Fall-planted barley makes the best use of available precipitation in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. This growth habit is also suitable to many other areas of the world. A prerequisite for production in most of these areas is tolerance of low temperature during the vegetative growth stages. Fall-planted...
This dissertation consists of a general introduction, three research manuscripts, and general conclusions regarding the mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for sustainability traits in the Triticeae Coordinated Agricultural Project (TCAP) facultative/winter 6-rowed elite malting barley genome-wide association studies (GWAS) mapping panel, the TCAP FAC-WIN6. The first research manuscript, a...
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...
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From Marker-assisted Selection to Genome-wide Association Mapping: Coupling
Germplasm
Making quality and winterhardiness in barley are "ultimate" phenotypes composed of
component, quantitatively inherited traits. A 69-point genome map of the seven chromosomes of
barley was used, in conjunction with multi-environment phenotypes for grain yield and malting
quality, to determine the chromosome locations of quantitative trait loci (QTLs). A combined...
European hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) is an important crop Oregon's Willamette Valley, producing 99% of the hazelnuts grown in North America and brings over US $60 million dollars to the region annually. Hazelnuts are rich in fiber and vitamins, as well in demand by consumers due to their popularity as...
Marker information in the new oilseed crop, meadowfoam, is limited. Molecular markers to facilitate meadowfoam breeding and cultivar improvement are not available. The knowledge of genetic relationships among recent germplasm is not known. The objectives of this study were (i) to gain an understanding of genetic diversity and relationship patterns...
Microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are highthroughput sequence based DNA markers that have been exploited as tools for measuring genetic distance and diversity in evolutionary studies, protection of intellectual property, genetic resource conservation management, cultivar identification and molecular breeding of crop plants. We isolated and sequenced 1095 clones from...
Kernel hardness (KHA) is a major factor determining break flour yield (BFY) and end-use quality of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Within the soft wheat class, genotypes with consistently softer grains than common soft wheat are considered to be 'extra-soft'. In addition, 'extra-soft' wheats have greater BFY than common soft...
The advent of improved DNA sequencing technologies has allowed the analysis of various microbial communities. Bloom-forming freshwater cyanobacteria can produce toxins and taste-and-odor compounds that can negatively affect drinking water supplies. Here, I have employed second- and third-generation sequencing technologies to characterize bloom-forming freshwater cyanobacterial genomes and their associated heterotrophic...
Oomycetes are some of the most devastating pathogens, causing upwards of billions of dollars of damage each year to plants. They also diminish ecological diversity and health through the destruction of trees and shrubs. The genome sequence of Pseudoperonospora cubensis, an obligate plant pathogen and causative agent of downy mildew...