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

小麦是加拿大的一种主要作物，平均年产量为2500万至3000万吨，约占出口收入的50亿美元。这三个草原省份占加拿大耕地面积的84%，是小麦的主要产地。春小麦(~93%)是加拿大的主要种植类型。然而，在冬小麦死亡率低的年份，冬小麦的产量比春季小麦高出20%-40%。严酷的草原冬天气温下降到零下40摄氏度以下，生长季节很短，这限制了春播的作物可以生长到成熟。迫切需要提高冬季作物的总体低温耐受性和冬季田间存活率，以保持加拿大生产者的可持续性、竞争力和满足全球人口增长的要求。 在最近完成的一个NSERC CRD项目中，我们确定了导致冬小麦获得耐低温性的特定c-重复结合因子。根据我们的发现，我们假设，通过延长秋季的冷驯化时间，可以增加植物获得的耐冷量。秋季冷驯化时间受末叶数增加、第一节间长度和平卧生长习性等发育性状的影响。这些植物特征是由基因控制的，这将在这个项目中得到描述。这些具有特征性的发育性状基因变异将与理想的c-重复结合因子(CBF)基因相结合，从而培育出具有韧性的冬小麦。“有弹性的冬小麦”品种将为加拿大生产商提供非常环保的作物，这种作物高效利用春季水分，战胜杂草，生长速度更快，能够躲避镰刀菌的侵染，与春播品种相比早熟，产量比春小麦高20%-40%。在初春，冬小麦为野生动物提供了筑巢的地方，从而维持了草原的自然环境。该项目的成功完成将培育出对环境友好、产量比春小麦高20-40%、利用气候变化效应使加拿大生产者受益的可持续和具有竞争力的“弹性冬小麦”。

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.