Integration of new molecular markers to develop pre-harvest sprouting tolerant cereals

Dr Jaswinder Singh, McGill University 

Start Date: May 1, 2021
End Date: May 1, 2024

AWC funding: $60,000

Summary:

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is the premature germination of grains while head is still maturing in the field. PHS causes significant economic loses to both growers and end-users. Proposed research project aimed to generate and deploy novel genomic tools for breeding of future generation of Canadian wheat and barley cultivars that are tolerant to PHS. This will enhance grain quality and quantity, nutritional value and Canadian farm economy of cereal grains production in sustainable manner. The objective is to explore PHS-associated AGO4_9 class genes in Canadian wheat and barley varieties, generate gene-specific reliable molecular marker for their efficient use in marker assisted breeding of PHS resistance in wheat and barley cultivar development. Novel markers will be deployed with ongoing wheat breeding programs at AAFC Lethbridge & University of Alberta and barley breeding program at AAFC Brandon.