b'coloured grains, two new purple pericarpIts unfortunate, because I see a wheat linesGP 262 and GP 263 strong market for winter triticale, espe-were introduced at the meetings of thecially as a cover crop and forage crop. Prairie Recommending Commit-tee forThere\'s also a large market in the U.S.Wheat, Rye and Triticale (PRCWRT).The decision to discontinue the One of these carries the wheatprogram was made about five or six years midge trait, while the other serves as theago, when WCI was still known as the refuge. Compared to the previous purpleField Crop Development Centre. pericarp variety on the market, these newAt that time, I had some promis-lines boast a harder kernel, opening uping lines in my breeding pipeline, so new applications for growers, said Danawe pushed them through. Now, there Maxwell, chair of the PRCWRT.are several varieties availableAB The lines come from the wheatSnowcat, AB Provider, AB Bronco and breeding program at the CDC headedAB Windchill. This latest line, WT0050, up by Pierre Hucl and his successor,is almost awnless and well-suited for dry- Mazen Aljarrah, triticale breeder at Western Adam Carter, who has taken the reins ofland areas, with decent forage quality,"Crop Innovations, put forward the final winter the CWRS wheat, specialty wheats andAljarrah said. triticale line he has in the pipeline.canaryseed breeding program. In terms of triticale, WCI still has germplasm available, and if funding Big Shoes to Fill becomes available, it could relaunch the Carters second PGDC meeting markedwinter triticale breeding program, he another milestone in his career as hewent on to say. presented the wheat lines he and his teamMy plan this year is to plant most of are working on. While many of the linesmy winter triticale germplasm, renew it, are from Hucls earlier work, Carter, 32,and invite industry and potential funding is eager to carry the program forwardagencies to take a look. What we really and expand its scope. need is steady funding to bring winter This year, the program put forwardtriticale breeding back.several specialty wheat lines, including aWCI had all five of its proposed varie-new spelt wheat with improved agronom- ties receive support for registration at the ics, as well the purple wheat varieties thatmeeting. The newly approved varieties, offer significant quality improvementsnow open for commercialization since over previous releases.early March, include two barley lines and But perhaps the most exciting devel- two spring triticale lines. Adam Carter heads up the CWRS wheat, opment is the introduction of a springspecialty wheats, and canaryseed breeding triticale line, the first in over 50 yearsMustard and Pulses Had a Year, Too program at the Crop Development Centre. from the CDC. It offers better qualityThis year, the release of two new mustardPhoto: Chris Hendricksontraits and high forage yield, addressinglines by the Prairie Recommending the longstanding challenge of improv- Committee for Oilseeds (PRCO) ing baking quality in triticale whilemarked a significant milestone in the maintaining its abiotic stress tolerance,ongoing development of mustard crops typically derived from rye. in Canada, with a particular focus on Pierre has always had a diverse rangeincreasing yield and quality. Led by of interests in plant breeding, CarterBifang Cheng at AAFC Saskatoon, the said. With triticale, he was focused onnew mustard lines are the culmination of increasing its quality while keeping itsyears of hard work and innovation.dual-purpose potential for forage. ThisSome of the most recent lines have new line could be valuable to both theshown double-digit yield increases over food and forage sectors. the traditional check varieties, provid-Tritcale was a hot topic at the PGDCing a considerable boost for mustard event as Western Crop Innovations putgrowers, said Ken Jackle, chair of the forward its last winter triticale line fromPRCO. This increase in yield is crucial Mazen Aljarrahs program. Theres cur- for Saskatchewans mustard farmers, whoAna Badea heads up the barley breeding rently no more winter triticale lines indominate the global mustard market. program at AAFC Brandon, which put forward the WCI pipeline, Aljarrah said. The Prairie Recommendinga black barley line this year.MARCH 2025SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA 25'