Page 254 - PC2019 Program & Proceedings

PLANT CANADA 2019

TOPIC 7: Breeding and Genetics (Posters P81-P98)

P81. Peduncle Strength: a potential selection criterion to improve lodging tolerance in Oat
Nakhforoosh, A.; S. Kumar; J. Mitchell Fetch
Government of Canada

Breeding for tolerance to lodging (displacement of culms from an upright position) is a major objective in
oat breeding programs. A widely adopted screening method to assess breeding lines for tolerance to
lodging is based on visual scoring of plant standing power (1=erect; 9=flat). In hot and dry seasons, the
stunted plant growth limits the screening for lodging using a visual approach. We propose a new approach
to use traits associated with lodging to screen the tolerant lines regardless of the weather conditions. This
approach provides objective selection of lines using quantitatively measurable traits rather than subjective
scoring of the lodged plants. To identify the potential trait/s to be used as selection criteria for
improvement of lodging tolerance, we tested six oat cultivars with varying levels of lodging tolerance at
three site-year field experiments under three nitrogen rates. Our analysis suggested Peduncle Strength
(PS) as a potential selection criterion to improve lodging tolerance. PS provided a good estimation of the
whole plant culm strength and explained the varietal differences observed between cultivars in terms of
lodging tolerance. PS can be easily integrated into the breeding programs because of the ease of peduncle
sampling and quick measurements. A screening strategy integrating both plant height and straw strength,
based on PS, would enhance the selection gain for lodging tolerance.

Alireza Nakhforoosh (alireza.nakhforoosh@canada.ca)

P82. Soybean protein content variation among genotypes grown in Morden, MB and Ottawa, ON
1
Hou, A. ; E. Cober 2
1 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canad
2 AAFC Ottawa-RDC

Soybean protein content varies among varieties and is also affected by environmental factors. Short
growing seasons may reduce soybean protein content and coincidently increase the oil content. Low
protein content in soybeans has become a major production concern in western Canada. In this project,
soybean varieties and breeding lines have been evaluated for protein and oil content at two distant sites
(Morden and Ottawa) for three years (2015-2017). The seed source and experimental designs were the
same, but field maintenance was conducted following standard procedures for two separate sites. In 2015,
the average protein content for Morden was 2.2% lower than the average grown at Ottawa, while the oil
content was the same between two sites. In 2016, the average protein content was 41.6% when grown at
Morden compared to 43.9% when grown at Ottawa, while the oil content was the same. In 2017, the
average protein content for Morden was 5.8% lower than the average grown at Ottawa, while the oil
content was not significantly different between two sites. Overall for three years, the average protein
content of the soybean lines grown at Morden was 3.4% lower than Ottawa, while the average oil content
was about the same. The experimental results will be presented at the conference.

Anfu Hou (anfu.hou@canada.ca)

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