Anbessa, Y. and Juskiw, P. 2012. Review: Strategies to increase nitrogen use efficiency of spring barley. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 617-625. Improvement in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is important to reduce input costs and the negative impact of excessive N on the environment. This review found that barley growers in western Canada have over the years adopted a number of improved N management strategies including soil testing and adjusting rate of N fertilization accordingly, switching from fall application to spring application of N fertilizers, and side-dressing placement of N that gives plant roots easier access to N nutrition. However, it is our opinion that use of variable N rates, choice of N fertilizer type that is less susceptible to losses, and improved manure management are some of the areas where further increase in NUE should be sought. As well, barley germplasms show substantial differences in NUE and genetic selection could increase NUE. Genetic improvement of NUE in barley should be possible both by the traditional breeding approach of crossing and pyramiding NUE genes from across different sources as well as through the development of transgenic barley. The integration of improved N management practices and more efficient cultivars may bring about a significant increase in NUE and ultimately grain yield of barley under the target moderate rate of N application.

Bullied, W. J., Van Acker, R. C. and Bullock, P. R. 2012. Review: Microsite characteristics influencing weed seedling recruitment and implications for recruitment modeling. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 627-650. A weed seedling recruitment microsite is the location of a weed seed in the soil profile which affects germination, time of emergence and seedling establishment. The relationship between the recruitment of seedlings and their physical environment, including microclimate, soil, topography, and residue cover can provide the key to understanding the timing of seedling recruitment. The variability that exists in germination and establishment requirements within and among weed species raises important questions for recruitment research addressing multiple species, as well as regional models of genetic variability within species. Current weed recruitment research focuses mainly on summer annual species in annual cropping systems. However, with changes in cropping systems, climate, and weed biology, there will be an increasing demand for the management of both summer and winter annual weeds that develop very early in the spring. Many studies to date take an average of microsite conditions, particularly for soil depth, to describe the seedling recruitment zone. Whereas this practice of under-sampling expedites lengthy and difficult soil environmental measurements, it limits the description of the microsite for predictive purposes. Because soil disturbance disperses seeds to microsites throughout the vertical profile of the shallow seedling recruitment zone, seeds are subjected to gradients of temperature and water that create diverse microsites with depth in the recruitment zone. Research on the interactions of microclimate, field topography, soil properties and agronomic practices can further our knowledge base of the seedling recruitment microsite to better understand weed ecology and population dynamics generally, as well as enhance our ability to predict seedling recruitment specifically.

May, W. E., Lafond, G. P., Gan, Y. T., Hucl, P., Holzapfel, C. B., Johnston, A. M. and Stevenson, C. 2012. Yield variability inPhalaris canariensisL. due to seeding date, seeding rate and nitrogen fertilizer. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 651-669. Concern over the year-to-year and field-to-field variability in grain yield has consistently been expressed by annual canarygrass growers in Saskatchewan. The objectives of these studies were to understand the effects of a delayed seeding date (0, 15, 30 and 45 d), seeding rate (15, 25, 35, 45, and 55 kg ha^-1 of seed) and applied N fertilizer (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 kg N ha^-1) on the development and yield of annual canarygrass, to improve recommendations of best management practices in annual canarygrass and to determine the impact of these factors on yield variability in annual canarygrass. To address these objectives, three single factor field experiments were conducted, at a number of sites in Saskatchewan from 1998 to 2001. Seeding date had a large effect on grain yield. Grain yield decreased as seeding was delayed by 30 and 45 d from early May. Seeding rate had a small effect on grain yield. The response curve was very shallow peaking at approximately 1310 kg ha^-1 at a seeding rate of 45 kg ha^-1. Variation in grain yield tended to decrease as the seeding rate increased. There was a small increase in grain yield with the addition of nitrogen fertilizer. The response curve estimated a maximum yield of 1215 kg ha^-1, which was obtained with a nitrogen rate of 78 kg ha^-1. The majority of the increase was between 20 and 40 kg N ha^-1, with a 2.3 kg ha^-1 increase in grain yield for each kg of fertilizer N in that range of rates. There was a slight increase in grain yield as the nitrogen rate increased above 40 kg ha^-1 but the variation in grain yield also increased reducing the incentive for growers to use N rates above 40 kg ha^-1. Seeding date had a large effect on seed yield and could impact yield variability while seeding rate and nitrogen rate did not have a large effect on seed yield or yield variability.

