We developed a set of 16 markers in durum wheat for use on the TaqMan OpenArray Genotyping system. When used in combination with automated variety calling, it provides a simple and efficient means to identify Canadian durum varieties and assess variety composition of seed and (or) grain samples.

Thirteen herbicide tankmixes were evaluated during 2013–2015 for control of glyphosate-resistant (GR) Canada fleabane in soybean. Glyphosate saflufenacil s-metolachlor/metribuzin, glyphosate amitrole, and glyphosate metribuzin were the most efficacious, controlling 86%–92% of GR Canada fleabane, reducing density by 98%–99% and aboveground biomass by 96%–97%.

With increasing public emphasis on sustainable food production, cover crops (CC) integration into conventional production systems is gaining growers’ interest. However, herbicide residue effects on CC on soil fertility, aggregate stability, and size are poorly understood. In the spring of 2012 and 2013, an untreated check plus pre-emergence (PRE) application of saflufenacil/dimethenamid-p (735 and 1470 g a.i. ha^-1) and s-metolachlor/atrazine mesotrione (2880, 5760, and 140, 280 g a.i. ha^-1) to sweet corn, and imazethapyr (100, 200 g a.i. ha^-1) to pea were set. Post-harvest, rye (Secale cereale L.), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. oleiferus), and oat (Avena sativa L.) were planted vertically into herbicide treatments and untreated check. Biomass and N content in CC roots, wet aggregate stability (WAS), aggregate size, and soil mineral N (SMN) in the soil were determined before CC seeding (BCCS) and before main crop seeding (BMCS). Root biomass in vetch and radish was reduced by imazethapyr and 2× rates of saflufenacil/dimethenamid-p and s-metolachlor/atrazine mesotrione. Greater aggregate size in winterkilled CC (oat, radish) plots and WAS in oat-plots was likely due to availability of decomposable residues. SMN was unaffected by CC root N content. This preliminary study demonstrates herbicide residue effects on CC reduction and potential impact on soil quality parameters.

Using plant genotypes adaptable to water-deficit stress is an optimal strategy in sustainable agriculture. This study was conducted to assess the selection criteria for identifying high yielding drought-tolerant F₂-derived F₃ flax families from a cross between Iranian genotype KO37 and the Canadian genotype SP1066. One hundred and nineteen F_2:3 lines were evaluated under drought stress and non-stress conditions using an 11 × 11 lattice design with three replications. Sixteen drought tolerance indices adjusted based on grain yield under drought stress and non-stress conditions were calculated. The presence of high variability for grain yield and irrigation water use efficiency in parental lines and F_2:3 families under both conditions indicated that the F_2:3 population or its advanced generations can be used in selection programs to increase drought tolerance and also to identify quantitative trait loci and genes related to grain yield and drought tolerance in flax. The results of biplots based on the PC₁ and PC₂ and triplot analysis based on the stress tolerance index and grain yield in both stress and non-stress conditions introduced 13 families as the most promising families for drought tolerance, and therefore, their advanced generations can be used in future breeding programs to improve drought tolerance in flax.

Canola (Brassica napus L.) is the most widespread profitable cash crop in Canada. In 2014 and 2015, direct-seeded experiments were conducted in 16 western Canada environments. “Small” canola seed (average 3.32–3.44 g 1000^-1) was compared to “large” canola seed (average 4.96–5.40 g 1000^-1) at five seeding rates (50, 75, 100, 125 or 150 seeds m^-2). Large canola seeds increased crop density and crop biomass but decreased plant mortality, days to start of flowering, days to end of flowering, days to maturity, and percent green seed. Seed size did not influence harvested seed weight, seed oil content or seed protein content. Increasing the seeding rate of small seeds improved canola yield, but the same response did not occur for large seeds. Increasing seeding rates also increased crop density, plant mortality, crop biomass, and seed oil content, but decreased days to start of flowering, days to end of flowering, days to maturity, percent green seed, and seed protein content. Seeding rate had no impact on harvested seed weights. Because higher seeding rates often provide some of the same benefits as large seed, canola growers and the seed industry should balance seed size and seeding rate to obtain the best agronomic performance from canola.

Seed weight is an important botanical and evolutionary characteristic in wild soybean. The study objective was to illustrate phenotypic variation in relation to seed weight. A total of 6169 wild soybean accessions were divided into seven types by 100-seed weight and phenotypic traits in each type were evaluated. The results indicated that the smallest seed size type had the lowest average seed oil content (9.04%), which rose gradually to the highest value of 17.81% in the largest seed size type. The two smallest-seeded size types showed the highest values in average protein content (in seeds) and maturity time, respectively, and there seemed to be declines in the two quantitative traits with increasing seed weight. In qualitative traits, there were also trend changes from small to large seed size types. Furthermore, the medium seed size type had the highest genetic diversity (H = 1.136), which decreased as seeds became smaller or larger. These results revealed the evolutionary changes of phenotypic traits as seeds became larger in size. Finally, the findings that large-seeded types were disproportionately distributed in the main soybean-producing area lend weight to the suggestions that some accessions with large seeds might originate from the natural hybridization between wild and cultivated soybean.

