WGRF has established relationships with provincial agriculture funding bodies in western Canada and other producer commodity groups to review proposals submitted to these organizations and co-fund projects in six priority areas. Researchers interested in applying for funding, please click on Funding Priority Research Areas for more details.
Current Research Projects Funded
Obtaining High CWRS Wheat Yields While Maintaining Baking Quality
Lead Researcher: Dr. Pierre Hucl, University of Saskatchewan
Total Funding: $204,600
Start Date: 2013
Project Length: 4 years
Objective: The objective of this project will be to determine whether very high yielding, lower-protein CWRS wheat prototype lines can maintain acceptable dough strength levels under high-protein producing growing conditions.
Producer Benefit: The results of this project will be knowledge that can be used in developing policies around spring wheat cultivar registration and investment in wheat breeding.
New Forage Barley Cultivars for Beef and Dairy Producers
Lead Researcher: Bruce Coulman, University of Saskatchewan
Total Funding: $52,800
Start Date: 2013
Project Length: 3 years
Objective: The focus of this project will be on the development of new forage barley cultivars using conventional breeding and field research techniques.
Producer Benefit: The results of this project will be new cultivars of forage barley with higher yield and nutritive value. Beef and dairy producers will use these cultivars for silage and green feed production. Beef producers will also use these cultivars for fall and winter grazing following swathing in the early fall.
Combination of Genomics with an Innovative In Vitro Screening Method for Fusarium to Develop Fusarium Head Blight Tolerant Cereal
Lead Researcher: Dr. Ravindra Chibbar, University of Saskatchewan
Total Funding: $240,714
Start Date: 2013
Project Length: 3 years
Objective: The results of this project will be the creation of new culture and screening methods leading to the development of germplasm and FHB resistant wheat cultivars.
Producer Benefit: The development of wheat cultivars with the highest resistance to FHB.
Achieving the Best Resistance to Clubroot Disease in Canola by Pyramiding Multiple Effective Resistance Genes
Lead Researcher: Genyi, Li, University of Manitoba
Total Funding: $34,500
Start Date: 2013
Project Length: 3 years
Objective: Developing new canola germplasm by combining multiple effective resistance genes through molecular marker development and marker assisted selection.
Producer Benefit: The development of canola cultivars with the highest resistance to the present Canadian clubroot pathogen isolates.
Agronomic Management of Organic Forage Grass Seed Crops
Lead Researcher: Dr. Martin Entz, University of Manitoba
Total Funding: $16,744
Start Date: 2013
Project Length: 2 years
Objective: This project will provide practical agronomic information on how to manage perennial (orchardgrass and tall fescue) and winter annual (perennial ryegrass) organic forage seed crops, with a special emphasis on nitrogen supply.
Producer Benefit: One of the challenges in organic grass seed production is fertility. Supplying nitrogen by growing green manure crops, intercropping legumes, and/or grazing livestock in grass seed stands may improve the productivity of these crops. This would be a benefit to existing forage seed producers and could also attract new growers to this industry. Organic forage seed production practices could also be used by conventional forage seed growers to reduce costs and enhance productivity.
Residue Management for Corn in Manitoba
Lead Researcher: Dr. Yvonne Lawley, University of Manitoba
Total Funding: $18,716
Start Date: 2013
Project Length: 2 years
Objective: To conduct on-farm experiments focused on new residue management strategies for corn in Manitoba. The objectives of the proposed research is to compare the impact of standard tillage to vertical and strip tillage on corn residue decomposition, soil characteristics, and subsequent crop performance under the soil and climatic conditions in the major corn growing areas of Manitoba.
Producer Benefit: The results of this research will enable farmers to make informed decisions about the adoption of new tillage practices for corn residue management that could reduce their primary production costs. It will also help farmers make more informed decisions about new equipment options for corn residue management.
Evaluation and Demonstration of New Biopesticides for Use in Stored Potatoes
Lead Researcher: Dr. Doug Waterer, University of Saskatchewan
Total Funding: $39,600
Start Date: 2013
Project Length: 3 years
Objective: To compare and demonstrate the relative efficacy of the new generation of biopesticides relative to standard agrichemicals as means of managing sprouting and controlling disease in stored seed and table potatoes.
Producer Benefit: While the new generation of bioproducts/biopesticides appears to have potential benefit for potato growers in Saskatchewan, none of the products are actually being used in the industry due to a lack of efficacy information relevant to Saskatchewan conditions. This project is designed to help fill that information gap by utilizing locally appropriate storage practices, potato cultivars of greatest importance to local growers, and focusing on diseases of specific relevance to the industry in Saskatchewan.
