'GoWheat 9216H' (Reg. no. CV-1224, PI 708101) is a hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that was bred and released by the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Wheat Improvement Program in 2021. GoWheat 9216H is an F4-derived line advanced from the cross 'X09A440S' ( = TX07A001482/TAM 401)/'Duster' that was made in Bushland, TX, in 2010. GoWheat 9216H is a medium-maturing, semi-dwarf, awned and white glumed wheat that has demonstrated high grain yield potential across many Texas environments in both irrigated and dryland conditions. GoWheat 9216H is resistant to stem rust (Sr; Puccinia graminis Pers.:Pers f. sp. tritici Erikss. & E. Henn.), leaf rust (Lr; P. triticina Erikss.), and stripe rust (Yr; P. striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici Erikss.), with marker data suggesting it carries Lr34, Lr37, Lr68, Yr17, Yr18, YrM1225, and Sr38. It is moderately resistant to Hessian fly [Mayetiola destructor (Say)]. This cultivar shows good baking and milling quality traits equivalent to high-quality checks and further features large seeds and high grain volume weight. Its height is similar to that of recently released Texas A&M cultivars, but it has a later maturity date. GoWheat 9216H is poised to perform well under both irrigated and dryland conditions in the Texas Rolling Plains, South and Central Texas, and the Blacklands, as well as in other regions across the state with similar adaptation zones.

The production of soft red winter wheat (SRWW) (Triticum aestivum L.) in the US southeast (SE) region is important. However, wheat production faces many challenges including many stresses resulting in substantial losses in yield and quality. To address these challenges, developing new cultivars with high yield potential with resistance to major pests in the region and good quality is warranted. The SRWW breeding programs ate the University of Georgia (UGA) and the regional institutions including the Southern Universities GRAINS (SUNGRAINS) programs aims to solve these problems. The release of 'GA071518-16E39' (Reg. no. CV-1210, PI 698826) SRWW in 2019, is among many adapted cultivars developed and released by the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. GA071518-16E39 has broad adaptation to the US SE region, but specifically well fit to the Georgia environments. It is a high yielding cultivar with excellent resistance to most dominant diseases including leaf (caused by Puccinia triticina Erikss.) and stripe (caused by P. striiformis Westend.) rusts, Soil-borne wheat mosaic virus, and Hessian fly insect [Mayetiola destructor (Say)] including major prevalent biotypes (B, C, O, and L) in the region. GA071518-16E39 is moderately resistant to powdery mildew (caused by Erisyphe graminis) and moderate susceptible to Fusarium head blight (caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe) which is reflected in relatively lower levels of disease severity and Deoxynivalenol toxin. GA071518-16E39 has excellent grain volume weight and milling and baking quality as a SRWW.

Soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.; SRWW) is a major crop in the US southeast (SE) region. However, growing successful wheat crop is challenged by many stresses resulting in substantial losses in yield and quality. To alleviate these challenges, developing new cultivars with high yield potential with resistance to major pests in the region and good quality is warranted. This constitutes the major goal of the SRWW breeding programs ate the University of Georgia (UGA) and the regional institutions including the southern universities GRAINS (SUNGRAINS) programs. 'GA09436-16LE12' (Reg. no. CV-1209, PI 700011) SRWW cultivar was among the adapted wheat developed and released by the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in 2019. While GA09436-16LE12 is generally adapted to the US SE region, it specifically well fit to the Georgia environments. It has high yield, very good resistance to most dominant diseases including leaf (caused by Puccinia triticina Erikss.) and stripe (caused by P. striiformis Westend.) rusts; powdery mildew (caused by Erisyphe graminis); and Soil-borne wheat mosaic virus. GA09436-16LE12 has improved Fusarium head blight (caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe) which is reflected in lower levels of Deoxynivalenol toxin and Fusarium damaged kernels levels. It also showed moderate field resistance to Hessian fly [Mayetiola destructor (Say)] although it is susceptible to the biotypes B, C, O, and L. GA09436-16LE12 has good grain volume weight and good milling and baking quality as a SRWW.

