The production of doubled haploid (DH) plants from microspores is an important technique used in plant breeding programs and basic research. Although doubled haploidy efficiencies in wheat and barley are sufficient for breeding purposes, oat (Avena sativa L.) is considered recalcitrant. The objective of this project was to develop a protocol for the production of microspore-derived embryos of oat and further develop these embryos into fertile DH plants. A number of experiments were conducted evaluating the factors influencing microspore embryogenesis, i.e. donor plant conditions, pretreatments, media composition, and culture conditions. The initial studies yielded little response, and it was not until high microspore densities (106 microspores/mL and greater) were used that embryogenesis was achieved. Depending on the treatment, yields of over 5,000 embryos/106 microspores were obtained for breeding line 2000QiON43. The doubled haploidy protocol includes: a 0.3 M mannitol pretreatment of the tillers for 7 days, culture in W14 basal medium with a pH of 6.5–7.5, a microspore density of 106 microspores/mL, and continuous incubation at 28 °C incubation. The resulting embryos observed after 28 days were plated onto solidified W14 medium with 0.8 or 1.0 g/L activated charcoal. A colchicine treatment of 0.2 % colchicine for 4 h resulted in conversion of 80 % of the plants from haploid to DH. This protocol was successful for the production of oat microspore-derived embryos and DH green plants with minimal albinism. DH seed was produced and planted for evaluation in a field nursery.

ABSTRACTRapid onset of germination in Canadian malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) facilitates production of good quality malt but predisposes barley to preharvest sprouting (PHS). Dormancy can be bred into barley to avoid PHS but some dormancy genes negate the potential for the “Canadian‐type” malt quality associated with a rapid start to germination. The microsatellite marker, GMS001, identified lines with PHS resistance and “Canadian‐type” malt quality in a cross between an Australian cultivar, Baudin, with PHS resistance, and a Canadian malt barley breeding line, TR253, without PHS resistance. The resulting population was grown at three sites over 2 yr with select site/years malted and analyzed for quality. Rapid visco analysis indicated PHS in some barley lines with as little as 11 mm of rain near harvest. The rapid visco analysis results substantiated the importance of the marker on chromosome 5H as breeding lines with the Baudin allele were less susceptible to sprouting, although they exhibited variable malt quality. Lines with the TR253 allele were PHS susceptible but had better and more consistent malt quality. Among the lines with the Baudin allele, five with PHS resistance and consistently good malt quality were identified. Among the lines with the TR253 allele, one showed good PHS resistance and the desirable “Canadian‐type” malt quality. These lines could serve as potential parents of future genotypes combining PHS resistance with good “Canadian‐type” malting potential.

Groat oil content and composition are important determinants of oat (Avena sativa L.) quality. We investigated these traits in a population of 146 recombinant inbred lines from a cross between ‘Dal’ (high oil) and ‘Exeter’ (low oil). A linkage map consisting of 475 Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) markers spanning 1271.8 cM across 40 linkage groups was constructed. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for groat oil content and composition was conducted using grain samples grown at Aberdeen, ID, in 1997. Quantitative trait locus analysis for multiple agronomic traits was also conducted using data collected from hill plots and field plots in Ottawa, ON, in 2010. Using simple and composite interval mapping methods, QTLs for oil content, palmitic acid (16:0), stearic acid (18:0), oleic acid (18:1), linoleic acid (18:2), and linolenic acid (18:3) were identified. Two of the loci associated with oil content were associated with all of the fatty acids examined in this study, and most oil‐related QTL showed similar patterns of effect on the fatty acid profile. These results suggest the presence of pleiotropic effects on oil‐related traits through influences at specific nodes of the oil synthesis pathway. In addition, 12 QTL‐associated markers (likely representing nine unique regions) were associated with plant height, heading date, lodging, and protein content.

Woyengo, T. A., Akinremi, O. O., Rossnagel, B. G. and Nyachoti, C. M. 2012. Performance and total tract nutrient digestibility of growing pigs fed hulless low phytate barley. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 92: 505–511. An experiment was conducted to determine the performance and nutrient digestibility of growing pigs fed hulless low phytate (HLP) barley without or with phytase for 28 d. Twenty-four growing pigs (average initial body weight=25.3 kg) were fed three diets in a completely randomised design. The diets included a regular-hulled barley-based diet, and a HLP barley-based diet without or with phytase at 500 phytase units kg−1. Pigs fed the HLP barley-based diet without phytase had greater (P<0.05) average daily gain (0.911 vs. 0.717 kg), and apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, energy, P, Mg, and Na were higher (P<0.05) than the regular barley-based diet. Supplementation of phytase to the HLP barley-based diet resulted in improved (P<0.05) feed conversion efficiency (0.506 vs. 0.547 kg kg−1), and apparent total tract digestibility of N, P and K. In conclusion, pigs fed the HLP barley-based diet had higher growth performance and nutrient digestibility than those fed the regular-hulled barley-based diet, indicating that the HLP barley is a better source of nutrients for pigs than regular barley. Phytase supplementation to the HLP barley-based diet can result in a further increase in nutrient utilisation by pigs.