Li, G., Zhang, Z.-S., Gao, H.-Y., Liu, P., Dong, S.-T., Zhang, J.-W. and Zhao, B. 2012. Effects of nitrogen on photosynthetic characteristics of leaves from two different stay-green corn (Zea maysL.) varieties at the grain-filling stage. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 671-680. The effects of nitrogen on the photosynthetic characteristics of two different stay-green corn (Zea mays L.) at the grain-filling stage were studied. Using a stay-green inbred line (Q319) and a non-stay-green inbred line (HZ4) as materials, using fast chlorophyll fluorescence-induction kinetics and 820 nm light-absorption curves, we analyzed the influences of nitrogen supplementation on photosystem I (PS I) and photosystem II (PS II). The results show that nitrogen fertilization has significant effects on promoting the net photosynthetic rate (P_n) in leaves at the grain-filling stage and on single-plant grain yield at the harvest stage (P<0.05) in Q319, whereas there is no significant effect in HZ4. Analyses performed using JIP-Test showed that nitrogen fertilization significantly increased electron donor and acceptor performance in the reaction center of PS II (P<0.05). The increased performance of the electron transport chain at a point after the electron acceptor in the PS II reaction center was greater in Q319 than in HZ4, reducing excessive excitation energy production in PS II and significantly improving the coordination between PS II and PS I. Although the performance of the electron transport chain after the electron acceptor in the PS II reaction center was increased in HZ4, the increase was not substantial enough to improve the coordination between PS II and PS I; therefore, P_n and grain yield were still significantly lower than those of Q319.

Walsh, K. D., Puttick, D. M., Hills M. J., Yang R.-C., Topinka, K. C. and Hall, L. M. 2012. Short Communication: First report of outcrossing rates in camelina [Camelina sativa(L.) Crantz], a potential platform for bioindustrial oils. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 681-685. Outcrossing rates in camelina were low (0.09-0.28%), suggesting camelina is a primarily self-pollinated species. Outcrossing was affected by flowering synchrony influenced by planting date as well as direction and distance (20, 40 or 60 cm) from the pollen source. Pollen-mediated intra-specific gene flow is unlikely to prohibit the development of camelina as a bioindustrial platform. Short distance outcrossing results will be used to design experiments to evaluate outcrossing rates at a field scale.

McElroy, M. S., Papadopoulos, Y. A. and Adl, M. S. 2012. Complexity and composition of pasture swards affect plant productivity and soil organisms. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 687-697. The relationships between ecosystem diversity, productivity, and stability is a central theme in current ecological research; the links between above-ground and below-ground ecosystems, as well as their effects on ecosystem services, are becoming more understood. While plant communities differ in primary productivity, and in the communities of soil organisms they support, it is unclear whether these differences are attributable mainly to plant community diversity or to the dominant plant species. This study evaluated the effect of these two factors on plant productivity, and abundance of soil microorganisms and functional diversity, in an establishing pasture using sward complexity (plant species present) and sward composition (identity of species) as treatments in a design using the step-wise addition of grass species. While sward complexity affected plant productivity, showing higher productivity in plots of higher diversity, abundance and functional diversity of soil organism groups were generally not consistently affected by sward complexity or composition. Sward composition did influence soil community composition; there was a close correlation between microbial catabolic activity and sward composition. This study shows that grassland plants have a limited effect on the size and diversity of soil communities while they are being established. This result may have consequences for soil ecosystem services.

