Ohio Wheat Performance test results available

COLUMBUS – The Ohio Wheat Performance Tests are now available in several formats.

The results can be obtained online at Ohio State University’s Web site, Ohioline, at www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/wheat2001/ or from OSU extension county offices in booklet form as “Horticulture and Crop Science Series 228” (July 2001).

This is an important source of information for wheat producers in that the data provided can be used effectively to choose those top producing varieties for planting on their farm, according to Pat Lipps, OSU plant pathologist.

Plot information. The performance test results includes yield data of 43 wheat varieties from five locations (Wood, Crawford, Wayne, Darke and Pickaway counties) along with test weights, seeds per pound, lodging, plant height and heading date.

Additional information is available on disease reactions (powdery mildew, Stagonospora leaf blotch and head scab) and grain quality data, including flour yield and flour softness.

Most wheat producers choose wheat varieties based on yield. However, wheat varieties should be chosen based on consistency of high yield and other characteristics including test weight, lodging potential, heading date and disease resistance.

Lipps advises producers to look at consistency of yield across locations and years where possible.

Yields by variety. Of the 43 varieties tested in 2001, 14 yielded the same, statistically, as the top yielding variety across the 5 locations. When averaged across the locations the top yielding varieties were: AGI 521, AGI 535, AGI Honey, AgriPro Patton, Certified Hopewell, Certified Roane, Classic RW1480, Rupp RS9909, Steyer Bernard, Steyer Bouillon, Thompson TS6020, Wellman W-115, Wellman W9910 and Wellman W9940.

However, these were not necessarily the highest yielding varieties at each county location. At the site with the most disease pressure in Pickaway County, Certified Freedom had the highest yield, probably due to its disease resistance, Lipps said.

Lipps offered advice for producers on interpreting the data:

* Look at the tables that present the two-year and three-year yield data to find varieties with consistent, or stable, high yield across locations and over time.

* Hedge your bets on any wheat variety by planting several high yielding varieties with different heading dates and better than average disease resistance.

* Choose varieties with low disease scores for those diseases that have been important on your farm.

New to the test. Included in this test for the first time were four triticale varieties. Triticale is a cross between wheat and rye with performance somewhat similar to wheat. It is generally used for animal feed, but it can be milled into flour for baking. Flour yield from triticale is similar to wheat but flour softness is inferior to the common soft red wheats grown in Ohio.