Several genotypes of barley have been developed by Crop Development Center. However, no quantitative evaluation of true protein supply to ruminants has been done in terms of protein degradation balance (PDB) and total metabolizable protein supply (or total truly absorbed protein in the small intestines). The objective of this study was to determine the magnitude of difference in terms of total metabolizable protein supply of five CDC feed-type barley cultivars in comparison to Canada's most widely grown malting cultivar AC Metcalfe. Six, two row cultivars of spring sown barley, included AC Metcalfe, CDC Cowboy, CDC Dolly, CDC Helgason, CDC Trey and McLeod were grown in the research field of University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada for three consecutive years. The quantitative predictions were made in terms of: 1) Rumen synthesized microbial protein truly absorbed in the small intestine (AMCP); 2) Rumen undegraded protein truly absorbed in the small intestine (ARUP); 3) Endogenous protein in the digestive tract (AECP); 4) Total metabolizable protein supply in the small intestine. The results showed that CDC barley variety differed (P < 0.05) in AMCP ranging from 34 to 40 g/kg DM and AECP, but had no difference (P > 0.05) in ARUP with average of 48 g/kg DM. Total metabolizable protein ranged (P < 0.05) from 85 to 92 g/kg DM. In conclusion, CDC barley variety affected total predicted metabolizable protein supply, but not to large extend. All the barley varieties had negative degraded protein balance value.

Legge, W. G., Tucker, J. R., Bizimungu, B., Tekauz, A., Noll, J. S., Fetch Jr., T. G., Menzies, J. G., Haber, S., Savard, M. E., Vigier, B. J., Choo, T. M., Martin, R. A., Turkington, T. K., Rossnagel, B. G. and Harvey, B. L. 2011. Norman barley. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 1105–1113. Norman is a hulled two-row spring malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivar derived from the cultivar CDC Kendall that was widely grown in western Canada and utilized commercially by the malting and brewing industry. Developed in 2000 by in vitro selection using deoxynivalenol mycotoxin in the medium of an anther culture system, Norman was evaluated in the Western Cooperative Two-row Barley Registration Test in 2005 and 2006, and the malting and brewing industry Collaborative Malting Barley Trials in 2006 and 2007, before being registered in 2009. Norman was also evaluated extensively for deoxynivalenol concentration in fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum Schwabe) nurseries from 2001 to 2009. Norman accumulates 25 to 30% less deoxynivalenol than its parent cultivar, CDC Kendall, but is similar in all other traits including malting quality.

J. Inst. Brew. 117(3), 401-410, 2011Brewery fermentations require continuous yeast growth to efficiently convert fermentable sugars to ethanol. Yeast growth is dependent on an adequate supply of nutrients, including minerals. Minerals are generally assured in the brewery with addition of nutrient supplements but reduced phytate barley malts could reduce the need for supplements. The present study used bulked segregant analysis to determine effects of the reduced phytate trait in barley on field performance, barley quality, malting quality and brewing performance. Two bulks from a doubled haploid population, along with a series of normal and reduced phytate controls, were grown at 3 to 5 western Canadian sites in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The normal and reduced phytate barley bulks had similar yields, but the reduced phytate barley had significantly lower test weight. Rates of endosperm modification were similar between the two phytate types, although, reduced phytate malt was significantly more friable. Malt extract and alpha-amylase levels were significantly lower in the reduced phytate bulk. Zinc and magnesium levels were significantly higher in reduced phytate worts and these worts produced better yeast growth as indicated by greater amino acid use during fermentation. Brewing performance tended to be better with reduced phytate worts, but not consistently so, likely due to the lower levels of malt extract and alpha-amylase. Results supported the incorporation of the reduced phytate trait into malting barley varieties, but with attention to breeding for improved test weight and levels of alpha-amylase.

