Project Grant 20246701442823

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** BARLEY PRODUCTION IS CONCENTRATED IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS OF THE US WHERE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS SUITABLE FOR SMALL GRAINS. MONTANA HAS THE LARGEST ACREAGE DEDICATED TO BARLEY PRODUCTION THAN ANY OTHER STATES, MOSTLY PLANTED UNDER DRYLAND WITH LOW RAINFALL. THE YIELD AND MALTING QUALITY OF BARLEY ARE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY DROUGHT, ESPECIALLY UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS OF DROUGHT DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE. THE UNDERSTANDING OF PLANT ROOT CHARACTERISTICS OF BARLEY STAY-GREEN TRAIT GENE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF VARIETIES THAT ARE DROUGHT TOLERANT WILL BE A NEW TOOLBOX FOR THE PRODUCERS UNDER DRYLAND AND IRRIGATED CONDITIONS. THIS WILL ENHANCE THE UTILITY OF STORED MOISTURE AND IMPROVE WATER PRODUCTIVITY FROM RAINFALL AND APPLIED SUPPLEMENTAL IRRIGATION. THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR BARLEY PRODUCED TO MEET MALT QUALITY SPECIFICATION, INCLUDING A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PLUMP KERNELS WITH LOW PROTEIN. AVAILABILITY OF BARLEY STAY-GREEN TRAIT AND THEIR OPTIMAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY TO MEET INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR MALTING WILL ENHANCE SUSTAINABILITY AND FARMERS' INCOME. SETS OF PAIR OF GENETIC LINES (SAME BARLEY BACKGROUND BUT WITH CONFIRMED PRESENCE AND ABSENCE OF THE STAY-GREEN TRAIT) WERE IDENTIFIED AND REPRODUCED AND WILL BE STUDIED IN MONTANA AND IN CANADA FOR DETAILED ROOT CHARACTERISTICS VIA ROOT IMAGING SYSTEM. WE WILL IDENTIFY AND REPRODUCE THE BEST BARLEY LINES WITH DESIRABLE ROOT CHARACTERISTICS THAT PROVIDE BETTER YIELD AND MALTING QUALITIES UNDER RAINFED CONDITIONS. THE BARLEY PERFORMANCE (PHENOTYPE) WILL BE DOCUMENTED AND WILL BE DESCRIBED AND ASSOCIATED WITH MULTISPECTRAL SENSORS TO IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO CHARACTERIZE STAY-GREEN TRAIT PERFORMANCE INCLUDING A STUDY ON VARIED WATER REGIME PERFORMANCE. THE DOCUMENTATION OF THE MECHANISM OF GROWTH (BELOWGROUND AND ABOVEGROUND) OF STAY-GREEN TRAIT WILL STRENGTHEN OUR CAPACITY TO DEVELOP VARIETIES THAT ARE DROUGHT TOLERANT WHILE ACHIEVING MALTING QUALITY. AVAILABILITY OF THESE CLIMATE-SMART GENETIC LINES AND THE EVENTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF VARIETIES THAT CAN WITHSTAND DROUGHT OR LIMITED SUPPLEMENTAL IRRIGATION WILL IMPROVE FARMER PROFIT, IMPROVE AVAILABILITY OF DESIRABLE MALT BARLEY QUALITY IN THE INDUSTRY, AND ATTAIN SUSTAINABILITY VIA IMPROVEMENT OF PROFITABILITY UNDER RAINFED SYSTEMS AND ALSO THROUGH THE REDUCTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL IRRIGATION APPLICATION AMOUNT AND COST IN IRRIGATED SYSTEMS.