6 pp. / Guidelines for nitrogen fertilization of small grains are presented using crop need, calendar dates, or tissue testing. Relationship between grain protein and nitrogen fertilization is presented. Phosphorus, potassium, and other nutrients are also discussed.

Genetic resistance to the orange wheat blossom midge (Sitodiplosis mosellana; OWBM) is an important breeding target to prevent yield and quality losses of durum wheat produced in western Canada. To date, only a single characterized midge resistance gene, Sm1, has been identified. Sm1 confers antibiosis resistance to the OWBM. It has been genetically localized to chromosome 2BS of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Sm1 has been introgressed into locally adapted germplasm. Currently, no Sm1 carrying durum wheat lines are available for commercial production, and no studies have characterized the influence of Sm1 on yield and end-use quality of durum wheat. The main objectives of this study were: 1) To determine the effect of Sm1 on grain yield and end-use quality. 2) To genetically map the Sm1 introgression. For this work, 122 F5:9 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between the midge susceptible durum wheat cultivar CDC Verona (Sm1 “-”) and resistant experimental line DT780 (Sm1 “+”). Agronomic and end-use quality traits of the mapping population were analyzed. The results from each environment were used for quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis at Kernen (SK) in 2009 and 2010, and at Indian Head (SK) in 2009. On average, the presence of Sm1 was associated with higher grain yield and yellow pigment content, but lower kernel weight, reduced grain protein content, and weaker gluten properties. However, it was possible to identify RIL lines carrying Sm1 that expressed higher kernel weight, grain protein content, and stronger gluten. A genetic linkage map spanning 58 cM on chromosome 2B near Sm1 was constructed. QTL mapping suggested that the total length of the Sm1 introgression into durum wheat was approximately 11cM. Nearly all traits measured showed QTLs associated with Sm1. For grain protein content, a QTL proximal to Sm1 was identified, suggesting that Sm1 per se may not be contributing to the reduced grain protein observed in the Sm1 carriers of the RIL mapping population. The results presented here suggest that on average, Sm1 is associated with higher grain yield and some reduced end-use quality factors, but that it may be possible to combine Sm1 with high grain yield and end-use quality equivalent to current check cultivars.

La faible efficience des ressources non renouvelables comme l’eau et l’azote, constitue un frein à un accroissement durable de la production des céréales. L’augmentation simultanée de l’efficience de l’utilisation de ces deux facteurs et des rendements constitue un défi majeur pour la production céréalière en méditerrané, principalement la production de blé dur. L'objectif de la thèse est d’analyser la variabilité des rendements de blé dur en Tunisie vis-à-vis des deux facteurs de production l’eau et l’azote et les possibilités d’augmenter conjointement la productivité et l’efficience dans les systèmes de culture à base de blé dur. Cette étude s’appuie sur des données expérimentales, de statistiques régionales et d’enquêtes entreprises auprès des agriculteurs sur 537 situations agronomiques (la combinaison d’une parcelle de blé dur, une année et un précédent cultural) de blé dur dans 4 régions qui fournissent une partie importante de la production céréalière. Les données collectées nous ont permis d’établir un cadre d’analyse des compromis entre l’efficience de l’utilisation de la ressource (eau et azote) et le rendement, en se basant sur l’approche de la décomposition de l’efficience et les concepts de facteur limitant, de frontière d’éco-efficience et d’écart de rendement. Testé avec des données expérimentales et appliqué sur les données d’agriculteurs, pour le cas de l’azote, ce cadre a démontré qu’avec un précédent non céréalier, particulièrement des légumineuses, on peut obtenir un potentiel d’absorption d’azote beaucoup plus élevé qu’en monoculture. Les précédents culturaux diversifiés ont permis aussi d’augmenter simultanément la production et l’efficience de l’utilisation d’azote. En revanche, l’augmentation de la frontière d’efficience de la captation d’azote a été marquée par un accroissement des écarts d’absorption à cette frontière, indiquant un effet plus marqué des autres facteurs limitants dans le cas de rotations diversifiées. L’eau et ses interactions avec l’azote pourraient être considérées parmi les principaux facteurs qui peuvent affecter l’absorption azotée et par conséquent les rendements de blé dur. Ce travail permettrait de combiner d’une part le diagnostic des facteurs limitant la production au niveau des parcelles d’agriculteurs et d’autre part l’analyse des scénarios de gestion des compromis production efficience avec les agriculteurs et les décideurs. / The low efficiency of non-renewable resources such as water and nitrogen is a constraint for a sustained increase in cereal production. The simultaneous increase in water and nitrogen use efficiency and yields is a major challenge for cereal production in the Mediterranean, mainly for durum wheat production. The aim of the thesis is to analyze the variability of durum yields in Tunisia with respect to the two factors of production water and nitrogen and the opportunities of jointly increasing productivity and efficiency in a durum wheat-based cropping systems. This study is based on experimental data, regional statistics and farm surveys conducted on a sample of 537 agronomic situations (the combination of a farmer’s field, a year and a previous crop) which are representative of the diversity of farmers’ practices in four grain-producing regions that provide a major part of cereal production. Based on the efficiency decomposition approach and the concepts of limiting factor, eco-efficiency frontier and yield gap, data collected allowed us to establish a framework allowing to analyze trade-offs between the resource (water and nitrogen) use efficiency and yield. Tested with experimental data and applied to farmers' data for the case of nitrogen, this framework demonstrated that non-cereal preceding crops, especially legumes, result in a higher potential for N uptake by durum wheat than with a monoculture. Diversified rotations result also to an increase in both yield and N-use efficiency of the following durum wheat. The increase in the efficiency frontier of nitrogen capture is partly of-set by increased N uptake gaps in farmers’ fields indicating the presence of other limiting factors. Water and its interactions with nitrogen could be considered among the main factors that may affect nitrogen uptake and hence yields of durum wheat. This work would allow combining, on the one hand, the diagnosis of limiting factors at the level of farmer’s fields and on the other hand the analysis of scenarios for the management of trade-offs between production efficiency with farmers and decision-makers.