‘TX17D2337’ (Reg. no. CV-1220, PI 706602) is a soft red winter wheat (SRWW; Triticum aestivum ) released in 2022 by Texas A&M AgriLife Research. This cultivar was developed from the cross of an experimental Louisiana line, LA04041D-63, and an experimental North Carolina line, NC09-22206, in 2012 made by the Louisiana State University small grains breeding program. TX17D2337 is medium maturity, awned, and white-glumed with average height and semi-erect early growth. It was released based on its above-average grain yield and grain volume weight, and good resistance to leaf and stripe rust. This cultivar is widely adapted to the SRWW growing regions of Texas and the wider region of the Gulf Atlantic including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Breeder, foundation, registered, and certified seed is authorized for this cultivar in the United States. TX17D2337 will be submitted for US Plant Variety Protection with a certification option.

Tremendous progress has been made in variety development and host plant resistance to mitigate the impact of Fusarium head blight (FHB) since the disease manifested in the southeastern United States in the early 2000s. Much of this improvement was made possible through the establishment of and recurring support from the US Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative (USWBSI). Since its inception in 1997, the USWBSI has enabled land-grant institutions to make advances in reducing the annual threat of devastating FHB epidemics. A coordinated field phenotyping effort for annual germplasm screening has become a staple tool for selection in public and private soft red winter wheat (SRWW) breeding programmes. Dedicated efforts of many SRWW breeders to identify and utilize resistance genes from both native and exotic sources provided a strong foundation for improvement. In recent years, implementation of genomics-enabled breeding has further accelerated genetic gains in FHB resistance. This article reflects on the improvement of FHB resistance in southern SRWW and contextualizes the monumental progress made by collaborative, persistent, and good old-fashioned cultivar development.

Hessian fly is an important pest of wheat worldwide and is of particular importance in Texas and the southeastern United States. Texas is the highest wheat-producing state that is severely impacted by this insect. The most effective control in these areas is an integrated pest management program, including resistant varieties of wheat. Hessian fly populations are genetically diverse and can rapidly become virulent to specific resistance genes once they are widely deployed in a region. Knowing the current virulence status of regional fly populations is important for wheat breeders and producers. In this study, a virulence analysis was conducted on populations sampled in the northeastern and central Texas regions. This analysis showed that resistance genes H12, H13, H20, H22, H25, H26, H28, H29, H32, H33, H34, and Hdic are still highly effective in these regions. However, it is also evident that Texas fly populations have become more virulent to existing genes in the past 10 years, with very high levels of virulence to resistance genes H3, H5, vH6, H7/H8, H9, H10, H14, H15, H23, H24, H31, and H35/H36.

Stripe rust is a severe disease affecting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in the United States Southeast region, necessitating the identification of resistant sources. The study was conducted at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and utilized a Randomized Block Design over three years. A total of 1130 lines were inoculated annually, and their responses for stripe rust were recorded. The results revealed that 11%, 79%, and 77% of the lines showed resistance in the first, second, and third years, respectively, with an overall 50% of the whole population. Linear Mixed Model and Generalized Estimating Equation analyses highlighted environmental influences, with cooler, humid conditions in 2021 favoring stripe rust, while warmer, variable conditions in 2022 and stable weather in 2023 contributed to lower disease severity. Data analysis of infection rates and disease development indicated that the newer generations of wheat lines tested in 2022 and 2023 exhibited higher resistance lines, lower infection rates, and slower disease progression. The findings support targeted breeding strategies for durable stripe rust resistance, emphasizing the importance of multi-environment testing and selection of lines with adult-plant resistance traits. This research offers valuable insights for breeders, agronomists, and farmers aiming to mitigate stripe rust impact through improved cultivars and informed management practices.