Schellenberg, M. P, Biligetu, B. and Iwaasa, A. D. 2012. Species dynamic, forage yield, and nutritive value of seeded native plant mixtures following grazing. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 699-706. There is increasing interest in native plants of North America for rangeland reseeding in the semiarid regions of western Canada. However, there is limited information available on forage yield, nutritive value and response to grazing of seeded native plant mixture. The objective of this study was to compare foliar cover, forage yield, and nutritive value of two different native plant mixtures under grazing. In 2001-2004, a study was initiated on Orthic Brown Chernozemic (Aridic Haploboroll) soil near Swift Current (lat. 50°25'N, long. 107°44'W), Canada. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a full factorial arrangement of seed mixtures (7 species and 14 species) and stocking rates (1.3 and 2.7 animal units ha^-1) with four replications of each treatment combination. The 7-species mixture produced more forage than the 14-species mixture in July, August, and September of all study years. The 7-species mixture, however, had lower crude protein than the 14-species mixture in August and September in 2002 and 2003. Neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber concentrations were generally similar between the two mixtures for July, August, and September sampling for all 3 yr. Foliar cover of awned wheatgrass [(Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould & Shin. ssp subsecundus (Link) A. & D. Love.] and slender wheatgrass [Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould subsp. trachycaulus] was higher in the 7-species mixture than the 14-species mixture, but foliar cover of other species was similar between the two mixtures. Shrub species were rarely observed in the stand at any year. Higher stocking rate decreased foliar cover of slender wheatgrass and weeds, but foliar cover of other species was similar between the two stocking rates. Based on the results, a seed mixture of native cool-season grasses may be more productive than a combination of native warm- and cool-season grasses under semiarid region of western Canada, but inclusion of warm-season grasses could improve nutritive value by increasing protein content in the late summer months.

Cutler, C. G., Reeh, K. W., Sproule, J. M. and Ramanaidu, K. 2012. Berry unexpected: Nocturnal pollination of lowbush blueberry. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 707-711. Lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium, is an economically important crop of eastern North America that is critically dependent on insect-mediated cross-pollination for successful fruit set and high yields. It is generally assumed that bees are responsible for the vast majority of lowbush blueberry pollination, and producers usually augment the natural pollination force with managed bees. Little is known, however, of the potential role of nocturnal pollinators in lowbush blueberry production. We conducted a field experiment where patches of blooming blueberry were exposed to flying insects 24 h a day, only during the day (sunrise to sunset), only at night (sunset to sunrise), or 0 h a day. We found that significant fruit set occurred on blueberry stems that were exposed only at night, although it was higher on stems exposed during the day or 24 h a day. However, ripe fruit produced on stems exposed only at night weighed just as much as those exposed 24 h. Captures with Malaise traps activated only at night consisted mainly of several families of Lepidoptera and Diptera, although we do not know if these taxa pollinated blueberries. We conclude that nocturnal pollination may contribute significantly to lowbush blueberry fruit set.

Randhawa, H., Puchalski, B. J., Frick, M., Goyal, A., Despins, T., Graf, R. J., Laroche, A. and Gaudet, D. A. 2012. Stripe rust resistance among western Canadian spring wheat and triticale varieties. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 713-722. Stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis Westend.) is an important pathogen of wheat in western Canada and worldwide. One hundred and four spring wheat and triticale varieties and cultivars were evaluated for resistance to stripe rust in nurseries at Lethbridge and Creston, BC, during 2009 and 2010. In the Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheat class, newer varieties were more resistant compared with many of the older varieties. Among the white Canada Prairie Spring White (CPSW) wheats, Vista was moderately resistant, whereas Snowhite475 and Snowhite476 were susceptible. Little useful resistance was observed within the Canada Western Hard White Spring (CWHWS) class. Sixty percent of the Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheats, including the currently popular varieties Lillian, Harvest and Kane, were resistant. Susceptible CWRS varieties that are extensively seeded in western Canada include AC Barrie, Superb and McKenzie, but also include the recently registered CDC Kernen and Vesper. The varieties were tested for the presence of the stripe rust genes Yr10, Yr17, Yr18 and Yr36 using molecular markers. Much of the stripe rust resistance, particularly in the CWRS, Canada Western Extra Strong (CWES), and CPSR wheat classes was attributed to the presence of adult plant resistance gene Yr18. Yr17 and Yr36 were also detected among CWRS and CWES varieties. However, the absence of markers for known genes in several resistant varieties indicated that uncharacterized genes for stripe rust occur among hexaploid wheats. Durum wheat and triticale varieties were universally resistant with the absence of tested markers. Therefore, there appear to be numerous sources of stripe rust resistance, both characterized and uncharacterized, among western Canadian spring wheat and triticale varieties.

