1993 MISSOURI WINTER WHEAT PERFORMANCE TESTS
K. D. Kephart, A. L. McKendry, D. N. Tague and J. E. Berg
Univeristy of Missouri-Columbia
Introduction
Genetic improvement of wheat varieties has contributed about 40 to 50
percent of the total improvement in wheat yields attained over the
past 40 years. Both public and private wheat breeding programs are
constantly striving towards greater yield potential, improved quality
and better host plant resistance to disease and insect pests in the
new varieties released for commercial production. Wheat growers are
reluctant to adopt new varieties without adequate information
concerning adaptation and performance. The objective of the Missouri
Winter Wheat Performance Tests is to provide wheat growers in Missouri
with a reliable, unbiased, up-to-date source of information that will
permit valid comparisons among improved wheat varieties. This
information should help Missouri wheat growers select varieties best
suited to their particular area and growing conditions. This report
summarizes soft and hard red winter wheat variety trials conducted
throughout Missouri during the 1992-93 cropping season.
Variety Testing Procedures
Locations
---------
The soft red winter wheats were planted at seven locations throughout
the state (Fig. 1) including Portageville and Charleston in the
southeast, Mt. Vernon and Lamar in the southwest and Columbia, Novelty
and in Grundy County near Trenton in the northern region of the state.
The hard red winter wheats were planted at three sites including
Columbia, Mt. Vernon, and in Grundy County near Trenton.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
+--------------------+
\ Trenton Novelty
> * * \
\ \
\ \
| Columbia V\
| * |
| <
| \
| \
| * Lamar \
| * Mt. Vernon *< Charleston
| >
+----------------------, /
/ */ Portageville
-----
Figure 1. Missouri winter wheat test locations in 1993.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Entries and Seed Sources
------------------------
In 1993, 61 soft red and 11 hard red and 3 white winter wheats were
tested in Missouri. The soft red winter wheats were comprised of 15
public varieties, 8 public experimental entries and 38 proprietary
varieties. The hard red winter wheats were comprised of 7 public
varieties, 1 public experimental entry and 3 proprietary varieties.
The 3 white winter wheats were experimentals from the Missouri winter
wheat breeding program. Public varieties adapted to Missouri growing
conditions or recommended by the state of origin were entered into the
appropriate variety test. Numbered entries preceded by a state
designation (eg. MO12256, OH470) are experimental lines provided by
the foundation seed organization or wheat breeder of the originating
state. Named public varieties were acquired from the foundation seed
organization of the originating state or from the University of
Missouri Foundation Seed Program. Names of proprietary entries
evaluated in 1993 and their seed sources are listed in Table 1.
Proprietary entries are submitted for testing on a fee basis by their
owners or sponsors.
Experimental Design and Seeding Methods
---------------------------------------
Each soft red winter wheat experiment was planted using a 8x8 lattice
design with four replications. Hard red winter wheats were arranged
in a randomized complete block design replicated 4 times. Test plots
consisted of a 15 foot, 6-row plot with 7-inch row spacing. All
entries were seeded at approximately 1.5 million seeds per acre,
roughly equivalent to seeding 1.5 bushels per acre. Actual seeding
rates were calculated from the thousand kernel weights determined for
each entry (Table 2) and varied from 74 to 134 pounds per acre.
Except for the Trenton location, all entries were seeded 1.25 to 1.5"
into conventional seedbeds using an experimental plot drill equipped
with double-disk openers. At the Trenton site, all entries were
seeded directly into soybean stubble using a plot drill equipped with
Acraplant(Tm) no-till openers.
Agronomic Practices
-------------------
Basic agronomic practices are given in Table 3 by location. Planting
dates were based on Hessian fly-free dates recommended for each
location. Nitrogen was applied in split fall/spring applications.
Spring nitrogen applications were generally made after initial green
up. Preplant phosphorous and potassium applications were based on
soil test recommendations provided by the University of Missouri Soil
Testing Laboratory located at Columbia.
Description of Data Collected
Yield
-----
All rows of each test plot were trimmed 26 inches and harvested using
an experimental plot combine. Recorded grain yields were adjusted to
13% grain moisture content, and are reported in bushels per acre based
on a 60 pound per bushel test weight. In addition to yields obtained
in 1993, two (1992-93) and three (1991-93) year averages are provided
for both soft red and hard red winter wheat entries tested during
previous cropping seasons.
