2016 Winter Wheat Varieties Performance Evaluation and Recommendations

By the Montana State University Agricultural Experiment Station

The information in this publication can also be found at a link on: https://plantsciences.montana.edu/crops/

Note: A pdf of this report can be downloaded by clicking this link.

2016 Recommended Varieties: Hard Winter Wheat for Montana by District

D = Dryland; I = Irrigated; (P) = a Private Variety; + = a "Protected" variety under the Plant Variety Protection Act; ++ = PVP Title V pending; 1/ = sawfly areas only

Winter Wheat Variety Performance Summary in Montana

J. E. Berg, P. L. Bruckner, G.W. Bergman, B. Bohannon, S. Briar, C. Chen, K. D. Kephart, P. Lamb, J. H. Miller, G. Pradhan, G.V.P. Reddy, A. Sebelius, R.N. Stougaard, D.M. Wichman, A. Dyer, W. Grey, D. Nash, and R. Larson

Introduction

The agronomic characteristics of winter wheat varieties recently developed or evaluated by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station are compared in this publication with other varieties grown in the state. Varieties recommended for production in the respective districts of Montana are designated by an R. A brief description of each variety is given which may include a variety's particular advantages or disadvantages. The information was extracted from the Intrastate Winter Wheat Nursery. This data is prepared by research personnel of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station. Where available, up to four years of yield data are shown for the varieties. In some years data are not available because of hail, winter-kill, or other unavoidable causes.

Variety Testing Procedures

Locations

Hard winter wheats were planted at 7 Montana and 1 North Dakota location including Conrad and Havre in the North Central district, Moccasin in the Central district, Huntley in the Southern district, Sidney and Williston, ND representing the Northeast district, Kalispell in the Northwest and Bozeman in the Southwest districts of the state.

Entries

Names of commercially available varieties and experimental lines evaluated in 2015 are listed with their origins, experimental designation, release year, and pedigrees in Table 2 for the hard winter wheats. Forty-nine hard wheats are included in this summary comprising 30 varieties (15 public and 15 private) and 19 experimental lines (18 public and 1 private). Numbered entries preceded by a state designation [e.g. MTS1224 (Montana) or private company, LCH 10-13, (Limagrain)] are experimental lines provided by the breeder. 

Experimental Design and Seeding Methods

The Intrastate Winter Wheat Test consists of a 49 entry test with 3 replicates. These tests are planted as 7x7 lattices or a randomized complete block design at each location. Plot size varied by location, from 35 ft2 at Conrad to 60 ft2 at Havre. Row number varies: Bozeman and Havre are 3- row,Conrad, Huntley, and Sidney are 4-row, Moccasin (5-row), Kalispell (7-row), and Williston (8-row) Row spacing at all locations was on 1 ft. centers, except at Williston and Kalispell (6” centers). All plots were seeded at 0.6 grams seeds/ft2 , which is roughly equivalent to 1 bushel per acre, except at Williston where the seeding rate was about 77 pounds per acre. Information on previous crop, planting date, fertilizer use and harvest date is available in Table 1.

All seed for each nursery was treated with Cruiser Maxx Cereals seed treatment at recommended rates before planting.

Table 1. Summary of agronomic practices used on hard winter wheat performance trials in Montana in 2015. Fall nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P205) and potassium (K2O) were preplant applied and incorporated.

Description of Data Collected

Yield

All rows of each plot were trimmed and measured and harvested using an experimental plot combine. Grain yields are reported in bushels per acre based on a 60 pound standard bushel weight. In addition to yields obtained in 2015, data is provided for two (2014-2015), three (2013-2015) and four (2012- 2015) year averages for hard wheat entries tested during previous cropping seasons.

Test Weight

Test weights (pounds per bushel) were obtained for each plot by using Dickey-John Grain Analysis Computer (GAC) at some locations. Other locations use a Seedburo test weight apparatus. In this case, a sample is dropped through a funnel at a given height into a quart brass bucket, excess grain is removed by a flat stick then weighed on a gram scale, and grams per quart are converted into pounds per bushels. 

Heading Date

Heading date is taken when 50% of the heads in a plot were extended above the flag leaf collar. Heading dates are recorded both in ordinal date (number of days from January 1) and the actual calendar date.

Plant Height

Plant height was measured, in inches, from the soil surface to the top of the head, excluding the awns.

