Lopetinsky, K. J., Lupwayi, N. Z., Olson, M. A., Akter, Z. and Clayton, G. W. 2014. Contrasting Rhizobium inoculation requirements of zero-tannin faba bean and narrow-leafed lupin in western Canada. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1117-1123. Zero-tannin faba bean (Vicia faba minor) and narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) have shown potential as new pulse crops in Alberta cropping systems, but their inoculation requirements to maximize biological N₂ fixation (BNF) are unknown. We conducted a 6 site-year study to compare the effects of several commercial rhizobial inoculant products (eight for faba bean and three for lupin) in different formulations (granular, peat and liquid) on nodulation, N accumulation, grain yield and grain protein of the two crops. The liquid and peat formulations were applied to the seed, while the granular inoculant was applied to the soil. Inoculation had no significant effects on nodulation, grain yield and seed weight of faba bean in all site-years. Un-inoculated and inoculated plants nodulated equally well, suggesting the presence of adequate populations of effective indigenous Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae for nodulation of untreated plants. The indingenous rhizobia could have originated from previous field pea (Pisum sativum L.) crops or leguminous native plants/weeds. By contrast, narrow-leafed lupin responded to inoculation in all site-years, and poor nodulation of un-inoculated plants indicated inadequate populations of indigenous R. lupini for nodulation in the soils. The seed-applied peat inoculant Nitragin Lupin and the soil-applied granular inoculant Soil Implant Lupin were equally effective in increasing nodulation relative to the un-inoculated control in 3 of 5 site-years (nodulation was not assessed in 1 site-year). However, relative to the un-inoculated control, Nitragin Lupin increased grain yields in 4 of 6 site-years compared with 1 of 5 for Soil Implant Lupin (and 2 of 6 for seed-applied TagTeam Lupin). These results show that faba bean probably does not require inoculation in these soils, although periodic checking is required to ensure that its high BNF potential is always realized, but narrow-leafed lupin needs to be inoculated with suitable inoculant products to increase BNF.

Baron, V. S., Doce, R. R., Basarab, J. and Dick, C. 2014. Swath-grazing triticale and corn compared to barley and a traditional winter feeding method in central Alberta. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1125-1137. A 5-yr study compared swath-grazed triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack), corn (Zea mays L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) with a traditional pen-fed, wintering diet for gestating beef cows on the basis of dry matter (DM) yield, carrying capacity, nutritive value, cow performance and total daily feeding cost. Cows (690±70 kg BW) were fed a control total mixed ration (TMR) or allocated to swath-grazed treatments in 2.5-ha paddocks. Triticale yielded 15% more than corn and corn 32% more than barley. Carrying capacity of triticale (1145 cow-d ha^-1) and corn (1004 cow-d ha^-1) were similar and both were greater (P<0.05) than control (516 cow-d ha^-1) and barley (554 cow-d ha^-1). Average utilization for triticale (83.7%) was greater (P<0.05) than corn (74.7%) and barley (71.7%). In vitro true digestibility (IVTD) for corn was highest (682 g kg^-1), followed by triticale (620 g kg^-1), then barley (570 g kg^-1) and the control TMR (571 g kg^-1). Average cow mean body condition score (BCS) was higher (P<0.05) for triticale and corn (3.0) than barley (2.9), but lower than the control (3.1). Thus, cow reproductive performance should not be compromised by swath grazing. Total daily feeding costs, averaged over years, ranked (P<0.05) triticale ($0.78 cow-d^-1)<corn ($1.05 cow-d^-1)<barley ($1.24 cow-d^-1)<control ($1.98 cow-d^-1).

