Registration of 'Kelse' Wheat

Hard red spring (HRS) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain must have high grain protein concentration (GPC) to maximize market value. The objective of this research was to develop a HRS wheat cultivar with high GPC and durable resistance to stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis Westend f. sp. tritici), a major foliar fungal disease problem of spring wheat. 'Kelse' (Reg. No. CV-1035, PI 653842) HRS wheat was developed and released in July 2008 by the Agricultural Research Center of Washington State University. Kelse was tested under the experimental designations of WA007954, H0100092, and HR98036, which were assigned through progressive generations of advancement. Kelse is a semidwarf cultivar adapted to the intermediate-to-high rainfall (>380 mm average annual precipitation), nonirrigated wheat production regions of Washington State. Kelse was released based on its (i) resistance to the Hessian fly [Mayetiola destructor (Say)], (ii) high-temperature, adult-plant resistance (HTAP) to local races of stripe rust (infection type 0-3), (iii) high GPC, (iv) excellent bread-baking quality, and (v) high grain yield potential in the target production region. Kelse is the first HRS wheat cultivar adapted to the Pacific Northwest region of the United States with HTAP resistance to stripe rust. Based on molecular marker analysis, Kelse has the Lr34/Yr18 and Lr37/Yr17/Sr38 gene clusters for rust resistance. Kelse also has exceptionally high GPC compared with HIRS cultivars currently in production.