Pyramiding Stripe, Stem and Leaf Rust Genes into Bread Wheat
Lead Researcher: Dean Spaner, University of Alberta
Total Funding: $150,000
Start Date: 2013
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: To use information on stripe rust resistance in spring wheat to pool multiple resistance to stripe, leaf and stem rusts; and other diseases. Discover markers associated with unknown genes conferring stripe rust resistance in spring wheat.
Producer Benefit: Results obtained from this project will add to the current knowledge of mechanisms involved in disease resistance, and will be of practical use in wheat breeding. Improving disease resistance would add value to the industry via sales through national and international sales.
Potential Vernalization Response and Crop Development of Canary Seed
Lead Researcher: Pierre Hucl, University of Saskatchewan
Total Funding: $155,018
Start Date: 2012
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: The primary objective of this project is to determine whether canary seed has a vernalization requirement. A vernalization (cold treatment) requirement, in spring cereals can lead to yield instability under certain growing conditions. In addition the researcher will study the crop growth and development of canary seed in order to provide better crop staging information.
Producer Benefit: This project will help understand the under-lying causes of the yield instability in canary seed and whether it is possible to reduce the large swings in the crop’s grain yield.
FHB Resistant Oat for FHB Prone Eastern Prairie Region
Lead Researcher: Aaron Beattie, University of Saskatchewan
Total Funding: $180,000
Start Date: 2012
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: To maintain domestic and export markets for Western Canadian oat growers. This will be done by screening germplasm for resistance, identifying markers associated with FHB resistance (to assist breeding FHB resistant varieties) and survey FHB prevalence, severity and mycotoxins in commercial fields.
Producer Benefit: To produce future oat varieties with better FHB resistance that will help Western Canadian growers produce a quality and safe oat product to protect their role in supplying oat products to the domestic and US markets.
Improving Farinograph Absorption of CWRW Wheat by Screening for Pentosan Content
Lead Researcher: Harry Sapirstein, University of Manitoba
Total Funding: $161,540
Start Date: 2012
Project Length: 2 Years
Objective: To significantly improve farinograph absorption (FA) of CWRW wheat. FA is a standardized measure of flour water absorption and is one of the most important bread making quality determinants. The research focus is to evaluate the relationship between FA and pentosan content of CWRW wheat measured by a small scale screening test.
Producer Benefit: Improving FA of CWRW wheat would enhance marketing opportunities and revenue.
More Information WGRF Project – Farinograph Absorption
Coordinated Monitoring, Forecasting and Risk Warning Systems for Field Crop Insect Pests
Lead Researcher: Jennifer Otani, AAFC-Beaverlodge
Total Funding: $45,000
Start Date: 2012
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: To coordinate an insect monitoring program designed to keep the Canadian agriculture industry informed of the risks to crop production from pest species and to highlight and conserve their natural enemies.
Producer Benefit: The proposed project will develop & implement a region-wide monitoring program designed to keep the agriculture industry informed of the risks to crop production from insect pests. The data will also contribute to the development of future beneficial management practices.
Developing Molecular Markers for Determining Race Structure of Leptosphaeria Maculans in Western Canada
Lead Researcher: Hossein Borhan, AAFC-Saskatoon
Total Funding: $224,250
Start Date: 2012
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: To generate DNA markers from the genome of Leptosphaeria maculans, the causal agent of blackleg disease of canola. The researcher will identify markers for known avirulence genes which exist in L. maculans population in Western Canada and tag other potential avirulence/virulence genes inferred from the Leptosphaeria genome sequence.
Producer Benefit: information about the Leptosphaeria genome will be important for developing canola cultivars with effective resistance to blackleg and will help producers to choose a resistant variety best suited to their location.
Aptamer-Based TLC Technology for Mycotoxin Detection in Grains
Lead Researcher: Dr. Maria DeRosa, Carleton University
Total Funding: $225,000
Start Date: 2012
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: To develop low-cost, easy-to-use mycotoxin tests using a combination of a new technology called aptamers and established techniques of thin layer chromatography and dipstick assays.
Producer Benefit: Mycotoxins, such as DON, OTA and Fumonisin pose an immediate threat to profitable cereal grain production in Canada. New regulatory maximum limits for OTA and DON in grains and grain-based foods are being implemented to manage risks posed by chronic/acute dietary intake. Producers require a fast, reliable testing technology that is simple and inexpensive enough to be used on site without special expertise.