Grain Protein

Grain protein is sampled from a composite of all 3 replicated plots at each location. It is determined as a % by NIR (near infrared reflectance) on the Infratec whole grain analyzer. Samples are adjusted to a 12% moisture basis.

Winter Survival

Percent winter survival is estimated for each plot after initial spring green-up at locations where significant winter injury occurred. In 2015, Sidney lost all plots due to severe winter-kill, while Williston had moderate winter-kill.

Table 11 contains information on % winter survival and associated yield in winter-kill environments from 2007 to 2015. The data summarizes 8 tests in which significant winter-kill occurred (test average for winter survival was less than 90%). All sites with winter-kill were in District 6 (Sidney and Williston) which is the most severe location for winter wheat survival of our testing locations.

Wheat Stem Sawfly

Wheat stem sawfly (WSS) is a persistent and economic problem for wheat growers in Montana. Currently, Montana wheat acreage infested by WSS is primarily in the north central (District 5), central (District 4) and south central (District 3) cropping districts. Host plant resistance in the form of stem solidness has been effective in reducing sawfly losses in both spring and winter wheat. Solid-stemmed winter wheats, 'Vanguard', ‘Rampart’, and “Genou’ were leading varieties in the past but are now planted on only minor acreage. Current solid-stemmed varieties include: Judee, (released in 2011, the second leading variety at 16% of planted acreage), Bearpaw (2011, 4%), WB-Quake (2010, 2%), and Warhorse (2013, 1%).

Table 12 contains information on yield and % sawfly cutting at 10 testing locations where sawfly pressure was present during the years 2010-2015. The data is from Havre, Loma (15 miles northeast of Ft. Benton), Turner (60 miles east-northeast of Havre), and Willow Creek (35 miles west-northwest of Bozeman). Solidness scores (rated on a 5-25 scale) are shown for solid and semi-solid varieties in Table 14.

Coleoptile Length

Coleoptile length evaluation is performed in Bozeman under controlled (growth chamber) conditions. Twenty-five seeds per variety were planted in wetted vermiculite. After 15 days the coleoptile (sheath covering the emerging shoot that helps penetration to the soil surface) is measured. This test is replicated 3 times for each variety. Results from previous years are reported in Table 14. Long coleoptiles are generally longer than 4 inches, medium from 2.7-4 in, and short are under 2.7 in. Care should be taken not to plant short coleoptile varieties too deep.

Other Agronomic Characters

Table 14 contains information on grain maturity, chaff color, relative winter survival and straw strength for the hard wheat varieties listed in this publication.

Cereal Quality

Milling and baking characteristics for varieties are presented in Table 14. They are rated for each variety on a 1-5 scale (5 = superior). A quantitative polyphenol oxidase (PPO) has been determined for varieties since the 2006 mill and bake evaluation. These varieties are reported in Table 14 as low to high. A lower value is associated with better Asian noodle quality.

Disease Reactions

Disease reactions for hard red wheat varieties are listed in Table 14. There is information on dwarf smut, stripe rust, stem rust and leaf rust. 

Statistical Analyses and Interpretation

The data collected at each winter wheat location was analyzed as a three-replication lattice or randomized complete block design. Least significant difference at the 0.05 probability level (LSD, p = 0.05) and coefficients of variation (CV) were calculated from analysis of variance at each location. The LSD is used to compare the performance of two specific varieties at a time. If the difference between two varieties exceeds the LSD this is interpreted as a true difference, because a difference between two varieties this large will only occur 5% of the time due to chance.

Tables 3 through 10 show 2015 data for hard winter wheat collected at all harvested experiment station sites. Where a variety has been in the test for two, three or four years, combined analyses of the yield data over years are presented.

Variety selection should be based on yield stability at a particular location over a period of years. Selection should also consider test weight, winterhardiness, heading date, plant height, protein and disease resistance.

2015 Test Conditions

Statewide winter wheat yields were projected by the Montana Agricultural Statistics Service at 41 bu/a, for 2015, the same as for the 2014 harvest year. The harvested acreage in 2015 was 2.22 million acres (total production = 91.2 million bu) compared 2.24 million acres in 2014 (total production = 91.8 million bu).

