Germplasm Developed

PLEASE NOTE:  The germplasm descriptions included on the following pages are meant to represent the current and historical activity of the cultivar development programs at the University of Wisconsin.  Inclusion of germplasm on these pages does not imply that it is maintained and/or available.

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Alfalfa

Disease Resistant Alfalfa Populations

Overall yields of alfalfa, a primary forage crop in Wisconsin, have declined steadily due to a variety of major pathogens, including Verticillium, Phytophthora, and Aphanomyces. Aphanomyces and Phytophthora are both soil fungi that cause root rot. A UW-Madison researcher has now developed several populations of alfalfa that exhibit a high level of resistance to Aphanomyces Race 1 and Race 2 and Phytophthora medicaginis. The populations have been selected for several traits related to disease resistance and plant longevity. Two of the populations are very competitive with commercial varieties as forage crops. The other populations are currently undergoing field tests and show yields comparable to commercial lines. These populations may be valuable themselves as commercial varieties or they may serve as a source of Race 2 resistance for other commercial lines.

 

BENEFITS:

Resistant to Aphanomyces Race 1 and Race 2 and Phytophthora medicaginis

Varieties can be used commercially on their own

Varieties can be used as germplasm for alfalfa seed companies to obtain resistance to Aphanomyces Race 2

Inventors: Craig R. Grau

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P01169US

Alfalfa Genotype Clonal Selection out of Regen-SY Germplasm

This alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) line is a clonal selection out of Regen-SY germplasm as described by R.W. Groose and E.T. Bingham (Crop Science 31:1510-1513, 1991). The line was selected for its ready regeneration in tissue culture and its efficient transformation by Agrobacterium tumefacians. Due to these characteristics, the alfalfa line provided here is easily genetically engineered to express foreign proteins. Resulting transgenic lines can then be backcrossed into elite cultivated varieties to create commercial cultivars with desirable, transgenic traits. The line, and numerous transformants created with it, have been extensively field-tested.

BENEFITS:

Provides an alfalfa genotype that is easily engineered to express foreign proteins

Shows regeneration frequencies in tissue culture of 85 to 90 percent

Shows transformation frequencies of 45 to 60 percent

Herbage yield in spaced, clonal stands equals the average of clones from elite cultivars

Has been successfully used in backcrosses to transfer transgenic traits into elite cultivars

Inventors: Sandra Austin-Phillips, Edwin T. Bingham

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P98164US

Beet

Badger Gold table beet: an OP golden beet

 

 

 

Inbred Table Beet W427A and W427B
W427 is an inbred table beet line with excellent exterior smoothness and good uniformity of type. It also has multigerm seed, a round to blocky-shaped root, green foliage, rounded leaves, a small crown and a small taproot. W427A and 427B were derived from the cross [W371 x (W365 x W416)]. W416 and W365 are unreleased inbred lines, while W371 is a smooth and uniform, inbred, multigerm line that was previously released by the University of Wisconsin Table Beet Breeding Program. W427A is a red-anthered sterile and W427B is the maintainer genotype.

 

BENEFITS:

Excellent exterior smoothness and good uniformity of type

Possesses multigerm seed, a round to blocky-shaped root, green foliage, rounded leaves, a small crown and a small taproot

Suitable for use in both fresh market and processing table beet hybrid cultivars

Inventors: Irwin L. Goldman, Dwight N. Breitbach

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P00202US

An Inbred Table Beet (W433) with a Root Suitable for Slicing
The table beet, a popular garden vegetable throughout the United States, is rich in folate, soluble and insoluble fiber, and vitamins A and C. The inventors have developed a new beet variety, called W433, with a cylindrical, straight root that is well suited for slicing. W433 A is the sterile cytoplasm, while W433 B is the fertile maintainer that can be used in hybrid production. Hybrids could be used for both processing and fresh markets.

BENEFITS:

Root shape suitable for slicing

Hybrids should yield well

Inventors: Irwin L. Goldman, Dwight N. Breitbach

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P03054US

Inbred Table Beet W434A and W434B
W434 is an inbred table beet line with multigerm seed, a cylindrical root, green/red foliage, intermediate leaves (partially rounded and partially strap-shaped), a small crown, a slightly tapered taproot, good smoothness and uniformity of type. W434A and W434B were obtained from the cross [Forono x (W330 x W416)]; W330 and W416 are unreleased, inbred lines. W434A is a sterile genotype with reddish-brown anthers and W434B is the maintainer genotype.

BENEFITS:

Good smoothness and uniformity of type

Possesses multigerm seed, green/red foliage, a slightly tapered taproot, a small crown and intermediate leaves

Suitable for use in both fresh market and processing table beet hybrid cultivars

Inventors: Irwin L. Goldman, Dwight N. Breitbach

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P01010US

Inbred Table Beet W443A and W443B
W443 is an inbred table beet line possessing excellent exterior smoothness and very good uniformity of type. In addition, W443 has mostly multigerm seed with a small portion of duogerm, a round root, green foliage and a good crown. It was derived from the cross W429 x W364. W364 is an inbred line previously released by the University of Wisconsin Table Beet Breeding Program that is multigerm with a smooth, uniform root. For information on table beet line W429, see WARF reference number P01009US. W443A is a sterile genotype with pinkish-brown anthers and 443B is the maintainer genotype.

BENEFITS:

Exceptional exterior smoothness and uniformity of type

Possesses multigerm seed (with a small portion of duogerm), green foliage, a round root and a good crown

Suitable for use in both fresh market and processing table beet hybrid cultivars

Inventors: Irwin L. Goldman, Dwight N. Breitbach

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P01011US

Inbred Table Beet W446A and W446B
W446 is an inbred table beet line with a good exterior and uniformity of type. It also possesses multigerm seed, a short cylindrical root, green/red foliage, and a small crown. W446A and 446B were derived from the cross [W364 x (Forono x (W416 x W395))]. W416 and W395 are unreleased inbred lines, while W364 is a multigerm line that was previously released by the University of Wisconsin Table Beet Breeding Program. W446A is a red-anthered sterile and W446B is the maintainer genotype.

BENEFITS:

Good exterior and uniformity of type

Possesses multigerm seed, green/red foliage, a short, cylindrical root and a small crown

Suitable for use in both fresh market and processing table beet hybrid cultivars

Inventors: Irwin L. Goldman, Dwight N. Breitbach

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P01012US

A Monogerm Round-type Inbred Table Beet (W448)
The table beet, a popular garden vegetable throughout the United States, is rich in folate, soluble and insoluble fiber, and vitamins A and C. Monogerm beets produce a single flower, while multigerm beets give rise to clusters of two or more flowers. The inventors have developed a monogerm inbred table beet, called W448. This variety results in a round-type beet and is similar to a popular variety available only as a multigerm. W448 A is the sterile cytoplasm, while W448 B is the fertile cytoplasm maintainer to be used in hybrid production. Hybrids could be used for processing or in fresh markets.