Biligetu, B., Jefferson, P. G., Muri, R. and Schellenberg, M. P. 2014. Late summer forage yield, nutritive value, compatibility of warm-and cool-season grasses seeded with legumes in western Canada. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1139-1148. In late summer and fall, quality and quantity of forage are important for weight gain by grazing animals in western Canada. The objective of this study was to evaluate forage nutritive value, dry matter (DM) yield, and compatibility of crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.], meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehm.), green needle grass [Nasella viridula (Trin.) Barkworth], northern wheatgrass [Elymus lanceolatus (Scribn. & J. G. Sm.) Gould], western wheatgrass [Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey], Russian wildrye [Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski], big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), or switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) in eight grass monocultures, and their binary mixtures with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.), or cicer-milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.) harvested once in August or September. A field study was conducted over a 7-yr period from 1998 to 2004 near Swift Current (lat. 50°25'N, long. 107°44'W, 824 m elev.), SK, Canada, using a randomized complete block design. Forage DM yield was similar between August and September harvests (P>0.05). Binary mixtures of alfalfa-grass produced highest (P<0.05) DM yield ranging from 2449 to 2758 kg ha^-1. The monoculture of crested wheatgrass (2143 kg ha^-1), sainfoin with crested wheatgrass (2061 kg ha^-1), and cicer-milkvetch with green needle grass (1838 kg ha^-1) or cicer-milkvetch with western wheatgrass (1861 kg ha^-1) produced the second highest (P<0.05) DM yields in the ranking. The two warm-season grasses produced the lowest (P>0.05) DM yields over the 7-yr period. Monocultures of green needle grass or northern wheatgrass had the highest acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF), while warm-season grasses with legumes had the lowest. Alfalfa with western wheatgrass and alfalfa with Russian wildrye had the highest crude protein (CP) concentrations. Monocultures of meadow bromegrass, crested wheatgrass, green needle grass, or cicer-milkvetch with meadow bromegrass, and sainfoin with crested wheatgrass had the lowest CP concentrations. In vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) was greater for mixtures than for the grass monocultures. Concentration of Ca and P was greater for warm-season grasses than cool-season grasses. Alfalfa with western wheatgrass was the best combination considering yield, quality, and compatibility for deferred grazing in late summer and fall in the semiarid prairies. Tested warm-season grasses are not recommended for seeding as binary mixtures with legumes for southwestern Saskatchewan.

Zhang, T., Kang, J., Zhao, Z., Guo, W. and Yang, Q. 2014. Frequency, depth and rate of phosphorus fertilizer application effects on alfalfa seed yields. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1149-1156. Efficient phosphorus (P) management is important for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) seed production and is necessary in order to alleviate the negative environmental effects of excess P application. The study was conducted on both very low-P and optimum-P soils to evaluate the effects of two frequencies (annual and triennial applications), two depths (7-8 and 15-16 cm), and three rates (15, 30, and 45 kg P ha^-1) of P fertilization on seed yield, total P uptake (TPU), P-use efficiency of applied P (PUE), and recovery of P fertilizer (PR). There was a zero-P control. Under the model of annual application, the highest seed yields were obtained with the rates of 30 or 45 kg P ha^-1. Under the model of triennial application, however, the seed yield decreased linearly with increasing rates in the first year. Averaged across frequency and depth, PUE and PR decreased linearly but TPU increased linearly with increasing P application rate. Triennial application of 45 kg of P led to higher mean seed yield than annual application of 15 kg of P, and its PUE and PR values were higher than triennial application of 90 and 135 kg of P. However, on low-P or optimum-P soil, annual application of 30 or 45 kg of P resulted in the highest mean seed yields compared with low PUE and PR. Thus, triennial application of a low P rate leads to a high alfalfa seed yield and has potential economic and environmental benefits.

Jefferson, P. G. and Larson, K. 2014. The relationship between Saskatchewan hay yield and changing cropping practices. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1157-1160. A previously reported decline in Saskatchewan hay yield statistics was re-examined with additional data. The decline in hay yield was confirmed in the new analysis, but the rate of decline was lower than previously reported. Several agronomic and economic variables were examined for their relationship to hay yield and precipitation use efficiency. Precipitation use efficiency for hay yield was correlated to summerfallow area, which has declined by 75% in Saskatchewan during the study period. Perennial hay crops are deep-rooted and therefore able to exploit soil water and nutrients at depth in previously summerfallowed land that was unavailable to grain and oilseed crops. We suggest that declining hay yield is due to less summerfallow land in modern Saskatchewan crop rotations.

