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Development and Evolution of an Intermediate Wheatgrass Domestication Program

Author

Listed:
  • Lee DeHaan

    (The Land Institute, 2440 E. Water Well Rd., Salina, KS 67401, USA)

  • Marty Christians

    (The Land Institute, 2440 E. Water Well Rd., Salina, KS 67401, USA)

  • Jared Crain

    (Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, 4024 Throckmorton PSC, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA)

  • Jesse Poland

    (Wheat Genetics Resource Center, Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, 4024 Throckmorton PSC, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA)

Abstract

Ecological intensification of agriculture is a proposed strategy to enhance the production of food while expanding ecosystem services and reducing inputs. Perennial plants that are directly harvested for human food are a novel means of ecological intensification, by potentially providing unprecedented levels of ecological services, such as increased soil carbon and reduced nutrient leaching. However, existing herbaceous perennial plants produce low yields of harvestable seed. Therefore, we initiated a domestication program to improve the grain yield of the perennial intermediate wheatgrass ( Thinopyrum intermedium [Host] Barkworth & D.R. Dewey). The breeding program has adapted to changing resources and to results from previous generations, with methods becoming more elaborate as the program has matured over six breeding cycles. Average predicted gains from selection accumulated over five cycles were 143, 181 and 60% respectively, for seed yield per head, percent naked seed and mass per seed. We did not detect negative correlations that would indicate simultaneously achieving increased grain yield and sustained perenniality would be particularly difficult. Heritability estimates based on genetic markers were the same or higher than those calculated from a pedigree, indicating that markers have potential to expedite breeding efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Lee DeHaan & Marty Christians & Jared Crain & Jesse Poland, 2018. "Development and Evolution of an Intermediate Wheatgrass Domestication Program," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-19, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:5:p:1499-:d:145431
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Patrick M. LeHeiget & Emma J. McGeough & Bill Biligetu & Douglas J. Cattani, 2023. "Grain Yield Potential of Intermediate Wheatgrass in Western Canada," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-20, September.
    2. Galen Bergquist & Jessica Gutknecht & Craig Sheaffer & Jacob M. Jungers, 2022. "Plant Suppression and Termination Methods to Maintain Intermediate Wheatgrass ( Thinopyrum intermedium ) Grain Yield," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-11, October.
    3. Eugene P. Law & Sandra Wayman & Christopher J. Pelzer & Steven W. Culman & Miguel I. Gómez & Antonio DiTommaso & Matthew R. Ryan, 2022. "Multi-Criteria Assessment of the Economic and Environmental Sustainability Characteristics of Intermediate Wheatgrass Grown as a Dual-Purpose Grain and Forage Crop," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-24, March.
    4. Timothy E. Crews & Douglas J. Cattani, 2018. "Strategies, Advances, and Challenges in Breeding Perennial Grain Crops," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-7, June.
    5. Yuri Lachuga & Besarion Meskhi & Viktor Pakhomov & Yulia Semenikhina & Sergey Kambulov & Dmitry Rudoy & Tatyana Maltseva, 2023. "Experience in the Cultivation of a New Perennial Cereal Crop—Trititrigia in the Conditions of South of the Rostov Region," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-14, March.

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