In 2014, the University of Vermont Extension conducted an extensive organic variety trial to evaluate hard red winter wheat in order to determine which varieties thrive in the Northeast. The trial was established at the Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, Vermont

Cummings, Erica

Darby, Heather

Monahan, Susan

Post, Julian

Zeigler, Sara

English

UVM ScholarWorks

University of VermontScholarWorks @ UVMNorthwest Crops & Soils Program UVM Extension2014Organic Winter Wheat Variety Trial ReportHeather DarbyUniversity of Vermont, heather.darby@uvm.eduErica CummingsUniversity of VermontSusan MonahanUniversity of VermontJulian PostUniversity of VermontSara ZeiglerUniversity of VermontFollow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/nwcspPart of the Agricultural Economics CommonsThis Report is brought to you for free and open access by the UVM Extension at ScholarWorks @ UVM. It has been accepted for inclusion inNorthwest Crops & Soils Program by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ UVM. For more information, please contactdonna.omalley@uvm.edu.Recommended CitationDarby, Heather; Cummings, Erica; Monahan, Susan; Post, Julian; and Zeigler, Sara, "Organic Winter Wheat Variety Trial Report"(2014). Northwest Crops & Soils Program. 162.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/nwcsp/162  2014 Organic Winter Wheat  Variety Trial Report     Dr. Heather Darby, UVM Extension Agronomist Erica Cummings, Susan Monahan, Julian Post and Sara Zeigler UVM Extension Crop and Soil Technicians  (802) 524-6501  Visit us on the web: http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil       © January 2015, University of Vermont Extension                                                                  † HR = hard red, HW = hard white, SW = soft white.  ‡ Year of release was not always available.     2014 ORGANIC WINTER WHEAT VARIETY TRIAL Dr. Heather Darby, University of Vermont Extension Heather.Darby[at]uvm.edu  In 2014, the University of Vermont Extension conducted an extensive organic variety trial to evaluate hard red winter wheat in order to determine which varieties thrive in the Northeast. The trial was established at the Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, Vermont.   MATERIALS AND METHODS  The experimental plot design at both locations was a randomized complete block with four replications. The sixteen winter wheat varieties evaluated are listed in Table 1.  Table 1. 2014 Winter wheat varieties planted in Alburgh, VT  Winter Wheat Varieties Type† Origin and Year of Release‡ Seed Source App. White HW NC, 2009 USDA-ARS, NC Arapahoe HR NE, 1998 Albert Lea Seed House, MN Expedition HR SD, 2002 Albert Lea Seed House, MN Ideal HR SD, Pending North Dakota State Univ. Morley (AC) HR Canada Bramhill Seeds, Canada Neo 5425 HR NE, Experimental University of Nebraska-Lincoln Neo 6469 HR NE, Experimental University of Nebraska-Lincoln NEO6545(Freeman) HR NE, Experimental University of Nebraska-Lincoln Neo 6607 HR NE, Experimental University of Nebraska-Lincoln Neo 7409 HR NE, Experimental University of Nebraska-Lincoln NuEast HR NC, 2009 USDA-ARS, NC Overland HR NE, 2006 Albert Lea Seed House, MN Redeemer HR Canada Bramhill Seeds, Canada Robidoux HR NE, 2011 USDA-ARS, NE Sherman SR OR, 1928 2012 Saved seed, VT Warthog HR Canada Seedway, VT  The seedbed was prepared by conventional tillage methods. All plots were managed with practices similar to those used by producers in the surrounding areas (Table 2). The previous crop planted at the Alburgh site was spring wheat, oats and barley. The field was fall plowed, disked and spike tooth harrowed to prepare for planting. The plots were seeded with a  Great Plains Cone Seeder on 26-Sep 2013.   Flowering dates of the wheat were recorded when at least 75% of the spikes were in bloom. Throughout the growing season other pertinent observations on wheat development were recorded. Grain plots were harvested at the Alburgh site with an Almaco SPC50 plot combine on 22-Jul, and the harvest area was 5’ x 20’. At the time of harvest, grain moisture, test weight, and yield were calculated.  