Yildiz, M. and Ekiz, H. 2014. The effect of sodium hypochlorite solutions on in vitro seedling growth and regeneration capacity of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) hypocotyl explants. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1161-1164. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of different concentrations (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5%) and temperatures (10, 20 and 30°C) of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solutions on in vitro seed germination, seedling growth and regeneration capacity of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) hypocotyl explants. All parameters were negatively affected by concentrations of NaOCl over 2% and temperatures over 20°C while the best results were obtained when seeds were surface-sterilized with 2% NaOCl at 20°C for 30 min. following a pretreatment with 95% ethanol.

Ehret, D. L., Frey, B., Forge, T., Helmer, T., Bryla, D. R. and Zebarth, B. J. 2014. Effects of nitrogen rate and application method on early production and fruit quality in highbush blueberry. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1165–1179. Proper nitrogen (N) fertilizer management of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) is of major importance in south-coastal British Columbia, but little information is available. A field study was conducted to examine the effects of N rate and method of application on growth, yield, and fruit quality in highbush blueberry during the first 4 yr after planting in south-coastal BC. Nitrogen was applied at 0–150% of current production guide rates either with three equal applications of broadcast granular ammonium sulphate each spring or by fertigation through the drip irrigation system with 10 equal applications of liquid ammonium sulphate injected every 2 wk from early spring to late summer each year. Yield increased with increasing N rate during the second and third years of fruit production. The yield response as well as flower number and plant size were greater with fertigation than with broadcast fertilizers. Fruit firmness also increased consistently with increased N rates, while fruit size either increased or decreased, depending on year. There were no effects of N on fruit oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), titratable acidity, or soluble solids. However, the composition of fruit anthocyanins changed, with concentrations of seven anthocyanins decreasing, and three others increasing, with N rate. In 2 of 3 yr, total anthocyanin concentration was greater in fertigated than in broadcast treatments. Soil ammonium and nitrate concentrations increased with N rate, but only soil nitrate differed between the two application methods. Soil nitrate was higher with fertigation than with granular fertilizers, particularly at the end of the season and when greater rates of N were applied. In summary, fertigation produced more shoot growth and greater yields with less N than broadcast applications of fertilizer.

Wang, S., Xue, J., Ahmadi, N., Holloway, P., Zhu, F., Ren, X. and Zhang, X. 2014. Molecular characterization and expression patterns of PsSVP genes reveal distinct roles in flower bud abortion and flowering in tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa). Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1181-1193. Container culture and flower forcing are used for off-season production of tree peony for the Chinese Spring Festival. Storage of potted tree peony for 10 d at 12°C in a refrigerator before 4°C chilling treatment can help new root growth and promote leaf development. Development from bud swelling to anthesis was divided into nine stages. Some aborted flower buds usually emerge in Stage III. Removal of two to four leaflets in an alternating pattern and applying gibberellic acid 3 (GA₃) around the flower bud at Stage III can decrease the flower bud abortion rate and promote flower formation rate. Two MADS-box genes with homology to Arabidopsis SVP, designated PsSVP1 and PsSVP2, which probably caused flower-bud abortion, were isolated by reverse transcription-PCR. Sequence comparison analysis showed that PsSVP was most similar to SVP-like gene in apple. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that PsSVP was evolutionarily close to SVP-like genes from Malus domestica, SVP genes from Cruciferae and SVP-like genes from Vitis vinifera. The qRT-PCR results suggested that expression of PsSVP was high in vegetative growth phase, especially in the leaves of tree peony, and its expression was regulated by GA₃. Further analysis showed that more PsSVP transcripted in the aborted flower bud, especially in the buds where leaflets grew well. It was deduced that PsSVP can promote vegetative growth and suppress flowering in tree peony. Thus, it is very important to further investigate PsSVP and decipher the mechanisms of flower-bud abortion to improve forcing culture of tree peony.

