Objective:

To evaluate the yield and quality performance NIL pairs in the presence and absence of high protein (Gpc-b1) gene under rainfed and irrigated environments.

Personnel:

J.A. Torrion, Eeusha Nafi, Daniel Porter

Summary:

These trials were planted in rainfed and irrigated environments.  A total of 5.5 inches of rain was received from emergence to harvest. In addition, the irrigated environment received 5.5 inches of irrigation during the growing season. Detailed management information is given in Table 1.

This project looks at the yield drag if high protein content is expressed on the line with the presence of the high protein allele. Generally, protein is higher when yield is lower – as in the case of the rainfed compared with the irrigated environment (Figure 1).  The yield drag was observed in NIL pairs 061FAFS2, 061FAFS26, and 061FAFS33 that had the allele compared to their corresponding NIL pair without the allele. However, only the 061FAF33 was significant. Most of the yield differences due to the presence of the allele are insignificant. This project is able to identify high grain protein allele that does not cause a significant yield drag regardless of environment. As expected, high flag leaf senescence score was observed in rainfed compared with the irrigated. We also expect that the presence of allele accelerates senescence regardless of environment, but is inconsistent among NIL pairs.

Table 1. Management Information
Seeding date: 4/23/2021 Field Location: R4
Julian date: 113 Harvest date: 8/14/2021
Seeding rate: 24 plants/ft2 Julian date: 226
Previous crop: Faba Soil type: Creston Silt Loam
Herbicide: CleansweepM (6/1/2021) Tillage: Conventional
Insecticide: None Soil residual nutrient (NO3-, P, K lb/A): 105-12-212-276(S) (Fall, 2020)
Fungicide: None Nutrient fertilizer applied (N, P2O5, K20 lb/A): 125-45-80-10S (Spring, 2021)

Three bar graphs showing grain yield (bu/acre) graph 1, grain protein (%) graph 2, senescence graph 3

Figure 1. Near-isoline gene pair (superscripts ‘p’ for the presence of the high protein allele, ‘a’ for absence of the allele) interaction with the irrigated and rainfed environment for yield, grain protein, and the flagleaf senescence scored at near soft dough stage (0 being all green and 10 being all brown). LSD is least significant difference.