breeding against Ug99. The foundation is funding the project, which will combine Syngenta’s plant genetic profiling expertise with the strengths of CIMMYT’s extensive field research to develop a genetic map of wheat stem rust resistance.
Meanwhile Australian researchers are one step closer to providing wheat growers with varieties resistant to some other rust diseases. Scientists from CSIRO have identified the gene sequence of Lr34, which provides protection against leaf rust, stripe rust and powdery mildew. Most genes have resistance to only one pathogen, but Lr34 has the ability to resist multiple rust pathogens, a very exciting breakthrough for wheat breeders.
Many of the big companies are also breeding for disease resistance. Resistance to anthracnose was observed in some South American corn plants and Pioneer Hi-Bred characterized the genes, then used genetic markers to deploy them into hybrids adapted to U.S. climate and growing conditions. “This particular set of genes from South America has increased the resistance
Funding Pays Off
With the help of U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative
funds, the University of Missouri has released Truman and Bess. Based on seed sales, Truman is produced on
more acreage in Missouri than any other public variety, and there is acreage of Truman from southeast Kansas
through to New York State.
In the past three years, the University of Illinois wheat breeding program has licensed a number of breeding
lines with moderate to high levels of FHB resistance. Some of these varieties are available from seed
companies under branded company names. Several additional breeding lines are also in the pipeline.
The Ohio State University recently released two public cultivars, Bromfield and Malabar, with high yield
potential and scab resistance. Both yield about three bushels per acre better than the standard Hopewell
and have 60% less head symptoms than the susceptible check, and about 15% less head symptoms than a
moderately resistant check.
The University of Kentucky recently released Pembroke wheat, a high yielding variety with moderate fusarium
resistance, while North Carolina State University has released the high yielding, moderately resistant Neuse
and Virginia Tech has released McCormick and Tribute, both of which have excellent native resistance and have been grown on significant acreage.
score of hybrids in question by two points, which is very significant,” says Steven King, Senior Research Manager with Pioneer Hi-Bred in Tavistock, Ontario.” These new hybrids will be introduced in the U.S. and Canada most likely in 2010.
Meanwhile, Monsanto is working on improving corn’s resistance to Goss’s wilt. The company’s first generation product is currently in the early development stage, which involves demonstrating efficacy of the trait in elite genetics.
In soybeans, Pioneer and Monsanto are each working on Asian soybean resistance, hoping to get to market first. Meanwhile, Syngenta’s long-term pipeline for soybeans includes rust resistance, which won’t be on the market until 2011. Efforts on other diseases are also underway.
There is no question diseases remain a top threat to crops today, which is why there is a race to get to market. It is a huge commercial edge in the U.S., as well as a question of global food security. Julie McNabb
Plant Breeders and Researchers
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