Kong, Y., Rozema, E. and Zheng, Y. 2014. The effects of NaCl on calcium-deficiency disorder vary with symptom development stage and cultivar in hydroponic Portulaca oleracea L. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1195-1201. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) is a traditional food crop in some Mediterranean, Central American and Asian countries. Our recent study showed that this crop can be produced hydroponically in NaCl-rich nutrient solutions. Increased NaCl salinity has been found to increase the occurrence of Ca-deficiency related disorders in many horticultural crops. To explore the effects of NaCl on calcium-deficiency disorder and the associated impacts on plant growth in purslane, two commercial cultivars ‘Green’ and ‘Golden’ were hydroponically grown in nutrient solutions without Ca for the first 3 wk (Ca-deficiency period) and then in nutrient solutions with added 2.4 mM Ca(NO₃)₂ for 2 wk (Ca-supplement period). Two levels of NaCl (0 and 10 mM) were used in the above nutrient solutions as the two NaCl treatments (control and NaCl). Plants began to express visual symptoms first on the apical leaves and then on the apical stems 12 d after the start of Ca deficiency treatment, but recovered from the disorder during the following Ca-supplement period, suggesting that the symptoms were caused by Ca-deficiency. During the Ca-deficiency period (early stage of symptoms development), NaCl alleviated the Ca-deficiency disorder and reduced leaf unfolding rate in the ‘Green’ cultivar, but not in the ‘Golden’ cultivar. However, during the Ca-supplement period (late stage of symptoms development) exposure to NaCl increased the severity of the disorder and inhibited stem extension and leaf unfolding for both purslane cultivars. The results suggest that purslane Ca-deficiency disorder responses to NaCl vary with symptom development and cultivars, and that the responses are associated with changes in plant growth.

Singh, S., Singh, H., Sharma, A., Meeta, M., Singh, B., Joshi, N., Grover, P., Al-Yassin, A. and Kumar, S. 2014. Inheritance of spot blotch resistance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1203-1209. Spot blotch, caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana, is a major disease of barley hampering its commercial production in many parts of the world. Growing resistant cultivars is the most effective, economical and eco-friendly approach to control the disease. To understand the inheritance of resistance, F₁, F₂ and F₃ generations of two crosses, involving susceptible (PL426 and RD2503) and resistant (BL9 and BL10) parents were studied. The susceptibility of F₁ plants and a ratio of 13 susceptible:3 resistant in F₂ populations in both crosses indicated that the reaction to spot blotch is hypostatic and is governed by two genes with an epistatic/inhibitory effect of first on the second one. The resistant reaction appeared due to the presence of dominant allele of the second gene. The first gene in dominant homozygous or heterozygous condition had an inhibitory effect over the second gene. The inheritance pattern was confirmed from the segregation pattern of F₃ progenies of both the crosses. One hundred-fifty F_2:6 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) derived from PL426/BL10 cross gave a good fit to the ratio of 1 resistant:3 susceptible lines under artificial and natural epiphytotic conditions. Recovery of transgressive segregants in the RIL population indicated the presence of some modifiers or minor genes. Test of allelism involving susceptible (PL426)×susceptible (RD2503) and resistant (BL9)×resistant (BL10) parents revealed that both the susceptible parents as well as resistant parents were allelic to each other.

