Abstract Detail

Biotic and abiotic stress

Capo-chichi, Ludovic [1], Nyachiro, Joseph [2], Juskiw, Patricia [2], Beattie, Aaron [3], Slaski, Jan [4].

Low temperature tolerance of spring barley for improvement of early crop establishment.

Frost in the late spring during seedling development is a major factor affecting spring barley production in Canada as it can result in mortality, poor crop establishment, and subsequent yield reduction. The objectives of this study were to 1) evaluate the effects of low temperatures on emergence and seedling performance among spring barley germplasms, 2) introgress the cold hardiness from winter-hardy barley into spring barley, and 3) screen recombinant inbred lines (RILs) for emergence and seedling cold tolerance. Untreated seeds of 95 barley genotypes consisting of advanced breeding lines and commercial varieties, as well as, two populations of 100 F_2-4 lines derived from reciprocal crosses between spring barley and winter barley were sown in pots containing field soil. Seed quality was visually assessed. Two replicates of 25 seeds of each genotype were sown in pots at depth of 1.5 cm. Emergence was assessed at 5 and 10°C. Seedlings at the three-leaf stage were cold acclimated and freeze-shocked. The initial temperature of the cold acclimation was between 3°C and 5°C and then gradually decreased to -12°C over a total duration of 4 hours. The temperature of the freeze shock treatment varied from -12°C to -6°C for 75 min. The 10°C temperature did not affect total emergence, however, the number of days to first, 50% and greater than 90% emergence increased dramatically compared to the treatments at 5°C, which resulted in progressively poorer emergence. However, few germplasms have shown good emergence at 5°C. Prior to cold treatments, the chlorophyll fluorescence F_V/F_M values varied from 0.739 to 0.766. Values measured 24 hours after cold acclimation varied from 0.125 to 0.752. Under freezing-shock treatment, the F_V/F_M values varied from 0 to 0.517. Under both treatments, the values of the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters significantly decreased after 24 hours in non-hardy genotypes, leading to irreversible effects. The variation in survival rates under cold acclimation ranged from 30% to 100%, with the majority of genotypes grouping between 80% and 90%. For the freeze shock treatment, survival rates varied from 0% to 100% with the majority of the genotypes lying between 20% and 30% survival. The two cold treatments were effective in screening the spring barley germplasms for cold hardiness. Those lines with better emergence and survival will be advanced and used as parents in the improvement of this trait.

1 - Alberta Innovates - Technology Futures, Ecosystems and Plant Sciences, Hwy 16A & 75 Street, Vegreville, AB, T9C 1T4, Canada
2 - Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Field Crop Development Centre, 5030 50th Street, Lacombe, AB, T4L 1W8, Canada
3 - University of Saskatchewa , Crop Development Centre, Agriculture Building, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A8, Canada
4 - Alberta Innovates Technology Futures, Ecosystems and Plant Sciences, Hwy 16A-75 Street, Vegreville, AB, T9C 1T4, Canada

Keywords:
barley
Low temperature tolerance
Crop establishment.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Hall D/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PBA010
Abstract ID:965
Candidate for Awards:None