New wheat variety offers higher resiliency and more nutrients

Jun 10, 2020

Wheat may soon have a new reputation in the marketplace and on the menu, thanks to recent breeding efforts.

Researchers at Cornell University developed a variety with higher resiliency and enhanced nutrition compared to conventional wheat, an April American Society of Agronomy release said. The group also trialled a cheaper and quicker breeding method compared to traditional approaches.

This new wheat variety has increased fructan levels, which bring twofold benefits.

Fructans, which are long chains of the sugar fructose, cannot be digested by humans, making this polymer a good source of fibre, the release said. These chains promote healthy gut bacteria, too. Fructans also make plants more tolerant of salty soils and cold temperatures, the release said.

In contrast to the more standard time- and resource-intensive phenotyping for crop breeding, scientists used genomic selection to develop this variety. Genomic selection uses a statistical model to predict plant characteristics instead of data on observed characteristics.

The study is published in the February edition of the journal Crop Science.

Viorika/E+ photo

Video: Why Invest in Canada’s Seed Future? | On The Brink: Episode 3

Darcy Unger just invested millions to build a brand-new seed plant on his farm in Stonewall, Manitoba so when it’s time for his sons to take over, they have the tools they need to succeed.

Right now, 95% of the genetics they’ll be growing come from Canadian plant breeders.

That number matters.

When fusarium hit Western Canada in the late 90s, it was Canadian breeders who responded, because they understood Canadian conditions. That ability to react quickly to what’s happening on Canadian farms is exactly what’s at risk when breeding programs lose funding.

For farmers like Darcy, who have made generational investments based on the assumption that better genetics will keep coming, the stakes are direct and personal.

We’re on the brink of decisions that will shape our agricultural future for not only our generation, but also the ones to come.

What direction will we choose?

On The Brink is a year-long video series traveling across Canada to meet the researchers, breeders, farmers, seed companies, and policymakers shaping the future of Canadian plant breeding. Each week, a new story. Each story, a piece of the bigger picture.

Episode 3 is above. Follow Seed World Canada to catch every episode, and tell us: Do you think the next generation will have the tools they need to success when they takeover? How is the future going to look?