Wheat variety update for 2008

| Date: 20 Jun 2008

Rob Wheeler1 and Angela Clough2
1 Leader, New Variety Evaluation, Waite Precinct, SARDI
2 Crop Evaluation Scientist, DPI Victoria, Ballarat

TAKE HOME MESSAGES

?? With over nearly30 new bread, feed and durum wheat varieties released nationally in the past 18 months there will be many new choices (subject to seed availability) for sowing in south eastern Australia in 2008., Newer varietiesThose with broadest application for thegenerating interest in the low andand medium rainfall regions include the bread wheats, AxeA, BolacA, CarinyaA, CorrellA, CatalinaA, DerrimutA, GuardianA, GladiusA, H46A, PeakeA, and YoungA, and the biscuit wheats, BarhamA and YendaA. Newly released varieties with maturity suited to the high rainfall regions include the bread wheats BolacA and EGA EagehawkA (APH in NSW), the feed wheats LR1078A and FrelonA, and the biscuit wheats Barham and Yenda.
High yield, good market quality, rust and CCN resistance feature within many of these new releases. However, growers should carefully consider all characteristics, and available performance data, before changing to these varieties. Many have had only limited widespread evaluation within National Variety Trials (NVT), and decisions on varieties based solely on data from the 2005 season (which favoured later flowering types) and the 2006 and 2007 season (which favoured early flowering types) is cautioned. Further trialling during the coming seasons will be needed to fully ascertain the yield potential, adaptational environmental niches and limitations of many of these varieties.

?? Progressively replacing widely grown stem and stripe rust susceptible, widely grown varieties, (such as eg Yitpi, Pugsley and Wyalkatchem), with varieties withhaving at least an MR-MS rating, should be a priority. However, growers and advisers must be aware that rust ratings can change dramatically and as such must keep abreast of new disease information. Recent seasons in SE Australia have not favoured stripe and stem rust epidemics, but these rusts have caused isolated severe damage and growers should be prepared for more conducive conditions. Varieties relying on VPM stripe rust resistance such as PugsleyA, CarinyaA, H46A, YoungA, and VenturaA will need to be carefully monitored in districts where stripe rust prevails.

?? Average site yields in 2007, across 16 Victorian main season NVT, ranged from 0.64t/ha at Merrinee to 3.45 t/ha at Kaniva with the sites at Brim, Ultima, Quambatook and Woomelang unharvested on the basis of low and variable yield. Relative varietal performance was similar to previous years favouring earlier maturing types, with ‘new variety releases’ overwhelmingly dominant. The new short season varieties, YoungA and AxeA, produced the highest average yields (15 sites) of 1.90 and 1.88 t/ha respectively and around 6% above Yitpi, followed closely by LPB BulletA and CorrellA at around 3%, and GladiusA and PeakeA similar to Yitpi’s yield. Other varieties including WyalkatchemA, PugsleyA, DerrimutA, CatalinaA and GuardianA closely trailed Yitpi’s yield while Frame was 11% below.

?? Across the three high rainfall, long season, south-west SFS sites, average yields ranged from x to y t/ha with z producing the highest average yieldssite mean grain yields were 4.65 t/ha at Teesdale, 6.30 t/ha at Hamilton and 6.88 t/ha at Streatham. (Comment/take home on stripe rust at Hamilton and any other feature ) The NVT wheat trial at Hamilton demonstrated the influence that stripe rust can have on grain yields. Varieties that are susceptible to stripe rust such as BarhamA and YendaA yielded less than 3 t/ha whileere as varieties with stripe rust resistance, such as FrelonA, LR1078A and BolacA yielded over 8 t/ha. BolacA, EGA WedgetailA, FrelonA, LR1078A, FrelonA, LR1078A, McKellarA and TennantA all yielded significantly higher than Kellalac at all three sites. Conversely, both BarhamA and YendaA yielded signficantly higher than Kellalac at Streatham where there was less disease pressure.

