Minnesota Hard Red Spring Wheat Variety Trials

By James Anderson, Jochum Wiersma, Don McVey, Ruth Dill-Macky

The results of the state yield trials are summarized in Tables 1, 2, and 3.  In addition to the state yield trials, the results of the Red River On-Farm Yield Trials are also included. For the yield trials, the average yield of southern testing locations (St. Paul, Waseca, Lamberton and Morris) was 61 bushels per acre in 2001.  This compares to an average of 57 bushels per acre in 2000 and a three-year average of 56 bushels per acre.  The northern locations (Crookston, Stephen and Roseau) averaged 52 bushels per acre in 2001 compared to 59 bushels last year and a three-year average of 54 bushels per acre.

Table 1 presents the average grain yield for the combined locations in the north, south, and the whole state for both 2001 and both the two- and three-year averages. In this year’s yield trials, ‘Oxen,’ ‘NorPro,’ and ‘McVey,’ were among the highest yielding varieties across the southern locations. Especially the fact that McVey performed so well, indicates that the month of June was cooler than average across the state as this late maturing spring wheat is very sensitive to heat stress. The three-year average (1999-2001) of the southern locations indicates that ‘Oxen,’ ‘Mercury,’ ‘NorPro’ and ‘Ivan’ are among the highest yielding varieties.

‘Mercury’ was also the highest yielding variety across the northern locations for 2001 as well as for the three-year average. Other cultivars that have been in the top bracket for yield in the last three years are ‘Oxen’ and ‘Ivan.’ The results of the Red River On-Farm Yield Trials largely agree with the results of the northern locations yield trials.

Grain yield is an important economic trait but return per acre is also a function of the grain quality of the bushels produced. Scab can reduce grain quality and yield dramatically, and thus is an important consideration.  Varietal characteristics are presented in Tables 2 and 3.  Most values are three-year (1999-2001) averages. The foliar disease rating represents the total complex of leaf diseases other than leaf rust, and includes Septoria and tan spot.  Although varieties may differ for their response to each of those diseases, the rating does not differentiate among them.  Therefore, the rating should be used as a general indication and only for varietal selection in areas where these diseases historically have been a problem or if the previous crop is wheat or barley.  Control of leaf diseases with fungicides may be warranted, even for those varieties with an above average rating.

The varietal response to scab is presented as a severity rating similar to the rating for leaf and stem rust. The resistance to spread in the head is the basis for this severity rating and is one of the resistance mechanisms to the disease. In addition, a second rating is provided to characterize the ability of a variety to maintain sound, plump kernels despite visual disease symptoms on the head.  This ability to maintain sound kernels and thus, test weight is another component to resistance.

Variety selection for 2001 remains a balance among yield potential, disease responses, and grain quality.  Leading varieties, based on acres planted, in Minnesota include ‘Oxen,’ ‘Ingot,’ ‘Gunner’ and ‘Alsen.’   New releases for this year include both public and private varieties. South Dakota State University released ‘Walworth’.  ‘Walworth’ had an impressive yield record in both the South Dakota yield trials as well as the Uniform Regional Hard Red Spring Wheat nursery, which is grown across 15 northern states and provinces in the U.S. and Canada, in prior years. ‘Walworth’ did excellent in Minnesota’s trials these past two years as well. AgriPro released ‘Hanna’ and ‘Knutson.’ Other cultivars that were included for the first time in the trials were ‘Keystone,’ ‘CDC Bounty,’ and ‘Amazon.’

Of the recent releases, ‘Ivan’ and ‘Mercury’ continue to impress with a high yield potential across the whole region. However, ‘Mercury’s’ very poor rating for FHB makes this variety less suited for Minnesota producers. ‘Russ’ and ‘Oxen’ remain stable, high yielding varieties. ‘Ingot’ and ‘Gunner’ both remain popular varieties because of their grain quality. ‘Reeder’ and ‘Norpro’ are starting to prove themselves as excellent varieties that combine grain quality and grain yield. ‘Alsen,’ NDSU’s first release with a Chinese source of resistance to scab in its pedigree, had a very high average yield last year in the southern locations, but performed more as expected across the whole state with two years of data collected.  ‘Alsen’ remains an excellent replacement for 2375 and one of the best hedges against Fusarium Head Blight.

Table 1.     Relative grain yield of Hard Red Spring Wheat varieties in Minnesota in single year (2001) and multiple year comparisons.   State North South On-Farm   1yr 2yr 3yr 1yr 2yr 3yr 1yr 2yr 3yr 1yr 2yr 3yr Variety 1 % of mean Forge 99 96 95 98 94 95 99 97 95 101 98 103 Bacup 72 69 70 77 70 73 70 68 68 - - - Ingot 98 97 97 103 97 97 95 96 97 99 99 107 Walworth 108 108 - 110 102 - 107 112 - 109 - - Ember 95 95 92 100 99 96 92 91 90 - - - McKenzie 91 91 - 95 92 - 88 91 - 90 89 - Oxen 109 108 109 105 104 106 112 112 111 108 104 116 Russ 104 105 106 98 102 101 108 108 109 99 98 111 2375 105 101 101 106 103 105 103 100 98 102 100 107 Alsen 98 99 - 102 97 - 95 101 - 96 93 - Hanna 93 - - 98 - - 90 - - - - - Keystone 98 - - 98 - - 98 - - - - - Norm 104 100 101 101 99 100 106 102 103 - - - Parshall 96 96 96 104 101 99 92 93 94 95 94 101 Reeder 110 107 106 114 107 103 108 107 108 105 103 110 CDC Bounty 80 - - 86 - - 76 - - - - - Dandy 106 105 - 109 108 - 103 104 - 106 104 - Gunner 94 86 87 94 90 87 93 84 86 93 90 89 HJ98 102 102 103 91 99 101 109 105 104 96 104 109 Knutson 106 - - 105 - - 106 - - - - - Mercury 113 111 113 114 111 110 113 111 114 107 108 - Norpro 110 107 107 97 102 102 118 111 110 105 107 - Amazon - - - 91 - - - - - - - - Aurora 102 101 102 105 102 102 100 100 102 - - - Ivan 107 105 110 107 106 109 107 105 110 101 106 116 Marshall 99 96 93 92 97 95 104 96 92 96 99 102 Verde 100 102 104 98 99 101 101 104 106 97 100 107 McVey 106 102 103 96 101 102 112 103 103 100 107 114 LSD (0.05) 11 7 6 15 10 9 14 10 8 10 6 8 Mean (bu/A) 57 58 55 52 56 54 61 60 56 60 67 56 1Varieties are listed from earlist to latest heading date.