Chromosome counts were determined for 152 accessions of Pseudoroegneria
spicata (Pursh) A. Löve and, combined with existing count
data, used to plot the distribution of diploid and tetraploid populations.
Morphological variation of 55 characters was examined in five
groups totaling 205 operational taxonomic units (OTU's), using
cluster, principal factor, and...
This thesis consists of five chapters: a general introduction, two manuscripts, a collection of published lesson plans, and a general conclusion. The works collected herein are united by the common theme of practical applications in plant breeding. The first manuscript reports a study performed on five malting barley lines grown...
Naked (hull-less) barley has historically been grown for food, but interest in, and breeding efforts for, its use in malting and brewing have increased due to the potential benefits: reduced off-flavors, reduced spent grain, and higher malt extract. These benefits are offset by limiting factors such as high b-glucan and...
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important crops in the world supplying about 18.8 percent of the world's caloric energy supply and 20 percent of the world's protein. In the Pacific Northwest (PNW), over one million hectares of wheat are grown every year. Wheat production is typically...
The following thesis consists of four sections: a general introduction, two manuscripts, a general conclusion, and an overall bibliography. The two manuscripts report on: (1) discussing the prospects of developing a perennial malting barley and potential alternative sustainable crop management practices and (2) further exploring the contributions of barley variety...
On a global scale, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plays an important role in tackling the threat of food insecurity due to its high yield and broad global acceptance. However, pathogens threaten potato production, causing direct yield loss and rendering potatoes tubers unmarketable. Breeding new cultivars that carry multiple resistances is...
Understanding complex traits is a fundamental challenge in plant genetics and a prerequisite for molecular breeding. Tools for trait dissection are markers, maps, and quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. Marker-assisted selection (MAS) is an application that integrates these tools. In this thesis research, a new sequence-based marker was evaluated, maps...
Cephalosporium stripe (Cephalosporium gramineum) is an important disease limiting adoption of conservation tillage practices in the Pacific Northwest. The disease can cause severe loss of grain yield and quality in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Modified cultural practices can reduce disease incidence, but are not always dependable because of variation...
Annual ryegrass, or Italian ryegrass (Lolium perenne spp. multiflorum), has been the most stable, in terms of acres, grass produced for the past 25 years in Oregon. Increased interest in Italian ryegrass as a cover crop has increased demand for quality seed. Ideal Italian ryegrass cover crop cultivars are named...
Hop powdery mildew (Podosphaera macularis) was confirmed in the Pacific Northwest in 1996. Before 2012, the most common race of P. macularis was able to infect plants that possessed powdery mildew resistance based on the R-genes Rb, R3, and R5. Post 2012, two additional races of P. macularis were discovered...