AWN Vol 43: awn43a2.html

Members of the National Wheat Improvement Committee.

November, 1996.

Dr. R.G. Sears, Chair Dr. C.J. Peterson, Secretary Department of Agronomy USDA-ARS, Department of Agronomy Kansas State University University of Nebraska Manhattan, KS 66506 Lincoln, NE 68583 (913) 532-7245 (402) 472-5191 FAX: (913) 532-6094 FAX: (402) 472-4020 rs@ksu.edu agro015@unlvm.unl.edu

Eastern Wheat Region

Dr. Anne McKendry, Chair Dr. Harold E. Bockelman, Secretary Department of Agronomy USDA-ARS 205 Curtis Hall 1691 So. 2700 W. University of Missouri P.O. Box 307 Columbia, MO 65211 Aberdeen, ID 83210 (573) 882-7708 (208) 397-4162 FAX: (573) 884-7850 FAX: (208) 397-4165 mckendry@psu.missouri.edu hbockelman@ars-grin.gov

Dr. Paul Murphy Dr. Fred Kolb Department of Crop Science Department of Crop Sciences North Carolina State University 1102 S. Goodwin Avenue Raleigh, NC 27607 University of Illinois Urbana, IL 61801 (919) 515-3281 (217) 244-6148 FAX: (919) 515-5657 FAX: (217) 333-9817 njpm@ncsumvs.edu f-kolb@uiuc.edu

Great Plains Spring Wheat Region

Dr. R. Frohberg, Chair Dr. Robert H. Busch, Secretary Department of Crop and Weed Science USDA-ARS, 411 Borlaug Hall North Dakota State University University of Minnesota Fargo, ND 58105 St. Paul, MN 55108 (701) 231-8143 (612) 625-1975 FAX: (701) 231-8474 FAX: (612) 625-1268 busch005@maroon.tc.umn.edu

Dr. Jackie Rudd Dr. Yue Jin Plant Science Department Plant Science Department South Dakota State University Box 2108 Brookings, SD 57007 South Dakota State University Brookings, SD 57007 (605) 688-4769 (605) 688-5540 FAX: (605) 688-4452 FAX: (605) 688-4024 ruddj@mg.sdstate.edu jiny@ur.sdstate.edu

Great Plains Winter Wheat Region

Dr. T.J. Martin, Chair Dr. Brett Carver Kansas Agricultural Research Center Department of Agronomy Kansas State University Oklahoma State University 1232 240th Avenue Stillwater, OK 74078 Hays, KS 67601 (913) 625-3425 (405) 744-9580 FAX: (913) 623-4369 FAX: (405) 744-5269 jmartin@oznet.ksu.edu bfc@soilwater.agr.okstate.edu

Dr. P. Steve Baenziger Dr. W. David Worrall Department of Agronomy Texas A & M University University of Nebraska P.O. Box 1658 Lincoln, NE 68583 Vernon, TX 76384 (402) 472-1538 (817) 552-9941 FAX: (402) 472-7904 FAX: (817) 553-4657 agro104@unlvm.unl.edu d-worrall@tamu.edu

Western Wheat Region

Dr. Russ Karow, Chair Dr. Roland F. Line, Secretary Department of Crop and Soil Science USDA-ARS, 361 Johnson Hall Oregon State University Washington State University Corvallis, OR 97331-3002 Pullman, WA 99164 (503) 737-5857 (509) 335-3755 FAX: (503) 737-1589 FAX: (509) 335-7674 karowr@css.orst.edu rline@wsu.edu

Dr. Ed Sousa Dr. Dale Clark Research and Extension Center Western Plant Breeders P.O. Box AA 8111 Timberline Drive Aberdeen, ID 83210-0530 Bozeman, MT 59715 (208) 397-4181 (406) 587-1218 FAX: (208) 397-4311 FAX: (406) 586-8247 esousza@uidahoedu wpbdan@avicom.net

National Association of Wheat Growers NAWG Foundation 415 Second Street NE Suite 300 Washington, DC 20002 (202) 547-7800 FAX: (202) 546-2638

WHEAT WORKER'S CODE OF ETHICS

This seed is being distributed in accordance with the `Wheat Workers' Code of Ethics for Distribution of Germplasm', developed and adopted by the National Wheat Improvement Committee on 5 November, 1994. Acceptance of this seed constitutes agreement.

