Canadian National Wheat Cluster

2023-2028
Cluster Overview

The CWRC is administering the Canadian National Wheat Cluster, which consists of a group of industry-led research projects submitted by various research institutions (universities and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada [AAFC] research centres) aimed at ensuring profitability for producers and long-term sustainability of wheat in the cropping rotation. The current Wheat Cluster is five years in length, running from 2023 to 2028.

SUMMARY

Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership A Climate-Smart Canadian Wheat Cluster for a Productive and Profitable Canadian Wheat Sector

Climate Change and Environment (25 per cent of Cluster $)

Economic Growth & Development (53 per cent of Cluster $)

Sector Resilience & Societal Challenges (16 per cent of Cluster $)

Total Cluster

$20,550,994

Overall Cost Share Ratio

AAFC 55%
Industry 45%

Activities

18 Activities approved
- 15 science activities
- three mandatory activities

Mandatory Activities

Science Co-ordination,
Knowledge & Technology Transfer
Impact Assessment

Funding from AAFC

Total: $11,230,572

To AAFC scientists: $6,937,111
For scientists in other institutions: $4,293,461

Funding from Industry

Total: $9,320,422

To AAFC scientists: $6,495,332
For scientists in other institutions: $2,825,090

Funded Projects

Priority 1: Climate Change and Environment

Towards Climate-Smart, Resilient Wheat

Lead Researcher: Dr. Curtis Pozniak (University of Saskatchewan)
Approved Budget: $2,252,850

Description

This activity will consist of three sub-activities that will: evaluate the genetic regulation of wheat nitrogen use efficiency (NUE); aim to reduce losses due to heat and drought stress in spring wheat and durum by looking at adapted and exotic wheat genetic material and tagging parts associated with enhanced heat tolerance; and improve disease resistance in wheat to Fusarium head blight (FHB) & bacterial leaf streak (BLS). These sub-activities will focus on wheat classes that make up the majority of the western Prairies wheat crop acreage (four wheat classes: Canada Western Red Spring [CWRS], Canada Western Amber Durum [CWAD], Canada Prairie Spring Red [CPSR] and Canada Northern Hard Red [CNHR]).

Desired Outcomes

This activity will aim to gain knowledge and genetically improve various wheat classes’ NUE, heat and drought stress tolerance, and FHB & BLS resistance. NUE knowledge will permit growers to reduce nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications without a great loss of revenue to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets. Improved heat and drought stress tolerance in wheat will aim to achieve yield stability and improve productivity and product attributes in the changing climate, which will increase these stress factors. They will close a research gap on BLS and its impact on Canadian wheat varieties, as there is little information on BLS presently.
The role of wheat growth habit in reducing GHG emissions and fostering climate resiliency without compromising yield, quality and 4R principles

Lead Researcher: Dr. Brian Beres (AAFC-Lethbridge)
Approved Budget: $1,403,555

Description

This activity will explore the usage of nitrogen (N) stabilizers on Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat in various locations and soil zones representative of the Canadian Prairies, and their role in nitrogen use efficiency and their ability to reduce losses and higher overall returns. It will also provide knowledge on net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to the N fertilization in a CWRS wheat cropping system. Various trials will be conducted comparing growth habit/ultra-early seeding systems, coupled with N management practices to responses between uncoated urea and urea protected with enhanced efficiency N fertilizers (EEF). The data extracted from this study and previous studies will be used to perform an economic analysis.

Desired Outcomes

This activity will aim to develop fertilizer best management practices for the CWRS industry to determine how N management benefit grain protein, yield and yield components while reducing GHG emissions from fertilizer usage. It will also address a lack of western Canadian Prairie-wide studies that have combined EEF sources with wheat growth habit or timing of seeding.
A Prairie Assessment of Nitrogen Stabilizers and Split Fertilizer Application in Sustaining Spring Wheat Yield, Protein and Production Economics While Reducing Nitrous Oxide Emissions

Lead Researcher: Dr. Mario Tenuta (University of Manitoba)
Approved Budget: $1,434,140

Description

This activity will asses if inhibitors and split application of nitrogen (N) can reduce emissions without compromising wheat yield and protein quality, and improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), such that the incremental costs of 4R practices (i.e., applying Right Source, at the Right Rate, at the Right Time, and in the Right Place) may be covered, in Canadian Western Red Spring Wheat (CWRS). The trials will be held at five locations across the Canadian Prairies at 20 sites.