BENEFITS:

Monogerm form is beneficial for acheiving uniform planting density

Inventors: Irwin L. Goldman, Dwight N. Breitbach

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P03055US

High Pigment Golden Beets
Beets are generally available in two colors: red and golden. Beet color is determined by a class of antioxidant pigments known as betalains, which consists of red-violet betacyanins and yellow betaxanthins. While beets with elevated levels of betacyanins have been produced, no commercially available varieties are high in betaxanthins without also having a high concentration of betacyanins. The only gold-colored beet variety currently available in the U.S. lacks high levels of betaxanthins, has poor seed quality and is not very productive. This invention describes a superior gold beet variety with high levels of betaxanthins. It can be used as a nutritious food as well as a source of betaxanthin pigment.

BENEFITS:

Over 100mg betaxanthin pigment per 100 gm fresh weight of root

Similar maturation times to current commercial beet varieties

Useful as a table food with enhanced nutritional value

Provides a source of yellow pigment

Inventors: Irwin L. Goldman, Dwight N. Breitbach

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P05099US & P04345US

For a Historical List of Table Beet Releases from the University of Wisconsin Breeding Program, Please See:

http://www.hort.wisc.edu/Goldman/lab/beet.htm

Brassica

Hybrid, Spring Brassica napus with Winter Germplasm Introgression

Brassica napus, the most productive oilseed rape (canola) species, can be divided into two main groups: winter lines, which are robust enough to overwinter in Europe and China, and spring lines, which are grown in northern Europe, Canada, and the northern tier of the United States only during the spring and summer. Although winter lines generally produce higher yields, existing winter varieties are not sufficiently hardy to endure the harsh, winter climates of the northern United States and Canada. Thus, these areas typically only grow lower-yield spring lines. This invention provides a method for obtaining high-yield hybrid Brassica napus with the growth habit of a spring line. The method involves various crossing schemes to introduce genes from winter lines into spring lines. The resulting progeny that retain the spring-type growth pattern and have suitably high seed yield are selected for further breeding. Eventually, the favorable high yield genes from the winter line are introgressed into the spring line, resulting in high yielding B. napus suitable for growing in spring canola production areas.

BENEFITS:

Increases seed yield of hybrid B. napus with a spring-type growth habit

Introduction of winter line germplasm into spring lines can further enhance hybrid vigor in crosses between distantly related spring lines

Inventors: Thomas C. Osborn, David V. Butruille

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P98024US

Fast-Cycling Dwarf Brassica oleracea (Wisconsin Fast Plants)

This invention is a method for producing a strongly dwarfed crucifer, Brassica oleracea, plant and seed. B. oleracea is one of the fast-plant crucifers which have been developed for plant study. This method genetically alters this fast-plant for dwarfism, reducing internode length. A single recessive gene, responsible for the strongly dwarfed characteristic, may be used in and transferred among the various B. oleracea varieties and to other Brassica species.

BENEFITS:

Is one of a fully fertile, fast-cycling population of Brassica oleracea plants offering a mean flower time of 30 days;

Offers a compact form, an average height of 23 centimeters and an internode length of 1-2 millimeters;

Has a shortened seed to seed life cycle;

Does not require a cool period for flowering and seed production;

Is a useful repository for many genetic mutations of scientific, educational, and economic interest;

Provides the possibility for genetic mapping of several distinctive phenotypes by introducing single gene mutations for disease resistance, color and morphological characteristics, etc.;

Readily adapts to a research laboratory environment;

Offers interesting possibilities of culinary, ornamental, and economic value.

Inventors: Paul H. Williams, Alex W. May

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: WARF: P87083US

Carrot

Inbred Carrot Lines W281C

Inbred carrot line W281C is a long Nantes type with excellent color and canned product quality. It was derived from the cross [(W267 x W259) x (W259 x W267)]. W267 is an unreleased inbred line, while W259 is an inbred line previously released by the University of Wisconsin Carrot Breeding Program that possesses exceptional color and flavor. Based on pedigree, W281C is very similar to W259, but has normal cytoplasm and carries alleles for fertility at the nuclear restorer locus. In addition, the foliage of W281C is slightly superior to Lucky B, a processing carrot hybrid produced from inbred lines previously released by the Carrot Breeding Program.

BENEFITS:

Exceptional color and flavor

Superior foliage to Lucky B

Suitable for use in both fresh market and processing carrot hybrid cultivars

Inventors: Irwin L. Goldman, Dwight N. Breitbach

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P01014US

Inbred Carrot Lines W280A and W280B

Inbred carrot line W280 is a long Danvers type with a tapered root and light green foliage. W280 was derived from a cross between the unreleased inbred lines, W261 and W262. W280A is a green petaloid sterile and W280B is the maintainer genotype.

BENEFITS:

Long Danvers type with a tapered root and light green foliage

Suitable for use in both fresh market and processing carrot hybrid cultivars

Inventors: Irwin L. Goldman, Dwight N. Breitbach

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P01013US

Inbred Carrot Lines W279A and W279B

W279A (sterile) and W279B (maintainer) represent long Chantenay type, inbred carrot lines with medium green foliage. W279 was derived from a cross between W267, an unreleased, inbred line, and W233, an inbred line previously released by the University of Wisconsin Carrot Breeding Program.

BENEFITS:

Long Chantenay type with medium green foliage

Suitable for use in both fresh market and processing carrot hybrid cultivars

Inventors: Irwin L. Goldman, Dwight N. Breitbach

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P00223US

Inbred Carrot Lines WAY274A and WAY274B

WAY274A (green petaloid sterile) and WAY274B (maintainer) are inbred, carrot lines possessing superior resistance to the plant disease aster yellows, which is caused by a mycoplasma-like organism and spread by the aster leafhopper, Macrosteles fascifrons stal. During three years of field trials, less than 8% of WAY274 plants per plot were infected with aster yellows, compared with an average of 24% among six commercial cultivars. WAY274 is a long Nantes type with medium green foliage. The line was derived from a cross between Scarlet Nantes and the unreleased population Aster Yellows Synthetic 1983, followed by a cross with the unreleased, inbred line W262.

