Acid Tolerance

Joe Jensen: Undergraduate Researcher

Problem Statement:

There has been increasing concern of decreasing soil pH in some important barley growing areas of the state. Acidic soils cause stunted growth in most modern varieties currently grown across the state and there is a need for identification of acid tolerant lines for release.

Purpose:

This project aims to develop a rapid method to screen barley lines for acid tolerance.

Objectives:

Use known acid tolerant lines, such as Halliko, to identify a greenhouse screening method

Obtain and test genetic markers as a potential rapid method for screening large populations for acid tolerance in the lab

Streamline an efficient screening method to be implemented in the MSU breeding program

Hypothesis:

Through use of acid soil media and genetic tools barley lines can be easily screened to ensure that they are tolerant to acidic soils at an early stage in the breeding program.