Desired Outcomes

This activity will lead to the development of 4R best management practices that are cross-Prairie and region-specific for CWRS wheat. This study specifically will gain knowledge on split and inhibitor application effects on NUE, such that emissions may be reduced without compromising yield and protein content. This activity will provide producers with better understanding of 4R practices, and on-farm costs associated with 4R practices.

Priority 2: Economic Growth

High quality wheat germplasm development to mitigate climate change risks and promote clean environment

Lead Researcher: Dr. Santosh Kumar and Richard Cuthbert (AAFC)
Approved Budget: $3,942,451

Description

This activity will focus on the development of an enhanced Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat germplasm that will sustain yield gains under evolving disease races, changing climate, and sustainable fertilizer and chemical control inputs. The new germplasm will have improved resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB), be early maturing with competitive yield (with stay green traits increasing carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gas concentrations), improving stem solidness to address the yield loss in Wheat Stem Sawfly and improving water use and nitrogen use efficiencies through advanced genomic tools.

Desired Outcomes

This activity will lead to the development of enhanced CWRS wheat germplasm for Western Canada that has enhanced tolerance to major biotic (e.g., FHB; leaf, stem and stripe rust; common bunt and leaf spots; Wheat Stem Sawfly- stem hardiness) and abiotic (e.g., changing climate – drought and heat) stresses with high water use and nitrogen use efficiency and higher yield.
Economic growth in Canada through the development of durum cultivars that address climate change, environmental sustainability, and agri-food resilience

Lead Researcher: Dr. Yuefeng Ruan (AAFC – Swift Current)
Approved Budget: $2,002,646

Description

This activity aims to generate a new durum germplasm and cultivars that are climate resilient (e.g., enhanced drought and heat resistance, water use efficiency), with enhanced genetic control of insects pests and diseases (e.g., Fusarium head blight [FHB], Orange Wheat Blossom Midge [OWBM] and/or Wheat Stem Sawfly [WSS]), enhanced nutrient (nitrogen) use efficiency (NUE), and enhanced quality (e.g., genetic control of deoxynivalenol, ergot and/or pre-harvest sprouting).

Desired Outcomes

This activity will lead to the development of high-yielding and high-quality durum germplasm. The durum will have enhanced resilience to risks caused by drought and heat, and improved resistance to FHB, ergot, WSS and OWBM, leading to reduced fungicide and pesticide applications. The durum developed will have enhanced nutrient use efficiency, which will reduce fertilizer applications and subsequently greenhouse gases.
Cultivar Enhancement Through the Application of Biotechnology

Lead Researcher: Dr. Firdissa Bokore (AAFC-Swift Current)
Approved Budget: $990,000

Description

This activity will aim to identify, validate and implement DNA markers for economically important wheat traits that may be adopted into Canadian breeding programs. They will enhance breeding lines through biotechnology, marker assisted selection (MAS) and doubled haploid (DH) production. DNA markers will be assessed for agronomic (e.g., photoperiod), quality (e.g., low cadmium, pre-harvest sprouting, gluten strength, high protein, kernel hardness, lipoxygenase), disease (e.g., Fusarium head blight [FHB]; leaf, stem and stripe rust; tan spot; loose smut; common bunt; ergot), and insect (e.g., Orange Wheat Blossom Midge [OWBM] and Wheat Stem Sawfly [WSS]) traits. Markers linked to high value traits will be used in seedlings.

Desired Outcomes

This activity will aim to apply biotechnology to accelerate breeding of new wheat and durum cultivars. The new molecular markers will be applied to new genes/QTL of interest with durable resistance (e.g., FHB, deoxynivalenol, resistance to ergot, loose smut, stem rust, leaf rust, sawfly, and reduced height), quality parameters (e.g., profitability, high yielding, high quality, safe to consume) and improved nitrogen use efficiency (e.g., “stay green” trait, photoperiod, flowering time and nitrogen transporter). The genetic control of these traits can contribute to best farm management practices, maintaining wheat yields under the threat of climate change and allowing for sustainable control of diseases, insect pests and environmental impacts.
Integrated approaches to develop climate resilient high yielding spring wheat cultivars

Lead Researcher: Dr. Harpinder Randhawa (AAFC-Lethbridge)
Approved Budget: $168,004

Description

This activity will aim to develop high-yielding, climate-resilient Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheat cultivars through combining traits. This will be done through the introgression of traits from diverse sources that are tolerant to abiotic stress (e.g., drought, heat, pre-harvest sprouting, as well as resource use efficiency), and resistant to various biotic stresses (e.g., stripe/leaf/stem rust, Fusarium head blight). There will be an integration of modern breeding tools (marker assisted breeding, doubled haploid and genomic selection) to select genotypes.

