Research
Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) National Barley Cluster
Improving the value and environmental impact of barley through breeding Priority 2: Economic Growth
Dr. Aaron Beattie,Crop Development Center – University of Saskatchewan
New barley varieties must continually deliver traits that meet and exceed the needs of the various members of the value chain.
This research aims to improve disease resistance in new varieties by combining resistance to multiple barley diseases, including Fusarium head blight (FHB); improving malt quality; and increasing selection efficiency for breeders.
Overall, this research aims to develop new traits, and make improvements to existing traits, to increase economic returns across the barley value chain and reduce the impact of barley production on the environment.
Objectives
- Improve disease resistance by combining resistance to multiple barley diseases (including FHB) such that fewer fungicide applications are required.
- Improve malt quality of barley germplasm, with a high priority placed on higher starch degrading enzymes, lower β-glucan and higher extract.
- Develop a genomic selection model for yield that will increase selection efficiency of breeders.