Take home message:

• Variety selection: Rewards from careful consideration make it worth the effort.

Will the new varieties Ellison, GBA Combat and GBA Sapphire make an impact this winter? Or will farmers delay change and wait for results of on farm evaluation in 2005 of EGA Gregory, EGA Wentworth, EGA Wylie and Ventura. Research from DPI&F staff in the yield evaluation and disease screening programs provides results to compare these new varieties to established varieties. Only after making these comparisons will we be able to answer these questions.

What do the new varieties for 2005 offer?

• Ellison : An APH variety to replace Suneca. It has improved grain yield, quality, yellow spot tolerance and rust resistance characteristics.
• GBA Combat : A new preferred AH variety with similar maturity to Banks.
• GBA Sapphire : An APH variety of similar maturity to Janz. Widely adapted with consistent yield. Achieved high yields in 2004 southern Queensland trials (1% greater than Baxter, Table 3)

What do the new varieties for 2006 offer?

• EGA Gregory : An APH variety of similar maturity to Batavia. It has out-yielded Strzelecki by 5% in southern Queensland early season trials (Table 3) and has excellent levels of rust resistance and is very tolerant to root lesion nematodes.
• EGA Wentworth : An AH variety of intermediate maturity with acceptable resistance to all current rust strains and useful resistance to other diseases.
• EGA Wylie : A selection from Baxter currently classified as AH. It takes 2 to 3 days longer to mature than Baxter and has improved agronomic and disease characteristics: shorter, improved RLN tolerance, improved crown rot resistance and additional rust genes.
• Ventura : An AH variety of Hartog maturity. Resistant to all current rust strains. Tolerant to root lesion nematodes and crown rot. Ventura has yield 4% higher than Hartog in southern Queensland trials.

Detailed ratings and yield performance for these new varieties are in tables 1 to 3 with the ratings for the established varieties. These tables enable comparisons between varieties and within maturity groups. It is relevant to note that ratings and yield predictions for new varieties with only one year of data available cannot be stated as confidently as established varieties with data collected over many years and sites.

Having identified some advantages for each of the new varieties it is time to answer the main question; is one variety better than the other. Determining likely market share is difficult but we can make some generalities. For example: across southern Queensland for planting window 1 we can confidently say that EGA Gregory is likely to out-yield Strzelecki (Table 3). However if conditions are conducive to an out break of yellow spot then Strzelecki has an advantage due to its greater resistance (Table 2). We can make many general statements like this for different varieties and scenarios but it is what will happen in your paddock that counts. Therefore farmers will need to consider the attributes of each paddock and season separately to make useful decisions.

The following points indicate a process whereby decisions on variety selection can be made for individual paddocks.

• Know the characteristics of your paddock.
  • Are melon holes a concern?
  • What is the nitrogen status?
  • Have rotation or management decisions influenced disease levels?
• Is a particular market being aimed at?
  • Domestic
  • Export
  • Other - feed / soft / durum / quality premiums (Table 4)
• What are the frost risks for that paddock?
• Are any of the following diseases of concern for the coming season?
  • Yellow Spot
  • Crown Rot
  • Common Root Rot
  • Root Lesion Nematodes
  • Rusts - stem / leaf /stripe
• Are agronomic characteristics important?
  • Black Point
  • Shattering
  • Pre harvest sprouting

If these questions can be answered the information in tables 1 to 4 can be used to select one or maybe two varieties for each planting window. Then when an opportunity arises you can be prepared to plant with your first choice thereby maximising the potential return for a paddock in that year.

Selecting the right variety for each situation is not easy as there are up to 12 attributes to consider for each variety plus seasonal variations. However if the correct decision is made the benefits can be significant. It is up to the individual to do the calculations and assess the risks and benefits; all we aim to do is provide information that is accurate and relevant to your region. In doing these assessments be aware that information from one season compared to information gathered from a number of sites over a number of years may generate misleading perceptions of advantage or disadvantage. In the end the status of the new varieties will be determined by their success in the paddock.

Table 1: Planting Time Suggestions

		Planting times by weeks
District Maranoa, Balonne, Western Downs, South West	Varieties in order of maturity, slow to quick, within each broad maturity group	April				May				June				July
		1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4
	•Sunbri (planting window 1)		E	C	C	L
	•EGA Gregory, Strzelecki, Petrie (planting window 1)		E	C	C	C	C	L
	•Sunlin, Giles , EGA Wylie, Sunvale, Baxter, Rees, GBA Sapphire, GBA Combat (planting window 2)			E	E	C	C	C	C	C	C	L
	•Sunco, EGA Hume, Ellison, Lang, EGA Wentworth (planting window 2)				E	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	L	L
	•Kennedy, Ventura, Hartog, Sunstate, Leichhardt (planting window 3)					E	C	C	C	C	C	C	L	L

Frost damage may be minimised by planting varieties within the range of dates recommended above. This table was compiled from presently available data.

Planting Categories

E = Early: Early planted crops face the risk of frost damage from pre-flowering to grain fill. Therefore, plant early in areas of low frost risk, such as higher slopes, and reduce the risk of frost damage by planting more than one variety and by varying planting times.

C = Conventional: Varieties sown at their most appropriate planting times flower after the main frost period, although late frosts may still cause damage.

L = Late: The reliability of yield can be low following a very late planting due to high temperatures during flowering and grain filling.

• Indicates maturity groups within individual districts

Table 2: Bread And Noodle Wheats - Disease And Agronomy Ratings

Legend:

A numerical scale is used to indicate levels of resistance to diseases and other conditions.

9-8 (High) indicates a high level of resistance and grain yield is unlikely to be reduced.
7-6 (Medium) indicates disease may develop in favourable conditions, some yield loss may occur.
5-4 (Low) indicates disease may be conspicuous in favourable situations with moderate yield losses.
3-1 (Very low) indicates high levels of disease may occur with substantial yield losses.

{Eg. Sunlin is the variety least likely to shatter - rating 9; Sunco is the variety most susceptible to lodging (poor straw strength) - rating 3.}

• AWB Ltd maximum classification and AWB Ltd Quality preferences describe suitability for export markets, not always reflecting the varietal preference of domestic millers. (Note: APH-Australian Prime Hard, AH-Australian Hard, ADR1-Australian Durum No.1)
† RLN tolerance applies to Pratylenchus thornei and not to Pratylenchus neglectus .
# Black point will not cause a reduction in yield but may result in grain receiving a different classification. (The bread wheat standard is 5% affected grains and the durum standard for ADR1 is 3% affected grains. Therefore the potential for economic loss in some durum crops may be greater than in comparable bread wheats.)
* The response of this variety will change to 5 when tested against Yr17 - virulent pathotype.
- Indicates that a rating is not available.
P Indicates a provisional rating based on 1 years yield data.
Ÿ Seed of these varieties should be available for planting in the 2006 season.

Table 3: Southern Qld Yield Data (Includes Options For 2006 & NSW Varieties)

Table 4: Golden Rewards Premium Choice Varieties 2005-06, 2006-07.

Disclaimer
Any recommendations, suggestions or opinions contained in this publications do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Grains Research and Development Corporation. No person should act on the basis of the contents of this publication without first obtaining specific, independent professional advice. The Grains Research and Development Corporation will not be liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred or arising by reason of any person using or relying on the information in this publication.