Small Grains Tour

Issue 9
September 1997
Scab research major focus of small grains tour

by Tracy Sayler

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Prairie Grains is the
official publication of
the Minnesota
Association of
Wheat Growers,
North Dakota Grain
Growers Association,
South Dakota Wheat,
Inc., and the
Minnesota Barley
Growers Association.

Research progress on solving Fusarium head blight, or scab, was the major focus of a small grains tour held this summer at the Northwest Experiment Station (NWES) near Crookston, Minn. About 300 people turned out for the event, which was sponsored by the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council.
Crop scientists from the University of Minnesota, North Dakota State University, South Dakota State University, and Agriculture Canada discussed their efforts in breeding wheat and barley varieties that have better resistance to Fusarium head blight, or scab.
It's no easy process: wheat and barley lines from throughout the world are screened, and germplasm that shows resistance to scab is isolated. This material must then be bred into a wheat or barley variety without losing other key agronomic characteristics, such as protein, yield, and resistance to other diseases such as rust. Seed from promising varieties must also be increased.
Breeding a new variety can take as long as ten years, although new breeding techniques developed specifically for scab may shorten the process. New scab-resistant spring wheat and barley varieties are about two to four years away from being released.
"Scab is not a Minnesota problem; it's a regional problem, and a world problem," said John Wiersma NWES agronomist. That's why many lines from throughout the region are evaluated for scab susceptibility through a misting system at the station's scab nursery, which Wiersma manages. The nursery is a direct result of the accelerated scab research initiative, which the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers and Minnesota Barley Growers Association elevated as a priority
Also during the tour, Albert Sims, NWES soils specialist, discussed his evaluation of how nitrogen from sugarbeet tops may benefit small grains. "Right now data is limited, but our hope down the line is to determine how beet tops may be used for the following wheat crop, and allow the grower to save a little bit of money on his fertilizer bill," said Sims.
Jochum Wiersma (no relation to John Wiersma), U of M small grains specialist, discussed his research on optimum seeding rates for different varieties. He is finding that the number of seeds per pound needed at planting can vary by variety, and that later planted wheat may require less seed per acre. Wiersma said that his research will help him emphasize that to plant the correct amount of seed per acre, growers should calculate seeding rate by plant population, rather than plant weight.n

Copyright Prairie
Grains Magazine
September 1997

Issue 9 September 1997	Scab research major focus of small grains tour by Tracy Sayler

Library Home E-Mail Back Prairie Grains is the official publication of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, North Dakota Grain Growers Association, South Dakota Wheat, Inc., and the Minnesota Barley Growers Association.	Research progress on solving Fusarium head blight, or scab, was the major focus of a small grains tour held this summer at the Northwest Experiment Station (NWES) near Crookston, Minn. About 300 people turned out for the event, which was sponsored by the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council. Crop scientists from the University of Minnesota, North Dakota State University, South Dakota State University, and Agriculture Canada discussed their efforts in breeding wheat and barley varieties that have better resistance to Fusarium head blight, or scab. It's no easy process: wheat and barley lines from throughout the world are screened, and germplasm that shows resistance to scab is isolated. This material must then be bred into a wheat or barley variety without losing other key agronomic characteristics, such as protein, yield, and resistance to other diseases such as rust. Seed from promising varieties must also be increased. Breeding a new variety can take as long as ten years, although new breeding techniques developed specifically for scab may shorten the process. New scab-resistant spring wheat and barley varieties are about two to four years away from being released. "Scab is not a Minnesota problem; it's a regional problem, and a world problem," said John Wiersma NWES agronomist. That's why many lines from throughout the region are evaluated for scab susceptibility through a misting system at the station's scab nursery, which Wiersma manages. The nursery is a direct result of the accelerated scab research initiative, which the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers and Minnesota Barley Growers Association elevated as a priority Also during the tour, Albert Sims, NWES soils specialist, discussed his evaluation of how nitrogen from sugarbeet tops may benefit small grains. "Right now data is limited, but our hope down the line is to determine how beet tops may be used for the following wheat crop, and allow the grower to save a little bit of money on his fertilizer bill," said Sims. Jochum Wiersma (no relation to John Wiersma), U of M small grains specialist, discussed his research on optimum seeding rates for different varieties. He is finding that the number of seeds per pound needed at planting can vary by variety, and that later planted wheat may require less seed per acre. Wiersma said that his research will help him emphasize that to plant the correct amount of seed per acre, growers should calculate seeding rate by plant population, rather than plant weight.n
Copyright Prairie Grains Magazine September 1997

Scab research major focus of small grains tour

Copyright Prairie Grains Magazine September 1997

Copyright Prairie
Grains Magazine
September 1997