In plant breeding, selecting cross-combinations that are more likely to result in superior lines for cultivar development is critical. This step, however, is subjective with decisions being based on available genomic and phenotypic data for prospective parents. Genomic prediction (GP) provides new opportunities to accelerate genetic gain for a target trait by identifying superior crosses through simulation of progeny performance. In this context, this study deployed GP using the phenotype and genotype of potential parents to predict the progeny genetic variance (VG) and means of overall, inferior 10%, and superior 10% (mu, mu ip, and mu sp, respectively). This retrospective experimental design investigated whether the crosses that produced superior soft red winter wheat breeding lines would have been made if progeny simulations had guided crossing decisions of breeding programs. Here, data from historical wheat breeding lines were used to train GP models and predict VG and means for yield, test weight, heading date, and plant height for all combinations of 217 parents. Predicted and observed data for 670 lines derived from biparental crosses were compared to assess the accuracy of progeny simulations, and low-to-moderate prediction accuracy was observed for the four traits (0.25-0.52). Of the pedigrees that produced lines that were selected and advanced into later stage nurseries, 76% were predicted to give rise to progeny with above-average yield. The moderate correlation found between predicted progeny means and observed line per se performance justifies using cross-combination prediction as a tool to reduce crossing number and focus on segregating populations that harbor future cultivars. In plant breeding, selecting parents to be crossed is critical for developing superior progeny. Historical winter wheat data were used to assess the usefulness of genomic prediction for parental selection. Predicted yield and SunGrains breeders' assessment and selection largely agreed. Simulated progeny performance could allow breeders to focus on the most promising crosses.

'FL16045-25' (Reg. no. CV-1207, PI 704484), a soft red, facultative doubled-haploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar, was developed and tested as FL16045DH-25 by the University of Florida and released in October 2022. FL16045-25 was derived from the cross MD07W478-14-5/GA06112-13EE16. It is well adapted from Texas to Virginia and provides producers with an early-season, facultative (Vrn-A1_short), medium-height, awned, semi-dwarf (Rht2) cultivar that has high yield potential, good straw strength, good grain volume weight, and good end-use quality. It expresses moderate-to-high levels of resistance to most diseases prevalent in the southern United States. Molecular marker analysis confirms the presence of Sbm1, Yr17/Lr37/Sr38, Lr18, Sr36/Pm6, Pm54, and Pm1a-linked disease-resistant genes. The yield average of FL16045-25 from 41 environments during 2020-2022 ranged from 4211 to 5782 kg ha-1, which is competitive with check cultivars that are widely used in the southern part of the United States. The grain volume weight of FL16045-25 ranged from 749 to 785 kg m-3 (32 environments), which was higher than most of the checks. FL16045-25 has soft grain texture with softness equivalence varying from 51.3% to 59.3% and sodium carbonate solvent retention capacity (SRC) ranging from 66.8% to 68.5%. Flour yields on a Quadrumat Senior milling system varied from 68.7% to 69.5%. Flour protein content varied from 8.9% to 9.1%. Cookie spread diameter varied from 19.4 to 19.5 cm. The presence of TaSus2-2B, Sucrose Synthase2 gene on 2B or 2G:2B, was confirmed by marker analysis. FL16045-25 is an early-maturing, facultative, medium-height wheat cultivar broadly adapted to the southern United States. FL16045-25 has high yield potential and good straw strength, grain volume weight, and end-use quality. FL16045-25 demonstrated moderate-to-high levels of resistance to most diseases prevalent in the southern United States. Molecular marker analysis confirms the presence of Sbm1, Yr17/Lr37/Sr38, Lr18, Sr36/Pm6, Pm54, and Pm1a genes. It has above-average resistance to Fusarium head blight disease.

