The 28th Japanese Wheat Genetics Symposium was held at Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, in August 23 and 24, 2002. The Local Organizing Committee consisting of H. Miura (Chairman) and K Kato was in charge of its organization and management. Total number of the attendants were 104 belonging to 39 different institutions, including twelve researchers or students from foreign countries. As an address of welcome, Prof. S. Sawada presented the activity of late Prof. H. Kirara who stayed at Obihiro University in summer seasons during five years. The titles of the three oral sessions were: (1) wheat breeding in Hokkaido chaired by Drs. A. Yanagisawa and S. Ikeguchi (First symposium), (2) functional genomics of wheat organized by Drs. C. Nakamura and Y. Ogihara (Second symposium), and (3) general presentation including hot topics. In the poster session by young researchers or students, 14 papers were presented. The abstracts of all research papers are presented below. In the evening of August 23, the banquet was held in the University garden. More than 90 participants enjoyed a barbecue with home made vegetables, sweet corn, Irish potato, netted melon, and so on. In the business session, one agenda was discussed and agreement was made as follows; site of the 29th Japanese Wheat Genetics Symposium was decided to be Tottori University and Dr. Tsujimoto, a professor there, addressed willingness to become its host.

Abstracts of the first symposium

S-1-1 Y. Amano (Hokkaido Pref Tokachi Agric Exp Stn)
Wheat breeding and genetic research in Hokkaido

From the viewpoint of wheat breeding in Hokkaido, how to concern genetic research with breeding program was discussed. Agricultural technique of upland farming was introduced from United States to Hokkaido in early 20th century and wheat, potato, beans and sugar beets have been the main crops for the rotation system. European and American wheat varieties showed a high adaptability to Hokkaido environment in performance tests. Thereafter Hokkaido varieties were bred basically by combining European and American varieties with Japanese wheats. The winter wheat variety 'Chihokukomugi', released in 1981, has a good noodle tasting character. This variety was the first one that has a low amylose content and strong elasticity texture due to lack of the Wx-B1 protein synthesis. Introducing semi-dwarf genes, recent bred varieties had a high yielding potential and strong culm. In the cultivation of semi-dwarf varieties, high nitrogen application and high sowing density became possible, so average yield increased in twice. Rusts, winter killing and pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) had long been serious problems. For the protection from rust disease and winter killing, breeding program has been constantly carried out by introducing resistant genes of foreign materials. Biotype of pathogen of leaf rust in Hokkaido is more severe than that of Honshu islands and has always changed with lapse of cultivation of new varieties. Winter killing has been caused mainly by some snow molds and partly by cold injury. By recurrent selection, Hokkaido varieties were improved to have a comparatively high resistance to every factors of winter killing. More resistant materials to each factor were recently introduced and breeding program is now in progress. Snow mold resistance and cold resistance were quantitative characters but heritability is high under restricted conditions. As combine harvest is widespread, PHS problem became serious. Wheat varieties in Hokkaido have been rather susceptible to PHS, so genetic sources must be introduced and breeding for PHS resistance has been a urgent program. Sprouting resistance is also a quantitative character and is connected to many parts of wheat grains. But embryo dormancy is the main factor, controlled by a small number of genes. Breeding program for sprouting resistance is now developing on.

S-1-2 A. Yanagisawa¹ and S. lkeguchi² (¹Hokkaido Pref Kitami Agric Exp Stn, ²Hokuren Agric Res Inst)
Future prospects of wheat breeding in Hokkaido

The yields of wheat in Hokkaido have increased from 1.5t/ha in 1960 to 4.3t/ha in 1985. Those increases are due to the introduction of new varieties and the improvement of cultivation method, more efficient application of fertilizers and more efficient controls of diseases. Wheat production in Hokkaido is about 60% of domestic wheat in Japan. However the production has been unstable in recent years because of rain damage. Epidemics of scab also causes yield loss and degradation of quality. Several snow molds are another factors that affect winter wheat production. We have selected resistant lines to pre-harvest sprouting by the artificial rain treatment. Also alpha- amylase activities/falling number of late harvested samples are checked. In the sprinkled field, spikes are inoculated with Fusarium graminearum at flowering stage to promote disease to select resistant lines. We also select resistant lines to snow molds by the inoculation with Typhus ishikariensis. The domestic wheat are processed into mainly Japanese noodles. Good flour color and 3-5% lower amylose content than wild type wheat are desirable. Spring wheat in Hokkaido has enough protein content and quality to bread. Gluten quality, mixing propriety and HMW-glutenin, LMW-glutenin subunit patterns are investigated to improve bread-making qualities. DNA markers have been tried to identify resistant lines to pre-harvest sprouting and scab.