A durum early-generation selection program for the Mondak region has been ongoing since 1997 in cooperation with the durum breeder in Fargo.  Each year, plants are selected from F₂ populations based on agronomic characters and disease resistance.  F₃ progeny from each selection are grown in the greenhouse during the winter at EARC to identify daylength insensitive lines. Progeny from these lines are grown in head rows in the field at EARC during the following summer. Lines are selected based on heading date, height, disease resistance, and other agronomic characters.  Selected lines are harvested and tested in the lab for quality characteristics including test weight, protein content, seed size, gluten strength, and hard vitreous amber color.  In 2004, we included a test for starch content and composition.

 

In 2004, 90 lines were entered in first year preliminary yield trials under irrigated and dryland conditions. Additionally, 91 advanced lines were tested in Sidney under irrigated and dryland conditions, and in Williston under dryland conditions. Of the 91 advanced lines, 53 were developed utilizing the double haploid technology. These lines will be tested for semolina and pasta quality at Fargo during the winter.

 

1000 land races and varieties from the World Collection of durum were grown in Sidney in 2004 to test for starch content and composition. In addition, these lines and all single rows in the breeding program were rated for stem solidness. In all, 84 lines were rated with moderate to highly solid stems, with 79 of them from the World Collection. These lines will be crossed with agronomically acceptable lines and varieties to develop a solid-stemmed population.  Double haploid technology will be valuable for development of solid-stemmed cultivars.

 

One hundred forty-five winter durum lines and varieties from the world collection of durum were planted in September, 2004. These will be evaluated for winter survival in this region. Lines that have good winter survival will be crossed with agronomically acceptable spring types. Early generations will be selected for winter survival and agronomic characteristics.

 

¹MSU Eastern Agricultural Research Center, Sidney, MT

²NDSU Department of Plant Sciences, Fargo, ND

 

 

 

A small fruit production project was initiated in 2003. In cooperation with NDSU Plant Sciences, sixteen grape varieties are being evaluated for winter hardiness. Included in this trial are some of the hardiest juice and jelly grapes; Valiant, King of the North, and the wine grape E.S. 12-18-86. These will be compared with some less hardy but more desirable wine grapes such as LaCrescent, Prairie Star, E.S. 5-4-71, Frontenac, Frontenac Gris, Sabrevois, and Hasansky Sladky, plus a table grape, Somerset Seedless and a juice grape, Bluebell. Some unnamed varieties from U of Minnesota are also included in the trial. This project was made possible with funds from APUC. In a second portion of the project, everbearing and June bearing strawberries and raspberries, along with Juneberries and rhubarb were also planted. These high value crops will be assessed for cultural practices, yield, and quality of fruit for sales in both the fresh fruit market and the emerging wine industry. Funding for this part of the project came from Williston Basin RC&D and Wal-Mart.

 

Horticultural plantings at WREC include an All America Selections trial garden, landscaping demonstration plantings of grasses and drought tolerant plant species, a demonstration of three varieties of echinacea and more than 150 entries of NDSU's historic world collection of daylilies. New shelterbelt plantings, established in 1997, demonstrate three methods of tree weed control; clean cultivation, natural mulches, and plastic mulches. In 2003, the trees in plastic mulch were interplanted with warm season and cool season grasses to determine whether grass or clean cultivation would be the best maintenance practice in shelterbelts. A woody floral species conservation planting was established in 2004 with a demonstration of weed control fabrics. An apple orchard with conventional varieties and new introductions and a soil conservation service planting of experimental introductions complete the tree plantings at WREC.

 

 

 

¹NDSU Williston Research Extension Center, Williston, ND