Annual Progress Report on Malting Barley Research March, 2002

82
Breeding for Fusarium Head Blight Resistance
A mist-irrigated FHB epidemic nursery was established near Osnabrock, ND in 1998.
Plants in the mist-irrigated nursery are inoculated by spreading F. graminearum infected
corn and barley grain throughout the nursery. Remnant seed from approximately 8,000
F3 and F4 progeny rows grown in an adjacent uninoculated nursery was used to sow hill
plots in the mist-irrigated nursery. Selection of progeny rows for harvest in the
uninoculated nursery was based, in part, on the level of FHB resistance of the
corresponding hill plot in the mist-irrigated nursery. Harvested grain from the selected
progeny rows were evaluated for DON accumulation. The most resistant plants in the
corresponding hill plots were individually harvested and were evaluated for FHB
resistance in the greenhouse during fall 2001 and winter 2001-2002. Based on
information obtained from the greenhouse screening, seed from the most resistant plants
will be harvested and used for sowing parents for crossing in the 2002-fall greenhouse
and will be advanced for additional field screening during summer 2002.
Western North Dakota Malting Barley Program
The 2001 North Dakota Legislature recommended that the North Dakota Agricultural
Experiment Station spend up to $288,000 on research and development of malting barley
for western North Dakota. Representatives Frank Wald of Dickinson, ND and Bob
Skarphol of Tioga, ND championed this program through the legislative process. These
gentlemen along with other state legislatures recognized the growing importance of
western North Dakota for malting barley production due to the Fusarium head blight
epidemic in eastern North Dakota the last nine years. The expansion of our effort in
western North Dakota will not result in a reduction of our current malting barley research
effort for eastern North Dakota.
A limitation in producing malting barley in western North Dakota is that all current
varieties and production practices were developed for conditions in eastern North Dakota.
When current varieties are grown under dryland conditions in the west, levels of kernel
plumpness and grain protein are typically unacceptable for malting. When these same
varieties are grown under irrigation, they typically lodge because their straw is too tall
and weak. Thus, new malting barley varieties specifically developed for irrigated and
dryland production in western North Dakota must be developed. Also, production
practices and recommendations for these new varieties must be developed concurrently.
Significant expansions for the new research program are planned for the Dickinson and
Williston Research Extension Centers. Research to be conducted includes:
• Development of six- and two-rowed malting barley varieties for dryland production.
New barley varieties for dryland production will have at least 70% plump kernels,
grain protein below 13%, and acceptable malting and brewing quality.
• Development of six- and two-rowed malting barley varieties for irrigated
production. New barley varieties for irrigated production will have high yield
potential (≥ 150 bu/ac), strong straw, multiple disease resistance, and acceptable
malting and brewing quality.