1. The originating breeder, institution, or company has certain rights to the unreleased material. These rights are not waived with the distribution of seeds or plant material but remain with the originator.

2. The recipient of unreleased seeds or plant material shall make no secondary distributions of the germplasm without the permission of the owner/breeder.

3. The owner/breeder in distributing unreleased seeds or other propagating material grants permission for its use in tests under the recipient's control or as a parent for making crosses from which selections will be made. Uses for which written approval of the owner/breeder is required include:

(a) Testing in regional or international nurseries;

(b) Increase and release as a cultivar;

(c) Reselection from within the stock;

(d) Use as a parent of a commercial F1 hybrid, synthetic, or multiline cultivar;

(e) Use as a recurrent parent in backcrossing;

(f) Mutation breeding;

(g) Selection of somaclonal variants; or

(h) Use as a recipient parent for asexual gene transfer, including gene transfer using molecular genetic techniques.

4. Plant materials of this nature entered in crop cultivar trials shall not be used for seed increase. Reasonable precautions to ensure retention or recovery of plant materials at harvest shall be taken.

IV. CONTRIBUTIONS

PRIVATE COMPANIES

AGRIPRO SEEDS, INC.

P.O. Box 411, Brookston, IN 47923, USA.

Hybrid wheat sale.

R. Bruns, Berthoud, CO 80513, USA.

In June, 1996, AgriPro sold all of its hybrid wheat technology, germplasm, and selected assets to HybriTech Seeds International, Inc. A number of AgriPro staff also accepted positions with HybriTech. Hybrid wheat was a major focus for Agripro since the early 1980s, so this was a major shift in focus for the AgriPro breeding team. AgriPro will continue its extensive variety research in North America with five fully-staffed breeding teams: Southern Soft Red Winter Breeding at Jonesboro, AR; Northern Soft Red Winter Breeding near Lafayette, IN; Hard Winter Breeding, Hard Spring Breeding, and Canadian Spring Wheat Breeding at Berthoud, CO; and Rosebank, Manitoba, Canada.

Delta Soft Red Winter Wheat.

J. Barton Fogleman, Jr., Breeder and M. Montgomery, Jonesboro, AR 74202-2365 USA.

Seasonal summary. The planting season was good, with adequate moisture in most of the southern SRWW region. Several episodes of large temperature shifts early in the spring caused considerable damage to the lines that break dormancy early. The remaining season was nearly ideal for good yields. The physical grain quality of the crop was excellent. We made progress in identifying yield potential and resistance to FHB and the Septoria leaf complex.

Varietal releases. AgriPro Shelby. Shelby (92D*4413) was derived from the cross `FL302/7/C81132/5/So.Belle/4/Riley/Stoddard//Top/3/Arthur/6/Coker983'. Shelby is a high-yielding, strong-strawed, medium-tall wheat with midseason maturity. The cultivar has shown moderate resistance to the Septoria leaf-spotting complex, powdery mildew, and field races of leaf and stem rust. Shelby is well-adapted to the coastal plain areas of the Carolinas; the southern areas of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi (including the Delta); northern Florida; Louisiana; and Arkansas.

Hard winter wheat.

John Moffatt, Breeder, J. Brick, B. Fishburn, Berthoud, CO 80513, USA.

Seasonal summary. The 1995-96 crop season was dominated by a dry fall, significant wind aided soil erosion in the winter, and a major spring freeze that caused a significant mortality differential. Only a very narrow set of hardy, slow-growing, strongly-dormancy germplasm survived the extreme conditions. A high percentage of previously `adapted' cultivars were severely damaged, making for a long breeding season. We are looking forward to next season.

Varietal releases. AgriPro Big Dawg. Big Dawg (W93-460) was derived from a mass-selected bulk population from `adapted x adapted' crosses. Big Dawg is a standard-height wheat with full-season maturity and excellent straw strength. Big Dawg provides excellent protection to leaf rust, soilborne mosaic virus, spindle streak mosaic virus, and S. tritici. Milling and baking characteristics are acceptable. Big Dawg is best adapted to Kansas, northern Oklahoma, eastern Colorado, northern Texas, and southern Nebraska.

