AC Metcalfe, a two-row malting barley variety, is the winner of Seed of the Year – West in 2010, the Western Grains Research Foundation has announced.
Part of the western award is a scholarship for $4,000 awarded to a student enrolled in a western Canadian university and currently completing a masters or PhD in plant breeding or genetics. The scholarship contributes to the education of a new generation of plant breeders.
The Seed of the Year – West committee has awarded this year’s scholarship to Silvia Barcellos Rosa. Silvia is a PhD candidate in the plant science department at the University of Manitoba.
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Silvia’s research involves the inheritance of leaf rust resistance from the Brazilian spring wheat line Toropi. Toropi may offer some resistance to stripe rust and the stem rust race Ug99 in the future. “It is very nice to have your hard work recognized; this kind of award is extremely important to young scientists,” said Silvia.
Bill Legge, the breeder responsible for AC Metcalfe, selected Silvia as the 2010 scholarship winner and noted that “Silvia is excelling in both academics and research and is a very worthy recipient of this award. The results of Silvia’s research with Toropi could be extremely valuable to wheat producers in the future as wheat breeders incorporate it into new varieties for Western Canada.”
Seed of the Year is designed to provide recognition to publicly developed varieties that have made a significant contribution to the economy, agriculture, and the Canadian public in general. It is sponsored by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Alberta Barley Commission, Canterra Seeds, Cargill, Canadian Wheat Board, Parrish &Heimbecker Limited, Canadian Seed Growers Associati o n , Vi terra , Richardson International, SeCan and Western Grains Research Foundation.