Bibliography: leaves 203-212. / xiii, 212 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / This study investigated the genetic diversity for tolerance of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var durum) to micronutrient deficient soils with an emphasis on manganese. 69 genotypes were studied under field conditions at Marion Bay (Lower Eyre Peninsula) and Coonalpyn. Durum genotypes, notably Stojocri, were identified as having higher tolerance than commerical durum varieties. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Plant Science, 1999

Bibliography: leaves 203-212. This study investigated the genetic diversity for tolerance of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var durum) to micronutrient deficient soils with an emphasis on manganese. 69 genotypes were studied under field conditions at Marion Bay (Lower Eyre Peninsula) and Coonalpyn. Durum genotypes, notably Stojocri, were identified as having higher tolerance than commerical durum varieties.

There are about 40 durum wheat varieties registered in Turkey. Around 10 varieties are being commonly cultivated. Amanos 97, &Ccedil / esit 1252, Ege 88, Firat 93, Fuatbey 2000, Burgos, Kiziltan 91, Sari&ccedil / anak 98, Svevo and Zenith durum wheat varieties were used in this study. Semolina and pasta have been produced in an industrial plant under constant process conditions from these varieties. In general, pasta quality is determined by three main factors, the raw materials, the production recipe and the production process. In this study, the production recipe and the production process were fixed and only durum wheat varieties were variable. So, the effects coming from the production recipe and the production process on pasta quality were eliminated. Physical, chemical and sensory properties of these pasta were determined and the effect of different durum wheat varieties on pasta quality has been investigated to give a clear idea to the Turkish pasta industry about the most commonly grown durum wheat varieties in Turkey, hoping that Turkish pasta in domestic and international Markets will continue to grow with the help of clear understanding about the quality characteristics of the durum wheat they are using. v The important criteria of acceptability of pasta products is its cooking quality and cooking quality of pasta products is of importance to consumers and also to wheat producers, breeders and manufacturers. The pasta samples produced from Svevo, Zenith and Firat 93 varieties got the higher scores than others in pasta cooking quality while those produced from Sari&ccedil / anak 98, &Ccedil / esit 1252, Kiziltan 91, and Fuatbey 2000 durum wheat were evaluated as relatively low. The main reasons of cooking quality differences can be interpreted as a result of the difference in protein quantity and quality of the varieties. The bright yellow color of pasta products, rather than cooking behavior taste, is reported to be one of the most important considerations in assessing durum wheat quality. In this study, the pasta samples produced from Svevo, Zenith and Burgos varieties got the higher scores than others in pasta color (yellowness) while that produced from Firat 93 had the lowest yellow color. The main reasons of yellow color differences can be interpreted as a result of the differences in carotenoid pigments, lipoxygenase and peroxidase enzymes contents of the varieties.