Hard spring wheat - United States.

Steve Askelson, Breeder, S. Seifert; Berthoud, CO 80513, USA.

Seasonal summary. The 1996 growing season began slowly, because of excessive snow in late winter and rainfall in the early spring that caused considerable delays in planting. The season progressed as well as could be expected, given the late start. Some areas experienced slight drought conditions, but these usually were not prolonged or very severe. Sporadic widespread rain during and for several weeks past anthesis allowed FHB to develop in the crop. Harvest was aided by dry weather. We collected adequate data on yield, test weight, agronomics, foliar disease complexes, FHB, and quality to move the program forward. Steve Askelson, a long-time AgriPro employee, assumed the breeding position in June when Blake Cooper accepted a position with the HybriTech hybrid team. We wish Blake all the best.

The 1996 growing season was the fourth consecutive season when FHB was a problem in the Red River Valley production area of the northern Great Plains. Enough FHB was present at several of our experimental test locations to allow the selection for more tolerant types to continue. The `Asian'-type resistance, as derived from Sumai 3, appear to be consistently good in field situations. Numerous other sources are being combined into the germplasm.

Varietal releases. AgriPro Nora. Nora (B89-562) is a HRSW bred by Jose Buck S.A. and developed in the U.S. by Agripro Seeds, Inc. Nora is a strong-strawed, high-yielding, medium-height semidwarf wheat with medium-early maturity. Nora provides good protection to leaf and stem rust, but is intermediate to the Septoria and nnntan spot leaf complex commonly occurring in the Red River Valley. Nora has high protein potential with acceptable end-use characteristics.

Hard spring wheat - Canada.

Joe Smith, Breeder, L. Sizemore, Berthoud, CO. USA. and K. McCallum, Rosebank, Manitoba, Canada.

Seasonal summary. AgriPro and United Grain Growers have had a wheat development project for Western Canada since 1987 Our predominant emphasis has been on the CWRS class with a smaller effort on CPS and winter wheat. In 1996, we generated good data from all of our eight locations located in the black-soil zones of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Our main breeding site at Rosebank, Manitoba, had a substantial Fusarium infection, which enabled us to shift our selection toward more tolerant types. We have started a Fusarium project to combine the most tolerant Canadian background materials with Asian sources of resistance.

Midwest soft red winter wheat research.

Curtis L. Beazer, Breeder; E. Glover; and D.L. Scruggs; Brookston, IN USA.

Seasonal summary. The 1995-96 planting season was good, with adequate moisture in most of the midwest SRWW region. Several huge temperature swings in late winter caused considerable winter/spring kill. Lines with the most damage never fully recovered and yielded poorly. Heavy rains during late May and early June resulted in extreme head scab over broad areas for the second year in a row. Progress for selecting moderate levels of resistance and tolerance was good. Yield data was primarily a reflection of survival and resistance to FHB and the Septoria leaf complex. Curtis Beazer, a long-time AgriPro employee, assumed the breeding position in June when Koy Miskin accepted a position with the HybriTech hybrid team. We wish Koy all the best.

Varietal releases-AgriPro Bradley. Bradley (92M-3122) was derived from the cross `C83980#1/TwainF1//HRW9641/Benni'. Bradley is a high-yielding, medium-height variety with medium-late maturity. The variety has shown moderate resistance to the Septoria leaf-spotting complex, powdery mildew, and field races of leaf rust. Milling and baking properties are good and test weight is excellent. Bradley is generally well-adapted to the northern SRWW growing area, including Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and the surrounding states.


ELSOMS SEEDS LIMITED

Pinchbeck Road, Spalding, Lincolnshire, PE11 1QG, United Kingdom.

D.W. Feuerhelm

Our breeding activities are based at Spalding, Lincolnshire. All selection, disease testing, and purification work also are at this location. Yield trials are conducted on up to 11 sites throughout the major wheat growing areas of the U.K. In addition to our own breeding activities, we also are the U.K. agents for a number of European breeders.

