Combining Genes for Pre-Harvest Sprout Resistance In White Wheat.

Pre-harvest sprouting in white wheat leads to severely lowered grain quality and economic loss in humid climates worldwide.  Pre-harvest sprouting occurs when the seed germinates before it is harvested.  The most effective method for controlling pre-harvest sprouting is through the use of resistant cultivars.  Resistance genes for the white wheat lines Leader, Cayuga, and Rio Blanco have been identified and mapped.  The objective of this project is to demonstrate that the resistances of these varieties can be combined and crossed into adapted elite lines, producing a line of white wheat that can be grown in high humidity conditions.