More Information WGRF Project – Mycotoxin Test
Natural Air Grain Drying: Testing an Automatic Controller for Managing Bin Aeration Fans
Lead Researcher: Christopher Holzapfel, Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation
Total Funding: $206,747
Start Date: 2012
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: To determine if calculating the water holding capacity of the air as a function of its temperature and relative humidity can be used as a control point for the operation of aeration fans.
Producer Benefit: Potential energy savings could be substantial with a rapid payback for technology that can operate the aeration fans only when cooling and drying occurs. The proposed approach involves a low cost solution with a short payback time-frame for the producer. Proper grain storage is also necessary to avoid the development of the mycotoxin Ochratoxin A which will render grain unsuitable for human consumption.
More Information WGRF Project – Grain Aeration
Development and Implementation of a Triticum Technology Platform to Support Public Cereal Breeding Programs in Western Canada
Lead Researchers: Dr. Curtis Pozniak, University of Saskatchewan, Crop Development Centre, Dr. Francois Eudes, AAFC-Lethbridge, Dr. Brent McCallum, AAFC-Winnipeg.
Total Funding: $3,778,070
Start Date: 2012
Project Length: 5 Years
Objective: To develop genomic tools to enhance cereal breeding in Canada. To build on established knowledge and skills in isolated microspore culture to address the most critical limiting factors of this platform process, and to strengthen double haploid production units in the prairies. To develop durable multi-pathogen resistance to leaf rust, stem rust, stripe rust and powdery mildew in wheat cultivars.
Producer Benefit: Greater use of genomic technologies will mean faster, more accurate identification of the best genes available in seed germplasm to breed into varieties for commercial production. Doubled haploid technology accelerates the cycle of crop breeding. Together, these technologies can get improved varieties into farmers’ fields quicker and add to the producer’s bottom line.
Development of Baseline Data for Incidence and Levels of Ochratoxin in Milling Quality Cereal Grains Intended for Processing in Canada
Lead Researcher: Canada Grains Council
Total Funding: $120,000
Start Date: 2011
Project Length: 2 Years
Objectives: The objectives of this project are to 1) assemble a baseline database to establish incidence and observed levels of OTA and DON present in deliveries of milling quality wheat and oats to Canadian based processors, 2) develop operating characteristic curves for OTA for each of the flour classes of grain studies to enable application day to day use of these curves to manage acceptance and rejection of shipments, 3) illustrate the correlation between commercially available ELISA analysis and commercially available HPLC and/or LC/MS, and 4) illustrate, if it exists, seasonal variation (during the crop year) in OTA and DON levels present in grain shipments to Canadian wheat and oat mills
Producer Benefit: Of importance for Western Canadian farmers is the knowledge of how much DON and ochratoxin is in the grain being delivered and how this may impact storage practices on farm.
Increased Crop Performance through Wheat-Mycorrhizal Interaction
Lead Researcher: Dr. Danny Singh, AAFC-Swift Current
Total Funding: $165,025
Start Date: 2011
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: To produce nutrient use efficient wheat cultivars in order to reduce crop dependence on fertilizer, reduce farm input costs, and increase the value of Canadian wheat.
Producer Benefit: Canadian durum captures almost 50% of the world market. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbioses with the roots of most plant species, including wheat. AMF offers numerous benefits to producers: efficient use of fertilizer and soil nutrients, drought and disease tolerance, greater N-fixation, and improved soil physical properties. Breeding for AMF symbiotic wheat could reduce the dependence of wheat and its rotation crops on fertilizers, leading to improved profitability and net farm income gains.
Pea Yield Formation in Warming Temperatures
Lead Researcher: Dr. Rosalind Bueckert, University of Saskatchewan
Total Funding: $160,000
Start Date: 2011
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: The goal is to look at nine varieties of pea, which cover Saskatchewan cultivars and potentially heat tolerant cultivars from Australia, and find out why pea has poor yield in warm summers on the prairies.
Producer Benefit: Pea yields are substantially reduced in warm summers. With a warming climate, the pea crop is going to be stressed more often, resulting in shorter times of growth and substantial reductions in yield amount and quality. Identifying the best traits to improve heat tolerance will result in new pea cultivars that can yield moderately or very well in warm summers. Due to lack of research in heat tolerance in the other pulses (except desi chickpea), the other pulse crops could benefit as well from knowing which traits worked well in pea.
Hormonal Regulation of Pre-harvest Sprouting in Wheat
Lead Researcher: Dr. Belay Ayele, University of Manitoba
Total Funding: $121,900
Start Date: 2011
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: To identify genes controlling pre-harvest sprouting in wheat, and investigate the potential of molecular breeding approaches to accelerate incorporation and deployment of these genes into commercial wheat cultivars.