COMMENTS ON WHEAT VARIETIES RELEASED IN PAST 18 MONTHS
(Note: quality classification based on maximum potential. Disease ratings are subject to change as new information becomes availabl;, always consult current DPI disease guide or pathologist for latest ratings)

Axe A
Axe (RAC1192) is a vigorous growing, very early flowering, APW (pending upgrade) quality variety released by AGT in Aug 2007. With large grain and low screenings losses, it has shown high yield potential in SA under very dry and sharp finishing conditions such as the 2004, 2006 and 2007 seasons albeit with more moderate yields in 2005. Axe is rated as MS to stem rust and MR to stripe and leaf rust. Axe is S to yellow leaf spot and CCN. Seed will be available from 2008 onward, through AGT Seeds.

Correll A
Correll (WI23322) was released from AGT in 2006, is derived from Yitpi, and is agronomically similar to Yitpi but with improved stem rust resistance and black point tolerance. It is seen as a direct replacement for Yitpi to reduce the stem rust risk currently posed with Yitpi. 2005 and 2006 SA NVT data shows Correll to be similar in yield, grain size and plumpness to Yitpi, but averages around 2-3 kg/hl lower test weight and is 2 to 5 days earlier flowering. Correll has an AH quality classification. Seed is available through AGT Seeds but current growers who purchased seed from retailers are able to trade “over the fence” subject to a seed sales agreement with AGT,
and, there is now no EPR on grain retained on farm for seed.

Catalina A
Catalina (LPB0268) was released by Longreach Plant Breeders in 2006 as an AH quality, CCN resistant hard wheat suited to medium rainfall districts across SE Australia. Catalina is several days earlier flowering than Yitpi and has moderate physical grain quality. Catalina is MR/MS to stem and stripe rust and R/MR to leaf rust but is MS-S to yellow leaf spot and septoria tritici blotch. Widespread NVT yield data is limited to the drier 2006 and 2007 seasons where yield results have been generally similar to Frame. While further evaluation is needed, it shows potential for medium to higher rainfall districts in south eastern Australia and is licensed to AWB Seeds.

Derrimut A
Derrimut (NGSP005) has AH quality and was released in 2006 after development by Nugrain and Sunprime. Derrimut has shown a yield potential similar to Yitpi, particularly in higher rainfall districts. It has CCN resistance and good levels of resistance to stem and leaf rust, MS to stripe rust and MS/S to yellow leaf spot. It has physical grain quality and flowering time similar to Janz, but plant height is much shorter. Derrimut is commercialised by Crop Care Seed Technology.

Gladius A
Gladius (RAC1262) was developed by AGT from a collaborative project with SARDI partly funded by SAGIT. It is broadly adapted (yielding well in varying seasons), high yielding, has an AH classification and is well adapted to low rainfall environments for which it was selected. While lacking CCN resistance, it has boron and acid soils tolerance, and has good resistance to stem rust, MR-MS to stripe rust and MS to leaf rust, and yellow leaf spot. Gladius has mid season maturity and good grain size like Yitpi. Seed is available from AGT Seeds but current growers who purchased seed from retailers are able to trade “over the fence” subject to a seed sales agreement with AGT.

Guardian A
Guardian (LPB0617) was developed and released from Longreach Plant Breeders in 2006 and is derived from Krichauff, with improved quality (eligible for APW grade in Vic). It is resistant to CCN and has moderate resistance to stem rust but is moderately susceptible to stripe and leaf rust and MS-S to yellow leaf spot. Early vigour and height is similar to Janz. Widespread NVT yield data is limited to the 2006 and 2007 seasons with yield results generally between Yitpi and Frame. It is expected to be more similar to Janz for physical grain quality. While further evaluation is needed, it may be an option for districts where risk of stripe rust is low. Seed is licensed to AWB Seeds.

Peake A
Peake (NGSP006) is a new variety released in 2007 with AH quality, developed by Nugrain and Sunprime. Peake is medium to short strawed, mid maturing (5-6 days earlier than Yitpi) and suitable for growing in low and medium rainfall zones where, within NVT, it has shown high yield potential. Peake is MR-MS to stem and stripe rust and R to leaf rust. Peake is CCN resistant, boron tolerant and is MS-S to yellow leaf spot and S to Septoria tritici blotch. Peake is being commercialised by Crop Care Seed Technology.

