‘MN‐Clearwater’, the first food‐grade intermediate wheatgrass (Kernza perennial grain) cultivar

Abstract

'MN-Clearwater' (Reg. no. CV-287, PI 692651) is the world's first commercial foodgrade intermediate wheatgrass [IWG; Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey subsp. intermedium] grain cultivar. It was developed as a synthetic population at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, and released in August 2019. Intermediate wheatgrass is a perennial grain crop currently undergoing domestication and is known for its extensive long root system that can recycle soil nutrients and sequester carbon. MN-Clearwater (experimental designation MN1504) was created by intercrossing seven parents selected for high grain yield, reduced shattering, high free grain threshing, reduced lodging, and uniform maturity. MN-Clearwater was advanced for two generations before being evaluated in statewide yield trials, after which the fourth seed generation was released as the cultivar in a limited public release. In variety trials across Minnesota, MN-Clearwater produced 696 kg ha −1 (621 lb ac −1) of grain with minimal lodging and negligible disease levels. The first 2 yr produce the highest grain yields under Minnesota conditions, and third-year yields are significantly lower (average reduction of 77%) than the first 2 yr. As the first IWG cultivar released for sale under the Kernza trade name (The Land Institute), we expect this population to be a cornerstone resource for the IWG research community as well as for interested growers, food processors, and commercial partners. MN-Clearwater grain is sold as Kernza perennial grain.

Floret site utilization and reproductive tiller number are primary components of grain yield in intermediate wheatgrass spaced plants

“…After five cycles (TLI Cycle 5) grain yield per spike was predicted to have increased by 143% and seed mass by 60% in a spaced plant setting (DeHaan, Christians, Crain, & Poland, 2018). Despite these improvements, grain yield in production swards of IWG are known to decline with age, with precipitous reductions observed in the third year in northern latitudes (Bajgain et al., 2020; Jungers et al., 2017). For example, in Minnesota environments, grain yield of TLI Cycle 2 germplasm decreased in the second through fourth years of production by 80% in unfertilized plots and 65% in fertilized plots (Tautges, Jungers, DeHaan, Wyse, & Sheaffer, 2018).…”

Multi-Allelic Haplotype-Based Association Analysis Identifies Genomic Regions Controlling Domestication Traits in Intermediate Wheatgrass

“…Between 2011 and 2020, the UMN IWG breeding program has completed four selection cycles and extensive progress has been made in improving these traits. This progress throughout the years enabled the breeding program to release the first synthetic IWG cultivar for grain production, MN-Clearwater, in 2019 [8].…”

Agrobiological characteristics of spelt wheat and intermediate wheatgrass in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

“…The plants formed the highest productivity during the fi rst two years of growing. The grain yield of the third growing year was lower (Bajgain et al, 2020). In other researches, intermediate wheatgrass had great advantages while growing as a perennial crop for four years with grazing of farm animals.…”