Test Weight and Harvest Moisture
--------------------------------
Test weight (pounds per bushel) and percent grain moisture content
were obtained for each plot using a Dickey-john GAC II grain analyzer.
Grain Sprout Damage
-------------------
The percentage of post-harvest sprouted grain was determined for each
soft red winter wheat entry grown at the Trenton and Novelty sites.
Rain delays weathered the nurseries at these locations for
approximately 20 to 25 days. The percentage of sprouted seed was
determined by counting the number of sprouted seed present in
subsamples of 100 seeds obtained from two of the four harvested
replications.
Plant Height
------------
Plant height was measured in inches from the soil surface to the top
of the head, excluding the awns if present. Reported values have been
rounded to the nearest inch.
Lodging
-------
Lodging severity was rated at locations where lodging was significant.
Plots were rated on a severity scale of 0 to 9 where 0 = no lodging
and 9 = plants completely flat.
Winter Survival
---------------
Percent winter survival was estimated for each plot after initial
spring green-up at locations where significant winter injury occurred.
In 1993, differences in winter survival among varieties were noted at
all locations except Portageville.
Heading Date
------------
Heading was noted when 50% of the heads in a plot had extended above
the flag leaf collar. Heading dates were recorded in Julian days
(number of days from January 1) for statistical purposes.
Corresponding calendar dates also are presented.
Disease Ratings
---------------
In 1993, all soft red winter wheat entries were tested for seedling
reactions to Septoria leaf blotch under greenhouse conditions. Four
replications of ten plants per entry were inoculated with S. tritici
spores at the 3-leaf stage of development. After four weeks, the
percent leaves with pycnidia forming lesions and a necrosis rating
(0=no injury, 9=total death) was determined for each entry (Table 4).
These values were used to formulate a combined index score.
Resistance ratings are not given, but higher combined index ratings
are indicative of greater susceptibility to Septoria leaf blotch
during the seedling stages of development. Some results may be
inconsistent with known field reactions to Septoria leaf blotch which
may have been biased by use of triadimenol (Baytan) seed treatment
fungicide on the seed submitted for testing.
Field disease notes for bacterial streak (Xanthomonas campestris pv.
translucens), barley yellow dwarf, Septoria leaf blotch (Septoria
tritici), powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f.sp. tritici) and stem
rust (Puccinia graminis) were taken at locations where the incidence
was severe enough to warrant. Barley yellow dwarf ratings were
obtained by estimating the percent total necrotic flag leaves at the
Columbia and Trenton sites. Stem rust was visually assessed at
Columbia for percent infected leaf and stem area of the whole canopy.
Septoria leaf blotch was evaluated at the Columbia, Trenton and Mt.
Vernon locations.
Scab was assessed at Columbia by inoculation of a duplicate set of
plots at Columbia. During anthesis, a single floret in each of 10
randomly selected heads per plot was inoculated with a suspension
culture of Fusarium graminearum. Subsequent spread of the disease was
observed and the total number of infected spikelets was determined at
maturity. The percentage of diseased spikelets observed is presented
in Table 6.
Statistical Analyses and Interpretation
The data collected at each soft red winter wheat location were
analyzed as a four-replication, lattice design. Data collected from
the hard red winter wheat locations were analyzed as a four-
replication, randomized complete block design. If an observation was
missing in one replication, the average of those observations in the
remaining replications was used to approximate the missing
observation. Fisher's least significant difference at the 0.05
probability level [LSD (p=0.05)] and coefficients of variation
percentages (CV%) were calculated from analyses of variance by each
and across all locations. The LSD is used to compare the performance
of two specific varieties at a time. If the mean of a variety exceeds
that of another variety by more than the LSD, then the difference
observed will be a true difference in 19 out of 20 instances under
conditions similar to those of the test.
Variety selection should be based on yield stability in a production
environment over years and locations. Selection also should consider
other characteristics such as test weight, plant height, heading date
and disease resistance. Where these additional characteristics were
not measured in a particular production environment, they can be
evaluated from locations in which they were rated. Data collected on
all traits measured during 1993 are presented in Tables 6 through 15
for the soft red wheats and in Tables 16 through 20 for the hard red
wheats. Where a variety has been in the test for two or three years,
combined analyses of the yield data over years are presented.