Soltani, N., Shropshire, C. and Sikkema, P. H. 2012. Response of dry beans to halosulfuron applied postemergence. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 723-728. Four field trials were conducted over a 2-yr period (2009 and 2010) at Exeter and Ridgetown, Ontario, to evaluate the tolerance of adzuki, black, cranberry, kidney, otebo, pinto, Small Red Mexican and white beans to halosulfuron applied postemergence (POST) at 35 and 70 g a.i. ha^-1. All treatments including the non-treated control were maintained weed free during the growing season. Halosulfuron applied POST caused as much as 73, 7, 13, 12, 12, 11, 11 and 9% injury in adzuki, black, cranberry, kidney, otebo, pinto, Small Red Mexican (SRM) and white beans, respectively. Halosulfuron applied POST reduced adzuki bean height as much as 52 and 70% at Exeter and Ridgetown, respectively. Plant height was not affected in the other market classes of dry bean evaluated. Halosulfuron POST reduced shoot dry weight of adzuki bean 68% at both rates evaluated. Otebo and SRM bean shoot dry weight were not affected when halosulfuron was applied POST at 35 g a.i. ha^-1 but otebo bean shoot dry weight was reduced 12% and SRM bean shoot dry weight was reduced 14% at 70 g a.i. ha^-1. Shoot dry weight of black, cranberry, kidney, pinto and white bean was not affected with either rate of halosulfuron. Seed yield of adzuki bean was decreased 58% at 35 g a.i. ha^-1 and 68% at 70 g a.i. ha^-1 with halosulfuron. White bean yield was not affected with halosulfuron applied POST at 35 g a.i. ha^-1 but was reduced 9% at 70 g a.i. ha^-1. Seed yield of black, cranberry, kidney, otebo, pinto and SRM bean was not reduced with either rate of halosulfuron. Based on these results, there is not an adequate margin of crop safety for halosulfuron POST in adzuki bean. However, there is potential for POST application of halosulfuron in black, cranberry, kidney, otebo, pinto, SRM and white beans.

Darbyshire, S. J., Francis, A., DiTommaso, A. and Clements, D. R. 2012. The Biology of Canadian weeds. 150Erechtites hieraciifolius(L.) Raf. ex DC. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 729-746. Erechtites hieraciifolius, American burnweed, is a herbaceous annual in the Asteraceæe native to forest zones of eastern North America, but introduced to parts of Europe and the Pacific region. Confusion sometimes arises in distinguishing it from other weedy rayless composites in Canada, such as Senecio vulgaris (common groundsel) and Conyza canadensis (Canada fleabane). A pioneer therophyte species of forest zones, it occurs in large numbers when associated with major disturbances such as forest fires, but is also common in areas of smaller scale disturbance such as shores, forest edges and wind-throws. Soil conditions may vary greatly in nutrient content, moisture content, pH and salinity. In Canada, it is generally considered a minor garden and agricultural weed. It is most common in crops such as lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa) and vegetable crops; however, it occasionally occurs in other field and forage crops. Impacts include a variety of problems contributing to increased production costs or crop yield losses, including herbicide resistance, resource competition, and as a reservoir harbouring crop pathogens. It has been valued as a medicinal herb for treating a variety of ailments. Populations may grow rapidly in response to disturbances typical of managed landscapes, but E. hieraciifolius can usually be effectively controlled by chemical, cultural or manual weed control tactics.

Guan, Z.-j., Guo, B., Huo, Y.-l., Guan, Z.-p., Dai, J.-k. and Wei, Y.-h. 2012. Short Communication: Organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis in callus derived from HBsAg-transgenic tomato mutant. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 747-756. In the process of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) gene transformation, a transgenic cherry tomato (Lycopersivon esculentum Mill.) mutant N244 was occasionally obtained. Based on its obvious variation in ploidy and phenotypic characteristics, morphogenesis and development in the mutant in vitro were studied by cytological analysis and ultrastructural examination. The adventitious shoot primordia first emerged in the mutant N244 leaf explants after 14 d of culture, and the somatic embryo pathway developed after 35 d. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy further indicated that during the explant's development, there were significant changes in morphology and quantity of some organelles in N244 callus cells. On the 7th day of culture, there was little cytoplasm and few organelles, except for a large number of dense lipid bodies in the mutant callus cells. In the later stage, the changes in chloroplasts, Golgi bodies and mitochondria showed obvious difference between N244 callus cells and the control. In addition, changes in physiological indexes (growth rate, soluble protein content, and antioxidant enzyme activities) at different development stages further revealed morphogenic variation of organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis in N244 callus. The growth rate of the mutant N244 was less rapid than that of the control during its callus differentiation, and the soluble protein content of N244 callus decreased from the explant's cultivation stage until the 28th day of culture. The mutant N244 had distinct differences in variation tendency of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase activities compared with the control at every stage of callus development. These findings provide the first report of simultaneous shoot organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis of transgenic mutant and help us to understand the development mechanism of transgenic plant mutant in vitro.