Rainfall for the 2014-2015 winter crop year was below average at all locations tested (Table 13), except Havre (range -5.00 at Williston to +0.03 at Havre). Average yearly temperatures were generally above long term (6 out of 8 locations) ranging from below average at Havre (-0.5°F) to +3.1°F at Bozeman.

Yields, for the 6 locations harvested (besides extreme winter-kill at Sidney, the Huntley location was not planted for the 2015 crop year), averaged 71 bu/a {range 43 (Williston) to 115 bu/a (Kalispell)}. Yields of named varieties, across the 6 harvested locations, ranged from a low of 50 bu/a (WB4059CLP) to a high of 83 bu/a for Yellowstone.

Test weight averaged 59.9 lb/bu across all locations. Bozeman (56.2 lb/bu), Moccasin (59.3), and Conrad (59.7) were below 60 lb/bu, while Williston (60.8), Havre (61.1) and Kalispell (62.4) were above.

Extreme winter-kill occurred at Sidney and this nursery was not harvested in 2015. Percent winter survival, at Sidney, on May 20th averaged 2% {best = Jerry (43%), while only 6 other entries had stands above 5%). Williston averaged 71% winter survival for the 2015 crop year, with a range of 16% (WB4623CLP) to 98% (Jerry) (see Table 10.)

Heading dates were earlier in 2015 than long term averages at all 6 harvested locations. Havre (-12 days), Conrad (-11 days) and Bozeman, Kalispell, and Moccasin (all -9 days) had the least change at Williston (-2 days).

Stripe rust at both Bozeman (average = 15%, range 0 – 59%) and Kalispell (average = 41%, range 0 – 98%) were a factor in yield reduction for highly susceptible varieties (Bearpaw, Broadview, Byrd, Cowboy, Decade, Denali, Genou, Jerry, and WB4059CLP).

There was minor sawfly cutting recorded at the Havre Experiment Station averaging 5% (range = 0 – 15%) of stems cut across varieties. Sawfly parasites have been on the increase in the past 3 years.

Protein content averaged 12.6% across all locations (location range = 9.6 – 17.0%) tested. The range of named varieties across all locations was from a low of 11.6% (Denali) to a high of 13.6% (Rampart and WB4059CLP).

Leading winter wheat varieties planted for 2015 were Yellowstone (21.0%), Judee (16.4%), Decade (6.7%), CDC Falcon (5.6%), , Brawl CL Plus (4.4%), and Genou (4.0%).

Dwarf Smut (TCK)

Dwarf smut (TCK) can be controlled with ‘Dividend’ seed treatment (see page 5). Dwarf smut or dwarf bunt (Tilletia controversa Kuhn) is a fungal disease that occurs in areas where winter wheat is subjected to prolonged snow cover or unfrozen ground. The planting of dwarf smut resistant varieties (Promontory and SY Clearstone 2CL are resistant) is a practical means of control.

The amount of wheat lost each year because of dwarf smut is small in relation to the state's total crop, but individual operators may experience severe losses in heavily infested, localized areas.

If you farm in the vicinity of one of the shaded areas in the map (Figure 2.), you would be well advised to observe closely your winter wheat crop and consider planting a resistant variety (Table 14) or use ‘Dividend’ or Cruiser Maxx seed treatment.

What Recommendation by MAES Means

Classification of winter wheat varieties is determined on a yearly basis by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) Wheat Variety Release Committee. This 16 member committee is composed of one wheat breeder, one cereal or forage quality scientist, one plant pathologist, one entomologist, one weed scientist, one cropping systems specialist, six Research Center agronomists, one manager from both the Montana Foundation Seed program and the Montana Seed Growers Association, one Montana Wheat and Barley Committee member and one representative of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station Advisory Board.

A variety is eligible for recommendation when a minimum of 16 location-years of performance data is obtained from the Montana State University statewide winter wheat performance trials and test results indicate that the variety is equal to or superior in overall merit to specified check cultivars and has end-use quality equal to or exceeding currently recommended varieties. For varieties originating from private companies, recommendation is considered only at the request of the company when adequate data is available.

