Advanced Yield and Preliminary Spring Wheat Variety Performance Trials (2001)

Abstract

This report evaluates agronomic performance of new experimental lines and existing hard red spring wheat varieties in Central Montana. The Advanced Yields ranged from 34.3 to 47.5 bu/a and averaged 40.5 bu/a. Due to low precipitation, grain yields were lower than average. Test weights averaged below normal at 58 lbs/bu and proteins averaged 17.3 percent. Preliminary Yields ranged from 29.8 to 44.6 bu/a with the average yield being 35.7 bu/a. Test weights averaged 57.4 lbs/bu and grain protein averaged 18.3 percent. Broken stems were noticed in the nurseries this year and were attributed to strawbreaker, a disease of wheat caused by the fungus Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides. Stem breakage in the Advanced Yield grain nursery was not significant and averaged less than 0.1 percent of the total plot. Stem breakage in the Preliminary Yield grain nursery ranged from 0 to 2 percent except for one experimental line where breakage was recorded at 14 percent of the total plot. High protein levels accompanied lower than average test weights in both nurseries indicative of the low level of moisture received this year.