Chang, K. F., Hwang, S. F., Ahmed, H. U., Strelkov, S. E., Gossen, B. D., Turnbull, G. D. and Blade, S. F. 2014. Disease reaction to Fusarium avenaceum and yield losses in narrow-leafed lupin lines. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1211-1218. Seedling blight and root rot caused by Fusarium avenaceum are important constraints to the expansion of lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) production in Alberta, Canada. The reaction of 19 narrow-leafed lupin lines to F. avenaceum was assessed in inoculated field trials in Alberta from 2006 to 2008. Although none of the lines were highly resistant to F. avenaceum, the lines F6RF, MLU-122 and MLU-318-1 had the smallest reduction in emergence and MLU-320 and MLU-324 had the smallest reduction in seed yield as a result of inoculation under field conditions. The stability analysis of yield revealed that lupin lines MLU-324, W12-W5, MLU-320 and MLU-318-1 were more stable in comparison to other lupin lines included in the study. Yield loss was not consistently associated with seedling emergence, likely because the seeding rate may have been higher than required to achieve the yield potential of these lines in Alberta. A companion field study was conducted at Lacombe, Alberta, in 2006 and Edmonton, Alberta, in 2007; seedling emergence and seed yield of the susceptible lupin cv. Arabella declined linearly with increasing levels of seed infestation, and the relationships were summarized using regression analysis. Seedling emergence and yield were strongly correlated.

Conner, R. L., Hou, A., Balasubramanian, P., McLaren, D. L., Henriquez, M. A., Chang, K.-F. and McRae, K. B. 2014. Reaction of dry bean cultivars grown in western Canada to root rot inoculation. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1219-1230. Root rot is an important disease of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) that is caused by a complex of root pathogens. Cultural and fungicidal controls are available to reduce the adverse impact of this disease on seedling emergence, plant growth and yield, but none of these practices are highly effective. The development of disease-resistant dry bean cultivars is considered to be an important component of an integrated management system for root rot control. A 5-yr field study was conducted to identify potential sources of resistance to seedling blight and root rot in dry bean cultivars that are widely grown in western Canada. A total of 37 dry bean cultivars, representing all the bean classes grown in the region, were tested against the root rot pathogens Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani, F. redolens and F. acuminatum. Partial root rot resistance was detected in the navy bean cultivar Navigator and the black bean cultivars Black Violet and CDC Jet. The greatest root rot resistance occurred in the cranberry bean cultivars Etna and Cran 09. Reductions in root rot severity were not consistently associated with greater seedling emergence, which indicates that resistance to seedling blight and root rot may be independent traits. Inoculation with R. solani had the most adverse effect on seedling emergence, while infection by F. solani f. sp. phaseoli resulted in the most severe root rot ratings.

Ford, L., Soltani, N., Robinson, D. E., Nurse, R. E., McFadden, A. and Sikkema, P. H. 2014. Canada fleabane (Conyza canadensis) control with preplant applied residual herbicides followed by 2,4-D choline/glyphosate DMA applied postemergence in corn. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1231-1237. Glyphosate resistant (GR) Canada fleabane (Conyza canadensis) is an extremely problematic weed in no-tillage farming operations. A total of five field trials were conducted over a 2-yr (2012 and 2013) period in Ontario to determine the level of GR Canada fleabane control with a two-pass weed control program of a pre plant (PP) residual herbicide followed by 2,4-D choline/glyphosate dimethylamine (DMA) applied POST. Among residual herbicide treatments evaluated, s-metolachlor (1600 g a.i. ha^-1) flumetsulam (50 g a.i. ha^-1) clopyralid (135 g a.e. ha^-1) provided the most consistent (95-99%) control across all sites 8 wk after application (WAA). S-metolachlor/atrazine (1800 g a.i. ha^-1) did not provide effective GR Canada fleabane control (21-86%) 8 WAA. The preplant residual herbicides followed by 2,4-D choline/glyphosate DMA (1720 g a.e. ha^-1) POST provided 97-100% control. Glyphosate (900 g a.e. ha^-1) applied PP followed by 2,4-D choline/glyphosate DMA POST provided 80-93% control 8 WAA. The application of 2,4-D choline/glyphosate DMA POST following any PP residual herbicide resulted in 97% or greater control of GR Canada fleabane. Results from this research demonstrate that residual herbicides applied PP followed by 2,4-D choline/glyphosate DMA POST provides excellent control of GR Canada fleabane, and also incorporates different modes of action thereby limiting the selection of resistant weeds.

