Pulse crops discussed in this review include soybean (Glycine max L.), dry pea (Pisum sativum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Basic maturity requirements, yield relationships with rainfall and temperature, relative yield comparisons, water relationships, water use efficiency (WUE), crop management, tillage systems, and the rotational impact of these crops on productivity were considered. With the exception of soybean, maturity requirements for pulse crops are met in most locations within the northern Great Plains. Yield was more closely related to growing season precipitation than maximum temperature for all pulse crops except dry bean and lentil. The inability to effectively relate weather parameters to dry pea and lentil yield may indicate broad adaptation of these two pulse crops within the northern Great Plains. Correlation analyses showed the productivity of chickpea, dry pea, and lentil to be most closely associated with each other and for dry bean productivity to be most closely associated with that of soybean, effectively grouping pulse crops into their respective cool‐ and warm‐season classifications. Dry pea and chickpea had high WUE values, similar to spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Examination of plant water relations of these crops revealed an ability for chickpea and dry pea to grow at lower relative water contents than spring wheat. Increased wheat grain yield and/or protein following pulse crops under widely different N‐limiting growth conditions indicated a consistent N benefit provided by pulse crops to wheat. Four general research needs were identified. First, comparative adaptation among pulse crops remains poorly understood. Second, best management practices and key production risks remain incompletely characterized. Thirdly, the knowledge of rotational effects of pulse crops in the northern Great Plains remains imprecise and inadequate. Fourth, genetic improvement for early maturity, increased yield, improved harvestability, and disease resistance requires attention. Pulse crops are poised to play a much greater role in diversifying cropping systems in the northern Great Plains but require that these key research areas be addressed so that their production potential can be realized.

A population developed from an exotic line with supernumerary spikelets was genetically dissected for eight quality traits, discovering new genes/alleles with potential use in wheat breeding programs. Identifying new QTLs and alleles in exotic germplasm is paramount for further improvement of quality traits in wheat. In the present study, an RIL population developed from a cross of an elite wheat line (WCB414) and an exotic genotype with supernumerary spikelets (SS) was used to identify QTLs and new alleles for eight quality traits. Composite interval mapping for 1,000 kernels weight (TKW), kernel volume weight (KVW), grain protein content (GPC), percent of flour extraction (FE) and four mixograph-related traits identified a total of 69 QTLs including 19 stable QTLs. These QTLs were located on 18 different chromosomes (except 4D, 5D, and 6D). Thirteen of these QTLs explained more than 15% of phenotypic variation (PV) and were considered as major QTLs. In this study, we identified 11 QTLs for TKW (R (2) = 7.2-17.1 %), 10 for KVW (R (2) = 6.7-22.5%), 11 for GPC (R (2) = 4.7-16.9%), 6 for FE (R (2) = 4.8-19%) and 31 for mixograph-related traits (R (2) = 3.2-41.2%). In this population, several previously identified QTLs for SS, nine spike-related and ten agronomic traits were co-located with the quality QTLs, suggesting pleiotropic effects or close linkage among loci. The traits GPC and mixogram-related traits were positively correlated with SS. Indeed, several loci for quality traits were co-located with QTL for SS. The exotic parent contributed positive alleles that increased PV of the traits at 56% of loci demonstrating the suitability of germplasm with SS to improve quality traits in wheat.

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Increased interest in alternative sources of oil for edible and industrial uses have stimulated interest in the producti on of new oilseed crops. Spring sown canola (Brassica napus L. and Brassica campestris L.) and crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst) have excellent potential to expand the diversity of agricultural crops available to North Dakota producers. The three species are cool season oilseed crops that are adapted to this area. "Canola" is a tradename for varietie of rapeseed from which the oil can be used for hu man con umption, while crambe oil is used for industrial purpose .

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Periodic evaluation of cultivars allows researchers to evaluate genetic variation and progress made in various traits. Determining genetic gain or lack can lead researchers to develop new strategies for trait improvements. A two‐year study was initiated in 2004 to examine the changes in agronomic performance of hard red spring wheat (HRSW) (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars released by North Dakota State University (NDSU) over the past 40 years. The experiment was conducted in North Dakota at three sites in 2004 and two sites in 2005. The study included 33 HRSW genotypes laid out in a randomized complete‐block design. Cultivars developed since 1968, three advanced lines developed by NDSU, and three cultivars released by other breeding programs were included in the study. The Canadian cultivar Marquis (released in 1911) was included for comparison purposes. Linear regression of cultivar means on year of release showed an annual increase in grain yield of 1.3% yr−1, grain‐volume weight of 0.2% yr−1, and thousand‐kernel weight of 0.3% yr−1 since 1968. There were also significant gains in lodging and disease resistance. Resistance to leaf rust (Puccinia recondita Roberge ex Desmaz. f. sp. tritici) and Fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum Schwabe [teleomorph Gibberella zeae (Schweinitz) Petch]) was substantially improved in genotypes released since 2002 and 2000, respectively. Therefore, we can conclude from this study that no evidence of a decline has occurred in the improvement of most agronomic traits and that breeders should be able to continue improving these traits by introgressing favorable alleles.

Intercropping cereal with pulse crops often increases total grain production in subtropical regions. Our objective was to determine if a yield advantage resulted when lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) was intercropped with wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Theil.) in a cool semiarid region. A field experiment was conducted during 1989, 1990, and 1991 under dryland management in south central North Dakota. Lentil and hard red spring wheat were each sown alone and intercropped in different planting patterns and populations. Plants were hand clipped at the soil surface and threshed to provide grain yield estimates in all 3 yr. In 1991, grain was also harvested with a research combine to assess if intercrops could be harvested mechanically. Grain yield of wheat was unaffected by intercropping (P < 0.05). Intercropping reduced grain yield of lentil by 87 to 95% when yield estimates were based on samples harvested manually, and by 70 to 85% when samples were harvested mechanically. The increased height at which pods formed on intercropped compared with sole‐cropped lentil plants and subsequent enhancement in mechanical harvestability of grain in intercrops partially explains this difference in yield estimates between harvesting methods. The land equivalent ratio was 1.15 for grain yield across intercrop treatments with mechanical harvest, and 1.03 for the intercrop treatments when grain was harvested manually. While harvestability of the short‐statured lentil was enhanced in this investigation by intercropping, the low lentil yield under intercropping suggests that wheat‐lentil mixtures are probably not adapted to cool semiarid regions.