'FL12034-10' (Reg. no. CV-389, PI 704483), a facultative oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivar, co-developed by the University of Florida and Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, was released in October 2022. FL12034-10 was derived from a three-way cross LA06055SBSBSB-79/FL11048 F1. It is well adapted across the southern United States and provides producers with a medium-tall, mid-season, awnless, white-glumed, dual-purpose oat that has high yield potential, good straw strength, and good forage yield. FL12034-10 was observed to be uniform and stable across environments in the southern United States from 2017 to present. The line possesses a semi-prostrate growth habit, vigorous growth, and high tillering capacity, and has large leaves that are dark green in color. It expresses moderate-to-high levels of resistance to most oat diseases prevalent in the southern United States. The crown and stem rust and Barley yellow dwarf virus ratings (0-9 scale) of FL12034-10 were 1.7, 0.7, and 1.5, respectively, across different environments. The disease ratings were better than most of the checks. The grain yield average of FL12034-10 from 41 environments during 2018-2021 was 6437 kg ha-1, which is competitive with check cultivars that are widely used in the southern part of the United States. The forage yield of FL12034-10 ranged from 2358 to 6617 kg ha-1 (20 environments), which was higher than most of the checks. FL12034-10 demonstrated better lodging and disease resistance, higher grain yield potential, and higher mid-winter to late spring season forage yield potential than Horizon 720 and Legend 567 oats released by University of Florida. FL12034-10 is well adapted across the southern United States. FL12034-10 is a medium-tall, mid-season, dual-purpose oat cultivar. FL12034-10 has high yield potential, good straw strength, and good forage yield. FL12034-10 is semi-prostrate in growth habit with vigorous growth and high tillering capacity. FL12034-10 expresses moderate to high levels of resistance to most oat diseases prevalent in the southern United States.

'FLLA09015-U1' (Reg. no. CV-387, PI 699117) is a new facultative oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivar that was co-developed by the University of Florida and Louisiana State University Agricultural Center and was released in 2019. This line was derived from a single cross of FL0210-J1/MN06203. FLLA09015-U1 has considerable potential for grain and forage yield and for conservation tillage purposes in the southern United States. Exclusive marketing rights for FLLA09015-U1 has been granted to JoMar Seeds and is currently commercialized under the name of Juggernaut. FLLA09015-U1 was developed using selected bulk breeding method and was selected as an F-5:6 head row. The line was evaluated in advanced, regional, and state grain and forage yield trials from 2015 to 2021. FLLA09015-U1 was observed to be uniform and stable across environments in the southern United States from 2015 to present. The line possesses a semi-prostrate growth habit and has large leaves that are dark green in color. It is a mid-maturing, medium to mid-tall height with excellent grain yield and good forage yield and test weight. It has excellent crown rust resistance and very good resistance to Barley yellow dwarf virus and stem rust and demonstrated moderate lodging resistance. It has performed very well in both grain and forage trials. FLLA09015-U1 has broad environmental adaptation and has performed well in Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, and South Carolina. We consider FLLA09015-U1 to be a good dual-purpose type of oat because of its high grain yield potential and vigorous growth and high tillering capacity.

'FLLA11019-8' (Reg. no. CV-386, PI 700040) is new facultative oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivar for the southern United States for forage, grain, cover, and wildlife food crop uses. It was co-developed by the University of Florida and Louisiana State University Agricultural Center and was released in 2020 under the SunGrains, a cooperative small grain breeding program among seven Southern Universities. This line was derived from a single cross between two advanced breeding lines, FL0564-Ab13 and LA06071SBSB-S1. Exclusive marketing rights were granted to Ragan & Massey, Inc., and the line is currently commercializing under the names of RAM Forage Oats and PlotSpike Forage Oats. The University of Florida is the lead institution in this release. FLLA11019-8 (originally named FLLA11-19S-8) was developed using the selected bulk breeding method and was selected as an F-5:6 head row. The line was evaluated in observation, preliminary, advanced, regional, and state grain and forage yield trials from 2016 to 2021. FLLA11019-8 was released based on the merits of its broad adaptation, excellent grain yield, volume weight, forage potential, and winter survival. It is resistant to crown rust and stem rust and moderately resistant to Barley yellow dwarf virus. It is a mid-maturing and mid-tall height variety. FLLA11019-8 has semi-prostrate plant type with vigorous early-season growth and high tillering capacity. It has performed very well in both grain and forage trials and is broadly adapted to the southern and southeastern United States.