Recommendations of varieties are considered on a case by case basis. Yield performance of a variety is an important criteria, but also considered are test weight, grain protein content, winter survival, pest resistance and end-use quality data. In general, yield needs to be at least equal to currently recommended varieties in a particular district, unless the variety is being recommended for a specific purpose, e.g. winter hardiness, sawfly resistance. For example, Rampart, which is not competitive in the absence of wheat stem sawfly, is recommended in Districts 3, 4 and 5 for sawfly areas only. Only six varieties are recommended for the Northeast district due to severe winter conditions and a higher probability of stem rust in this region. Thus varieties recommended for District 6 must have higher winter survival and stem rust resistance.

If a serious defect in the variety is identified during performance testing, the variety will not be recommended. Examples of defects resulting in non-recommendation include: high probability of winter-kill, low grain protein, low baking quality, etc.

Lack of variety recommendation by MAES may occur due to a decision by the originating company not to test the variety in statewide performance trials. In this case the lack of recommendation is due to inadequate or no data rather than a specific varietal defect.

Montana produces primarily hard red winter and hard red spring wheats. Continuous improvement of the milling and/or baking quality of Montana grown winter wheat is one of many objectives of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station breeding and cultivar development program. All varieties recommended by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station have been evaluated and found to be acceptable for milling and baking performance by the Cereal Quality Laboratory at Montana State University.

The quality of Montana recommended varieties, if grown and marketed within their respective classes, is acceptable by domestic users. Montana's future as a hard red and hard white winter wheat producing state for both the domestic and export markets rests on the quality of the product.

Producing Winter Wheat

Plant CERTIFIED CLASS SEED of varieties RECOMMENDED by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station.

Seed Treatment

Treat all winter wheat seed with a recommended fungicide to reduce losses caused by cereal smut or other seed-borne diseases. Several nonmercurial compounds are registered for grain seed treatment.

Dwarf smut (bunt) can be controlled with difenoconazole. Dividend® contains this compound and is available in Montana. If you farm in a dwarf smut area contact your seed dealer or chemical representative for more information about this seed treatment. See page 4 for known areas of dwarf smut infestations.

Diseases are best controlled when all seeds are coated with a seed treatment. Do not over-treat-- Follow recommendation of manufacturer of product as to rate.

Truck-mounted seed treaters, which apply the fungicide as the seed is augered into the drill box, do a good job of treating if operated according to manufacturer's specifications.

Drill box treatments are not effective for general use.

When using any pesticide materials, read the information on the label as to rate of application, specific uses, methods of handling, precautions, etc.

Seeding Rate and Date

The following rates and dates for seeding are general (Figure 3). The heavier seeding rate, where indicated, is applicable to plump seed of high test weight (above 60 lbs/bu) or for seed having a kernel size larger than normal for most other varieties. The lighter rates are for the smaller seeded varieties or when test weight is below normal for larger seeded varieties. Seeding rates may be lower if adequate nitrogen and phosphorus amounts are applied at planting.

Winter wheat seed lots may vary in the number of seeds per pound depending on the ratio of large-to-small seeds in a seed lot. The average is approximately 15,000 seeds per pound. A precise count of the number of seeds per pound should be made on your seed lot to help calibrate your drill. You can also calculate how many pounds of seed you will need to plant an acre.

As to seeding date -- DO NOT SEED TOO EARLY in areas where root rot diseases are prevalent. In areas where Cephalosporium stripe, wheat streak mosaic virus or other root rot diseases have caused losses, delay seeding until the soil temperature in the seed zone will stay below 55o F except for brief periods during the day. In the southern half of Montana, this is usually September 10 to 20. In Districts 5 and 6, plant between September 1 and 15. Cooler soil temperatures slow root development and reduce the probability of winter root injury and invasion by soil-borne organisms. To reduce the incidence of root and foot rots, plant winter wheat on land previously seeded to other crops such as barley, oats or spring wheat. Extreme seeding delay, however, reduces seedling vigor and increases chances of winter-kill.

Seeding Depth

During periods of winter injury farmers are frequently faced with a decision as to whether or not a field should be torn up and re-seeded. A 40 to 50 percent winter wheat stand, if general over field, may produce as much as re-seeded spring wheat. Thinner stands will likely demand more attention for weed control.

The guidelines for evaluating winter wheat stands are to determine the average number of healthy plants per square yard. We suggest making a square frame out of 3/8 inch rod. Walk the field in a zigzag pattern counting at ten random locations.

