Bernhard, Timm
Postdoc
Broadening the genetic basis and development of new strategies for barley hybrid breeding (SpeedBarley)
Research Keywords
- Barley breeding
- Hybrid breeding
- Cytoplasmic male sterility
- Heterotic pools
- Heterosis in autogamous cereals
Research interests
My research focuses on various aspects of hybrid breeding in barley (Hordeum vulgare). In our new project ‘SpeedBarley’ we aim to broaden the genetic basis for barley hybrid breeding by developing genetically divergent male and female pools via introgression of spring material into restorer lines. This process is predicted to improve heterosis (which is relatively low in allogamous cereals compared to in crops such as maize) in barley hybrids.
Furthermore, the current cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) system in winter barley shows an environmentally influenced instability, resulting in undesirable fertility restoration and thereby complications in hybrid seed production. Therefore, we aim to develop molecular markers which can facilitate easy selection of mother lines with stable CMS for barley hybrid breeding.
Publications
Bernhard, T., B. Truberg, W. Friedt, R. Snowdon, and B. Wittkop (2016): Development of Near-Infrared Refeection Spectroscopy Calibrations for Crude Protein and Dry Matter Content in Fresh and Dried Potato Tuber Samples. Potato Research 59:149-165.
Bernhard, T., W. Friedt, K.P. Voss-Fels, M. Frisch, R.J. Snowdon, and B. Wittkop (2017): Heterosis for Biomass and Grain Yield Facilitates Breeding of Productive Dual-Purpose Winter Barley Hybrids. Crop Science 57:2405-2418.
Bernhard, T., W. Friedt, R.J. Snowdon, and B. Wittkop (2017): New Insights into Genotypic Thermodependency of Cytoplasmic Male Sterility for Hybrid Barley Breeding. Plant Breeding 136:8-17.
Contact Details
Justus Liebig University
Department of Plant Breeding
IFZ Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition
Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32
35392 Giessen, Germany
Phone: (0641) 99 37423