BENEFITS:

Long Nantes type with medium green foliage

Exhibits superior resistance to aster yellows

Suitable for use in both fresh market and processing carrot hybrid cultivars

Inventors: Irwin L. Goldman, Dwight N. Breitbach

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P01015US;

Gabelman et al. 1994. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. 199:1293-1297

Carrot (W266E) Carrying a Reduced Pigment Gene and Its Use

Alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) cannot be synthesized by the body and is often lacking in the U.S. diet. Vitamin E can be obtained from foods such as apples, nuts, and certain oils; however, its presence has not been recorded in carrots.  This invention provides a carrot plant that synthesizes alpha-tocopherol in its root. The ability of this carrot variety to synthesize vitamin E is linked to its being homozygous for the recessive reduced pigment gene (rp). Carrots homozygous for the reduced pigment gene generally have a total alpha-tocopherol content between 0.01 mg and 0.40 mg per 100 grams of fresh weight of carrot root. These carrots also have white roots and contain reduced levels of carotene.

 

BENEFITS:

Reduced pigment gene confers increased alpha-tocopherol levels in different genetic backgrounds

Could provide needed vitamin E to U.S. diet

Novelty carrot – white root instead of orange

New addition to cut-and-peel baby carrot market

Inventors: Irwin L. Goldman, Dwight N. Breitbach

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P97035US

For a Historical List of Carrot Releases from the University of Wisconsin Breeding Program, Please See:

http://www.hort.wisc.edu/Goldman/lab/carrot.htm

Cranberry

Cranberry Variety Named “HyRed”

Red pigment content is a valuable trait in cranberries. In regions with short growing seasons, such as Wisconsin, cranberries contain less pigment than those from regions with longer growing seasons. The inventors have now developed a new and distinct variety of cranberry, called ‘HyRed,’ which is an early-maturing, high-color cranberry hybrid. HyRed is of value in all agricultural regions, but is particularly suitable for regions with short growing seasons. This variety is derived from a cross between the ‘Stevens’ variety and an assortment of seedlings from the ‘Ben Lear’ selection designated as Ben Lear No. 8. The short seasonal maturity of this hybrid allows farmers in regions with colder fall weather to harvest their cranberries after full development of fruit color. In other agricultural regions, the early coloration allows an extension of the harvest season.

BENEFITS:

Contains significantly higher red pigment than other commercial varieties, bringing additional premiums when sold to processors

Short seasonal maturity reduces the risk of crop damage due to unpredictable late-season weather events

Excellent vigor

Yield is comparable to other commercial varieties

Yields are stable between seasons because of a high capacity to set flower buds on fruiting uprights

Develops good coloration when deeply covered within the vine mat, resulting in a more uniformly pigmented harvest

Inventors: Brent H. McCown, Eric L. Zeldin, Peter Normington

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P01289US

Field Corn

Breeding Population (WQS C4) of Corn for Enhanced Silage Production

Dairy cows require a lot of energy to produce milk. Corn silage is commonly fed to dairy cattle because it is a highly digestible, high energy food source. Increasing the digestibility of corn silage should increase the amount of energy dairy cows consume and thereby increase milk production. This technology features a new corn population, known as the Wisconsin Quality Synthetic-C4 (WQS C4), with superior milk production potential. Inbred corn lines derived from WQS C4 can be combined with inbred lines derived from the Stiff Stalk Synthetic corn population to provide high yield, high quality hybrids that are adapted to the Northern Corn Belt.

BENEFITS:

Provides a source population for developing superior inbred corn lines to be used as parents for hybrid silage varieties

High milk production potential

Low neutral detergent fiber (NDF)

High in vitro true digestibility (IVTD)

High in vitro NDF digestibility (IVNDFD)

High protein

Relative maturity of approximately 110 days

Inventors: James G. Coors, Natalia de Leon, Dustin T. Eilert, Patrick J. Flannery

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P08445US

 

Inbred Corn Lines (W601S, W602S, W603S, W604S and W605S) for Developing Silage Hybrids (Released in 2003/2004)

Corn silage is a high quality forage crop used on many dairy and cattle farms. The goal of making silage is to preserve the harvested crop by anaerobic fermentation, where bacteria convert soluble carbohydrates into acetic and lactic acid. To obtain high quality silage, it’s important to start with a crop variety that has high grain and high forage yield. A team of UW-Madison researchers has developed four inbred lines of corn that are useful for developing silage hybrids. The lines have been tested extensively and detailed yield and compositional data are available on them. Line W601-S shows high forage yield potential; above-average in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility; and above-average protein content. W602-S possesses low neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber content; high in vitro true digestibility; high in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility; and high starch content. W603-S shows below-average neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber content and high protein content. W604-S exhibits below-average neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber content; high in vitro true digestibility; and high in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility.

BENEFITS:

May enable development of high quality silage hybrids

Inventors: James G. Coors, Dustin T. Eilert, Patrick J. Flannery

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P03302US and P05228US

 

Corn Population (WGRCOMP C2) Comprising Brown Midrib and gt1 Genes for Forage (Released in 2004)

Corn plants containing a brown midrib gene have less lignin in their cell walls, making forage from those plants more digestible. The independent grassy-tiller1 gene (gt1) enhances the regrowth of corn after cutting, producing multiple stalks and thus extra forage, and even enabling a second harvest in some latitudes. This invention describes lines of corn that are homozygous for brown midrib and grassy-tiller1 genes. Corn including these two genes is bred for vigorous growth, uniformity and phenotypic stability. The enhanced regrowth leads to increased quantity and the reduced lignin leads to increased quality in the resultant forage.

BENEFITS:

Increases per-acre yield of forage in corn fields

Other commercially desirable traits may be added via backcrossing or transgene insertion

Suitable for late-season planting

High-fiber digestibility has been shown to increase milk yield in ruminants like dairy cattle

Grows quickly and offers flexibility to forage producers

Inventors: James G. Coors, Dustin T. Eilert, Patrick J. Flannery

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P05229US

 

Cross-incompatibility Traits from Teosinte and Their Use in Corn

Teosinte is a wild relative of cultivated maize that is native to Mexico and unable to grow in the United States. Although closely related to maize, teosinte does not interbreed naturally with cultivated corn. The inventor has discovered a gene cluster in teosinte that creates a genetic barrier between teosinte and maize – specifically, this gene cluster blocks successful cross-pollination of teosinte by traditional corn varieties. The inventor has bred this “cross-incompatibility” gene cluster into a cultivated corn variety, preventing its pollination by other cultivars with which it would normally readily hybridize. They key benefit of this technology is that the cross-incompatibility gene cluster from teosinte will only be used in non-genetically modified (non-GM), conventional corn, where it should block cross-pollination by other varieties, including GM maize. Thus, this invention provides a means to support the segregation of GM and non-GM maize crops.