1993 Test Conditions
Excessive rainfall at critical periods of crop development was the
major constraint to wheat production at all test locations in Missouri
during 1993. Temperatures were moderate during the winter months, but
sufficient freezing occurred to cause some stand losses at the Novelty
location. Cool, wet weather during the late winter/early spring
months slowed crop development and delayed spring applications of
nitrogen. Soilborne viruses were evident at all locations. Heading
was 7 to 10 days later than normal at most test locations.
Warmer and continued wet weather in late May and early June promoted a
variety of diseases to depress yields and reduce test weights at most
locations. Columbia, Mt. Vernon, Trenton and Novelty all possessed
moderate levels of Septoria leaf blotch and barley yellow dwarf.
These four locations also exhibited low to moderate levels of scab.
Columbia, Novelty and the Mt. Vernon test experienced moderate leaf
rust during grain fill. Charleston had severe stem rust levels
during late grain fill. The wet weather promoted bacterial streak at
Portageville. Portageville was the highest yielding location with a
mean yield of 55 bushels per acre.
FFR 525W was the highest yielding soft red winter tested in 1993,
averaging 55.1 bushels per acre on a statewide basis (Tables 6 and
15). This variety also was the highest yielding entry in 1991.
Pioneer 2548 was in the top yield group across all locations for 1993,
and remains the highest yielding variety among the 2 and 3 year
averages. Pioneer 2571 and Coker 9474 were third and fouth, yielding
52 and 51 bushels per acre, respectively. Madison was the top
yielding public entry, averaging 50 bushels per acre. Madison showed
especially good performance at the Charleston, Lamar and Mt. Vernon
locations. TAM 107 was the highest yielding hard red winter wheat,
averaging 41.4 bushels per acre across three test locations (Tables 16
and 20). TAM 107 performed below average as a hard check among the
soft red winter wheat entries (Tables 6 and 15).
Test weights were 2 pounds per bushel lighter in 1993 as compared to
test weights achieved during 1992 (see SR441, Winter Wheat - 1992
Missouri Crop Performance). Location means varied from 51.8 pounds
per bushel at Novelty to 58.3 pounds per bushel at Portageville.
Substantial losses in test weight were attibuted to delayed harvest
and excessive rainfall in July, particularly at the Trenton, Novelty
and Lamar locations. Coker 9474 was the only soft red winter wheat to
average better than 58 pounds per bushel test weight across all seven
test locations. Coker 9803 and FFR 525W exceeded 57 pounds per
bushel. Karl hard red winter wheat averaged 58.1 pounds per bushel as
a hard check entry in the soft red winter wheat performance tests.
Terra HR153 wheat produced the heaviest test weight (56.0 lb/bu) among
commercial entries in the hard red winter wheat performance tests.
The excessive rain and delay in harvesting also resulted in sprout
damaged grain. Sprout damage at the Trenton and Novelty locations
averaged 6 percent (Table 6). Twenty three entries exceeded the 4% or
less sprouted kernel limit allowed by the Federal Grain Inspection
Service in the U.S. No. 2 grade of soft red winter wheat. Varieties
exceeding 20 percent sprout damage include Cardinal (30%), MFA
Commander I (22%), Reeds 1002 (23%), Stoneville 350 (21 %) and Terra
EXP205 (23%).
New Variety Descriptions
Several entries previously tested as experimental lines have been or
will be released as varieties for commercial production. Brief
descriptions are provided for informational purposes and do not imply
endorsement or exclusion of any commercial wheat varieties by the
Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station.
AGRIPRO Boone Soft Red Winter Wheat
-----------------------------------
AGRIPRO Boone (PI570654) is a soft red winter wheat developed from the
cross 'Tecumseh / Guelph Hybrid 481' by AgriPro Biosciences, Inc..
AGRIPRO Boone was previously tested in Missouri as 'ABI 88*2451'.