Walsh, K. D., Soltani, N., Brown, L. R. and Sikkema, P. H. 2014. Weed control with postemergence glyphosate tank mixes in glyphosate-resistant soybean. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1239-1244. Six field trials were conducted over a 3-yr period (2011, 2012 and 2013) in Ontario, Canada, to evaluate various postemergence (POST) glyphosate tank mixes for weed management in glyphosate-resistant (GR) soybean. Herbicide treatments included glyphosate applied alone or mixed with acifluorfen, fomesafen, bentazon and thifensulfuron-methyl. Glyphosate tank mixtures with acifluorfen, fomesafen, bentazon and thifensulfuron-methyl caused GR soybean injury of up to 21, 11, 4 and 14% at 7 d after treatment (DAT), which was reduced to 5, 0, 0 and 2% by 28 DAT, respectively. Velvetleaf, green pigweed, common ragweed and common lambsquarters control ranged from 55 to 95, 93 to 100, 70 to 92 and 81 to 98% at 28 DAT respectively. Relative to glyphosate alone, tank mixtures with thifensulfuron-methyl provided equivalent to increased weed control, while acifluorfen, fomesafen and bentazon provided equivalent to reduced weed control. All herbicide tank mixtures resulted in higher yields (3.8-4.0 t ha^-1) than the untreated check (2.7 t ha^-1), and were generally equivalent to glyphosate alone (4.1 t ha^-1). Results from this study indicate that the glyphosate tank mixtures evaluated did not provide a benefit over glyphosate alone.

Tidemann, B. D., Hall, L. M., Johnson, E. N., Beckie, H. J., Sapsford, K. L., Willenborg, C. J. and Raatz, L. L. 2014. Additive efficacy of soil-applied pyroxasulfone and sulfentrazone combinations. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1245-1253. Efficacy of soil-applied herbicides can be influenced by edaphic factors including soil organic matter (OM) content, as well as by interactions with herbicide tank-mix partners. Field trials were conducted over 6 site-years in 2011 and 2012 across western Canada to examine the interaction of pyroxasulfone and sulfentrazone when co-applied for control of false cleavers (Galium spurium L.) and wild oat (Avena fatua L.) in field pea. In the greenhouse, the nature of this interaction was further investigated for these two weed species, plus barley and canola; in a separate experiment, the effect of OM content on pyroxasulfone and sulfentrazone efficacy was examined using three soils with 2.8, 5.5, and 12.3% OM content, respectively. Efficacy of pyroxasulfone and sulfentrazone combinations was additive under both field and greenhouse conditions. Higher OM content generally required higher rates of herbicide to achieve similar efficacy for all tested species. Pyroxasulfone and sulfentrazone can be combined to aid in herbicide resistance management and broaden the weed spectrum compared with each product used alone, although rate selection may be OM dependent.