With the rapid generation and preservation of both genomic and phenotypic information for many genotypes within crops and across locations, emerging breeding programs have a valuable opportunity to leverage these resources to 1) establish the most appropriate genetic foundation at program inception and 2) implement robust genomic prediction platforms that can effectively select future breeding lines. Integrating genomics-enabled1 breeding into cultivar development can save costs and allow resources to be reallocated towards advanced (i.e., later) stages of field evaluation, which can facilitate an increased number of testing locations and replicates within locations. In this context, a reestablished winter wheat breeding program was used as a case study to understand best practices to leverage and tailor existing genomic and phenotypic resources to determine optimal genetics for a specific target population of environments. First, historical multi-environment phenotype data, representing 1,285 advanced breeding lines, were compiled from multi-institutional testing as part of the SunGrains cooperative and used to produce GGE biplots and PCA for yield. Locations were clustered based on highly correlated line performance among the target population of environments into 22 subsets. For each of the subsets generated, EMMs and BLUPs were calculated using linear models with the ‘lme4’ R package. Second, for each subset, TPs representative of the new SC breeding lines were determined based on genetic relatedness using the ‘STPGA’ R package. Third, for each TP, phenotypic values and SNP data were incorporated into the ‘rrBLUP’ mixed models for generation of GEBVs of YLD, TW, HD and PH. Using a five-fold cross-validation strategy, an average accuracy of r = 0.42 was obtained for yield between all TPs. The validation performed with 58 SC elite breeding lines resulted in an accuracy of r = 0.62 when the TP included complete historical data. Lastly, QTL-by-environment interaction for 18 major effect genes across three geographic regions was examined. Lines harboring major QTL in the absence of disease could potentially underperform (e.g., Fhb1 R-gene), whereas it is advantageous to express a major QTL under biotic pressure (e.g., stripe rust R-gene). This study highlights the importance of genomics-enabled breeding and multi-institutional partnerships to accelerate cultivar development.

Key message Marker-assisted selection is important for cultivar development. We propose a system where a training population genotyped for QTL and genome-wide markers may predict QTL haplotypes in early development germplasm. Breeders screen germplasm with molecular markers to identify and select individuals that have desirable haplotypes. The objective of this research was to investigate whether QTL haplotypes can be accurately predicted using SNPs derived by genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). In the SunGrains program during 2020 (SG20) and 2021 (SG21), 1,536 and 2,352 lines submitted for GBS were genotyped with markers linked to the Fusarium head blight QTL: Qfhb.nc-1A, Qfhb.vt-1B, Fhb1, and Qfhb.nc-4A. In parallel, data were compiled from the 2011-2020 Southern Uniform Winter Wheat Scab Nursery (SUWWSN), which had been screened for the same QTL, sequenced via GBS, and phenotyped for: visual Fusarium severity rating (SEV), percent Fusarium damaged kernels (FDK), deoxynivalenol content (DON), plant height, and heading date. Three machine learning models were evaluated: random forest, k-nearest neighbors, and gradient boosting machine. Data were randomly partitioned into training-testing splits. The QTL haplotype and 100 most correlated GBS SNPs were used for training and tuning of each model. Trained machine learning models were used to predict QTL haplotypes in the testing partition of SG20, SG21, and the total SUWWSN. Mean disease ratings for the observed and predicted QTL haplotypes were compared in the SUWWSN. For all models trained using the SG20 and SG21, the observed Fhb1 haplotype estimated group means for SEV, FDK, DON, plant height, and heading date in the SUWWSN were not significantly different from any of the predicted Fhb1 calls. This indicated that machine learning may be utilized in breeding programs to accurately predict QTL haplotypes in earlier generations.