ABSTRACT During the malting process, barley is germinated via a carefully controlled procedure so that its components are degraded to sugars, amino acids, and other low molecular weight compounds that can be used for subsequent fermentation. One of the most important of these processes is the hydrolysis of proteins into peptides and amino acids. During seed germination, proteases hydrolyze insoluble reserve proteins into soluble peptides that are subsequently hydrolyzed into free amino acids. During kilning, green malt is initially air dried at 40–60°C, and then the temperature is gradually increased to 85–95°C. Although most proteases are denatured during kilning, the malt contains a small proportion of heat‐stable protease enzymes able to further break down protein in the subsequent mashing process. In this study, protocols were developed and standardized to measure the activity of different proteases. These protocols were then used to study protease thermostability in Canadian two‐row spring malting barley lines. We found a wide range in protease activity under controlled conditions. Upon heat treatment, several lines exhibited significant protease thermostability. These thermostable enzymes were purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and Sephadex columns for further study.

Crown rust is an important disease of oat caused by Puccinia coronata Corda f. sp. avenae Eriks. Crown rust is efficiently and effectively managed through the development of resistant oat varieties. Pc91 is a seedling crown rust resistance gene that is highly effective against the current P. coronata population in North America. The primary objective of this study was to develop DNA markers linked to Pc91 for purposes of marker-assisted selection in oat breeding programs. The Pc91 locus was mapped using a population of F7-derived recombinant inbred lines developed from the cross ‘CDC Sol-Fi’/‘HiFi’ made at the Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan. The population was evaluated for reaction to P. coronata in field nurseries in 2008 and 2009. Pc91 mapped to a linkage group consisting of 44 Diversity Array Technology (DArT) markers. DArTs were successfully converted to sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. Five robust SCARs were developed from three non-redundant DArTs that co-segregated with Pc91. SCAR markers were developed for different assay systems, such that SCARs are available for agarose gel electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, and Taqman single nucleotide polymorphism detection. The SCAR markers accurately postulated the Pc91 status of 23 North American oat breeding lines.

A new oat cultivar, CDC SO-I, with a low lignin hull and high oil groat was evaluated in backgrounding diets for steer calves, with an emphasis on the requirement for processing. Average daily gain was not different (P > 0.05) between calves fed rolled barley, rolled oat, or whole oat diets. Dry matter intake of cattle fed the rolled oat diet was greater (P = 0.04) than that of cattle fed the rolled barley or whole oat diets. Feed:gain was not affected (P = 0.13) by treatment. Results indicate the CDC SO-I oat does not require processing (i.e., rolling), and can replace barley in backgrounding diets with no negative effect on animal performance. Key words: Oat, growing cattle, feedlot, high oil, low lignin

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the performance and carcass traits of steers fed a low acid detergent lignin hull, high oil groat (LLH-HOG) oat in cattle diets. In trial 1, 400 steers (275.4 ± 20.8 kg) were fed one of two diets with barley or LLH-HOG oat at 37.8% of the diet (DM basis). Dry matter intake (DMI) was lower (P = 0.02) (7.49 vs. 7.72 kg d-1) and gain to feed improved (P < 0.01) (0.171 vs. 0.159 kg) for steers fed the oat-based diet. Calculated NEm (1.80 and 1.71 Mcal kg-1) and NEg (1.17 and 1.09 Mcal kg-1) values were greater for the oat-based diet. In trial 2, 240 steers (341.7 ± 18.1 kg) were fed one of three diets consisting of 88.2% barley, corn or oat grain, 5.1% barley silage and 6.7% supplement (DM basis). During finishing, steers on the oat diet had lower (P < 0.01) Average daily gain than barley- or corn-fed cattle (1.40, 1.69 and 1.84 kg d-1, respectively) reflecting lower (P < 0.01) DMI (9.56, 10.84 and 11.56 kg d-1, respectively). Ultrasound fat and longissimus dorsi (l. dorsi) area, carcass weight and dressing percentage were lower (P < 0.01) for steers fed the oat diet. Stearic acid content of the l. dorsi of oat-fed cattle was greater (P < 0.01) than barley- or corn-fed cattle. The ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids in the muscle of oat- and corn-fed cattle was greater (P = 0.01) than that of barley-fed cattle. Results indicate that the energy value of the LLH-HOG oat is equivalent or superior to that of barley for growing cattle; however, research is required to identify why feed intake of finishing cattle fed this grain source is reduced. Key words: Low lignin hull, high-oil groat oat, barley, corn, cattle performance, carcass traits