New research could help Canada develop a new generation of high pigment durum varieties to strengthen its position in top world markets.
A study at the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre aims to pinpoint the genes responsible for bright yellow pigment in durum, a trait that is desired by foreign markets.
“This study will help ensure that Canadian durum wheat producers remain competitive with other wheat producing nations, such as Australia,” says lead researcher Dr. Curtis Pozniak, a durum breeder.
“The high pigment cultivars AC Navigator and AC Avonlea have demonstrated the market opportunities for this type of material in the U.S. and Venezuela.”
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Pozniak plans to identify the genes, develop molecular markers to track them and then build tests so breeding programs can produce more desirable varieties.
Canada currently holds about 60
percent of the world trade in durum. By 2008, that will decrease by 10 percent, according to the Canadian Wheat Board. The expected decrease is largely due to the emergence of Australia as a major force in durum breeding and biotechnology.
To date, little work has been focused on durum pigment. However in previous research, the study’s co-researcher, Dr. Ron Knox, has located the chromosome regions where genes for yellow pigment can be found.
Pozniak says finding the chromosome region is like finding the town the genes live in. With this information, his team can now go into the town, find the genes and confirm that they are responsible for high pigmentation.
Once the genes are found on the chromosome, Pozniak’s team will compare two lines on each end of the pigment spectrum to develop markers, which are segments of DNA that indicate the desired genes are nearby. Varieties W9262-260D3 (low-medium pigment) and Kofa (high pigment) will be used as the endpoints.
