Barley CAP Update Jochum Wiersma Small Grains Extension Agronomist University of Minnesota Extension

Outline An entry quiz What is Barley Cap (and why you should care) What is Marker Assisted Selection? What is the Hordeum Toolbox? How will this help the breeders The exit poll

Instructions for ResponseCard RF 1.Press and release the "GO" button. 2.While the light is flashing red and green, enter the 2 digit channel code (i.e. channel 1 = 01, channel 21 = 21). Channel is 41 3.After the second digit is entered, Press and release the "GO" button. 4.Press and release the "1/A" button. The light should flash yellow to confirm.

What is Barley CAP? 1.A chapter of American Association of Pathologists. 2.A new federal crop insurance program for malt and feed barley. 3.A WTO imposed limit on barley imports from Canada. 4.A multistate, federally funded, project to apply molecular genetic tools to barley breeding. 5.I have no idea

What is DNA? 1.The DOD’s Defense Nuclear Agency 2.Deoxyribonucleic acid 3.A 4 letter language in which the instructions used in the development and functioning of living organisms are written. 4.A new polymer that is used in digital network applications. 5.I have no idea.

DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid – a long polymer that consists of 4 different building blocks (called nucleotides) that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms.

Barley Breeding Plant breeding is the art and science of improving the heredity of plants for the benefit humankind (Poelhman and Sleper, Breeding Field Crops, 4 th edition, 1995). or Finding your way in the forest without your glasses, a map, or compass. Finding a needle in the haystack without a magnet.

Marker Assisted Selection The outcome of a cross between two parents is unknown and can be highly variable depending on the relationship (or genetic distance) of the two parents (the ‘story’ in the DNA gets scrambled). If we can search the ‘story’ for ‘keywords’, we can both speed up the selection process as well as identify new candidate varieties with the right ‘story’ earlier. Marker assisted selection (MAS) is an indirect selection process where a trait of interest is selected not based on the outward appearance of the trait itself but on a genetic marker (keyword) near the trait (gene) on the DNA.

Marker Assisted Selection A Gene of interest AMarker linked to gene X A Cycles of breeding AAA A A X Eliminate individuals without marker New variety Redrawn from wheat CAP presentation

Advantages MAS Non-destructive: –Useful in early generations. –Ability select for recessive alleles or masked traits. Circumvent costly screening methods. Fast (once you have reliable markers).

How will this help the barley breeders (and ultimately you)? Cooperative, multistate project allows for: –Access to technology that otherwise would be too expensive –Sharing of knowledge and data on single platform. Ability to improve the efficiency in the breeding program as selection intensities can be increased. Faster gain from selection,especially for difficult traits like malting quality and disease resistances.

The Exit Poll (grab your remote, this will be fast and painless..;-)

I needed the information presented today 1.Strongly disagree 2.Disagree 3.Neutral 4.Agree 5.Strongly agree

The instructor used language I understood 1.Strongly disagree 2.Disagree 3.Neutral 4.Agree 5.Strongly agree

I learned new things about the Barley CAP 1.Strongly disagree 2.Disagree 3.Neutral 4.Agree 5.Strongly agree

I better understand how breeders use MAS to speed up breeding 1.Strongly disagree 2.Disagree 3.Neutral 4.Agree 5.Strongly agree

I believe that MAS will lead to new, improved barley varieties 1.Strongly disagree 2.Disagree 3.Neutral 4.Agree 5.Strongly agree

Thank you for your cooperation! any questions left …..:-)