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Botanical foundations for perennial agriculture: Evolution and ecology of perennial herbaceous plants

Cattani , Douglas John [1].

is Intermediate wheatgrass changing as it is being developed for grain production?

Herbaceous perennial plant types are being developed for perennial grain and oilseed crops. Selection for increased grain yield in intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium (Host), Barkworth and Dewey) may be achieved in a number of manners. Aboveground biomass produced in one growing season is, in general, lost during the non-growing season. Aboveground shoot apical meristems survive and are important to the realization of seed production the following growing season. An increase in seed yield may be achieved by increasing biomass production and maintaining percent allocation to reproductive output. An alternative method is to alter within plant dry matter allocation to increase reproductive output relative to vegetative allocation (i.e. increased harvest index). Selection for enhanced grain yield has been ongoing in the past four decades with an enhanced effort beginning less than 15 years ago. Currently there are breeding and selection programs ongoing at a number of institutions across North America. A study investigating the ability of intermediate wheatgrass germplasm to remain productive across years was carried out in the southeastern Canadian prairies. A comparison of germplasm selected for enhanced grain yield from The Land Institute (TLI) to germplasm sourced from the United States Department of Agriculture – Genetic Resource Information Network (USDA-GRIN) was made. Initial adaptation issues arose resulting in the lass of approximately 60% of all materials. One hundred adapted plants were followed for three seed harvests. Adaptation to the growth environment likely resulted in similar flowering times for both populations. Selection for grain production (TLI materials) in intermediate wheatgrass has led to a greater allocation of aboveground biomass to grain production. Conversion of aboveground biomass to grain yield was approximately double for TLI as for USDA-GRIN using a linear regression model with passage through the origin. Seed yield component compensation was found in only one of three years, and only in the year with the highest seed yield. Percent ergot (Claviceps purpurea) in 5 grams of seed was related to timing of the completion of anthesis with early completion (to a lesser extent) and late completion (to a greater extent) both having a greater likelihood of ergot occurrence than intermediate anthesis completion. Pollen availability is the most likely explanation for these results. Seed production is a complex trait in herbaceous perennials with significant yield component compensation being seen under high seed yielding conditions.


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1 - University of Manitoba, 66 Dafoe Road, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada

Keywords:
intermediate wheatgrass
Thinopyrum intermedium
development.

Presentation Type: Colloquium Presentations
Session: C02, Botanical foundations for perennial agriculture: Evolution and ecology of perennial herbaceous plants
Location: 102/Mayo Civic Center
Date: Monday, July 23rd, 2018
Time: 9:15 AM
Number: C02005
Abstract ID:479
Candidate for Awards:None


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