Agronomic Traits in Durum Wheat Germplasm Possessing Puroindoline Genes

Abstract

Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum) represents only 5% of global wheat production. Durum production is limited by its very hard kernel texture, which requires specialized milling and limits end-product utilization. However, soft kernel durum wheat was recently developed to remove these constraints, but it has not until now been examined for its agronomic potential and pest resistance, which were the focus of this study. The soft durum lines were compared with two commercial hard red spring wheat varieties, Buck Pronto and Alum. Soft durum lines were relatively competitive for grain yield (i.e., >90%) with Buck Pronto at 16 of 34 locations. Increasing seeding rate did not increase grain yield of soft durum. The soft durum lines showed no tolerance of acid soils/Al, but exhibited moderate-to-strong resistance to stripe rust (caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici). Good resistance to stem rust (caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) and near complete resistance to dwarf bunt (caused by Tilletia controversa) were observed. Resistance to Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor) was observed in some of the plants, with three of the durum lines showing a larger proportion of resistant plants. Varying levels of resistance to cereal cyst nematode (Heteroderma filipjevi) were recorded, with some lines highly resistant. These studies show that there is good agronomic potential in the current soft durum lines for moderate yield and good pest resistance. Further breeding efforts and germplasm introgression will likely improve the competitiveness of soft durum wheat with currently grown hard red spring wheat. core Ideas• Durum wheat is an underutilized crop due to it hard kernel texture; soft kernel durum removes this limitation. • Initial soft kernel durum lines show favorable agronomic performance, including grain yield and pest resistance. • Soft durum lines show strong potential for future growth in the Pacific Northwest.

Registration of ‘USDA Lori’ soft white spring waxy wheat

“…More detailed agronomic performance of Soft Svevo and Salzburg are described in Kiszonas et al. (2019) wherein ‘Salzburg’ = ‘SALZ‐1’.…”

“…Results of the 2020 trial indicated that USDA Lori had grain yield similar to that of Soft Svevo and Salzburg (Table 2). More detailed agronomic performance of Soft Svevo and Salzburg are described in Kiszonas et al (2019) wherein 'Salzburg' = 'SALZ-1'. Grain volume weight ("test weight") of USDA Lori was similar to somewhat less than Louise (Table 1).…”

Re-evolution of Durum Wheat by Introducing the Hardness and Glu-D1 Loci

“…With the caveat of dough water absorption, soft kernel texture and bread quality are not in opposition to one another. The soft kernel trait itself appears to exert no negative affect on yield, agronomic performance or pest resistance (Kiszonas et al, 2019).…”

Bread‐baking quality and the effects of Glu‐D1 gene introgressions in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum)

“…Durum wheat can be considered a major but underutilized crop globally. Although durum possesses some advantages over bread wheat in terms of pest resistance, abiotic stress resistance, and agronomic performance (Kiszonas et al., 2019, and references therein), the widely held view is that it is inferior for bread baking. The reason for this inferiority is described in terms of either weak and/or inextensible gluten.…”