In durum wheat (<i>Triticum turgidum</i> L. var <i>durum</i>), grain protein concentration (GPC) and gluten quality are among the important factors influencing pasta-making quality. Semolina with high protein content produces pasta with increased tolerance to overcooking and greater cooked firmness. However, genetic improvement of GPC is difficult largely because of its negative correlation with grain yield, and a strong genotype x environment interaction. Therefore, identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for high GPC and the associated markers is a priority to enhance selection efficiency in breeding durum wheat for elevated GPC. At a physiological level, GPC is influenced by several factors including nitrogen remobilization from vegetative organs and direct post-anthesis nitrogen uptake (NUP) from the soil. Understanding the relationship between elevated GPC and nitrogen remobilization, and post-anthesis NUP will enable durum wheat breeders to develop varieties that not only produce high yield and high GPC, but also exhibit better nitrogen use efficiency. The objectives of this study were: (1) to identify and validate QTL for elevated GPC in two durum wheat populations; and (2) to determine if elevated GPC is due to more efficient nitrogen remobilization and/or greater post-anthesis NUP. A genetic map was constructed with SSR and DArT® markers in a doubled haploid population from the cross Strongfield x DT695, and GPC data were collected in replicated trials in six Canadian environments from 2002 to 2005. Two stable QTL for high GPC, QGpc.usw-B3 on chromosome 2B and QGpc.usw-A3 on 7A, were identified. Strongfield, the high GPC parent, contributed the alleles for elevated GPC at both QTL. These two QTL were not associated with variation in grain weight (seed size) or grain yield. QGpc.usw-A3 was validated in a second Strongfield-derived population as that QTL was significant in all six testing environments. Averaged over five locations, selection for QGpc.usw-A3 resulted in a +0.4% to +1.0% increase in GPC, with only small effects on yield in most environments. A physiological study of grain protein accumulation revealed that regardless of the growing condition, nitrogen remobilization was the major contributor for grain nitrogen in durum genotypes evaluated, accounting for an average of 84.3% of total GPC. This study confirmed that introgression of Gpc-B1 into Langdon resulted in increased GPC, and this GPC increase was due to higher N remobilization. Strongfield expressed greater N remobilization than DT695 and the semi-dwarf cultivar Commander, but N remobilization was not the determining factor for Strongfields elevated GPC. Strongfield expressed greater post-anthesis NUP than DT695. Similarly, a selection of six high-GPC doubled haploid (DH) lines from the cross DT695 x Strongfield expressed significantly greater post-anthesis NUP than six low-GPC DH selections, supporting the hypothesis that elevated GPC in Strongfield is derived from greater post-anthesis NUP. All six high-GPC DH selections carried the Strongfield allele at QGpc.usw-A3, suggesting this QTL maybe associated with post-anthesis NUP.

In durum wheat (<i>Triticum turgidum</i> L. var <i>durum</i>), grain protein concentration (GPC) and gluten quality are among the important factors influencing pasta-making quality. Semolina with high protein content produces pasta with increased tolerance to overcooking and greater cooked firmness. However, genetic improvement of GPC is difficult largely because of its negative correlation with grain yield, and a strong genotype x environment interaction. Therefore, identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for high GPC and the associated markers is a priority to enhance selection efficiency in breeding durum wheat for elevated GPC. At a physiological level, GPC is influenced by several factors including nitrogen remobilization from vegetative organs and direct post-anthesis nitrogen uptake (NUP) from the soil. Understanding the relationship between elevated GPC and nitrogen remobilization, and post-anthesis NUP will enable durum wheat breeders to develop varieties that not only produce high yield and high GPC, but also exhibit better nitrogen use efficiency. The objectives of this study were: (1) to identify and validate QTL for elevated GPC in two durum wheat populations; and (2) to determine if elevated GPC is due to more efficient nitrogen remobilization and/or greater post-anthesis NUP. A genetic map was constructed with SSR and DArT® markers in a doubled haploid population from the cross Strongfield x DT695, and GPC data were collected in replicated trials in six Canadian environments from 2002 to 2005. Two stable QTL for high GPC, QGpc.usw-B3 on chromosome 2B and QGpc.usw-A3 on 7A, were identified. Strongfield, the high GPC parent, contributed the alleles for elevated GPC at both QTL. These two QTL were not associated with variation in grain weight (seed size) or grain yield. QGpc.usw-A3 was validated in a second Strongfield-derived population as that QTL was significant in all six testing environments. Averaged over five locations, selection for QGpc.usw-A3 resulted in a +0.4% to +1.0% increase in GPC, with only small effects on yield in most environments. A physiological study of grain protein accumulation revealed that regardless of the growing condition, nitrogen remobilization was the major contributor for grain nitrogen in durum genotypes evaluated, accounting for an average of 84.3% of total GPC. This study confirmed that introgression of Gpc-B1 into Langdon resulted in increased GPC, and this GPC increase was due to higher N remobilization. Strongfield expressed greater N remobilization than DT695 and the semi-dwarf cultivar Commander, but N remobilization was not the determining factor for Strongfields elevated GPC. Strongfield expressed greater post-anthesis NUP than DT695. Similarly, a selection of six high-GPC doubled haploid (DH) lines from the cross DT695 x Strongfield expressed significantly greater post-anthesis NUP than six low-GPC DH selections, supporting the hypothesis that elevated GPC in Strongfield is derived from greater post-anthesis NUP. All six high-GPC DH selections carried the Strongfield allele at QGpc.usw-A3, suggesting this QTL maybe associated with post-anthesis NUP.