Mohammadi, R. and Amri, A. 2012. Analysis of genotype × environment interaction in rain-fed durum wheat of Iran using GGE-biplot and non-parametric methods. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 757-770. Multi-environment trials (MET) are conducted annually throughout the world in order to use the information contained in MET data for genotype evaluation and mega-environment identification. In this study, grain yield data of 13 durum and one bread wheat genotypes grown in 16 diversified environments (differing in winter temperatures and water regimes) were used to analyze genotype by environment (GE) interactions in rain-fed durum MET data in Iran. The main objectives were (i) to investigate the possibility of dividing the test locations representative for rain-fed durum production in Iran into mega-environments using the genotype main effect plus GE interaction (GGE) biplot model and (ii) to compare the effectiveness of the GGE-biplot and several non-parametric stability measures (NPSM), which are not well-documented, for evaluating the stability performance of genotypes tested and the possibility of recommending the best genotype(s) for commercial release in the rain-fed areas of Iran. The results indicate that the grain yield of different genotypes was significantly influenced by environmental effect. The greater GE interaction relative to genotype effect suggested significant environmental groups with different top-yielding genotypes. Warm environments differed from cold environments in the ranking of genotypes, while moderate environments were highly divergent and correlated with both cold and warm environments. Cold and warm environments were better than moderate environments in both discriminating and representativeness, suggesting the efficiency and accuracy of genotype selection would be greatly enhanced in such environments. According to the NPSM, genotypes tend to be classified into groups related to the static and dynamic concepts of stability. Both the GGE-biplot and NPSM methods were found to be useful, and generally gave similar results in identifying high-yielding and stable genotypes. In contrast to NPSM, the GGE-biplot analysis would serve as a better platform to analyze MET data, because it always explicitly indicates the average yield and stability of the genotypes and the discriminating ability and representativeness of the test environments.

Moulin, A. P., Cohen, Y., Alchanatis, V., Tremblay, N. and Volkmar, K. 2012. Yield response of potatoes to variable nitrogen management by landform element and in relation to petiole nitrogen - A case study. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 771-781. Recent increases in the cost of fertilizer N have prompted producers to assess the potential to vary inputs within fields and during the growing season to produce the highest marketable yield of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.). A study was conducted from 2005 to 2007 near Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, to assess the spatial variability of potato yield in upper, middle and lower landform elements on a sandy loam soil in response to a range of N fertilizer rates applied in the spring or in combination with an application during the growing season. There was no clear trend with respect to the effect of landform on potato yield. Nitrogen fertilizer increased total and marketable yield relative to the control at rates from 75 to 225 kg ha^-1 in split applications or applied at seeding. No significant interaction between landform and fertilizer treatment was observed. Petiole N concentration, determined late in the growing season, was correlated with potato yield though the correlation varied considerably between years. Petiole leaflet N concentration was affected by fertilizer on most sampling dates, but decreased with time during the growing season. We conclude that although N fertilizer could be applied during the growing season based on petiole leaflet N concentration deficiencies in mid-July, there is no clear difference in potato yield due to split application relative to spring applications of N fertilizer at rates of 75 kg ha^-1 or greater based on landform elements for potato production, likely due to the short growing season in western Canada.