BENEFITS:

Gene cluster is transferred to cultivated corn using classical breeding techniques, leaving corn eligible for organic status

Provides opportunity to produce certified non-GM maize, which may earn producers 10 to 50 cents more per bushel (translating to up to $70 more per acre), and which some foreign markets prefer

May prevent unintentional contamination of non-GM corn by GM varieties, as recently occurred with Starlink corn

May be used to identify similar genes or gene clusters in other commercially important crops

May reduce or eliminate the need for buffer zones between GM and non-GM crops, so that farmers may safely grow GM and non-GM varieties in the same field

Inventors: Jerry L. Kermicle, Steven R. Gerrish, Matthew M. Evans

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P00005US

Kidney Bean

Red Kidney Bean Germplasm and Varieties

Dark-red kidney beans are a $25 million industry in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota. A team of researchers has now developed two new varieties of red kidney beans. Both varieties are resistant to the root rot pathogens Aphanomyces and Pythium. The varieties produce upright plants with long pods and dark-red beans of the proper size, shape, and color for canning. These varieties are superior to others both in terms of yield and canning quality.

BENEFITS:

Only root rot-resistant red kidney beans available

Exceptional canning quality

Rapid emergence

Superior yield

Environmentally friendly – require less fertilizer and chemicals than other varieties

Pods are long and don’t open easily, reducing field losses

Inventors: Robert E. Rand, Donald J. Hagedorn, Russell C. Doane

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P01073US

 

White Mold & Root Rot Resistant Dark Red Kidney Bean with Superior Agronomic & Processing Qualities

Although white mold is the most economically damaging disease of legumes, resistance to white mold is not currently available in dark red kidney bean cultivars. Fungicides must be applied at flowering to prevent disease occurrence. This invention describes several high yielding kidney bean lines that are resistant to white mold and root rot. The lines were developed by crossing kidney bean lines with intermediate white mold resistance to root rot-resistant lines and selecting for plants that are highly resistant to white mold. They may be used by commercial bean producers to eliminate the need for treating beans with fungicide in the Midwest and other areas where white mold is a problem, or by organic farmers where chemical spraying is not an option.

BENEFITS:

Eliminates need for spraying costly fungicide on bean crops

Resistant to white mold and root rot

High-yielding

Good canning quality

Under root rot pressure, these lines exhibit longer and more numerous pods, as well as bigger root and canopy sizes than the standard commercial kidney bean line

Inventors: Robert E. Rand, Donald J. Hagedorn

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P06049US

Oats

“KAME”: Wisconsin Oat Test Line X8177-1 (Released 2005)

Wisconsin oat test line X8177-1 has a pedigree of B605X/2/Dane/Newdak. The final cross was made in the spring greenhouse at Madison in 1994. It has been tested statewide since 2000 and in the Arlington drill plot nursery since 2001. X8177-1 has also been an entry in the Uniform Early Oat Performance Nursery (UEOPN) in 2001, 2002, and 2003. This nursery is grown at many locations in the north central USA and measures range of adaptability over a wide growing area. X8177-1 has performed very well in those trials, placing amongst the leaders each year.

In statewide tests, X8177-1 has had consistently high grain yields, ranking highest of early-maturing lines, and even comparable with most midseason and late maturing lines. Test weights are similar to those of Vista and Ogle, while heading date is about 2 days later than Dane, and just slightly earlier than Moraine. Plant height is similar to Dane and about 4 inches shorter than Moraine. Lodging is about equal to that of Belle. BYDV tolerance is comparable to that of Dane. Crown rust resistance is very good. X8177-1 was entered in the Minnesota statewide trials in 2003 and performed well in an area not favorable to early maturing lines.

Breeders Seed was grown in 2002 and Foundation Seed in 2004. Released in 2005. The name “Kame” has been assigned.

 

“Esker” Oat Variety (Released in 2004)

A team of UW-Madison researchers has developed a new, high-yielding oat variety with improved disease resistance, agronomic, and grain quality traits. This variety, named “Esker”, has kernels that are well-filled, yellow, and non-fluorescent. Plants are intermediate in height with medium length leaves. Esker matures midseason and has consistently performed well in trials replicated over several years in many locations.

BENEFITS:

Improved crop performance

High yielding

Good grain test weights

Resistant to crown (leaf) rust

Good tolerance to barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV)

Uniform and stable phenotypic and genotypic plant characteristics

Inventors: Heidi Kaeppler, Ronald Duerst

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P04397US

“Drumlin” Oat Variety (Released in 2003)

UW-Madison researchers have developed a new high-yield oat variety, called Drumlin. Drumlin has been successfully grown in tests at many locations in the northern United States and southern Canada. This variety matures a few days later than Moraine, an early-maturity line also developed by UW-Madison researchers.

BENEFITS:

Provides consistently high grain yields

Shows excellent resistance to crown rust

Displays good tolerance to barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV)

Comparable to commercial varieties in most other crop traits

Inventors: Heidi Kaeppler, Ronald Duerst

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P03266US

“Moraine” Oat Variety (Released in 2001)

UW-Madison researchers have developed a new oat variety, called Moraine. Moraine is an early-maturity line designed for the early maturing oat growing areas of the upper Midwest. The plants are intermediate to tall in height, with leaves of medium length. The kernels are well filled, yellow, and non-fluorescent.

BENEFITS:

Out-yielded comparable varieties in field trials

Good tolerance to crown rust

As good or better response to barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) than comparable varieties

Variety is uniform and stable

Inventors: Heidi Kaeppler, Ronald Duerst, Robert Forsberg

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P01285US

“FORAGE PLUS”: Wisconsin Oat Test Line X7468-5 Forage Oat (Released in 2001)

Wisconsin selection X7468-5 resulted from a cross made in the 1990 spring greenhouse and has been tested primarily as a forage line. Pedigree is X5560-1 / MAM17-4. In three years of testing (1997-1999) at Madison and Arlington, it has had significantly higher forage yields than other commonly used varieties. It is very late maturity, reaching forage cutting stage 5-7 days later than Belle and Ensiler. Crude protein percent and RFV are in the lower range for most named varieties when harvested at late boot, early heading. Forage Plus has a wide window of harvest. As an additional plus for seed producers, it has good crown rust resistance and reasonably good grain yields.

