Project Number: 5430-21000-006-13
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 01, 2008
End Date: Jul 31, 2013

Objective:
The objectives of this cooperative research project are: 1) Organize and coordinate the Winter Wheat Karnal Bunt (KB) Screening Nursery (WWKBSN) in collaboration with CIMMYT and PAU; 2) Obtain, increase, and distribute new KB-resistant wheat germplasm lines to regional breeding programs; and 3) Make crosses between known KB-resistant germplasm lines and elite adapted winter wheat materials from regional wheat breeding programs; 4) Select adapted KB-resistant lines for germplasm release and cultivar development.

Approach:
Resistant varieties are an important component of an integrated strategy to control KB. The use of resistant varieties is the most economical, sustainable, and long lasting means of control. Dedicated KB screening nurseries exist in collaborating research programs at CIMMYT in Mexico and Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in India. These nurseries will be used to test experimental wheat breeding lines and mapping populations from the USA for resistance to KB. Known KB-resistant spring wheat lines will be obtained and crossed with locally adapted varieties. Resulting lines will be tested for resistance in the KB nurseries. Field selection will be done at multiple locations for agronomic type.