Thesis
SOIL MICROBIAL COMMUNITY AND WINTER WHEAT PEFORMANCE ACROSS EASTERN WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
01/2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000004552
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/125170
Abstract
Conventional crop breeding strategies focus on genetic gain through phenotypic selection, but year to year increases in yield are variable. A primary focus on aboveground yield improvement in breeding programs may cause breeding pipelines to become stagnant with dominant yield traits. Whereas a diversified gene pool could lead to more natural resistance to environmental stressors. To better understand plant-rhizosphere interactions in winter wheat that could lead to increased stress resilience, we need to dive deeper into the mystery that surrounds the rhizosphere and how it can be used to produce a more economic and efficient crop. This research focuses on examining differences in microbial taxonomic and functional diversity, and how those factors are associated with yield and grain quality in 18 cultivars of winter wheat that occur across multiple environments in Washington state. Environmental factors impact many interactions within the soil rhizosphere that can lead to different performance of winter wheat. This led to the overarching questions: How variable is the rhizosphere microbiome under winter wheat production varieties in Eastern Washington? And secondly, are these differences, if present, associated with specific environmental factors, wheat yield or grain quality metrics? Our primary project objectives were to characterize the following within the rhizosphere of winter wheat varieties in Eastern Washington: 1) taxonomic diversity and richness of the rhizosphere microbiome 2) microbial soil enzyme activity levels and 3) microbial siderophore production that assists with Fe acquisition. Our overarching goal is to identify wheat varieties that improve soil health through microbiome changes and identify any associations among the microbial community with variety performance and grain micronutrient concentrations that might improve grower economics or human health.
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Details
- Title
- SOIL MICROBIAL COMMUNITY AND WINTER WHEAT PEFORMANCE ACROSS EASTERN WASHINGTON STATE
- Creators
- Nickolas Frisbee
- Contributors
- Clark Neely (Advisor)Tarah Sullivan (Advisor)Kevin Murphy (Committee Member)Kimberly Garland-Campbell (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, College of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 81
- Identifiers
- OCLC#: 1370910643; 99900898539301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis