Research
Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) National Barley Cluster
Next-generation barley traits for economic profitability and environmental sustainability in eastern Canada Priority 2: Economic Growth
Dr. Raja Khanal,Ottawa Research and Development Centre, AAFC
Barley is one of the most important cereal crops grown in Eastern Canada, but producers continue to face serious growing challenges in the region, such as unfavourable climatic conditions and increasing risk from pests and diseases. Yield losses from these types of challenges can critically limit the economic competitiveness and sustainability of barley production in the area.
This research will use innovative technology to develop new barley traits for improved yield, lodging and disease resistance, and overall economic and environmental sustainability. It also aims to accelerate the incorporation of new traits to increase resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses.
Overall, this research aims to improve barley productivity, stability and quality attributes that will promote the economic and environmental sustainability of the crop for eastern Canadian producers.
Objectives
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Develop and implement genomic selection methods to accelerate breeding for faster and precise incorporation of grain yield, test weight, lodging resistance, low deoxynivalenol, disease resistance and tolerance to Fusarium head blight in advanced breeding materials.
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Incorporate high grain yield, lodging resistance and disease resistance traits into new barley varieties for producers and end-users in Eastern Canada.
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Evaluate western Canadian advanced barley breeding lines for their suitability and adaptation in Eastern Canada.