Prohexadione-calcium (P-Ca) is widely used to reduce vegetative growth and labour costs associated with manual pruning. Orchard studies were conducted in 2012 and 2013 to determine the response of mature ‘Empire’/M.26 apple trees to individual or combined applications of P-Ca, ethephon (ETH), trinexapac-ethyl (TE), and maleic hydrazide (MH). Sprays were repeated three times at approximately 2-wk intervals starting at petal fall. All compounds reduced extension shoot growth, ranging from 40%–73% in 2012 and 26%–57% in 2013, relative to untreated controls. The greatest reduction in growth was achieved with ETH in one year and P-Ca ETH and MH in another. The tank-mixed combination of P-Ca ETH improved vegetative control compared with each compound applied alone. MH caused foliar phytotoxicity and damage to the apical meristem, resulting in the stimulation of lateral shoot growth. Reduction in shoot growth from any of the plant bioregulators (PBR) did not reduce dormant pruning times in the spring following application. Total and marketable fruit yield was unaffected by the PBRs, although applications of MH resulted in a significantly higher number of fruit per tree and crop load but a lower mean fruit weight and percent marketable fruit.

To characterize the pattern of sodium uptake by Suaeda glauca (Bunge) plants at mild salinity, this study investigated the temporal variation of sodium uptake rate (mmol Na plant^-1 d^-1) and its relation to plant size (i.e., main stem length) and salt acclimation for S. glauca grown in nutrient solutions with 6, 8, or 10 mM NaCl. During the 23-d salt treatment, sodium uptake rate in S. glauca increased gradually at 5- to 7-d intervals with time advancement and showed a positive exponential relationship with the development of plant size. During the first week (0–7 d) of salt treatment, the weekly average sodium uptake rate was higher in larger plants than in smaller ones. During the last week (18–23 d) of salt treatment, non-salt-acclimated plants showed a similar sodium uptake rate (on a weekly average) to salt-acclimated plants when their plant sizes were not significantly different. These results suggest that at the largest plant size (i.e., 1 wk before harvesting as a leafy vegetable), S. glauca reached the maximum level of sodium uptake rate, which was affected to a larger degree by plant size than by salt acclimation on a weekly scale.

Our objective was to evaluate the long-term impact of management systems combining rotation types [barley in monoculture (M) vs. barley in rotation with forage (R)], tillage practices [chisel plow (CP) vs. moldboard plow (MP)], and nutrient sources [mineral fertilizer (MIN) vs. liquid dairy manure (LDM)] on forage and barley grain production in the Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec, Canada. Barley grain yields were significantly higher in MP (14%) than in CP during the first 10 yr of the experiment only. In R, grain yields were comparable between the two fertilizer sources, but in M, LDM resulted in 17%–20% lower yields compared with MIN. In contrast, forage yields reached 5000 kg ha^-1 under LDM, which was 11% more than under MIN. Nutrient uptake was significantly higher under R than under M. In forage production, nutrient uptake was higher under LDM than under MIN. In the long term, perennial forages and barley can be sustainably produced in rotation without productivity loss using LDM and either MP or CP. Residual N effects and non-N benefits from manure and rotation are identified as important factors contributing to cereal and forage productivity.

Short growing season and mid-summer heat and drought are limiting factors for spring cereal production in Canada, suggesting that higher and more stable yields may be possible if the seeding date occurred earlier in the spring. Field trials were conducted in southern Ontario in 2003 and 2004 to compare development and yield potential of frost (early April) and conventional (late April–early May) seeded hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and oat (Avena sativa L.) established using commercially available no-till planting equipment. Frost seeding had lower plant populations than conventional seeding, with pre-tillering plant population reductions for frost seeding averaging 44 plants m^-2 (12%) for wheat and 27 plants m^-2 (10%) for oats. In spite of lower plant population, frost seeding yields were higher than conventional seeding, with yield increases averaging 0.66 Mg ha^-1 (24%) for wheat, 0.72 Mg ha^-1 (20%) for oats, and 0.36 Mg ha^-1 (11%, 2004 only) for barley. Frost seeded cereals had earlier occurrence of key phenological stages with average heading dates for frost seeded wheat and barley occurring 5 d earlier. Frost seeded cereals also had a longer vegetative period, which, along with earlier heading dates, contributed to increased yields for frost seeded cereals.

Red/far-red (R/FR) ratio, a signal of impending competition from neighbouring plants, fluctuates in plant canopies because of selective absorption of red light and transmission and reflection of far-red light by leaves. The differential response of a crop and associated weeds to changes in R/FR ratio could therefore influence competitive interaction among them. In a growth chamber study, growth, morphological, and allometric responses of common lamb’s-quarters (Chenopodium album L.), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedlings to changes in R/FR ratio were investigated. Low R/FR ratio increased plant height, stem length below the first node, stem diameter, leaf length, and stem/shoot weight ratio, and decreased leaf greenness, leaf/shoot weight, and leaf/stem weight ratios in some or all of these species; the species differed significantly in this regard. Total length and surface area of tomato root were greater under low R/FR ratio. R/FR ratio did not affect root parameters of lamb’s-quarters and pigweed. The observed differential response to R/FR treatment suggests that fluctuations in R/FR ratio in a canopy of mixed populations could impact interactions among these species.