AGRIPRO Boone is an intermediate height, mid-season variety with good
straw strength. It is considered resistant to powdery mildew,
soilborne mosaic virus and prevalent races of leaf rust. AGRIPRO
Boone also may possess improved tolerance to the barley yellow dwarf
virus. Yields in Missouri tests have been above average the past two
years (Table 6). Test weights have been average to below average.
Pending final approval, exclusive ownership and distribution of
AGRIPRO Boone is protected by the Federal Plant Variety Protection Act
of 1970 (PVP Cert. No. 9300229). AGRIPRO Boone may only be sold as a
class of certified seed. More detailed information on AGRIPRO Boone
is available from the company upon request.
AGRIPRO Pontiac Soft Red Winter Wheat
-------------------------------------
AGRIPRO Pontiac soft red winter wheat was developed from a cross
between 'Magnum' and 'Auburn' soft red winter wheats by AgriPro
Biosciences, Inc. AGRIPRO Pontiac is a mid-season variety possessing
good straw strength. It is considered resistant to leaf rust, powdery
mildew, rhizoctonia root and crown rots and soilborne mosaic virus.
It possesses some field tolerance to Septoria leaf/glume blotches and
to the Hessian fly. In 1993, AGRIPRO Pontiac has demonstrated average
yields and test weights (Table 6). Application for Plant Variety
Protection has been made for AGRIPRO Pontiac, with commercial sale of
seed only as a class of certified seed. More detailed information on
AGRIPRO Pontiac is available from the company upon request.
Coker 9474 Soft Red Winter Wheat
--------------------------------
Coker 9474 soft red winter wheat is an early-to-mid season variety
developed by Northrup King from a cross between 'Purdue 71761A4-31-5-
48' and 'Wheeler'. Coker 9474 is an awnletted variety possessing
white chaff and intermediate plant height. It is considered resistant
to leaf rust, moderately resistant to Septoria leaf blotch, Septoria
glume blotch (Septoria nodorum), soilborne mosaic virus and wheat
spindle streak mosaci virus. Coker 9474 is susceptible to powdery
mildew races that are prevalent in the southeastern United States, but
has shown moderate resistance to powdery mildew in the mid-South and
southern corn-belt regions. Winterhardiness is adequate for Missouri
wheat producing areas south of I-70. Application for Plant Variety
Protection will be made for Coker 9474 by the Northrup King Company
with Coker 9474 available for commercial sale as a class of certified
seed through their TGN grower/dealer network. In 1993, Coker 9474 has
produced above average yields combined with excellent test weights.
More detailed information on Coker 9474 is available from the company
upon request.
Jackson Soft Red Winter Wheat
-----------------------------
Jackson is an awnletted, white-chaffed soft red winter wheat developed
by the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station and released in 1993.
It was developed from the cross 'Saluda/Coker 762' and previously
tested in regional tests as 'VA88-54-479". Jackson is a mid-season
variety possessing intermediate plant height and moderate straw
strength. Jackson is moderately resistant to powdery mildew and
Septoria leaf blotch, moderately susceptible to leaf rust and
susceptible to stem rust and Hessian fly. Winterhardiness of Jackson
is slightly better than that of Saluda. Most other characteristics
are similar to those of Saluda. Compared to other soft red winter
wheats tested in Missouri during 1993, Jackson has produced average to
above average yields and average test weights. Application for Plant
Variety Protection will be made for Jackson by the Virginia
Agricultural Experiment Station with Jackson only available for
commercial sale as a class of certified seed.
Ohlde T408 Soft Red Winter Wheat
--------------------------------
T408 is a soft red winter wheat developed by Trio Research, Inc. and
marketed by Ohlde Seed Farms of Palmer, Kansas. T408 is an awnless,
white-chaffed semi-dwarf wheat derived from a cross between Caldwell
and Auburn wheats. It possesses good straw strength. Winter
hardiness is equal to or better than that of Caldwell. It possesses
some resistance to leaf rust and powdery mildew and is moderately
susceptible to Septoria leaf blotch. T408 is resistant to the GP, B
and E biotypes of Hessian fly. It has produced average yields and
test weights among soft red winter wheats tested in Missouri during
1993 (Table 6). More detailed information on Ohlde T408 is available
from the company upon request.
