Take home messages:

• Select varieties that are suitably adapted to the growing season and environmental conditions.
• Identify the likely disease constraints for a particular situation and determine if varieties with suitable resistances can be used as the key disease management tool
• New varieties ideally will have two or more years of regional yield evaluation and data to support disease resistance claims.

Major northern and central diseases to consider include crown rot, common root rot, yellow leaf spot and RLN ( P. thornei ). Stripe rust has also become a major issue with the arrival of the WA pathotype.

Given the high cost of some stripe rust management strategies, particularly for varieties with either inadequate stripe rust resistance, or where conditions are conducive to high disease levels, farmers should consider the economics of sowing varieties with good levels of resistance.

AWBI has introduced Golden Rewards Premium Choice Variety payments for selected Prime Hard preferred wheat varieties for export. Lang and Sunco for the north and Lang, Sunco and Sunvale are the Premium Choice varieties for northern and central NSW respectively. The needs of the domestic milling industry should also be considered, and are often quite different to export requirements.

Wheat varieties

Marombi and Mackellar are both dual-purpose varieties that are particularly suited to higher rainfall tablelands and slopes areas. Recommendations are for areas east of the Newell Highway. Grain recovery in lower rainfall and western areas will be disappointing. Early dry matter production of both is slow compared to Whistler.

Marombi - awnless ASW quality winter wheat with good yield and stripe rust resistance.

Mackellar - awnless, red grained feed quality winter wheat. Resistant to Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus.

More recent releases:

GBA Ruby - AGP for northern and central NSW, ASW quality southern NSW. Intermediate maturity. Resistant to stripe rust.

GBA Combat - AH quality. Janz maturity. Susceptible to stripe rust.

GBA Sapphire - PH quality. Janz maturity. Moderately susceptible to stripe rust.

GBA Hunter - Feed wheat with similar maturity to Janz. Resistant to stripe rust.

Ellison (SUN366A) - PH in northern NSW, AH* central and southern NSW. Trial yield data is from early sown series. 98% Sunbri North East, 104% North West. Yield similar to Wylah in the south. Maturity close to Lang. Significant frost damage occurred in commercial crops and trials in 2004.

Ventura (SUN376G) - AH northern NSW, APW* in central and southern NSW. Sunstate maturity. Resistant to stripe rust. VPM plus additional resistance genes. Sunvale level of tolerance to RLN ( P. thornei ) and crown rot. 102% yield of Janz in North and South East, 101% in South West.

H46 (TMB406F-2) - quick maturing H45 derivative. Improved stripe rust resistance. Moderately susceptible to stripe rust. Moderately resistant to yellow leaf spot. From limited testing (2003) 102% yield Janz in North West, equal in North East and South.

Rees - AH northern NSW, APW quality in central and southern NSW. Sister line to Drysdale. 101% yield of Janz in North, equal to Janz in South. Lower yielding than Drysdale. Moderately resistant to common root rot. Moderately resistant and very tolerant to RLN ( P. thornei ).

EGA Gregory (QT10776) - double haploid line with Batavia maturity. PH Qld, AH * classification northern NSW. Stripe rust resistant. Very tolerant to RLN ( P. thornei ). Susceptible to crown rot, moderately resistant to common root rot, susceptible to yellow spot. 105% Sunbri in North East, 107% North West. 103 % Wylah in South East, 102% South West.

EGA Wylie (QT 10198) - APW * northern and central NSW. Baxter selection with longer maturity and improved RLN ( P. thornei ) tolerance. Better than Baxter and Sunvale for RLN tolerance. Moderately resistant to crown rot (more resistant than Baxter and equal to or better than Sunco). Moderately resistant to common root rot. Susceptible to yellow spot. 105% yield of Sunbri North East, 107% North West.

EGA Wentworth (QT10580) - AH classification Qld and northern NSW. Intermediate maturity (between Hartog and Cunningham). 105% Janz in north east, 107% North West. 103% Janz south east, 105% south west. Moderate tolerance to RLN ( P. thornei ). Moderate resistance to common root rot and useful resistance to crown rot.

* indicates temporary quality classification and is under review.

(NB: Commercial quantities of seed of EGA Gregory, EGA Wylie and EGA Wentworth will not be available until 2006).

Implications and actions

Yield, quality considerations, adequate levels of disease resistance, marketability and premiums are important considerations when selecting varieties.

References:

Winter Crop Variety Sowing Guide 2005, Winter Crop Variety Experiments 2003.

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.