Western Regional Hard Red Spring Wheat Evaluation

Objective:       

To evaluate hard red spring wheat varieties for agronomic performance in environments representative of northwestern Montana.

Results:           

Significant differences were observed for all response variables. Heading date averaged 173 Julian days (June 21) and spanned a 9 day period that ranged from 170 to 179 Julian days. On average, physiological maturity occurred on 216 Julian days (August 3) and ranged from 215 to 217 days. Stripe rust was observed on all cultivars despite an application of Tilt.  Stripe rust averaged 13.6% and ranged from 1.0% infection for Yurok to 39.3% for MT 1574. Plant height averaged 33 inches. The tallest cultivar was WA 8258 at 37.3 inches while Patwin 515 was the shortest at 26.3 inches. Lodging was minimal, with the greatest lodging being 5.0 % for UI Winchester. Yields averaged 105.7 bu/A, ranging from 76.7 bu/A for UI Winchester to 125.2 bu/A for 06PN3015-08 and IDO1602S. Protein content averaged 14.70% and ranged from 13.29% for Yurok to 16.79% for Egan. Test weight averaged 60.9 lb/bu and ranged from 58.8 lb/bu for Patwin 515 to 62.8 lb/bu for IDO1602S. Falling numbers averaged 345.1 seconds and ranged from a low of 213.3 for Patwin 515 to a high of 532.5 for 04PN3051-9.  Preharvest sprout, as measured in the change (delta) in the leaf area of sprouted spikes, averaged 95.4 and ranged from a low of 12.5 for Volt to a high of 223.4 for 06PN3015-08.

Summary:       

Two varieties (WA 8258 and Yurok) were statistically equivalent to 06PN3015-08 and IDO1602S, the highest yielding varieties. Stripe rust infection was generally associated with the lowest yielding varieties.