Genomic strategies to improve field survival of winter cereals and stabilize yield

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Wheat is a major Canadian crop with average annual production of 25-30 million metric tons and accounts for about $5 billion in export revenue. The three Prairie Provinces account for 84% of the Canadian arable land and are primary producers of wheat. Spring wheat (~ 93%) is the dominant type grown in Canada. However, in years with low winter kill winter wheat produces 20-40 % higher yields than spring types. The very harsh prairie winters with temperatures dipping to below -40oC and a short growing season which limits the spring seeded crops that can be grown to maturity. Improving low temperature tolerance in general and winter field survival in winter crops is urgently needed to keep the Canadian producers sustainable, competitive and meet the requirements of growing global population. In a recently completed NSERC CRD project we identified specific c-repeat binding factors responsible for acquiring low temperature tolerance in winter wheat. Based on our findings we hypothesize that by extending the time for cold acclimation in the fall can increase the amount of cold tolerance acquired by the plant. The cold acclimation time in the fall is influenced by developmental traits like increased final leaf number, length of first internode and prostrate growth habit. These plant traits are governed by genes, which will be characterized in this project. The characterized developmental trait gene variants will be combined with ideal c-repeat binding factor (CBF) genes that confer frost tolerance to develop 'Resilient winter wheat'. The 'Resilient Winter Wheat' varieties will give Canadian producers a very environmentally friendly crop, that efficiently uses spring moisture, out competes weeds, develops faster to escape Fusarium infection, matures early compared to spring seeded varieties, and yields 20-40% higher than spring wheat. In the early spring winter wheat provides nesting grounds for wild life, thus maintain the natural environment of the Prairies. Successful completion of this project will result in 'Resilient Winter Wheat' that is environmentally friendly, yields 20- 40% more than spring wheat, utilizes the climate change effects to benefit Canadian producers, by being sustainable and competitive.