Durum
Durum is generally much more susceptible to wheat streak mv and Fusarium crown rot than spring wheat.
Quality durum has strong gluten. Growers who plan to grow weak-gluten varieties need to have a marketing organization identified that will purchase those varieties. Kernel color is a very important quality trait. Rainfall or irrigation after heading causes color loss (bleaching), but some varieties are less prone to color loss. Canadian varieties are screened for bleaching resistance. Such varieties are the preferred choice in areas of late-season rainfall. Varieties that lose color more readily may be okay for drier areas of Montana. Seeding rate for durum should be 30% higher than for spring wheat due to the larger durum kernel (fewer kernels per bushel). An additional seed-rate increase may be desirable to suppress late tillers and thereby decrease green kernels. Color score is important, and green kernels contribute to poor color and dockage. 23 to 29 seeds per square foot (approx 1.0 to 1.26 million seeds per acre) has normally been a good seeding rate for durum.
Alkabo (ND, 2006): Medium-tall height, very stiff straw. Medium maturity. Above average yield and test wt. Good quality.
Alzada (WestBred, 2005): Semidwarf height, short stiff straw. Early maturing. High yield, average test weight. Medium protein. Very good quality and gluten strength, and very good semolina color.
Avonlea (Can, 1997): Medium tall. Medium straw strength and lodging resistance. Early maturity. High yield and average test weight. Good quality and protein.
Dilse (ND): Medium height, late maturity. Below average yield. Average weight. High protein, excellent quality.
Divide: (ND, 2006): Medium-tall height, stiff straw. Medium maturity. Average yield. Above average test wt. Excellent quality.
Grenora (ND, 2006): Medium-tall height, stiff straw. Medium maturity. Average yield and test wt. Good quality.
Kyle (Canada, 1984): Very tall weak straw, poor lodging resistance. Very late maturing. Average yield and test weight, large kernel size. Kyle has the highest tolerance to color-loss (rain-bleaching). Above average protein. Strong gluten; good quality.
Lebsock (ND, 1999): Medium height, stiff straw. Late maturity. Below average yield. High test weight and excellent quality.
Levante (AllStar Seeds, 2007): Short semidwarf height. Early heading. Above average yield & test weight on dryland in 2007; and average performance on irrigated.
Maier (ND, 1998): Medium height, stiff straw, good lodging resistance. Medium maturity. Above-average yield. Medium large kernels, very high test weight. Average protein. Good milling quality.
Mountrail (ND, 1998): Medium-tall, but stiff straw and fair lodging resistance. Medium-late maturity. Average yield and test weight. Medium large kernel and average protein. Medium quality, but kernel color more sensitive to late rain than some other varieties. (All durums are sensitive to late rain/irrigation relative to color loss).
Navigator (Can): Med short, but weak straw. Med late maturity. Medium test weight & protein, good quality.
Normanno (AllStar Seeds, 2007): Semidwarf height. Medium maturity. Average yield and below average test weight in 2007.
Pathfinder (Can): Med tall, weak straw. Med late maturity. Med test weight. Med low protein, good quality.
Pierce (ND): Medium-tall height and lodging resistance. Below average yield. High test weight. Average protein, good quality.
Plaza (ND): Med-short straw, med lodging resistance. Late maturity. Below-average yield on dryland; above-average yield on irrigated. Below average test weight. Low protein, medium quality.
Silver (MSU, 2011): Medium-short, with good lodging resistance, with maturity comparable to Alzada. Above average yield on dryland with slightly above average test weight on dryland and irrigated plots. Silver has average protein.
Strongfield (WestBred/Canada, 2005): Medium tall, med-late maturity. Above average yield. Average test weight. Above-average protein. Good color and quality. Low grain cadmium concentration.