Breeders seed was grown in 1999 and Foundation Seed in 2000. Released in 2001. The name “Forage Plus” has been assigned.

“VISTA”: Wisconsin Oat Test Line X6165-6 (Released in 1999)

Wisconsin oat test line X6165-6 has a pedigree of Ogle/MO 07468/2/Centennial with the final cross being made at Madison in the summer of 1984. It has been tested statewide since 1994 and in the Arlington drill plot nursery since 1995. X6165-6 has also been an entry in the Uniform Midseason Oat Performance Nursery (UMOPN) in 1996, 1997, and 1998.

In statewide tests, X6165-6 has had consistently high grain yields, ranking 1st in 1998, 1997-98, and 1996-98. Test weights are about the same as Belle, while heading date is about 2 days later than Ogle and 2 days earlier than Belle. Plant height is about the same as Troy, while lodging is similar to Gem and Ogle. BYDV tolerance is slightly poorer than Belle, but better than Dane. Crown rust resistance is excellent.

In the UMOPN, line X6165-6 has performed well, ranking in the top 2 or 3 (of 36) for both 1996 and 1997. This nursery is grown at many locations in northern USA and southern Canada and measures range of adaptability over a wide growing area.

Breeders Seed was grown in 1997 and Foundation Seed in 1998. Released in 1999. The name “Vista” has been assigned.

GEM: Wisconsin Oat Test Line X6166-2 (Released 1997)

Wisconsin oat test line X6166-2 has a pedigree of X6051 / Ogle. The final cross was made in the 1984 field nursery at Madison, WI. It has been tested statewide since 1992. X6166-2 has also been an entry in the Uniform Midseason Oat Performance Nursery (UMOPN) in 1992,1993, and 1994. This nursery is grown at many locations in the Northern US and Canada and measures range of adaptability over a wide growing area.

X6166-2 ranked first for grain yields over 24 tests (8 locations for 3 years) during 1994, 1995, and 1996. Plant height is about the same as Belle and 2-3 inches shorter than Ogle and Prairie. Gem has shown excellent resistance to crown rust and good tolerance to BYDV. Lodging is similar to Ogle and Dane. Gem has well filled kernels with good test weight, good groat percentage and good groat protein percentage.

Breeders Seed was grown in 1994 and Foundation Seed in 1995. Certified Seed in 1996. Released for on-farm planting in 1997. The name “Gem” has been assigned.

“DANE”: Wisconsin Oat Test Line X4872-1-3 (Released 1991)

Wisconsin oat test line X4872-1-3 has a pedigree of X3530-47 / Ogle. The final cross was made in the 1979 spring greenhouse at Madison. It has been tested statewide since 1988.

In statewide tests X4872-1-3 has had consistently high grain yields, ranking first in 1988-1990. X4872-1-3 is similar to Webster in maturity and considerably earlier than Horicon or Ogle. X4872-1-3 is similar to Webster, Horicon and Ogle in bushel weight and height. X4872-1-3 has a very high groat percentage. Lodging is similar to Ogle. X4872-1-3 is similar to Horicon in crown rust and BYDV resistance.

Breeders Seed was grown in 1988 and Foundation Seed in 1989. Certified Seed in 1990 and released for on-farm planting in 1991. The name “Dane” has been assigned.

Onion

RELEASE OF ONION INBRED LINE B8667 A&B (Released 2007)

The United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, announces the release of onion inbred B8667 A&B, for the production of red, long-day, well-storing hybrids.  This inbred line was developed by Dr. M.J. Havey and is round in shape, dark red with color extending through the internal rings of the bulb, firm, with good scale retention and excellent storage quality when produced on muck soils.  B8667B is a F1MSMS2M3 from USDA Plant Introduction 262985 (‘Noord Holland Bloodred’) crossed with B5361B (a red inbred developed by the late Dr. C.E. Peterson, but never released).  This inbred has a soluble-solids content of 13.4% and is relatively pungent at 10.7 mM pyruvate per ml.  The cytoplasmic male-sterile A line is a BC7.  Testcrosses of B8667B to a series of male-sterile F1 lines (MSU611-1A×MSU611B, MSU5718A×MSU8155B, B3350A×B2352B, B1731A×MSU5785B, and B1750A×B1794B) produced only red bulbs and yielded in the top one-third of commercial and experimental hybrids evaluated over years at the Kincaid Farm, Palmyra, WI.

 

ONION SYNTHETIC POPULATION “SAPPORO-KI (SKI) -1” A&B (Released 2007)

The Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture announces the release of the long-day onion synthetic population “Sapporo-Ki (SKI) -1”TM A&B. Sapporo-Ki is an open-pollinated population grown on the Japanese island of Hoikkaido and has relatively high frequencies of both S cytoplasm and the dominant allele at the male-fertility restoration locus (Ms) (Havey 1995). This synthetic combines the earliness of Sapporo-Ki with maintenance of cytoplasmic-male sterility. Random plants from Sapporo-Ki were self-pollinated and testcrossed to male-sterile plants of MSU611-1A-MSU611B or MSU5718A-MSU8155B.

The S1 families were evaluated for their cytoplasm using the molecular markers as described by Havey (1993). Testcross families from these N-cytoplasmic plants were scored for male-fertility restoration (Gokce and Havey 2002). S1 families that were N-cytoplasmic and homozygous recessive at Ms were selected. Five S1 bulbs from each of eight families were caged, allowed to flower, and intercrossed using flies, followed by three generations of seed increases. The cytoplasmic male-sterile A line is a BC5. Bulbs of this synthetic population are yellow, very early maturing in Wisconsin, and have good storage ability.

Reference:

Gokce, A.F., and M.J. Havey. 2002. Linkage equilibrium among tightly linked RFLPs and the Ms locus in open-pollinated onion populations. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 127:944-946.

Havey, M.J. 1993. A putative donor of S-cytoplasm and its distribution among open-pollinated populations of onion. Theor. Appl. Genet. 86:128-134.

Havey, M.J. 1995. Cytoplasmic determinations using the polymerase chain reaction to aid in the extraction of maintainer lines from open-pollinated populations of onion. Theor. Appl. Genet. 90:263-268.