Desired Outcomes

This activity will lead to the development of new CPSR wheat cultivars, with improved yield, agronomic performance and resilience to various abiotic and biotic stresses in agro-ecological zones across Western Canada. These cultivars will counter the impacts of climate change, lead to yield stability and increase profitability.
A Cooperative Approach to Improving Canadian Eastern Soft Red Winter Wheat (CESRW) to Strengthen Agriculture Sector Resilience

Lead Researcher: Dr. Helen Booker (University of Guelph)
Approved Budget: $1,898,481

Description

This activity will lead to the development of Canadian Eastern Soft Red Winter (CESRW) wheat cultivars adapted to Eastern Canada with high yield (yield stability), better winter hardiness via hybridization and superior disease resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB), powdery mildew, and wheat rusts. This will be accomplished by collaborative breeding at various sites. They have included later stage variety development targets, as they will aim to support five lines for registration and possibly commercialization.

Desired Outcomes

This activity will lead to the development of CESRW cultivars for Eastern Canada that are climate resilient and better adapted to target environments so CESRW may be a competitive cereal option for crop rotations with corn and soybeans. The developed cultivars could lead to reduced yield losses, increased yield potential and increased winter wheat planted acreage, increasing winter wheat production.
A collaborative approach to genomic selection in winter wheat to accelerate improvement of complex traits

Lead Researcher: Dr. Michel McElroy (CEROM)
Approved Budget: $691,858

Description

This activity will aim to develop Canadian Eastern Hard Red Winter (CEHRW) wheat cultivars for Eastern Canada’s variable agro-ecological growing conditions with improved winter hardiness and resilience to Fusarium head blight, powdery mildew and rusts (leaf, stem and stripe). They will develop a set of common genomic selection tools to enhance the capacity of breeding programs. There will be trials performed across four sites in Canada.

Desired Outcomes

This activity will provide winter wheat cultivars to producers in Eastern Canada that are more profitable through improved crop productivity, disease tolerance, environmental resilience and superior end-use quality. As well, this activity will provide public programs with tools to create winter wheat varieties, encouraging producers to include winter wheat in crop rotations due to its advantages, as other crops are often chosen over winter wheat due to greater short-term profit. Additionally, winter wheat currently has lower investment in variety development.
Winter wheat with enhanced economic, environmental, and ecological sustainability for western Canada

Lead Researcher: Dr. Harwinder Sidhu (AAFC-Lethbridge)
Approved Budget: $798,503

Description

This activity will strive to develop Canadian Western Red Winter (CWRW) germplasm for Western Canada that has improved abiotic stress tolerance (heat and drought) particularly winter survival, as well as, robust disease and pest resistance (e.g., Fusarium head blight, stem rust, leaf rust, stripe rust and common bunt), while simultaneously targeting higher yield and improving end-use quality. The researchers will look at the winter survival of crops. The activity aims to release two advanced lines for registration, which may be seen as later stage variety development. Trials will be conducted at various agro-ecological areas across Western Canada (e.g., Lacombe, Swift Current, Saskatoon, Indian Head, Brandon and Carman).

Desired Outcomes

The overall objective of this activity is to develop winter wheat germplasm and cultivars for agro-ecological areas of Western Canada with enhanced tolerance to abiotic and biotic stressors, and desirable end-user quality. Enhanced disease resistance will lower pesticide applications and equipment usage, which will lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve soil health. Improved resistance to abiotic stresses will ensure winter wheat has stability and high productivity.

Priority 3: Sector Resilience

A dual-pronged approach to mitigate Fusarium head blight and DON production

Lead Researcher: Dr. Gopal Subramaniam (AAFC-Ottawa)
Approved Budget: $999,680

Description

This activity will aim to establish a technology platform so that an effective commercializable dsRNA-based fungicide can be manufactured and purchased by wheat producers to reduce deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation due to Fusarium head blight (FHB). They will work with industry partner GreenLight Biosciences, which has demonstrated the use of RNA gene silencing technology to downregulate the expression of DON pathway genes, to silence 10 target genes in the DON biosynthetic pathway.

