TEXAS
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
Texas A&M University Agricultural Research & Extension Center, 6500 Amarillo Blvd, West, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA.
Texas A&M University Agricultural Research & Extension Center, Drawer E, Overton, TX 75684, USA.
Amarillo.
M.D. Lazar, G.J. Michels Jr., G.L. Peterson, K.B. Porter,
C.D. Salisbury, J.E. Simmons, W.C. Wang, Y. Weng, and S.R. Winter.
Personnel. Dr. Clay Salisbury recently left his position.
A new assistant/associate professor of stress physiology is being
recruited. Dr. Wen Chung Wang left Amarillo in August to join
Novartis Seed Technology in Research Triangle Park, NC. Dr. Yiqun
Weng, a recent graduate of Dr. Gary Hart's lab in College Station,
was hired as an assistant research scientist. Mr. Jon Simmons
rejoined the High Plains breeding project as a technician.
1998 High Plains Crop Year. Unusually heavy winter precipitation
occurred in 1997-98, with 2.45" of precipitation in December,
1.63" in February, and 2.73" in March at Bushland. The
remainder of the growing season was exceptionally dry, with 1.51"
falling during AprilJune. Dryland yields were generally much above
average, with crops using stored winter rainfall. Yields ranged
widely, from 30-60 bu/acre; the top dryland varieties includes
TAM 202, TAM 110, TAM 107, Tomahawk, and Pecos. Irrigated yields
also varied widely, from about 70-105 bu/acre; the top irrigated
varieties included TAM 107, TAM 110, TAM 109, and 2180. Significant
shattering losses were observed in many fields, particularly to
TAM 202 and Ogallala.
Overton.
L.R. Nelson, S. Ward, and J. Crowder.
Wheat grain yields in east Texas (Overton) in 1997-98 were very
high, with mean yields in several experiments in the 70 bu/acre
range and some plots yielding over 100 bu/acre. In the Southern
SRWW Nursery the highest yieldingentry was BL930390 at 85 bu,
followed by AP-D94-5389 at 71 by/acre. In our advanced soft wheat
nursery, the experimental line TX91-130 had a mean yield of 108
bu/acre, whereas Coker 9134 yielded 99 bu/acre. The growing conditions
were unusual due to a wet autumn, winter, and early spring, followed
by a dry April and May. These environmental conditions favored
good forage production during the growing season and reduced disease
epidemics in the grain filling period. No serious epidemic of
Septoria diseases, powdery mildew, or leaf rust resulted although
leaf rust was apparent on susceptible germ plasm.
A study was conducted to determine resistance of 50 CIMMYT
'T. durum/Ae. tauschii' populations to Stagonospora
nodorum. Seedlings were inoculated at the 2-leaf stage, and
data were recorded on disease severity and latent period. Several
lines from this population demonstrated good resistance compared
to check entries (TAM 107 and TX76-40-2) and are being used as
resistant germplasm in the wheat breeding program.
Publications.
Marshall DS, Sutton RL, Worrall WD, Lazar MD, McDaniel MD,
and Nelson LR. 1998. Registration of TAM 301 Wheat. Crop Sci 38:552-553.
Marshall DS, Sutton RL, McDaniel ME, Nelson LR, Worrall WD, Lazar
MD, and Sij JW. 1998. Registration of `Dallas' oat. Crop Sci 38:284.
Nelson LR, Crowder J, and Ward S. 1998. Wheat forage yields at
Overton and two-year means. Overton Tech Rep 98-1:45-46.
Nelson LR, Crowder J, and Ward S. 1998. Wheat grain variety tests
at Overton, Mt. Pleasant, and DeKalb for 1996-97 and three-year
means. Overton Tech Rep 98-1:49-50.
Piccinni G, Rush CM, Vaughn KM, and Lazar MD. 1998. The relationship
between susceptibility to common root rot and drought tolerance
among several closely related wheat lines. Plant Dis (In press).
Ward S, Crowder J, and Nelson LR. 1998. Rye forage yields
at Overton for 1996-97 and three-year means. Overton Tech Rep
98-1:43-44.