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The solvent retention capacity (SRC) test uses the ability of flour to retain a range of solvents as a means of evaluating economically important aspects of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) quality. Guttieri and Souza (1628–1633) evaluated three soft spring wheat populations for SRC and traditional soft wheat quality to assess SRC use in wheat breeding. The variation within populations for individual SRC tests was large and reproducible. In all three populations, SRC tests measuring flour damaged starch and flour pentosan content were negatively correlated with cookie diameter. This suggests that milling and baking quality could be improved through selection with the SRC test.
Fusarium graminearum Infection during Wheat Seed Development
Fusarium head blight [FHB, caused by Fusarium graminearum (Schwabe)] has been shown to lower wheat yield and grain quality. Argyris et al. (1782–1788) conducted field studies to investigate the effect of FHB infection during seed development on seed germination, vigor, and the presence of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol. Under severe disease pressure, FHB seed infection increased from low levels (<20%) shortly after flowering to >98% at seed maturity in varieties that were susceptible and resistant to Type II FHB infection. This resulted in unacceptable seed quality (germination and vigor) for planting purposes and unacceptable grain quaility because of high levels of the mycotoxin. Thus, FHB resistance offers little advantage to seed producers in reducing seed infection and improving seed quality during severe FHB epidemics.
Understanding the Effect of Rye Chromatin in Bread Wheat
Chromosome translocations from rye (Secale cereale L.), especially those involving group 1 chromosomes, have been used widely to improve the agronomic performance wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). However, it has been impossible to separate the effect of the introduction of rye chromosome arms from the absence of the replaced wheat chromosome arm. Kumlay et al. (1643–1651), using ditelsomic lines, whole rye chromosome substitution lines, and numerous translocations, determined the contribution of individual chromosome arms to agronomic and end-use quality parameters. The group 1 long arms were more important to end-use quality than the short arms, and the negative impact of all translocations of 1RS was far greater than of the absence of the corresponding 1S arms of wheat. This demonstrates that introgression of 1RS reduces end-use quality. Both the source of the rye chromosome arm and its position in the wheat genome affected agronomic performance and quality, which suggest that it may be possible to create new translocations of 1RS in wheat with improved performance.
Cytogenetic Analysis of Festuca
New genetic materials have been produced by Cao et al. (1659–1662) with the aim of introducing the drought tolerance genes from wild species of Festuca mairei St. Yves into cultivated tall fescue. The possible genetic recombination is the prerequisite for the gene introgression. The cytogenetic investigation of the synthesized materials in the study indicated that the genomes of F. mairei readily recombine with the genomes of tall fescue. The fertility of the amphiploid between F. mairei and Lolium perenne L. was improved significantly compared with the F1 hybrids. Thus, it is ready to use the amphiploid to improve the persistence of tall fescue through the chromatin introgression of F. mairei.
Selection of High-Methionine Maize
Increasing the kernel methionine level of maize (Zea mays L.) grain is of interest for improving the feed value for poultry nutrition. Utilizing the high-methionine inbred line BSSS53 as a donor parent, Olsen et al. (1634–1642) selected backcross-derived versions of A632, B73, and Mo17 with elevated kernel methionine levels. Testcross hybrids made by crossing high-methionine selections also exhibited increased kernel methionine levels, and the methionine level of B73/Mo17 was improved by 42%. Increased whole-kernel methionine levels of inbreds and testcross hybrids demonstrates both the potential of phenotypic selection for increased methionine and the utility of BSSS53 as a donor source.
Development of Smooth Bromegrass Following Spring Grazing
Quantifying the effects of early spring grazing on the growth and regrowth of smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) and associated impacts on forage quality traits was the goal of this study. Brueland et al. (1789–1796) conducted a multiple-year study in central Iowa to determine if an optimum time or growth stage could be identified for spring grazing initiation. Smooth bromegrass swards were grazed, sampled, and analyzed. Mean stage count as a prediction system for forage quality and as an indicator for timing of grazing initiation was also evaluated. Results indicated that forage quality was minimally impacted by timing of grazing, and by the end of the study development was equivalent among all treatments. This study indicated that initiation of grazing when one fully collared leaf per tiller was present resulted in an early start for pasturing livestock with limited impact on the grass sward.
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