Bibliography: leaves 203-212. / xiii, 212 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / This study investigated the genetic diversity for tolerance of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var durum) to micronutrient deficient soils with an emphasis on manganese. 69 genotypes were studied under field conditions at Marion Bay (Lower Eyre Peninsula) and Coonalpyn. Durum genotypes, notably Stojocri, were identified as having higher tolerance than commerical durum varieties. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Plant Science, 1999

Les bases de connaissances sont des bases de données déductives où la logique est utilisée pour représenter des connaissances de domaine sur des données existantes. Dans le cadre des règles existentielles, une base de connaissances est composée de deux couches : la couche de données qui représentent les connaissances factuelle et la couche ontologique qui incorpore des règles de déduction et des contraintes négatives. L’interrogation de données à l’aide des ontologies est la fonction de raisonnement principale dans ce contexte. Comme dans la logique classique, les contradictions posent un problème à l’interrogation car « d'une contradiction, on peut déduire ce qu'on veut (ex falso quodlibet) ».Récemment, des approches d’interrogation tolérantes aux incohérences ont été proposées pour faire face à ce problème dans le cadre des règles existentielles. Elles déploient des stratégies dites de réparation pour restaurer la cohérence. Cependant, ces approches sont parfois inintelligibles et peu intuitives pour l'utilisateur car elles mettent souvent en œuvre des stratégies de réparation complexes. Ce manque de compréhension peut réduire l’utilisabilité de ces approches car elles réduisent la confiance entre l'utilisateur et les systèmes qui les utilisent. Par conséquent, la problématique de recherche que nous considérons est comment rendre intelligible à l’utilisateur l’interrogation tolérantes aux incohérences. Pour répondre à cette question de recherche, nous proposons d’utiliser deux formes d’explication pour faciliter la compréhension des réponses retournées par une interrogation tolérante aux incohérences. La première est dite de niveau méta et la seconde de niveau objet. Ces deux types d’explication prennent la forme d'un dialogue entre l'utilisateur et le raisonneur au sujet des déductions retournées comme réponses à une requête donnée. Nous étudions ces explications dans le double cadre de l'argumentation fondée sur la logique et de la dialectique formelle, comme nous étudions leurs propriétés et leurs impacts sur les utilisateurs en termes de compréhension des résultats. / Knowledge bases are deductive databases where the machinery of logic is used to represent domain-specific and general-purpose knowledge over existing data. In the existential rules framework a knowledge base is composed of two layers: the data layer which represents the factual knowledge, and the ontological layer that incorporates rules of deduction and negative constraints. The main reasoning service in such framework is answering queries over the data layer by means of the ontological layer. As in classical logic, contradictions trivialize query answering since everything follows from a contradiction (ex falso quodlibet). Recently, inconsistency-tolerant approaches have been proposed to cope with such problem in the existential rules framework. They deploy repairing strategies on the knowledge base to restore consistency and overcome the problem of trivialization. However, these approaches are sometimes unintelligible and not straightforward for the end-user as they implement complex repairing strategies. This would jeopardize the trust relation between the user and the knowledge-based system. In this thesis we answer the research question: ``How do we make query answering intelligible to the end-user in presence of inconsistency?''. The answer that the thesis is built around is ``We use explanations to facilitate the understanding of query answering''. We propose meta-level and object-level dialectical explanations that take the form of a dialogue between the user and the reasoner about the entailment of a given query. We study these explanations in the framework of logic-based argumentation and dialectics and we study their properties and their impact on users.