Soft red winter wheat (SRWW) (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major crop in Georgia and the U.S. Southeast (SE) region. Hence, new cultivars with high yield potential, high resistance levels to predominant pests, and adequate quality parameters are required to capture and maximize regional market values. Therefore, the University of Georgia SRWW breeding program in collaboration with the SUNGRAINS breeding programs, aims to develop and release SRWW cultivars adapted to Georgia and the SE wheat region with high yield, quality, and pest resistance. 'GA 051207-14E53' SRWW (Reg. no. CV-1168, PI 689518) was developed and released by the University of Georgia and licensed to AGSouth Genetics Company in 2017 under the name AGS 3040. GA 051207-14E53 is well adapted to Georgia and the SE region. It has high yield and high resistance to leaf rust, stripe rust, and Soil-borne wheat mosaic virus. It has medium resistance to powdery mildew and to biotypes C and O of Hessian fly and is resistant to biotypes B and L. GA 051207-14E53 has good Fusarium head blight resistance. GA 051207-14E53 possesses H9, Sbm1, and the 2NS:2AS alien introgression from Aegilops ventricosa Tausch, having the Yr17/Lr37/Sr38 genes that protect it against these pests. Grain volume weight and milling and baking qualities of GA 051207-14E53 are good and meet the SRWW grade standards.

Soft red winter wheat (SRWW) (Triticum aestivum L.), historically a major crop in Georgia and the U.S. Southeast (SE) region, has been challenged by numerous biotic and abiotic constraints resulting in decreased hectarage in recent years. Hence, an urgent need exists to release new cultivars with high yield potential, good resistance to predominant diseases and insects, and acceptable quality attributes to capture and maximize value in regional markets. The SRWW breeding program at the University of Georgia (UGA), in collaboration with the Southeastern University GRAINS (SUNGRAINS) breeding programs, is responding to these challenges by developing and releasing superior SRWW cultivars adapted to Georgia and the SE wheat region. 'GA 07353-14E19' (Reg. no. CV-1179, PI 689520), a SRWW cultivar developed by the UGA small grains breeding program, was released by the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and licensed to Stratton Seed Company in 2017 as GO WHEAT 2032. GA 07353-14E19 is adapted to the SE region with high yield, good resistance to prevalent diseases, including leaf and stripe rusts, Fusarium head blight, powdery mildew, and Soil-borne wheat mosaic virus. GA 07353-14E19 also showed good resistance to current biotypes of Hessian fly. GA 07353-14E19 possesses the H13, Sbm1, and Yr17-Lr37-Sr38 genes that protect it against the above pests. It has very good grain volume weight and good milling and baking quality as a SRWW.

'GA06343-13E2 (TX-EL2)' (Reg. no. CV-1172, PI 695071), a medium-height, medium-maturing soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (SRWW), was jointly released by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the University of Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station in 2019. GA06343-13E2 (TX-EL2) was released based on merits of its wide area of adaptation and above-average grain yield in Texas in particular and the Gulf Atlantic SRWW growing areas in general, in addition to average grain volume weight, good leaf rust and stripe rust resistance, and good end-use quality characteristics. GA06343-13E2 (TX-E1.2) was derived from the cross GA011638-Gl/GA961592-8//GA991336-47 made at the University of Georgia. The pedigree of GA011638-G1 is GA01034 ('AGS 2000'*3/96667)/AGS 2000. The pedigrees of GA961592-8 and GA991336-47 are GA951329 (GA88129-32-3-5/GA87467-14-1-14-1)/GA88127-1-3-3 and GA92432-21-5-2/GA981622 [AGS 2000/Pioneer '26R61' (XW663)], respectively. Authorized seed classes of GA06343-13E2 (TXEL2) in the United States will be breeder, foundation, registered, and certified. We will submit GA06343-13E2 (TX-EL2) for U.S. Plant Variety Protection with the certification option.