Fields that have 80 or more plants per square yard will probably produce more than if replanted to spring wheat (information taken from 1995 Master’s Thesis, “Critical Overwintering Plant Population for Successful Winter Wheat Production in Montana” by Doug Holen).

Table 2. List of public, private, and experimental hard winter wheat varieties.

Table 3. Hard Winter: District 1 - Kalispell - Dryland (High Rainfall)

** = indicates highest yielding variety within a column; * = indicates varieties yielding equal to highest yielding variety within a column based on Fisher's protected LSD (p=0.05); R = Recommended Variety; (P) = Private Variety; + = Protected Variety; ++ = PVP Pending; (HWW) = Hard White Winter Wheat

Table 4. Hard Winter: District 2 - Bozeman - Dryland (Moderate Rainfall)

** = indicates highest yielding variety within a column; * = indicates varieties yielding equal to highest yielding variety within a column based on Fisher's protected LSD (p=0.05); R = Recommended Variety; (P) = Private Variety; + = Protected Variety; ++ = PVP Pending; (HWW) = Hard White Winter Wheat

Table 5. Hard Winter: District 3 - Huntley - Dryland

***Test not planted in 2015***

** = indicates highest yielding variety within a column; * = indicates varieties yielding equal to highest yielding variety within a column based on Fisher's protected LSD (p=0.05); R = Recommended Variety; (P) = Private Variety; + = Protected Variety; ++ = PVP Pending; (HWW) = Hard White Winter Wheat

Table 6. Hard Winter: District 4 - Moccasin - Dryland

Table 7. Hard Winter: District 5 - Conrad - Dryland

** = indicates highest yielding variety within a column; * = indicates varieties yielding equal to highest yielding variety within a column based on Fisher's protected LSD (p=0.05); R = Recommended Variety; (P) = Private Variety; + = Protected Variety; ++ = PVP Pending; (HWW) = Hard White Winter Wheat

Table 8. Hard Winter: District 5 - Havre - Dryland

** = indicates highest yielding variety within a column; * = indicates varieties yielding equal to highest yielding variety within a column based on Fisher's protected LSD (p=0.05); R = Recommended Variety; (P) = Private Variety; + = Protected Variety; ++ = PVP Pending; (HWW) = Hard White Winter Wheat

Tabl 9. Hard Winter: District 6 - Sidney - Dryland

**No harvest in 2013 due to severe hail prior to harvest**

** = indicates highest yielding variety within a column; * = indicates varieties yielding equal to highest yielding variety within a column based on Fisher's protected LSD (p=0.05); R = Recommended Variety; (P) = Private Variety; + = Protected Variety; ++ = PVP Pending; (HWW) = Hard White Winter Wheat

Table 10. Hard Winter: District 6 - Williston, ND - Dryland

**No harvest in 2014 due to severe winterkill**

** = indicates highest yielding variety within a column; * = indicates varieties yielding equal to highest yielding variety within a column based on Fisher's protected LSD (p=0.05); R = Recommended Variety; (P) = Private Variety; + = Protected Variety; ++ = PVP Pending; (HWW) = Hard White Winter Wheat

Table 11. 2007//2015 Intrastate Winter Wheat Test (Exp. 35): Combined Locations Winter Survival and associated Yield (Locations: Wiliston (2007-08, 2012-13, 2015), Sidney (2008, 2010-11) = 8 Locations

**No recordable winterkill, with a harvest, in 2009 and 2014**

** = indicates highest yielding variety within a column; * = indicates varieties yielding equal to highest yielding variety within a column based on Fisher's protected LSD (p=0.05); (P) = Private Variety; + = Protected Variety; ++ = PVP Pending; (HWW) = Hard White Winter Wheat

Table 12. Hard Winter Wheat: Yield Performance under Sawfly Pressure and % Sawfly Cutting (2010//2015) 

(Note: Sawfly cutting in each location-year >10%)

** = indicates highest value within a column; ss = solid-stemmed sawfly resistant variety; * = indicates varieties with values equal to highest variety within a column based on Fisher's protected LSD (p=0.05); (P) = Private Variety; + = Protected Variety; ++ = PVP Pending; (HWW) = Hard White Winter Wheat

Table 13. Precipitation (top, in inches) and average monthly temperature (bottom, F) for crop year 2014-2015

Table 14. Selected agronomic characters, cereal quality evaluations and disease reactions of hard winter wheat varieties.