b'one called T267may be the very first line of triticale availablespring wheat was very good, so the decision was made to also with moderate FHB resistance. focus on spring wheat, he says. Unfortunately, he says, breeding for FHB resistance is verySo far, he has three lines in cooperative trials: a Canadian difficult because he does not have FHB resistant resources inPrairie Spring (CPS), a Canadian Northern Hard Red (CNHR), his triticale germplasm. Compounding that issue is the fact heplus a very high-yielding special purpose wheat that he hopes cant easily borrow outside germplasm as he might with a cropto release in February 2020. like wheat because few centres breed triticale anywhere in theUnlike triticale, many researchers representing both public world, and most of those that do are private sector. In fact, theresearch programs and private companies are actively involved FCDC in Lacombe is currently the only research station with ain spring wheat research. Aljarrah is very pleased that much spring triticale breeding program anywhere in Canada.of his work on spring wheat is conducted in collaboration Hes working to solve the challenge of germplasmwith colleagues from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and development through creative means.companies like Syngenta and Limagrain Cereals Research Canada. Triticale is crossable with wheat, and then I can cross back orWe are swapping trials because having more locations in top cross to triticale. Its a long process but it can work to bringWestern Canada is very critical to success. And, we are working more good traits from wheat to triticale, he says.with private companies to evaluate our germplasm for quality, One such trait hes hoping to breed in from wheat ishe says. The main challenge in our wheat breeding program enhanced ergot resistance, given that wheat is much lessis finding a place I can evaluate a lot of material for FHB. So susceptible to ergot than triticale. He also hopes to increasefar, we dont have that in Alberta, but Syngenta has a site grain quality (specifically, reduce grain shriveling) byin Rosebank. That is an example of why collaboration is so transferring wheat genetics.important.Several years ago, Aljarrah also started making crossesIn addition to screening for FHB, Aljarrahs main priority in between winter and spring triticale, given that they haveCPS is milling quality. entirely different genetic backgrounds. Already, he has someWe have a long history of breeding both winter and populations at the yield trial stage.spring triticale, so Im confident we can achieve excellent Farmers and seed companies are taking notice of Aljarrahsimprovements in wheat too. We have approached a good level successes. Seed companies that never before opted for triticale arefor germplasm, so from now on we will have great varieties starting to choose some of Aljarrahs lines, both winter and spring.coming from our program. There is a big change in the interest level and more is coming.While Aljarrahs entire career to date has focused on wheat During the International Triticale Symposium in Lethbridgeand triticale, his work hasnt always been based in Canada. last July, we met with U.S. producers and buyers who showed aAljarrah was born and raised in Syria and spent the first 22 huge interest in our triticale. years (1985-2007) of his career based primarily out of the Currently, the market is exclusively oriented towards forageInternational Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas and green feeding. Aljarrah believes huge potential lies ahead in(ICARDA) based in Aleppo, Syria. His earliest research priorities another direction: biofuel.included screening durum wheat for drought resistance and The complaint is theres not enough production of triticalemultiple disease resistances (stripe, stem and leaf rust, among for grain. They use wheat for ethanol production right now,others). Over the last 12 years of his career in Syria, he shifted but triticale is much more efficient than wheat. There is a hugeprimarily from durum to winter wheat (as well as some market coming up for triticale for biofuel; were just not therework with triticale), furthering his skills with collaborative yet. Id say maybe five years from now. projects in Turkey and with the International Maize and Wheat He anticipates bringing multiple new triticale lines to marketImprovement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico.next year, with varying usage fits.Unlike the many Syrians who have been forced to leave their Our plan is to put in the market different genotypes andcountry because of war, Aljarrah immigrated to Canada in 2008 phenotypes that fit different markets. Most of our lines are dualentirely by choice. purpose, so they go well for grain or forage production, he says.Back then, Syria was great on the political side. There were A real challenge for Aljarrahs program is maintaining funding.no problems and no war. I didnt need to leave. But during my Because triticale remains a minor crop in Western Canada,whole time with ICARDA, it was always one of my dreams to and likely also because it is primarily a forage crop, fundingwork on wheat breeding in Canada. I always had a huge poster agencies show little interest.in my office in Aleppo of the wheat fields on the Canadian My hope is that maybe there is an opportunity for groups likePrairies: thats where I wanted to be.Alberta Beef Producers to continue helping provide funding toIn 2008, Aljarrah, together with wife, Zuka, and two sons, left enhance barley and triticale for forage use, as they have done inSyria for Canada with great hopes of finally fulfilling his dream. the past.I still remember the interview I had at the Canadian embassy. They asked me what province Id like to choose and I was Spring Wheat allowed to pick two. I said, Alberta and Saskatchewan. They Aljarrahs spring wheat program is only four years old but holdsasked me why Id pick those two [because] B.C. is warmer. I exciting promise.said, I dont mind! Over there is the wheat!For many years, I collected wheat because it helped meEleven years later, hes still certain he made the right choice. enhance triticale. Later, we found out that our germplasm for Madeleine BaergFall 2019 45'