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis could help to identify suitable molecular markers for marker-assisted breeding (MAB). A mapping population of 124 F5:7recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross `TAM 112'/`TAM 111' was grown under 28 diverse environments and evaluated for grain yield, test weight, heading date, and plant height. The objective of this study was to detect QTL conferring grain yield and agronomic traits from multiple mega-environments. Through a linkage map with 5,948 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 51 QTL were consistently identified in two or more environments or analyses. Ten QTL linked to two or more traits were also identified on chromosomes 1A, 1D, 4B, 4D, 6A, 7B, and 7D. Those QTL explained up to 13.3% of additive phenotypic variations with the additive logarithm of odds (LOD(A)) scores up to 11.2. The additive effect increased yield up to 8.16 and 6.57 g m(-2) and increased test weight by 2.14 and 3.47 kg m(-3) with favorable alleles from TAM 111 and TAM 112, respectively. Seven major QTL for yield and six for TW with one in common were of our interest on MAB as they explained 5% or more phenotypic variations through additive effects. This study confirmed previously identified loci and identified new QTL and the favorable alleles for improving grain yield and agronomic traits.

In Georgia and the southeast region of the United States, acreage of soft red winter wheat (SRWW) (Triticum aestivum L.) has decreased in recent years. There is an urgent need to release new cultivars with high yield potential, resistance to yield-limiting diseases and insects, and good baking quality to maximize value in regional markets. To address this, the SRWW breeding program at the University of Georgia (UGA), in collaboration with the SUNGRAINS breeding programs, developed 'GA JT141-14E45' (Reg. no. CV-1183, PI 689519), a SRWW cultivar released by the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and licensed to AGSouth (AGS) Genetics as AGS 3030. GA JT141-14E45 is widely adapted to the U.S. Southeast, having high yield, good resistance to diseases such as leaf rust, stripe rust, powdery mildew, and Soil-borne wheat mosaic virus (SBWMV) and to current biotypes of Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor Say). It has good resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB) or scab. GA JT141-14E45 has good grain volume weight and acceptable milling and baking quality. GA JT141-14E45 was derived from the cross of 'AGS 2026'/'Jamestown'. Jamestown was used in the cross mainly for its resistance to FHB (FHB QTL 1A-Neuse and 1B-Jamestown). AGS 2026 is a UGA cultivar released in 2007 with very good disease resistance to rusts (Yr17/Lr37/Sr38), Hessian fly resistance (H13), and excellent yield.

The optimization of training populations and the use of diagnostic markers as fixed effects increase the predictive ability of genomic prediction models in a cooperative wheat breeding panel. Plant breeding programs often have access to a large amount of historical data that is highly unbalanced, particularly across years. This study examined approaches to utilize these data sets as training populations to integrate genomic selection into existing pipelines. We used cross-validation to evaluate predictive ability in an unbalanced data set of 467 winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes evaluated in the Gulf Atlantic Wheat Nursery from 2008 to 2016. We evaluated the impact of different training population sizes and training population selection methods (Random, Clustering, PEVmean and PEVmean1) on predictive ability. We also evaluated inclusion of markers associated with major genes as fixed effects in prediction models for heading date, plant height, and resistance to powdery mildew (caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici). Increases in predictive ability as the size of the training population increased were more evident for Random and Clustering training population selection methods than for PEVmean and PEVmean1. The selection methods based on minimization of the prediction error variance (PEV) outperformed the Random and Clustering methods across all the population sizes. Major genes added as fixed effects always improved model predictive ability, with the greatest gains coming from combinations of multiple genes. Maximum predictabilities among all prediction methods were 0.64 for grain yield, 0.56 for test weight, 0.71 for heading date, 0.73 for plant height, and 0.60 for powdery mildew resistance. Our results demonstrate the utility of combining unbalanced phenotypic records with genome-wide SNP marker data for predicting the performance of untested genotypes.