ONION SYNTHETIC POPULATION “ONION HAPLOID (OH)-1”TM (Released 2007)

The Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture and the University of Ljubljana announce the release of the long-day onion synthetic population “Onion Haploid (OH) -1”TM. The purpose of this population is to serve as a responsive control for extraction of gynogenic haploids of onion. Random plants from the relatively responsive inbreds B2923B and B0223B were evaluated for gynogenic haploid production as described by Bohanec and Jakse (1999). Plants that produced relatively high numbers of gynogenic haploids were self-pollinated (Bohanec et al. 2003). Five S1 bulbs from each of 10 families (nine from B2923B and one from B0223B) were caged, allowed to flower, and intercrossed using flies. Plants in this synthetic produced on average 12 gynogenic haploids for every 100 flowers plated. Bulbs of this synthetic population are yellow with good storage quality. All plants in OH-1 should be homozygous recessive at the Ms locus, although this has not been evaluated.

Reference:

Bohanec, B., and M. Jakse. 1999. Variations in gynogenic response among long-day onion (Allium cepa L.) accessions. Plant Cell Rep. 18:737-742.

Bohanec, B., M. Jakse, and M.J. Havey. 2003. Genetic analyses of gynogenetic haploid production in onion. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 128:571-574.

RELEASE OF GALANTHUM-CYTOPLASMIC MALE-STERILE ONION POPULATION (Released 1999)

The United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, and the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station announce the release of an alloplasmic source of cytoplasmic male-sterile for use in production of onion hybrids.  The cytoplasm of Allium galanthum Kar. et Kir. USDA plant introduction 280091 was backcrossed for seven generations to bulb-onion populations.  The initial interspecific hybrid and four generations of backcrossing were generated by Dr. Gilbert McCollum, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD, and were released by the USDA in 1988.  The BC4 populations segregated for male fertility and produced commercially unacceptable bulbs of varying colors.  An additional three backcrosses to long-day yellow storage germplasm produced competitive bulb types.  The flowers of galanthum-cytoplasmic populations possess filaments with no anthers and upwardly curved perianth, making identification of male-sterile plants easier than for either S- or T-cytoplasmic male-sterile onion plants.  Mean seed yield per bulb of the galanthum-cytoplasmic populations was measured in cages using flies as pollinators and was not significantly different from one of two S-cytoplasmic male-sterile F1 lines, a T-cytoplasmic male-sterile inbred line, or N-cytoplasmic male-fertile lines.  Galanthum CMS lines were crossed with populations known to be homozygous dominant and recessive at the nuclear locus conditioning male-fertility restoration of S cytoplasm and progenies scored for male-fertility restoration.  Nuclear restorers of S cytoplasm did not condition male fertility for the galanthum-cytoplasmic populations, meaning that any bulb onion population can be used as a maintainer of the galanthum CMS population regardless of its cytoplasm or genotype at the nuclear male-fertility restoration loci.  It is intended that these galanthum-cytoplasmic onion populations be used as an alternative male-sterile cytoplasm for the commercial production of hybrid-onion seed.

Reference:

Havey, M.J.  1999.  Seed yield, floral morphology, and lack of male-fertility restoration of male-sterile onion (Allium cepa) populations possessing the cytoplasm of Allium galanthum.  J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci.  124: 626-629.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For a Historical List of Onion Releases from the University of Wisconsin Breeding Program, Please See:

http://www.hort.wisc.edu/Goldman/lab/onion.htm

Ornamentals

Snapdragon with Extended Postharvest Cut Flower Longevity

Flower longevity varies widely, due in part to natural genetic variation. Conventional methods of extending the longevity of cut flowers rely on a potentially hazardous chemical holding solution. This technology features several strains of snapdragons that keep longer as cut flowers. The inventor identified genes that extend the longevity and keeping quality of cut flowers in lines of white flowering snapdragons. Using an inbred-backcross method, these genes were moved into breeding snapdragon lines that produce flowers of other colors.

BENEFITS:

Flowers last twice as long as cut flowers from current commercial snapdragon cultivars

May be used in a breeding program to enhance the longevity of snapdragon varieties sold for cut flowers

May reduce the dangers from toxic chemicals currently used to extend cut-flower longevity

Inventors: Dennis P. Stimart

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P06063US

Interspecific Vaccinium Hybrid (Lingonberry x Cranberry Hybrid)

The lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L) is a low-growing, woody, evergreen shrub widely distributed in the temperate, boreal, and arctic regions of the northern hemisphere. The American cranberry (V. macrocarpon Ait.) is native to eastern North America and is grown commercially for berry production. Lingonberry, and to a lesser extent cranberry, are also used as ornamental plants in landscaping. A UW-Madison plant breeder has made a novel cross between a selected wild lingonberry and the ‘HyRed’ cranberry cultivar to create a Vaccinium hybrid with improved ornamental traits. An individual from this cross, ‘VM-7,’is superior to either parent as an ornamental flowering plant in the cold zones. VM-7 is an excellent specimen plant and could be used in pots, in rock gardens or as a ground cover.

BENEFITS:

Flowers profusely due to multiple flower buds set on each stem

Blooms for longer periods because the plants are sterile

Evergreen foliage turns an attractive red color in winter light

Thick, waxy leaves give the plant excellent drought tolerance

Short stature improves the plant’s winter hardiness to -10 degrees Fahrenheit and below

Tolerant of winter flooding

Exhibits no spring dieback

Inventors: Eric L. Zeldin

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P04343US

Other Small Grains

KEWAUNEE: Wisconsin Barley Test Line X3250-6 (Released in 1998)

Wisconsin barley test line X3250-6 has a pedigree of Hazen/Minn M46. The final cross was made in 1985 spring greenhouse in Madison, WI. X3250-6 has been tested statewide since 1993. It has been evaluated in the Mississippi Valley Uniform Barley Nursery in 1995 and 1996.

In statewide tests, X3250-6 performed very well, ranking first for one, two, and three year periods during 1994-1996. X3250-6 heads at the same time as Chilton and Morex and is about the same height as Hazen and Robust. X3250-6 has good test weight, lodging resistance and resistance to mildew. It has smooth awns and is considered a feed type barley.

Breeders Seed was grown in 1995 and Foundation Seed in 1996. Certified Seed was grown in 1997 and seed was available for on-farm planting in 1998. The name “Kewaunee” has been assigned.

SPOONER: Wisconsin Winter Rye Test Line Syn 5 (Released in 1993)

Wisconsin winter rye test line Syn 5 was formed by compositing 250 seeds from each of eight rye inbred lines. The eight parental inbred lines were selected based on superior characteristics including long spikes, strong straw, disease resistance and white aleuronic color. This initial Syn 5 population was grown in 1985-86. Performance trials were begun at Madison, Arlington, and Hancock, WI. Research stations in fall of 1987. Trials were expanded to Spooner and Ashland, WI. Research stations in 1991.