In the present study, the nuclear factor-Y subunit B (GmNFYB1) gene, induced by abscisic acid (ABA), 8% polyethylene-glycol (PEG) 6000, and NaCl, was cloned from soybean. GmNFYB1 is located in the cell nucleus. Two independent transgenic Arabidopsis lines overexpressing GmNFYB1 and GmNFYB1-GR (GmNFYB1 fused with the glucocorticoid receptor) were generated to investigate the function of GmNFYB1 in abiotic stress tolerance. The GmNFYB1 lines exhibited a higher seed germination rate and longer root lengths, with increased proline accumulation in leaves and decreased water loss under drought and salt stress conditions. In contrast, the GmNFYB1-GR transgenic lines displayed almost the same growth pattern as the wild-type plants under ABA, salt, and drought treatments in the absence of dexamethasone (DEX). However, after DEX application as an inducer, the GmNFYB1-GR lines showed positive responses to drought and salt resistance, similar to the GmNFYB1 lines. The inhibition of seed germination under ABA stress indicates that GmNFYB1 is involved in the ABA signalling pathway. Furthermore, the quantitative reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis suggested that GmNFYB1 boosts the stress tolerance of plants through the C-repeat binding factor pathway. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the characteristics of GmNFYB1 as a transcription factor that lead to improved drought and salt tolerance in plants.

Development of perennial grains is being promoted to aid in moving agriculture towards sustainable production. How long does it take to identify perennial yielding ability? Intermediate wheatgrass [Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Bark. & Dewey] nurseries were transplanted in 2011 (4500 plants) and 2012 (1000 plants) at Carman, MB. Productive, healthy plants were harvested on a yearly basis. Intolerance to late frosts after spring regrowth initiation in 2012 (approximately 55% of the plants) and in 2014 (the entire 2012 nursery) led to these plants not being harvested. Mean yield plant⁻¹ was 37.25, 66.70, and 57.81 g for the 2012, 2013, and 2014 overall harvests, respectively. Individual plants showed divergent seed yielding patterns across years, especially with respect to the third harvest year. A number of plants were identified that had consistent relative seed yields over the 3 yr of harvest for the 2011 nursery. Linear regression indicated that the first year of seed production was a poor indicator of relative yield potential over all 3 yr (R² = 0.238) amongst the highest overall yielding plants, with 2013 and 2014 having greater predictability. Variability in yield in the third reproductive year indicated that the third year is required to identify highly productive individuals for three consecutive seed harvests.

Salt stress increases the accumulation of toxic ions in chloroplasts of higher plants and is associated with decreased photosynthesis. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of foliar application of gibberellic acid (GA₃, 288.7 µM), kinetin (232.3 µM), and salicylic acid (362 µM) under salt stress (0, 2, and 4 g kg^-1 dry soil) on two sweet sorghum varieties (Yajin 13 and Yajin 71). The investigation parameters included the content of Na , K , Ca² , P, and Mg² , photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and membrane permeability. The results indicated that Na content increased gradually with salt increase. Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and K content were significantly decreased due to high salt concentration. The medium salinity level of 2 g NaCl per kg dry soil decreased P, Ca² , and Mg² content. Of hormonal treatments, GA₃ and kinetin caused significant increase in photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate. Salicylic acid was the best hormone treatment for reducing membrane permeability and Na content under salt stress. Yajin 13 had less Na content than Yajin 71, and was more tolerant to salinity than Yajin 71.

HS-162 is a 7S β-conglycinin α' and 11S glycinin A₄ null food-grade soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) line with high protein concentration, large seed, yellow hilum, and excellent food processing quality. It is adapted to areas of southwestern Ontario with 3100 or more crop heat units and has a relative maturity of 2.4 (MG 2.4).

AAC Connect is a hulled two-row spring malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivar widely adapted to western Canada. Developed from the cross TR04282/BM9831D-229 made in 2004, AAC Connect was evaluated in the Western Cooperative Two-Row Barley Registration Test (2012–2013) and the Collaborative Malting Barley Trials (2013–2014) conducted by the malting and brewing industry before being registered in 2016. AAC Connect has a desirable combination of agronomic, malting quality, and disease-resistance traits including lower deoxynivalenol accumulation.

AAC Ryley is an awned semidwarf hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that yielded significantly more grain than check cultivar 5700PR while maturing 1.9 d earlier and growing 5 cm taller. The seed size was significantly larger than 5700PR and 5701PR but the test weight was significantly lower than both checks. AAC Ryley expressed resistance to prevalent races of leaf rust, stem rust, and common bunt. AAC Ryley expressed intermediate resistance to loose smut and moderate susceptibility to Fusarium head blight. AAC Ryley is eligible for grades of Canada Prairie Spring Red wheat.