Changizi, M., Choukan, R., Heravan, E. M., Bihamta, M. R. and Darvish, F. 2014. Evaluation of genotype×environment interaction and stability of corn hybrids and relationship among univariate parametric methods. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1255-1267. There have been many approaches available in multi-location crop variety trial. However, the relationship among these approaches is not understood. In this study, therefore, grain yields of 16 corn hybrids were measured in 12 locations in Iran in 2011 and 2012 in order to compare the 23 parametric methods and to assess stability and adaptability of the hybrids. The combined ANOVA indicated that variances due to the genotypes, environments and genotype×environment interaction were substantially significant, which represents great variation among them. Principal component analysis based on rank correlation matrix indicated that stability methods can be classified into four groups. The group related to the dynamic concept and strongly associated with mean grain yield consisted of the measures, superiority index (Pi), desirability index (DI), geometric adaptability index (GAI) and genotypic stability (Di²). This group was more useful in agronomic goals in comparison with other methods. The second group also indicated the dynamic concept contained slope of regression models. The third group reflected the static concept included, the environmental variance (EV), the variance in regression deviation (S²di) and type IV stability concept (). The fourth group impressed concurrently by grain yield and stability included the measures coefficient of variability (CV), Wrick's ecovalence (W2), Shukla's stability variance (SH), Plaisted and Peterson's parameter (pp59), Plaisted's parameter (p60), yield reliability index (Ii), residual MS of regression models and coefficient of determination (R²). Based on both concepts of stability (dynamic and static), hybrids (KLM76002/3×MO17), (KLM77002/10-5-1×K19/1) and (K47/2×MO17) were the most stable and (KSC704), (KSC720 (K74/1×K19)) and (K48/3×K18) were found to be the most adaptable to favorable environments. The methods of Pi, Di², DI and GAI were more useful and more convenient than other methods. and showed an acceptable static concept of stability methods whereas study was more efficient than .

Mosseler, A. and Major, J. E. 2014. Coppice growth responses of two North American willows in acidic clay soils on coal mine overburden. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1269-1279. Acid-generating mine spoils with low pH are a major problem for revegetation and site reclamation. We compared growth responses of 15 genotypes from two widespread willow species, Salix discolor Muhl. (DIS) and S. eriocephala Michx. (ERI), native to eastern and central North America on two adjacent coal mine spoil sites that differed strongly in both pH (3.6 vs. 6.8) and soil texture. Despite significantly poorer growth responses for several coppice biomass traits on a highly acidic clay deposit compared with adjacent shale overburden, these willow clones demonstrated a surprising tolerance for extremely acidic soil conditions. Analysis of survival and growth uncovered genotype×environment interactions, indicating that both species and genotypic differences within species could be used to select better-adapted genotypes for extreme conditions. Most ERI and DIS clones grew comparatively better on the shale overburden site, but two of eight ERI clones and one of seven DIS clones grew significantly better on the acidic clay site, indicating the possibility for clonal selection for specific site adaptations within a species. Allometric relationships between coppice height and basal stem diameter were constant at both the species and site levels. However, there was a divergence of height and diameter in their relationship with green mass yields on the two different site types.

Padmanabhan, P., Murch, S. J., Sullivan, J. A. and Saxena, P. K. 2014. Development of an efficient protocol for high frequency in vitro regeneration of a horticultural plant Primulina tamiana (B.L. Burtt) Mich. Möller & A. Webber. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1281-1287. A rapid and efficient in vitro regeneration system was established for Primulina tamiana, an attractive ornamental plant of horticultural importance. The successful regeneration protocol employed induction of shoot organogenesis on leaf explants. Among the various plant growth regulators evaluated, thidiazuron (TDZ) proved to be the most effective in inducing rapid de novo shoot formation. The highest shoot regeneration frequency within the shortest time from leaf explants was obtained on medium enriched with 2.5 µM TDZ. Furthermore, leaf segments were found to be a more suitable explant for in vitro shoot regeneration compared with petiole explants. The abaxial side of the leaf segments, which was in contact with the culture medium, generated more shoots than the adaxial side. Scanning electron microscopic studies carried out at various stages of de novo shoot differentiation demonstrated that shoot organogenesis involved the formation of actively dividing regions from the epidermal and subepidermal layers of the explants. In vitro rooting of the regenerated shoots was attempted using two different auxins, IAA (3-indoleacetic acid) and 3-indolebutyric acid (IBA) (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 µM). The optimum concentration for root induction was found to be 5 µM IBA. Approximately, 98% of the regenerated plants survived transfer and acclimation to greenhouse conditions.