In statewide tests Syn 5 has had consistently high grain yields during 1988 to 1991. Grain yield averages of Syn 5 have exceeded those of Hancock rye. Test weight averages also are consistently higher then Hancock. Syn 5 heads about one day earlier than Hancock. Syn 5 is taller than Hancock, with better straw strength.

Breeders Seed was grown in 1986 and 1987 and Foundation Seed was grown in 1992. Certified Seed of Syn 5 was available for on-farm planting in fall of 1993. The name “Spooner” has been assigned.

Potato

“Hodag” (W5955-1), round white variety for chip processing.

Specific gravity and maturity are similar to Snowden, but Hodag maintains light chip color 4–6 weeks longer in storage and has improved scab tolerance. Hodag is high-yielding, with larger average tuber size than Snowden.

“Red Endeavor” (W6002-1R), high yielding red variety.

Good skin color (comparable to Dark Red Norland)

Attractive tubers (round with shallow eyes)

Internal quality (minimal hollow heart or other defects)

Red Endeavor is late-maturing, comparable to Chieftain, and performs best when grown for 120 days before vine desiccation.

“Oneida Gold (W6703-1) fresh market yellow variety

Yield comparable to Yukon Gold but later maturity and 3-4 more tubers

per plant. Oneida Gold is moderately resistant to common scab and Verticillium wilt and extremely resistant to hollow heart. Tubers have shallow eye depth and mild skin netting that polishes off.

“Mega Chip” (W1201), an Early Bulking, White Potato for Chipping

A team of UW-Madison researchers has developed a superior white potato variety for chipping, called “Mega Chip.” This variety shows good chip color when processed from the field and maintains its color through five months storage at 48 degrees Fahrenheit. It also exhibits greater resistance to common scab, a major potato disease, than the leading variety Snowden. The round-oval tubers have white, slightly netted skin and white flesh. This variety also has high specific gravity and low sugar content.

BENEFITS:

Displays early bulking for chipping from the field

Stores well through five months storage at 48 degrees Fahrenheit

Shows increased resistance to common scab

Has higher specific gravity than current varieties

Produces medium- to large-sized tubers

Inventors: Jiming Jiang, Horia I. Groza, Bryan D. Bowen, Stanley J. Peloquin, Donald Kichefski

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P01300US

“Millennium Russet” (W1348), a Long Russet Potato Line

The inventors have now developed a line of dual-purpose potatoes, called “Millennium Russet,” which results in a long russet potato. A dual-purpose potato superior to Russet Burbank would be valuable to the fresh potato and french fry markets. Under Wisconsin conditions, this new line represents a significant improvement over the Russet Burbank variety. The line yields long, russet-skinned and white-fleshed tubers with medium-late maturity.

BENEFITS:

Good french fry quality

Better tuber shape than Russet Burbank

Better tuber length index than Russet Burbank

More resistant to Rhizoctonia than Russet Burbank

Better fry color after cold storage than Russet Burbank

Better specific gravity than Russet Burbank

Tuber appearance is uniform in shape, eye depth, russet skin and white flesh

Highly uniform and stable genetic structure

Inventors: Jiming Jiang, Bryan D. Bowen, Horia I. Groza, Stanley J. Peloquin, Donald Kichefski

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P99042US

“Villetta Rose” (W2275-3R), a Red Skin Potato Line for Fresh Market and Canning

A team of UW-Madison researchers has developed a new red skin potato line, called “Villetta Rose,” for fresh market, canning, and gourmet use (steamers). This variety has medium-late maturity and is particularly well-suited for canning. It has high tuber set; a uniform, round tuber shape; smooth, shallow eyes; uniform tuber size; good skin set; dark-red color at harvest; and white flesh. The tubers have a very attractive appearance. They are somewhat smaller than comparable varieties and the yield is in the medium range.

BENEFITS:

Superior to other commercial varieties for canning

Suitable for canning, fresh market and gourmet use

Attractive appearance

Tubers display uniform size and shape

Inventors: Jiming Jiang, Horia I. Groza, Bryan D. Bowen

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P03160US

“White Pearl” (W-1355-1), a Chipping Potato for Cold Storage Conditions

This plant variety is a new potato line for chipping, called “White Pearl,” which holds outstanding potential for long-term storage at temperatures below the current industry level. Chipping quality can be maintained during storage for up to nine months at 42 degrees Fahrenheit. Tubers have light netted skin and white flesh and are very uniform with a medium-size profile. The variety also exhibits medium-late to late vine maturity, medium yields, and medium solids.

BENEFITS:

Displays excellent chip color following nine months of cold storage

Shows uniform shape, eye depth, skin color and flesh color

Produces tubers of highly uniform size

Inventors: Jiming Jiang, Horia I. Groza, Bryan D. Bowen

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P00343US

“Freedom Russet” (W1836-3rus): A Dual Purpose Russet

A team of UW-Madison plant breeders has created a new, dual purpose (process/fresh market) russet potato that is adapted to the short season conditions of central Wisconsin. This variety, ‘W 1836-3rus,’ has long, blocky, russet tubers with light eye spots and an attractive appearance. W 1836-3rus also has medium-late vine maturity.

BENEFITS:

Yields are superior or comparable to similar varieties

Exhibits superior tuber bulking rate when harvested at 120 days

Highly resistant to Verticillium wilt (a component of early drying syndrome)

Resistant to most strains of common scab
Inventors: Jiming Jiang, Horia I. Groza, Bryan D. Bowen

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P00244US

“Red Companion” (W1100-R) Potato Line

The fresh red potato market represents 10 to 15 percent of the total Wisconsin potato market. The inventors have developed a new fresh market red potato variety, called W1100-R or “Red Companion.” This line yields tubers that are large, red-skinned, white-fleshed, and round-oval in shape. Red Companion shows better yield, fewer internal defects, better chip color, higher solids (allowing frying and baking), and greater resistance to blight than the most similar current variety, Dark Red Norland.

BENEFITS:

Intense and stable red skin color

Attractive tuber shape

White flesh

Low incidence of internal defects

Medium yield capacity

77 percent of harvested potatoes are over two inches in diameter

Stores well

Tuber appearance is uniform in shape, eye depth, russet skin and white flesh

Highly uniform and stable genetic structure

Inventors: Donald Kichefski, Bryan D. Bowen, Stanley J. Peloquin

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P96066US

“Red Pearl” (W84-75R) Potato Line

A specialty market for small tubers less than 1 7/8 inches in diameter is a new and growing area in the restaurant food industry. The inventors have developed a red potato line, called W84-75R or “Red Pearl,” which is targeted toward this specialty market. This potato line consistently produces uniform tubers with a round-oval shape, deep red skin, and white flesh. In addition, the line produces yields in which 50 to 70 percent of the tubers are less than 1 7/8 inches in diameter. The vines and tubers of Red Pearl mature midseason.