Ohlde T441 Soft Red Winter Wheat
--------------------------------
T441 is a soft red winter wheat developed by Trio Research, Inc. and
marketed by Ohlde Seed Farms of Palmer, Kansas. T441 is a semidwarf
developed from the cross 'Tyler / Auburn' and is most similar in
height, heading and straw strength characteristics to Caldwell. T441
is an awnletted variety possessing white chaff. T441 is considered
resistant to soilborne mosaic virus, wheat spindle streak mosaic virus
and powdery mildew. It is resistant to the GP, B and E biotypes of
Hessian fly. For the past two seasons, T441 has produced average
yields and average test weights in the Missouri winter wheat
performance tests (Table 6). More detailed information on Ohlde T441
is available from the company upon request.
Ohlde T63 Soft Red Winter Wheat
-------------------------------
T63 is a soft red winter wheat developed by Trio Research, Inc. from
the cross 'Coker 747 / Pioneer 2550' and marketed by Ohlde Seed Farms
of Palmer, Kansas. T63 is a short statured, awnletted, white-chaffed
wheat possesing good straw strength. T63 is considered resistant to
stem rust, moderately resistant to leaf rust and powdet mildew and
susceptible to loose smut and soilborne mosaic virus. It is resistant
to the C biotype of the Hessian fly. Since 1992, T63 has produced
average yields compared to other soft red winter wheats tested in
Missouri (Table 6). More detailed information on Ohlde T63 is
available from the company upon request.
Pioneer 2571 Soft Red Winter Wheat
----------------------------------
Pioneer 2571 (PI561200) is an awned, white-chaffed soft red winter
wheat developed by Pioneer Hi-Bred International from the complex
cross 'Elmo /3/ Pioneer Line W4034H / Pioneer Line W9057C /2/ Coker
916'. The maturity of Pioneer 2571 is early, comparable to Clark soft
red winter wheat. It has very good straw strength and is considered
resistant to leaf rust, stem rust, and powdery mildew. Pioneer 2571
is moderately resistant to soilborne mosaic and wheat spindle streak
mosaic viruses. Pioneer 2571 possesses the H6 gene, confering
resistance to the GP, A, B, E, and J biotypes of Hessian fly. In
1993, Pioneer 2571 has produced above average yields and above average
test weights compared to other soft red winter wheats tested in
Missouri (Table 6). Exclusive ownership and distribution rights of
Pioneer 2571 are protected under the Federal Plant Variety Protection
Act of 1970 (PVP Cert. No. 9200162). More detailed information on
Pioneer 2571 is available from the company upon request.
Pioneer 2580 Soft Red Winter Wheat
----------------------------------
Pioneer 2580 (PI561198) is an awned, white-chaffed soft red winter
wheat developed by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. from the
complex cross 'Pioneer 2548 sib. // Pioneer W521 / Pioneer S76'.
Pioneer 2580 is an early-to-mid season variety possessing intermediate
plant height and good straw strength. It is considered resistant to
the prevalent field races of leaf rust and powdery mildew. It
possesses intermediate resistance to soilborne mosaic and wheat
spindle streak mosaic viruses and is moderately susceptible to stem
rust. Pioneer 2580 is susceptible to the Hessian fly. Both yields
and test weights have been average compared to other wheats tested in
Missouri during 1993 (Table 6). Exclusive ownership and distribution
rights of Pioneer 2580 are protected under the Federal Plant Variety
Protection Act of 1970 (PVP Cert. No. 9200160). More detailed
information on Pioneer 2580 is available from the company upon
request.
1993 Missouri Wheat Crop
Projected Crop Statistics
-------------------------
Missouri's 1993 wheat crop was harvested from 1,400,000 acres, up 3
percent from the wheat acreage harvested in 1992 (Table 5).
Substantial wheat acreage was abandoned in the North-West and North-
Central districts due to flooding and excessive sprout damage. The
statewide average yield projected by the Missouri Agricultural
Statistical Service is 40 bu/acre, up from 34 bu/acre reported for
1991, but down from 48 bu/acre reported for 1992. Projected district
average yields ranged from a high of 43 bu/acre for the South-East
district to a low of 29 bu/acre in the North-West district. Total
projected production of the 1993 Missouri wheat crop is 56.0 million
bushels, nearly 8 million bushels lower than 1992 production levels,
representing a 14 percent decline.