Producer Benefit: This research will provide powerful tools for breeders to develop new wheat cultivars with increased tolerance to Pre-harvest Sprouting (PHS) damage; thereby improving wheat yield and quality. The proposed research will also generate new information that will be valuable for controlling sprouting damage in other economically important cereal crops whose production is affected by PHS.
Genetic Analysis of Transgenes in Flax Germplasm
Lead Researcher: Dr. Helen Booker, University of Saskatchewan
Total Funding: $147,145
Start Date: 2011
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: This research will contribute to the design of accurate GM testing and help to restore export markets for Canadian flax exporters.
Producer Benefit: This project will develop a more accurate test for detecting the presence of CDC Triffid in shipments for export and develop new knowledge regarding the inheritance of transgenes in flax. Confidence will be restored in export markets for Canadian flax. Additionally, GM seed will largely be eliminated from Canadian pedigree flax seed stocks.
Genetic Male Sterility Facilitated Recurrent Selection in Spring Wheat
Lead Researcher: Dr. Stephen Fox, AAFC-Winnipeg
Total Funding: $136,000
Start Date: 2011
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: This project aims to better exploit genetic variability and knowledge for simultaneous improvement of yield, end-use quality, pest resistance and adaptability of new varieties.
Producer Benefit: A part from pest resistance, it is possible to improve through breeding almost every aspect of the profitability of wheat production. Characteristics such as yield potential, adaptation, seed dormancy and reduced likelihood of sprouting in the ears during wet seasons, seed protein content, milling and baking quality all have complex multigenic inheritance. This project attempts to develop more appropriate and effective alternative/ supplementary breeding strategies. The value for producers is found in the more timely production of new cultivars with desirable trait combinations.
Molecular Characterization of Low Temperature Tolerance in Cereals
Lead Researcher: Dr. Ravindra Chibbar, University of Saskatchewan
Total Funding: $151,800
Start Date: 2011
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: To study Canadian, Scandinavian and Russian wheat and rye germplasms with varying levels of cold hardiness. The most effective genes will be identified and be recommended for introgression into Canadian wheat germplasm to increase their low temperature tolerance and winter survival.
Producer Benefit: Development of winter wheat cultivars with improved winter survival will provide producers with an alternative or complement to spring wheat production. The benefits from winter wheat are relatively low input cost, an environmentally friendly production system and high yield. Winter wheat generally yields significantly more than spring wheat, however high winter kill can eliminate this advantage.
Building Durable Clubroot Resistance in Canola
Lead Researcher: Dr. Gopalan Selvaraj, National Research Council of Canada
Total Funding: $134,912
Start Date: 2011
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: To identify multiple clubroot resistance genes from diverse Brassica germplasm and to develop markers based on those genes for use in the production of canola varieties with durable clubroot resistance.
Producer Benefit: Yield loss and low quality seeds make clubroot a very serious emerging threat in canola farming. Clubroot spores survive winters, no chemical treatments exist, and genetic solutions are necessary. Knowing which variety contains what specific resistance gene, and having varieties with multiple resistance genes will give farmers much greater options in managing clubroot. The proposed work will assist non-GMO breeding while providing an option for GMO varietal development to meet future market demands as well.
Northern Adapted Flax Variety Development and Agronomy Program
Lead Researcher: Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission
Total Funding: $120,000
Start Date: 2011
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: To ensure that as new better adapted flax varieties are developed, there is concurrent development of agronomic best management practices to ensure maximum production capability is realized.
Producer Benefit: Development of an agronomic package for northern flax varieties will ensure new varieties achieve their full genetic potential, resulting in reduced risk and increased productivity for flax production in the northern half of the grain belt and hence allowing flax to be a viable crop for producers of this region.
Net Blotch: Variability in Relation to Virulence, Resistance and Fungicide Sensitivity
Lead Researcher: Dr. Kelly Turkington, AAFC- Lacombe
Total Funding: $ 279,000
Start Date: 2010
Project Length: 4 Years
Objective: To conduct a prairie-wide assessment of the current status of the pathogens that cause netted and spotted net blotch of barley to determine: 1) their variability in pathogenicity, virulence, and molecular characteristics); 2) ability to overcome currently-used sources of resistance; and 3) any variation in the sensitivity of representative pathogen forms and isolates to the fungicides registered to manage net blotch
Producer Benefit: This research will help to maintain and build expertise and knowledge in barley pathology, pathogen variation, pathogen population genetics, and host-pathogen interactions. This will aid in the development of cultivars with more durable and stable forms of resistance which will benefit prairie barley producers, plant pathologists, breeders and the industry.
