PHS resistance germplasm.

About

Background The global wheat industry loses as much as $1 billion a year due to prolonged rainfall and high humidity which cause grains to germinate before they are fully mature. Preharvest sprouting (PHS) has a high economic cost for both growers and end-users. As the seed germinates starch and protein are degraded reducing the quality of the seed. Flour from the degraded seed will produce products that are porous, sticky, off color and generally of poor quality. If the grain has over four percent damaged kernels then it is unacceptable for human food products. A portion of sprouted grain may be used for animal feed reducing the price by 20% to 50%. Significant damage causes a total loss as blending is difficult or impossible without ruining the quality of the entire blend. The gene underlying a wheat PHS chromosome 3A QTL was recently cloned. The original source of the partial PHS resistance for this QTL was from the white seeded variety Rio Blanco. Wheat varieties in Kansas vary for the presence or absence of the desirable TaPHS1 found in Rio Blanco conferring PHS tolerance. Identifying sources of PHS among other germplasm groups, including those from Montana would aid greatly in the development of PHS resistance germplasm.