Over the last several decades, potato production has increased globally as it has been recognized as an important component to improving food security. However, potato production has been continuously challenged by pests. Current pest management practices rely heavily on chemical pesticides. Unfortunately, the overuse of pesticides can be harmful to...
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...
Investigation on barley genotype contribution to beer flavor is a relatively new area of research but has interest from members of the malting barley supply chain. This body of work builds upon previous studies by approaching it from new angles that further supports the malting and brewing industries’ interests around...
Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a versatile crop with a wide range of pharmaceutical, commercial, and industrial uses. There is a lack of research and published studies on the ideal storage conditions and their effects on seed quality for hemp. Understanding ideal hemp seed storage conditions would reduce unnecessary seed...
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...
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...
One important cool-season perennial grass seed crop grown in Oregon is fine fescue (Festuca rubra L.). Open-field burning has been used for many decades to manage pests, cycle nutrients, and stabilize yield, in fine fescue seed fields, especially as stands age. Legislative restrictions currently limit open-field burning to 6,070 hectares...
Stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici) and Septoria tritici blotch (Zymoseptoria tritici) are a constant and significant threat to wheat production, significantly reducing wheat quality and yield. Wheat is responsible for 20% of the world’s human calorie intake, and wheat production must increase to supply the demand of the...
Seed shattering is a constraint to improvement of seed yield in Lolium perenne L. and as a result, seed retention is an essential trait for this valuable crop. Field studies were conducted near Corvallis, OR in two years (2017-2018 and 2018-2019) to identify genetic variation for seed retention and to...
Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) is an important seed crop, but unlike other cool-season perennial grass seed crops such as perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.], seed yields have not increased over time so there is considerable room for improvement. Research suggests that plant growth...