Singh, A. K., Clarke, J. M., Knox, R. E., DePauw, R. M., McCaig, T. N., Cuthbert, R. D., Clarke, F. R. and Fernandez, M. R. 2014. AAC Raymore durum wheat. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1289-1296. AAC Raymore durum wheat [Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.] is adapted to the durum production area of the Canadian prairies. AAC Raymore is the first solid stem durum genotype registered for production in Canada for protection against wheat stem sawfly, and combines high grain yield, grain protein concentration, test weight, and low grain cadmium concentration. AAC Raymore has similar straw strength, plant height, and days to maturity as Strongfield. AAC Raymore is resistant to leaf rust, stem rust, stripe rust, common bunt, is moderately susceptible to loose smut, and has improved resistance to common root rot compared with the check cultivars. AAC Raymore has end use quality suitable for the Canada Western Amber Durum class.

Humphreys, D. G., Townley-Smith, T. F., Lukow, O. M., McCallum, B. D., Fetch, T. G., Gilbert, J. A., Menzies, J. G., Tkachuk, V., Brown, P. D. and Fox, S. L. 2014. Peace hard red spring wheat. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1297-1302. Peace is a hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) adapted to the shorter-season wheat-growing regions of the Canadian prairies. Peace was evaluated in the Parkland Wheat Cooperative Test in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Peace exhibited grain yield similar to the check cultivars over 2 yr (1999-2000; Neepawa and Roblin) and over 3 yr (1999-2001; AC Barrie and AC Splendor) Peace matured a day earlier than AC Barrie but was 2 d later than AC Splendor over 3 yr of testing (1999-2001) and was a day later than Neepawa and Roblin over 2 yr of testing (1999-2000). Peace had test weight similar to the check cultivars. Peace was moderately resistant to leaf rust and loose smut and resistant to stem rust including the highly virulent Ug99 race of stem rust and common bunt. Peace was moderately susceptible to Fusarium head blight. Peace meets the end-use quality specifications of the Canada Western Red Spring wheat class.

Randhawa, H. S., Graf, R. J. and Sadasivaiah, R. S. 2014. AAC Chiffon soft white spring wheat. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1303-1308. AAC Chiffon is a soft white spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar that meets the end-use quality specifications of the Canada Western Soft White Spring (CWSWS) class. AAC Chiffon is well-adapted to the irrigated wheat growing regions of southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan, and for rain-fed production in the western prairies. Based on data from the Western Soft White Spring Wheat Cooperative registration trials from 2008 to 2011, AAC Chiffon exhibited higher grain yield than the check cultivars, similar maturity, and taller stature with moderate straw strength. AAC Chiffon expressed resistance to the prevalent races of stripe rust, intermediate responses to powdery mildew, kernel black point and leaf rust, and susceptibility to stem rust, common bunt, loose smut and Fusarium head blight. Based on end-use quality analysis performed by the Grain Research Laboratory of the Canadian Grain Commission, AAC Chiffon was eligible for grades of CWSWS wheat.

Schroeder, W. R., Soolanayakanahally, R. Y. and Naeem, H. A. 2014. Harvest Moon seabuckthorn. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1309-1312. Harvest Moon is a female, winter-hardy seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. ssp. mongolica) cultivar released by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Agroforestry Development Centre (ADC). It is an early-maturing relatively thornless seabuckthorn with reddish-orange berries. The berries are sour-sweet, large with long pedicels, which facilitates hand harvesting. Harvest Moon is adapted for fruit orchards in the Canadian Prairies and northern Great Plains of the United States. The name Harvest Moon was chosen as it represents the large reddish-orange oblong berries characteristic of the cultivar.

Booker, H. M., Rowland, G. G., Kutcher, H. R. and Rashid, K. Y. 2014. CDC Neela oilseed flax. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1313-1314. CDC Neela, a medium-late-maturing oilseed flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), was released in 2013 by the Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. This cultivar has medium oil content, medium oil quality, medium seed size, good lodging resistance, and high seed yield in all soil zones of the Prairies. It is immune to North American races of rust caused by Melampsora lini, and moderately resistant to wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lini.