nicotiana benthamiana. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the octapartite genome of HPWMoV encodes two suppressors of RNA silencing

Functionality of chemically modified wild-type, partial waxy and waxy starches from tetraploid wheats

Partial waxy (reduced-amylose) and fully waxy (amylose-free) tetraploid durum wheats (Triticum turgidum L. var durum) were developed by introgression of null alleles at the Wx-A1 and Wx-B1 loci from common hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Purified starches were obtained from each genotype, and chemically modified by: 1) cross-linking with phosphorus oxychloride, 2) substitution with propylene oxide, and 3) sequential cross-linking with phosphorus oxychloride followed by substitution with propylene oxide. Functional properties were compared to blends of waxy and wild-type durum starches of known amylose contents. Significant differences in functionality were observed amongst the genotypes and blends after each modification. Waxy (0% amylose) and wild-type (30% amylose) typically were at the extremes of the observed ranges of functional properties. In general, the functional properties of the chemically modified starches were dependent upon amylose content. Starches from Wx-B1 null lines (24% amylose), were an exception. After substitution, such starches had the significantly highest value for RVA final viscosity, and generally performed in a manner similar to starch blends of 12-18% amylose

Yield and Agronomic Traits of Waxy Proso in the Central Great Plains

Proso (Panicum miliaceum L.) is a summer annual grass capable of producing seed in 60 to 90 d. This characteristic, and its efficient use of water, makes it well suited to the short, and often hot and dry, growing season in the high plains of the central Great Plains. The introduction of novel end-use characteristics such as waxy starch can stimulate an increased market for proso. We evaluated 18 experimental F5 waxy lines derived from a cross of ‘Huntsman’ and PI436626 across seven locations. Genotype × environment variation in waxy proso was mostly a matter of changes in magnitude and not crossover interaction. When crossover interaction was implicated, it was generally slight and occurred at lower environmental means—at locations with low mean response to any given variable. Waxy progeny mean yield was lower than Huntsman but significantly higher than PI436626. Except for test weight, waxy progeny mean response for most traits was similar to check cultivars. Mean yield of one experimental line did not differ significantly from Huntsman, and 14 did not differ significantly from ‘Horizon’, the second highest yielding cultivar. In addition, regression analysis suggests that top-yielding waxy lines responded well to high-yield environments. Seed sizes for all waxy lines were smaller than the check lines, but most were significantly larger than PI436626. Waxy lines generally headed at a similar time to Huntsman and the other non-waxy checks, and most were significantly earlier than PI436626. Late maturity of PI436626 was the main factor limiting its culture in the High Plains region

Identification of markers linked to genes for sprouting tolerance (independent of grain color) in hard white winter wheat (HWWW)

Key message Hard red wheats can donate genes to hard white wheats for tolerance to preharvest sprouting, the effects are quantitative in nature, and may be tracked with previously described DNA markers. Abstract Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) can negatively impact end-use quality and seed viability at planting. Due to preferences for white over red wheat in international markets, white wheat with PHS tolerance has become increasingly desired for worldwide wheat production. In general, however, red wheat is more tolerant of sprouting than white wheat. The main objective of this study was the identification of PHS tolerance conditioned by genes donated from hard red winter wheat, using markers applicable to the Great Plains hard white wheat gene pool. Three red wheat by white wheat populations, Niobrara/NW99L7068, NE98466/NW99L7068 and Jagalene/ NW99L7068 were developed, and white-seeded progenies were analyzed for PHS tolerance and used to identify markers for the trait. In the three populations, marker loci with significant allelic effects were most commonly located on chromosomes of group 2, 3, 4 and 5, though additional markers were detected across the wheat genome. Chromosome 3A was the only chromosome with significant markers in all three populations. Markers were inconsistent across the three populations, and markers linked to tolerance-inducing loci were identified in both tolerant and susceptible parents. Additive effects of marker loci were common. In the present investigation, a wide range of PHS tolerance was observed, even though all lines were fixed for the recently reported positive TaPHS1 allele. PHS tolerance is controlled by additive major gene effects with minor gene effects where variations of minor gene effects were still unclear

Near infrared hyperspectral imaging of blends of conventional and waxy hard wheats

Recent development of hard winter waxy (amylose-free) wheat adapted to the North American climate has prompted the quest to find a rapid method that will determine mixture levels of conventional wheat in lots of identity preserved waxy wheat. Previous work documented the use of conventional near infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy to determine the mixture level of conventional wheat in waxy wheat, with an examined range, through binary sample mixture preparation, of 0–100% (weight conventional / weight total). The current study examines the ability of NIR hyperspectral imaging of intact kernels to determine mixture levels. Twenty-nine mixtures (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, …, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100%) were formed from known genotypes of waxy and conventional wheat. Two-class partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) and statistical pattern recognition classifier models were developed for identifying each kernel in the images as conventional or waxy. Along with these approaches, conventional PLS1 regression modelling was performed on means of kernel spectra within each mixture test sample. Results indicated close agreement between all three approaches, with standard errors of prediction for the better preprocess transformations (PLSDA models) or better classifiers (pattern recognition models) of approximately 9 percentage units. Although such error rates were slightly greater than ones previously published using non-imaging NIR analysis of bulk whole kernel wheat and wheat meal, the HSI technique offers an advantage of its potential use in sorting operations