Genetic variation for spring radiation frost tolerance in barley

Abstract

Spring radiation frost can cause significant losses in productivity and a reduction in malting quality of barley throughout Australian barley growing regions. Frost damage in barley has been prevalent in recent years prompting a GRDC funded project to identify spring radiation frost tolerance in barley. The project aims to characterise genetic variation for tolerance to spring radiation frost in barley through field-based screening. If genetic variation is found, the development of a mapping population to identify molecular markers linked to genes/QTLs conferring frost tolerance in barley will commence. The impact of frost damage on malting quality is also under investigation. Germplasm from areas throughout the world where spring frost occurs have been selected for screening, as well as commercial winter and spring varieties, selected landraces and mutant gene introgressions. Screening is being carried out at three locations in SA where spring radiation frost is frequent. The evaluation of frost damage includes traits such as electrolyte leakage; tiller, spike and floret mortality; pinched grain and grain weight. This project will lay the foundations for future barley breeding programs to develop varieties with improved tolerance/avoidance to spring radiation frost and provide an increased understanding of the effects of spring radiation frost on key malting quality parameters.