Archives

New genomics study to boost cold hardiness in winter wheat

A new study at the Lethbridge Research Centre to improve cold hardiness in winter wheat has been given the green light as part of a broader genomics study to investigate how crops respond to natural stresses.

The three-and-a-half year study will investigate the genetic mechanisms that control cold hardiness in winter wheat, says researcher Dr. André Laroche. Understanding these mechanisms would dramatically improve the prospects for developing new winter wheat varieties with greater cold hardiness. “Improved cold hardiness would boost the performance of winter wheat across the Prairies and allow for greater expansion of winter wheat acreage into northern areas,” says Laroche, a molecular geneticist.

The study is part of a broader genomics project coordinated by Dr. Graham Scoles of the University of Saskatchewan. The project focuses on how crops such as wheat and canola respond to different types of abiotic stress. The wheat component also includes scientists from several other research institutions.

Lethbridge Research Centre scientists will participate in the winter wheat component of the study, says Laroche. Essentially, they will examine the fundamental genetics of how the winter wheat plant responds to low temperature. “We want to see what’s going on in the plant as the weather gets colder, get a better understanding of the mechanisms involved, and look for potential ways to enhance this genetic response.”

Cold hardiness is a complex trait to examine because it is likely controlled by the interaction of many genes, says Laroche. By contrast, simple traits such as disease resistance are often controlled by one or two genes.

“A major advantage of the functional genomics approach is it allows us to look at these complex interactions among several genes,” he says. “Ten years ago, the focus was on looking at one or two genes to see if we could understand what was going on. But today, we have the ability to look simultaneously at a much larger number of genes to try and capture the whole story. This gives us a better understanding of how the biological process works.”

This approach would not have been an option a decade ago, says Laroche. But advances in molecular biology have opened broad new potential. “The developments just in the last few years are allowing us to answer some critical questions about gene function.”

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge Research Centre has a mandate to promote innovation for growth, maintain security of the food system and protect the health of the environment.

© 2002 Meristem Land and Science
Meristem® is a registered trademark of Meristem Information Resources Ltd. All rights reserved.
Legal Disclaimer