LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – Winter wheat seems poised for a breakthrough in Western Canada with improved varieties.
In the last 10 years, eight new varieties have been developed but they are not perfect, said Agriculture Canada plant breeder Rob Graf, who works on his winter wheat breeding program at the Lethbridge Research Centre.
Prairie farmers grow about one million acres of winter wheat.
To encourage more farmers to grow it, winter wheat must be improved so it can grade with spring wheat classes. Farmers need a hard red winter wheat, as well as a hard white winter wheat with better yields and disease resistance.
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Their wheat needs at least 12 percent protein to expand their international sales opportunities. A goal is to breed varieties to quality standards similar to an older variety called Northstar.
“If we can get it up to that level, we’ll have a much better potential to be able to market our winter wheat anywhere around the world,” Graf said at a conservation meeting.
CDC Kestrel is a popular variety because of its winter hardiness. However, it has relatively poor quality with lower protein and test weights.
In southern Alberta, AC Readymade grows well but it is less winter hardy, so it does not grow as well in colder areas.
“We’re not going to be seeing winter hardiness any better than Northstar or Kestrel,” said Graf.
“To get beyond that we may have to go to biotechnology.”
Traditional methods
Given the controversy over genetically modified organisms, winter wheat researchers will likely continue with traditional plant breeding.
Besides better yields and protein levels, disease resistance to stem and leaf rust is high on the list for improvements.
CDC Clair and CDC Osprey are two new varieties that show promise.
Compared to Kestrel, Clair has similar yields combined with good winter hardiness and good protein, but inferior milling quality and weaker, shorter straw.
Osprey has good quality, good winter hardiness and good straw strength but is susceptible to rust.Other varieties showing promise are CDC Harrier, AC Tempest, CDC Falcon, AC Bellatrix and CDC Raptor.
