June 29, 2006
The North Dakota
Agricultural Experiment Station announces the release of
Souris spring oats, according to Al Schneiter, North Dakota
State University Department of Plant Sciences chair.
Souris is a white-hulled variety that has a pedigree
similar to HiFi, a variety released by NDSU in 2001, according
to Mike McMullen, the leader of the NDSU oat breeding program.
Souris consistently has produced high yields and test weights
during five years of testing at several sites in North Dakota.
It consistently has been among the highest yielding lines
evaluated in these trials and is expected to replace Morton,
also a 2001 NDSU release and one of the state's most popular
varieties.
Souris typically has a greater groat percentage than HiFi or
Morton. Souris matures slightly earlier and is about 4 to 6
inches shorter than HiFi and Morton, respectively. The straw
strength of Souris is similar to Morton and stronger than HiFi.
The groat oil and beta-glucan content of Souris is less than
HiFi but greater than in Morton.
Souris has a new, excellent source of resistance to prevalent
races of crown rust. This resistance was derived from a
different species of oats. This new source of crown rust
resistance is important because the other sources of crown rust
resistance in all other current varieties appear to be breaking
down as the races of rust change.
The value of oat varieties are difficult to determine because
some is cut for hay, fed as grain to livestock or sold for human
and animal consumption. If Souris were to replace half of the
acreage in Morton at current prices, it would generate
approximately an additional $1 million in annual sales for North
Dakota oat producers. Since oats grown for hay and personal farm
livestock use are not included, the total value will be greater
than this amount.
Souris should provide North Dakota and regional oats producers
with a disease-resistant, high-yielding, white-hulled cultivar
with test weights consistently high enough for the premium oats
markets, as well as for other uses. Souris will grow well under
high moisture and fertility conditions. During several years of
evaluation in North Dakota, Souris produced yields 8 percent and
2.3 percent greater than Morton and HiFi, respectively.
Souris is named after the community of Souris, which is located
in Bottineau County. The seed increase will take place at NDSU
Research Extension Centers and can be viewed at REC field days
this summer. |