Cultivars currently being commercialized are Caxton, a high-yielding breadmaking cultivar from the cross `Moulin x Riband', and Soissons, an early-maturing, breadmaking cultivar from Florimond Desprez. Caxton also is being commercialized in France and Belgium.

The cultivar Chaucer, a very high-yielding, stiff-strawed, breadmaking cultivar is being considered for addition to the U.K. Recommended List of cultivars by The National Institute of Agricultural Botany after the 1997 harvest. We also have eight cultivars being tested in official trials in the U.K., in two trials in Ireland and Germany, and one trial in Denmark, France, and the Netherlands.

Our laboratory facilities at Spalding will produce dihaploids for our breeding program and also conduct extensive quality assessments for the breadmaking and biscuit markets.

GOERTZEN SEED RESEARCH

14607 S. Haven Road, Haven, KS 67543, USA.

Kevin Goertzen, seedstocks; Sid Perry, breeder; and Dana Shellberg, technician.

1995-96 season.

Severe drought produced very low yields and, in some cases, abandoned trials in much of the western and southwestern portions of the hard winter wheat region. Hereford, TX, had average yields less than 10 bu/acre. Woodrow, CO, however, averaged 60 bu/acre. The central plains benefitted from late rains and lack of disease pressure, with yields averaging 30-50 bu/acre.

Material that held dormancy and survived the late winter severe cold was greatly favored. Overall, 30 % of our yield trial locations were lost.

Hard winter wheat.

G1878 was released for identity-preserved, contract growing, in selected regions in Colorado, Texas, and Kansas. A hard red wheat of medium maturity and height, G1878 is resistant to soilborne mosaic virus; holds dormancy well; and has good shattering resistance, large kernels, and excellent test weights. G1878 has performed well in both central and western plains environments, although the leaf disease package is not extremely strong. Plant variety protection has been applied for.

Soft winter wheat.

G2500 was released for identity-preserved, contract growing in selected regions of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. This cultivar is resistant to soilborne mosaic virus, has good resistance to leaf rust and tan spot, and moderate resistance to powdery mildew, but has shown susceptibility to S. nodorum. G2500 has good standability, winter hardiness, and shatter resistance, holds dormancy well, and is moderately late maturing. Plant variety protection has been applied for.

Hybrid wheat.

Although no longer commercially producing hybrid wheat in the U.S., we continue to test hybrids produced both chemically and with timopheevi cytoplasm and continue to develop new parents suitable for use as hybrid components for the U.S., and South Africa.

Spring wheat.

Experimental lines are being tested for the second year in the Sacramento Valley of California to assess suitability for identity-preserved, contract production.

Identity-preserved program.

year. Grain handling locations have been prioritized for identity-preserved suitability, and the elevator and producer base continues to expand and diversify.


HYBRINOVA

AZ de Courtaboeuf, 16 Avenue de la Baltique, Les Ulis, Cedex, 91953, France.

Alain Gervais

Commercial development of wheat hybrids Hyno-Precia and Hyno-Rista progressed in 1996. Over 16,000 doses (750,000 seed/dose) were sold. These hybrids were produced on several hundred 5-20 ha fields throughout France. This regional diversification of hybrid seed production is an insurance against local climatic accidents.

Northern Breeding Station, 60.

Stephen D. Sunderwirth.

1995-1996 season. The autumn of 1995 was mild and warm. Sowing was quick and emergence excellent. This same weather was favorable for aphid activity and an early powdery mildew epidemic before winter. The winter was cooler and much drier than normal. There was no winter kill. Spring and summer also were dry. Stem and foliar diseases were almost nonexistent and caused no major damage. Yields in northern France reached an all-time record high. Average farm yields often topped the 100 Qx/ha mark. These yields were obtained with only half the average rainfall, which normally is 650 mm. The major explanation was that there were no days with maximum temperatures above 25 C during flowering and grain filling. The year was favorable for late-maturing wheat varieties.

Varietal development. Hybrids Hyno-Seha and Hyno-Kalia were registered in the autumn of 1996 for northern France. Hyno-Seha is a soft red winter feed wheat (111 % of checks). This hybrid will first be developed in Brittany. Hyno-Kalia is a semihard, red winter wheat with good breadmaking quality.