Reducing Overlooked Losses in Wheat: a Novel Approach to Control Leaf Spot Diseases
Lead Researcher: Dr. Jeannie Gilbert, AAFC-Winnipeg
Total Funding: $60,000
Start Date: 2010
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: To deliver adapted, high quality spring wheat germplasm that combines resistance to pathogens causing leaf spot diseases (tan spot, stagonospora glume blotch, septoria tritici blotch, and spot blotch) while retaining resistance to predominant races of leaf and stem rust, Fusarium graminearum, and wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV).
Producer Benefit: This project will allow valuable yield now lost to leaf spot diseases to be captured. This project will build on progress already made towards combining resistance to leaf spot diseases with resistance to wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), fusarium head blight (FHB) and rusts. This will help reduce fungicide costs, optimize frequency of wheat cultivation in a crop rotation, and improve yield.
Biological Control of Root Maggots in Canola
Lead Researcher: Dr. Neil Holliday, University of Manitoba
Total Funding: $60,000
Start Date: 2010
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: To reduce root maggot damage to prairie canola to below economic levels by introducing a biological control agent of root maggots. The project will generate data on risks to non-target organisms of introducing the agent.
Producer Benefit: The lack of practical, economic and environmentally acceptable methods of root maggot control in canola leaves farmers essentially powerless to manage these pests which have shown a trend of increasing severity in the last 30 years. This project is part of a program aimed at controlling root maggots by classical biological control. Farmers could see a reduction in losses due to root maggots, possibly to the point at which no economic loss occurs. This reduction would be prairie-wide and self-sustaining and occur without any direct costs to individual farmers.
Protecting Canadian Farmers from the Threat of UG99
Lead Researcher: Dr. Curtis Pozniak, University of Saskatchewan CDC
Total Funding: $163,470
Start Date: 2010
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: To develop DNA markers for existing and novel sources of resistance to UG99 in durum and bread wheat.
Producer Benefit: Stem rust has been very devastating to the industry in the past. Races such as UG99 have great potential to spread to North America by either natural means or by human activity, so it is imperative that we are ready for that eventuality. This research will develop the DNA tools to allow effective breeding of UG99 in Canadian wheat cutlivars to protect wheat producers if or when the disease arrives.
Developing Canola with Reduced Pod Shattering
Lead Researcher: Dr. Shaleb Shah, Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures
Total Funding: $108,000
Start Date: 2010
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: To develop canola lines with reduced pod shattering and to confirm the reduced pod shattering in field trials. To increase yield of canola through reduced pod shattering, and thus meet the increased demand of vegetable oils for bio-based industry.
Producer Benefit: The development of pod shattering resistance in canola will significantly benefit the Canadian canola producers by reducing yield losses in the field.
Rust Resistance Genetic Resources for the Canadian Wheat Industry
Lead Researcher: Dr. Curtis Pozniak, University of Saskatchewan, Crop Development Centre
Total Funding: $14,100
Start Date: 2010
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: To ensure that the most advanced material from the late Dr. Knott’s program is inventoried and submitted to the Plant Gene Resources Canada (PGRC) GenBank and to publish a monograph of Dr. Knott’s results for other breeders and pathologists to access.
Producer Benefit: The genetic stocks developed by Dr. Knott and the data he collected will be useful for wheat breeders to deploy alternative resistance genes into new bread wheat and durum cultivars.
Enhancing Nitrogen Management through Genetics in Cereal-Legume Crop Rotations
Lead Researcher: Dr. Pierre Hucl, University of Saskatchewan, Crop Development Centre
Total Funding: $150,000
Start Date: 2009
Project Length: 3 Years
Objective: To develop a method for identifying varieties of spring and durum wheat that are better suited for production on lentil and pea stubble. To identify superior nitrogen fixing pea and lentil varieties that can be selected for greater nitrogen fixation and N contribution in stubble to the cropping system based on indirect effects on spring wheat and durum. To identify varietal combinations of cereal-legume cultivars that will result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Producer Benefit: Pea-spring wheat and lentil-durum rotations represent the predominant cereal-legume rotations in western Canada. An ability to select for higher yield and better quality pea-spring wheat and lentil-durum cultivars based on complementarities of genotypes will contribute greater economic returns through reduced costs, higher revenue and possibly improved environmental credits through improved nitrogen use efficiency.