BENEFITS:

Useful for gourmet dishes in restaurants

Tuber appearance is uniform in shape, eye depth, russet skin and white flesh

Yields high proportion of small potatoes

Highly uniform and stable genetic structure

Inventors: Bryan D. Bowen, Donald Kichefski, Stanley J. Peloquin

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P97024US

W1386: A High-Yield Chipstock Potato with Excellent Specific Gravity and Long-Term Storage Potential
This invention provides W1386, a potato variety well suited for potato chip processing. W1386 is a round/oval, white-skinned potato.

BENEFITS:

Good tuber size

High yield

Excellent specific gravity

Superior fry color in comparison to leading varieties after nine months of storage

Inventors: Jiming Jiang, Horia I. Groza, Bryan D. Bowen

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P05356US

Snap Bean

Root Rot Resistant Snap Bean Cultivars

Root rot caused by soil borne fungi limits the production of garden (snap) beans. Currently, a crop rotation of three to five years is the most effective management strategy used to control this disease. There is a need in the marketplace for commercial cultivars with good root rot resistance. This technology provides root rot resistant snap bean cultivars. The inventors crossed and backcrossed a root rot resistant Mexican landrace with commercial cultivars to develop lines that combine root rot resistance with improved pod and plant quality traits.

BENEFITS:

Combines root rot resistance with plant and pod quality

Allows for shorter, more flexible crop rotations

Commercial applications include canning, freezing, and fresh market

Inventors: James Nienhuis, Felix M. Navarro, Michell Eileen Sass

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P06320US, P06404US, P06447US & P06448US

 

Calcium-Rich Snap Bean Genotype

Increased calcium intake is recommended for pregnant women, senior citizens, and adolescents. UW-Madison researchers have now developed a snap bean cultivar with high calcium content in the pods. Snap bean pods from this line contain approximately 20 percent more calcium than other common snap bean cultivars.

BENEFITS:

Provides a snap bean with increased calcium content

Calcium should be more bioavailable than that found in supplements

Provides relatively inexpensive source of calcium

Plant displays similar agronomic traits to other fresh market snap bean cultivars

Snap beans are popular with adolescents

May help lower the rate of osteoporosis

Attractive to organic farmers and home gardeners due to superior nutritional content

Inventors: James Nienhuis, Juan Manuel Quintana, Michell Eileen Sass

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P02251US

Soybean

Soybean Lines with Superior Resistance to Sclerotinia Stem Rot

Sclerotinia stem rot, caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is a major disease of crop plants in the north-central United States and southern Canada. Although soybean cultivars have been identified that show partial resistance to Sclerotinia infection, resistance among commercial varieties is limited. A team of UW-Madison plant pathologists has now selected and developed several soybean lines with high resistance to Sclerotinia stem rot. The team used a highly efficient petiole inoculation technique to evaluate soybean germplasm for resistance to S. sclerotiorum. Once resistant plants were identified, the researchers employed a selection procedure aimed at increasing the frequency of these plants in breeding lines. In this procedure, only seed from plants that survived multiple rounds of petiole inoculation with S. sclerotiorum was used to create breeding populations. These breeding lines can be used to create commercial soybean cultivars with superior resistance to Sclerotinia infection.

BENEFITS:

Provides several soybean lines with superior resistance to Sclerotinia stem rot that can be used to develop commercial cultivars

Inventors: Craig R. Grau, Luis Enrique del Rio-Mendoza, Nancy C. Kurtzweil, Angelique J. Peltier

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P03286US

 

Two Novel Soybean Cyst Nematode and Brown Stem Rot Resistant Soybean Lines

Brown stem rot and the soybean cyst nematode are two major afflictions that affect soybeans. The fungus responsible for brown stem rot infects the roots of the plant and then moves to the stem, causing it to rot. Yield losses of 10- to 30-percent are common following infection. The soybean cyst nematode is a small, parasitic round worm that attacks the roots of soybeans. This nematode can be transferred from plant to plant or through infected soil and is almost impossible to eradicate. This invention features two soybean lines that are resistant to brown stem rot and the soybean cyst nematode. The new lines were developed by crossing several soybean lines, challenging them with disease and then selecting for resistance. Each line is more resistant to the soybean cyst nematode than varieties derived from PI 88788, the most common source of soybean cyst nematode resistance in cultivars adapted to the upper Midwest, and also shows better resistance to brown stem rot than currently available lines.

BENEFITS:

More resistant to brown stem rot and the soybean cyst nematode than commercially available soybean lines

Yield and other desirable agronomic characteristics are comparable to commercially available lines

Inventors: Craig R. Grau, Nancy C. Kurtzweil

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P07305US

Sweet Corn

Four New Sweet Corn Inbreds Containing the sh2 Allele

Sweet corn results from a mutation at the sugary locus (su), which causes the endosperm of the seed to accumulate twice as much sugar as field corn. New mutants (sh2 and se) have been developed to improve sweet corn’s sweetness and other qualities. Several new sweet corn inbreds carrying the sh2 mutation have now been developed. Three of the inbreds have been tested in hybrid combinations for at least three seasons and yield hybrids with good to excellent quality. These inbreds have yellow germplasm. A fourth inbred line has very high quality, flavor, and texture and is useful as a male.

BENEFITS:

Produce commercially competitive fresh market hybrids

Contain the sh2 mutation for improved corn sweetness

Inventors: William F. Tracy

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P02305US

A Multiple-Eared Inbred Line (W701BC) of Corn for Production of “Baby Corn”

Baby corn is produced by harvesting immature ears of corn just after the silks develop. Generally, corn plants produce from one to three ears per plant. This invention describes a variety of corn that produces a high yield of baby corn. This homozygous, phenotypically stable variety, called W701BC, produces 15 or more ears per plant in good conditions. Additionally, at approximately three feet tall, this variety is relatively short and therefore easier to harvest by hand.

 

BENEFITS:

Increases yield of baby corn

Additional ears grow on main stalk and tillers

Compact stature makes harvest convenient

Other commercially desirable traits may be added via backcrossing

Inventors: James G. Coors, Dustin T. Eilert, Patrick J. Flannery

Source: http://warf.wisc.edu/, WARF: P05295US