Desired Outcomes

This activity will aim to develop fungicidal strategies that are dsRNA-based. This will aid in reducing fungicide applications reducing input costs for farmers and benefiting the environment. Plant receptors that recognize fungi can impact FHB resistance, however, receptors are not well studied in wheat. This study will look to close that research gap, characterizing and validating new sources of disease-resistance genes that can be deployed at an accelerated rate into wheat varieties offering a competitive advantage to producers.
Genome editing to accelerate pre-breeding delivery of improved genetics

Lead Researcher: Dr. Andriy Bilichak (AAFC-Morden)
Approved Budget: $567,996

Description

This activity will identify beneficial alleles through the application of genome-wide association study, and develop efficient transformation and regeneration protocols for genome editing in wheat, producing prime-edited and cis-genic wheat and phenotype germplasm. This will establish a technology for the wheat pre-breeding program to accelerate and facilitate the launch of new and useful genes in wheat cultivars.

Desired Outcomes

This activity intends to develop protocols for gene discovery and protocols for the emerging genome editing (GE) technology in wheat. This activity will specifically target disease resistance, however, the protocols developed could have broader application for other traits. The GE technology could increase breeding efficiency, making transfer of desired genetic traits into wheat germplasm faster and more cost-efficient.
Sustainable control of wheat diseases through marker-assisted and resistance gene discovery

Lead Researcher: Dr. Colin Hiebert (AAFC-Morden)
Approved Budget: $594,000

Description

This activity will aim to develop genetic resources for the breeding of wheat cultivars with disease resistance for leaf rust, stem rust, yellow (stripe) rust and common bunt, in a background that already has resistance to Fusarium head blight. DNA markers will be improved for the targeted genes. Additionally, germplasm will be tested for new resistance gene discovery and evaluation.

Desired Outcomes

This activity will aim to bridge a gap between the discovery of resistance genes and their integration into breeding populations, making resistance genes more accessible to breeders. Combining these resistance traits will make disease resistance more robust, and the inclusion of DNA markers allows for the accurate selection of gene combinations for disease resistance. Furthermore, the discovery of novel resistance genes is important in keeping up with pathogen evolution.
Wheat midge: Enhanced surveys, wheat resistance traits and midge genetic variation to preserve the Sm1 gene

Lead Researcher: Dr. Tyler Wist (AAFC-Saskatoon)
Approved Budget: $225,019

Description

This activity will conduct surveys across the western Canadian Prairies for wheat midge and its parasitoids, in order to discover locations where midge tolerance in wheat is growing. Additionally, a genetic mapping of Vesper spring (Canadian Western Red Spring variety) will be performed, to understand the genetic location of the promising resistance trait, oviposition deterrence (OD), and will attempt to find DNA markers for the OD trait to enable its pyramiding with Vesper.

Desired Outcomes

This activity aim to evaluate and incorporate the OD wheat midge resistance gene with Sm1 and egg antibiosis resistance gene. Sm1 is the best form of resistance presently, but it is a single-gene resistance and may be overcome quickly by the pest, which would cause large economic loses. Additionally, the monitoring of wheat midge will allow for the creation of an economic threshold. These two developments may reduce fungicide applications and diesel usage, which will result in greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
Developing weed-suppressive no-till wheat systems with reduced glyphosate use

Lead Researcher: Dr. Charles Geddes (AAFC-Lethbridge)
Approved Budget: $854,670

Description

This activity will assess weed populations present in wheat fields and their response to various wheat seeding systems (i.e., winter wheat vs. ultra-early spring wheat vs. typical spring wheat), herbicide regime (i.e., weedy control vs. post-emergence herbicide vs. layering residual pre-emergence with a post-emergence herbicide) and wheat seeding rate (i.e., standard vs. double), along with weather data. This will allow a joint species distribution model to be developed that can be used to predict how changes in management and climate may affect weeds. Wheat seeding systems will be assessed for ability to target the phenology of kochia seed production.

Desired Outcomes

This activity will identify the benefits and challenges with respect to weed management, providing farmers with knowledge on management practices for wheat, preventing possible yield losses through new best management practices. This will be done while maintaining the benefits of conservation tillage systems, including decreased soil erosion, improved carbon sequestration, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, greater moisture storage and improved soil health, as well as reducing glyphosate use across the Canadian Prairies.