SOFT BISCUIT VARIETIES

Barham A
Barham (VO2697R) is closely related to Bowie but has CCN resistance, improved rust resistance albeit MS to stripe rust, improved grain yield and quality eligible for the ASFT grade in Victoria. Barham is a mid season awnless variety with similar maturity and plant type to Bowie and produces large grain with low screenings losses and high test weight. Barham was released by AGT and available through Graintrust.

Yenda A
Yenda (VN0870R) is a high yielding, short, stiff strawed, awned biscuit (ASFT quality) wheat for irrigation and high rainfall areas of southern Australia. It is mid to late season in maturity and is resistant to stem and leaf rusts, MS-S to stripe rust, susceptible to CCN, moderately resistant to yellow leaf spot and MS-S to Septoria tritici. Yenda was released by AGT in 2006 and is available through Graintrust.

LESS RECENT WHEAT VARIETY RELEASES

Carinya A
Carinya is a Janz derivative, with improved rust resistance, grain yield and grain size, developed by AGT. Its adaptation and maturity are similar to Janz but Carinya displays significantly higher yield than Janz when subject to the WA stripe rust strain. However it is MS to the new eastern Australian strain. Carinya has an AH classification in Vic and seed is available through AGT Seeds.

H46 A
H46 was released in 2005 by AGT and is derived from H45. It was developed for improved stripe and leaf rust resistance relative to H45 although similarly very susceptible to Septoria tritici and susceptible to CCN. Its reaction to the new stripe rust strain is expected to be very susceptible and so there is now little place for H46 in Southern Australia. H46 is classified APW quality in Vic and commercialised by AGT Seeds.

Young A
Young was released from AGT during 2005 as an early maturing, broadly adapted, AH quality wheat with CCN resistance and moderate resistance to stem and leaf rust but now rated moderately susceptible to stripe rust. It has moderate resistance to yellow leaf spot, and black point tolerance, and would be suitable for stubble retention and wheat on wheat cropping systems. It has shown good yields similar to Yitpi, but grain plumpness is more similar to Janz, and suffers in very dry spring conditions. Seed is available through Graintrust.

NEWER LONG SEASON, HIGH RAINFALL WHEAT OPTIONS

Bolac A
Bolac (VQ2621) is a mid to late maturing (later than Chara), AH quality variety released by AGT in 2007 and marketed by Graintrust. It is targeted to the higher yielding regions of SE Australia including irrigation districts and has high levels of resistance to stripe rust but is moderately susceptible to stem rust and leaf rust and susceptible to yellow leaf spot. Released 2007.

Amarok A
Amarok is a feed quality winter wheat released in 2003, with short straw and excellent standing ability. It is suited to early winter sowing and long growing season areas of south-eastern Australia and is high yielding with resistance to stripe, stem and leaf rust. Released 2003.


Frelon A
Frelon is an awned feed grade red winter wheat with very high yield potential. It is a long season variety similar to Mackellar and can be suitable for dual purpose applications when early sowing is possible. It is described as having good disease resistance. Frelon was bred by PBI Cambridge and developed for Australia by PGG Wrightson Grain and GrainSearch. It was released in 2007 and is marketed by Highleaze Seeds. Released 2007.

LR1078
LR1078 (PBR and naming in progress) is an awnless red grain feed wheat directly imported into Australia from the French breeding company CCBenoist. LR1078 is resistant to all stripe, stem and leaf rust, has strong straw strength and a maturity suited to early seeding. LR1078 was registered in 2007. Seed is available in very limited quantities for the 2008 season.

Rudd A
Rudd (E30.2) is an awnless, red, winter wheat for dual purpose grazing and grain production (feed quality). It is high yielding with good resistance to stem, stripe and leaf rust, Septoria tritici and yellow leaf spot. Rudd was registered in 2001 and is marketed by AWB Seeds.

Mackellar A
Mackellar (LH64C) is a dual purpose red grained, late maturing winter wheat for grazing as well as grain production. It is awnless and hence more acceptable for hay or late season grazing. Mackellar is resistant to BYDV and has good resistance to stem rust and resistance to stripe rust, however a strain of stripe rust is present in Tasmania that is able to attack this variety.