Hybrid wheat HA534.53, along with the doubled haploid HADM702, successfully entered their second year of official trials (1996-97). The hybrid has breadmaking quality similar to Hyno-Kalia, but is higher yielding. Triticale HA87909 entered its second year of official trials.

Two new wheat hybrids, HA641.53 and HA1066.53, entered registration in the autumn of 1996 for northern France. Both of these hybrids are high-yielding feed wheats, with good resistance to stripe rust, leaf rust, powdery mildew, and S. nodorum.

Development in northern Europe. Hybrid wheats HA1066.22 and HA1066.50 entered official trials in Belgium during the autumn of 1996. HA1066.22 also was entered in the German official trials. Both of these hybrids are high-yielding, disease-resistant feed wheats.

Southern Breeding Station, 32.

Christian Quandalle.

1995-1996 season. Heavy rains following the November sowing caused severe water logging and loss of plants, particularly in the hybrid durum wheat trials. The winter was mild and dry. Spring and summer had higher than normal rainfall, which explains the high yields obtained. Late-maturing wheats were favored. Septoria and powdery mildew were nonexistent in the early stages of growth, and leaf rust developed too late to cause any serious damage.

Varietal development. Marvao was registered on the B list in France. The seed production of this cultivar is for export to Italy, Spain, and Portugal. This early-maturing, semihard red alternative wheat has excellent breadmaking quality and is very high yielder in southern Europe.

The DH wheat HAES667 completed its first year of official trials. This early-maturing medium-quality wheat also is destined for Italy, Spain, and Portugal. One new doubled-haploid wheat, HAAB507, entered first year of official trials in southern France in autumn 1996.

The hybrid durum wheat project has identified three candidates to enter official trials in the autumn of 1997.

Development in southern Europe. Sixty wheat hybrids are presently in trials in Italy, Spain, Hungry, Portugal, and Algeria.

Double haploid laboratory. Two new polyurethane tunnels were installed in Pouy, along with a new drop irrigation system. These improvements will increase the efficiency of the laboratory. Over 13,000 DH plants were delivered to the breeders in the form of seeds.


HYBRITECH SEED INTERNATIONAL, a unit of the Monsanto Company

6025 W. 300 South, Lafayette, Indiana USA.

Soft red winter wheat breeding.

Koy E. Miskin, Jamie Bobula, Rollin Machtmes, and Daryl Fryman.

Considerable changes were made at Hybritech Seed International this year. Gordon Cisar has taken over responsibility as hard red winter hybrid wheat senior project leader and Koy E. Miskin, formerly with Agripro Seeds, in now the senior project leader of the soft red winter hybrid wheat research. Jack Berg and Roger Leafgren have left Hybritech, and Daryl Fryman has been hired as a research assistant. Jamie will continue as an assistant hybrid wheat breeder and Rollin will continue as pathologist. Kendell Hellewell, a Minnesota Ph.D. graduate, has been hired as project leader and will assume responsibilities in March, 1997.

SRWW hybrids performed exceptionally well this year. Quantum 706 averaged 21 bu/acre (1.4 T/ha) more than the three top check varieties. Over the past 4 years, Quantum 706 has averaged 14 bu/acre (0.9 T/ha) more than these same three checks. Quantum 706 is an awnless, midseason hybrid with a very good disease resistance and milling and baking scores and is best adapted to the lower Great Lakes and Ohio Valley regions. Quantum 708 is an awnless, full-season hybrid best adapted to the lower Great Lakes and Ohio Valley regions. The cultivar has very good test weight and disease resistance, but is not resistant to powdery mildew. In 1996, Quantum 708 yielded an average of 23 bu/acre (1.5 T/ha) more than the average of the top three checks. Over the past 4 years, it has performed, on average, 16 bu/acre (1.07 T/ha) above the same three checks.

One new hybrid has been named Quantum 7203 (formerly EH9503) and is advanced to production. Quantum 7203 is medium-early, awnless and has very good disease resistance. Over the past 4 years, Quantum 7203 has performed an average of 15 bu/acre (1 T/ha) above the mean of top three checks. Four additional hybrids have been selected and advanced to pilot production.

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