Mohr, R. M. and Tomasiewicz, D. J. 2012. Effect of rate and timing of potassium chloride application on the yield and quality of potato (Solanum tuberosumL. ‘Russet Burbank’). Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 783-794. Potassium is frequently applied to irrigated potato in Manitoba. Field experiments were conducted at two sites in each of 2006, 2007 and 2008 to assess effects of rate and timing of potassium chloride (KCl) application on the yield, quality, and nutrient status of irrigated potato (Solanum tuberosum ‘Russet Burbank’) in southern Manitoba. Preplant application of KCl increased total and marketable yield at one site, and tended (0.05<P = 0.10) to increase total and marketable yield at three additional sites. At three of the four K-responsive sites, soil test K levels were <200 mg NH₄OAc-extractable K kg^-1, the level below which K fertilizer is recommended based on existing guidelines. Effects of timing of KCl application on total and marketable yield were limited although, averaged across sites, KCl applied at hilling reduced the yield of small tubers (<85 g) and increased the proportion of larger tubers (170 to 340 g) compared with preplant application. Averaged across sites, KCl applied preplant or at hilling reduced specific gravity compared with the 0 KCl treatments. Improvements in fry colour with KCl application were evident at only one site. Petiole and tuber K and Cl^- concentration, K and Cl^- removal in harvested tubers, and post-harvest soil test K concentration increased with KCl application. However, petiole K concentration measured 82 to 85 d after planting predicted only 24% of the variability in relative marketable yield for sites containing between 164 and 632 mg NH₄OAc-extractable K kg^-1 to 15 cm. Results demonstrate the potential for yield increases and specific gravity declines with KCl application under Manitoba conditions, but suggest that further research will be required to better predict the potential for yield responses using soil and petiole testing.

Harker, K. N., O'Donovan, J. T., Blackshaw, R. E., Johnson, E. N., Lafond, G. P. and May, W. E. 2012. Seeding depth and seeding speed effects on no-till canola emergence, maturity, yield and seed quality. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 795-802. Canola seed costs are substantial, but only a relatively small proportion of planted seeds actually emerge as seedlings. Direct-seeded (no-till) experiments were conducted from 2008 to 2010 at four western Canada locations [Lacombe AB (2007-2010), Lethbridge AB, Indian Head SK, and Scott SK] to determine the influence of cultivar (hybrid vs. open-pollinated), seeding speed (6.4 vs. 11.2 k h^-1), and seeding depth (1 vs. 4 cm) on the emergence, maturity, yield, and seed quality of glyphosate-resistant canola. Canola emergence density was positively associated with precipitation levels surrounding the time of seeding; other site and environmental predictors such as soil temperature, soil texture, soil organic matter, latitude and longitude did not consistently influence canola emergence density. The agronomic performance of hybrid canola, including seed yield and quality, was usually superior to open-pollinated canola, but there was no difference in emergence density between the two cultivars. However, the hybrid cultivar emerged 1 d earlier, grew faster and covered the ground more quickly than the open-pollinated cultivar; important results from a crop-weed competition standpoint. Although seeding depth did not influence average canola yield, it often had a major impact on canola emergence density. Under moist conditions, average canola emergence improved from 37 to 62% as seeding depth decreased from 4 to 1 cm, respectively. Seeding at a depth of 1 vs. 4 cm also decreased days to emergence, increased canola ground cover, decreased days to flowering and days to maturity and tended to decrease green seed levels. Relatively high canola emergence rates can reduce the need for additional herbicide applications, herbicide input costs and selection pressure for herbicide resistance. Relatively high canola stand densities can improve the ability of canola to successfully tolerate and accommodate biotic and abiotic stress.

Miller, P. R. and Holmes, J. A. 2012. Short Communication: Comparative soil water use by annual crops at a semiarid site in Montana. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 803-807. Results for soil water use in the semiarid northern Great Plains are presented in detailed tabular format for 15 crops in an ideal environment for comparative water use assessment. The effective rooting depth of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varied relative to spring wheat; it was often similar and never less. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) averaged 43 mm greater soil water use below 0.9 m compared with spring wheat. Conversely, lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) averaged 27 mm and 48 mm less soil water than spring wheat to a 1.2-m soil depth, respectively. Observed differences in effective rooting depth for alternative crops carry important implications for wheat-based cropping systems.

Singh, A. K., Clarke, J. M., Knox, R. E., DePauw, R. M., McCaig, T. N., Fernandez, M. R. and Clarke, F. R. 2012. Transcend durum wheat. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 809-813. Transcend durum wheat [Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.] is adapted to the durum production area of the Canadian prairies. It combines high grain yield, grain protein concentration, test weight, yellow grain and dough pigment, and low grain cadmium concentration. Transcend has strong straw, slightly more days to maturity, and improved Fusarium head blight resistance compared to Strongfield.