DURUM WHEATS

Jandaroi is a newly released durum variety which produced similar grain yields to Kalka and Tamaroi in the sole 2007 Victorian NVT for durum. However Jandaroi has not yet been classified as durum in Victoria. TThere have been no new durum varieties specifically adapted and released for Victoria SE Australia since release of Kalka which continues to grow in popularity and offers an improved quality alternative to the widely grown variety, Tamaroi. The Waite durum program, AGT and the Tamworth based National durum program, each have advanced durum breeding lines being considered for release in the next 12 months.

Wheat Variety Tolerance to Herbicide (GRDC Project DAS0070)

Experiments investigating the tolerance of crop varieties to herbicides are conducted by State agencies throughout Australia, supported by funding from GRDC. Details and results of the studies can be found in State publications, and more recently on the NVT web site, www.nvtonline.com.au

The Table below summarises this work in SA within trials conducted in the Hart/Kybunga districts since 1993. Within these experiments, a wide range of herbicides and tank mixes are applied pre and post sowing (crop dependent), at label recommended and twice recommended rates across each variety, under weed free conditions. The treatment rates provided an estimate of the varietal tolerance and safety margin likely through any differences in varietal response between the untreated control and the two rates applied.

Data obtained during 2006 and 2007 for Catalina, Derrimut, Gladius, Correll, Young and Carinya have shown a lower tolerance in Gladius to HussarR in both years. 2007 data is still being analysed and when completed, consolidated summaries for many of the above mentioned varieties will be publicised on the NVT web site. Comments and summary tables on varietal tolerance are generally based on data gained from two or more season’s experimental results, as year to year variation can be great.


Table 1: Long term summary of safety rating and potential % yield loss for wheat varieties to various herbicides and tank mixes

Herbicide
Rate/ha
Timing
Safety Rating and potential % yield loss
 
 
 
Young
Kukri
AGT
Scythe
Frame
Janz
Krichauff
Tamaroi
Pugsley
Kalka
Yitpi
Wyalk-
atchem
Years tested
 
 
2005-
2006
2000
-2002
2004
 - 2005
1993 -2006
1993 -2000
1994 -
2000
1996
- 2003
2001 -2004
2001 -2004
1998-2001
2003
- 2005
Glean®
20g
Pre-sow
-
4 - 6
8
6
-
N
5 - 10
N
14
 3 - 8
N
Logran®
35g
Pre-sow
-
8
N
2
2
4
5
-
-
 6 - 8
N
Achieve®
380g
3 leaf
-
-
N
12
-
6
5
12
N
-
N
Ally®
7g
3 leaf
-
4 - 6
-
4 - 21
N
N
N
0-10
-
2 – 4
8
Banvel M®
1.4L
3-5 leaf
4
N
N
-
-
6 - 10
-
N
N
-
-
Broadstrike®
25g
3-5 leaf
-
N
-
7
-
N
-
N
-
 2 - 8
10
Bromoxynil MCPA
1.4L
3 leaf
-
4
-
2 - 7
6
N
N
-
N
N
-
Diuron/MCPAamine
280g+ 350ml
3 leaf
-
-
N
4 - 10
-
-
6
N
6
-
4
Hoegrass®
1.5L
3-5 leaf
-
-
N
-
-
-
N
12
-
2
-
Hussar®
150ml
3 leaf
3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4
Terbutryn
850ml
3 leaf
-
4
N
5
-
N
6
N
-
N
-
Tigrex®
1L
5 leaf
-
9
-
N
-
N
-
-
6
-
2
LVE MCPA
1.2L
5 leaf
4
5
6
-
-
N
N
12
-
N
-
Lontrel®
150ml
2 leaf
-
N
-
-
-
N
N
-
-
-
-
2,4-D Amine
1.4L
2 leaf
-
0-10
-
5 - 18
6
5 - 6
4
5
6
2 - 5
2 - 9
Key
X - Y
 % Yield reductions (range) in at least two years when the label recommended rate was used
 
 
X
 % Yield reduction in one year when the label recommended rate was used
 
 
N
 Narrow safety margin - yield loss with greater than label recommended rate
 
 
-
 No yield loss in at least two years of testing
 



Contact: Rob Wheeler
Ph 08 8303 9480
Email Wheeler.rob@saugov.sa.gov.au

Angela Clough
Ph 03 5336 6618
Angela.clough@dpi.vic.gov.au