Following harvest, seed was cleaned with a small Clipper cleaner (A.T. Ferrell, Bluffton, IN). An approximate one pound subsample was collected to determine quality. Quality measurements included standard testing parameters used by commercial mills. Test weight was measured by the weighing of a known volume of grain. Generally the heavier the wheat is per bushel, the higher baking quality. The acceptable test weight for bread wheat is 56-60 lbs per bushel. Once test weight was determined, the samples were then ground into flour using the Perten LM3100 Laboratory Mill. At this time, flour was evaluated for its protein content, falling number, and mycotoxin levels. Grains were analyzed for protein content using the Perten Inframatic 8600 Flour Analyzer. Grain protein affects gluten strength and loaf volume. Most commercial mills target 12-15% protein. The determination of falling number (AACC Method 56-81B, AACC Intl., 2000) was measured on the Perten FN 1500 Falling Number Machine. The falling number is related to the level of sprout damage that has occurred in the grain. It is measured by the time it takes, in seconds, for a stirrer to fall through a slurry of flour and water to the bottom of the tube. Falling numbers greater than 350 indicate low enzymatic activity and sound quality wheat. A falling number lower than 200 indicates high enzymatic activity and poor quality wheat. Deoxynivalenol (DON) analysis was analyzed using Veratox DON 5/5 Quantitative test from the NEOGEN Corp. This test has a detection range of 0.5 to 5 ppm. Samples with DON values greater than 1 ppm are considered unsuitable for human consumption. All data was analyzed using a mixed model analysis where replicates were considered random effects. The Least Significant Difference (LSD) procedure was used to separate cultivar means when the F-test was significant (P< 0.10). There were significant differences among the two locations for most parameters, and therefore data from each location is reported independently.                 Table 2. General plot management of the 2014 winter wheat trial. Trial Information Winter wheat variety trial Location Alburgh, VT Borderview Research Farm Soil type Benson rocky silt loam Previous crop Spring wheat, oats, and barley Row spacing (in) 6 Seeding rate (lbs ac-1) 125 Replicates 4 Planting date 26-Sep 2013 Harvest date 22-Jul 2014 Harvest area (ft) 5 x 20 Tillage operations Fall plow, disk & spike tooth harrow  Variations in yield and quality can occur because of variations in genetics, soil, weather, and other growing conditions.  Statistical analysis makes it possible to determine whether a difference among varieties is real or whether it might have occurred due to other variations in the field. At the bottom of each table a LSD value is presented for each variable (e.g. yield). Least Significant Differences at the 10% level of probability are shown. Where the difference between two varieties within a column is equal to or greater than the LSD value at the bottom of the column, you can be sure in 9 out of 10 chances that there is a real difference between the two varieties. Wheat varieties that were not significantly lower in performance than the highest variety in a particular column are indicated with an asterisk. In the example below, variety A is significantly different from variety C but not from variety B. The difference between A and B is equal to 725 which is less than the LSD value of 889. This means that these varieties did not differ in yield. The difference between A and C is equal to 1454 which is greater than the LSD value of 889. This means that the yields of these varieties were significantly different from one another. The asterisk indicates that variety B was not significantly lower than the top yielding variety.         RESULTS  Seasonal precipitation and temperature recorded at weather stations in close proximity to the 2013 and 2014 sites are shown in Table 3. The growing season this year was marked by lower than normal temperatures in September, April, and July, and higher than normal rainfall throughout the growing season (Apr-Jul). In Alburgh, there was an accumulation of 4756 Growing Degree Days (GDD), which is 284 GDDs below the 30 year average.   Table 3. Temperature and precipitation summary for Alburgh, VT, 2013 and 2014. Alburgh, VT Sep-13 Oct-13 Apr-14 May-14 Jun-14 Jul-14 Average temperature (°F) 59.3 51.1 43.0 57.4 66.9 69.7 Departure from normal -1.30 2.90 -1.80 1.00 1.10 -0.90               Precipitation (inches) 2.20 2.39  ◊ 4.34 4.90 6.09 5.15 Departure from normal -1.44 -1.21 1.52 1.45 2.40 1.00               Growing Degree Days (base 32°F) 825 600 330 789 1041 1171 Departure from normal -33.4 98.2 -53.9 32.8 27.3 -26.9 Based on weather data from a Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 with WeatherLink data logger.  Historical averages are for 30 years of NOAA data (1981-2010) from Burlington, VT.    ◊ October 2013 precipitation data based on National Weather Service data from cooperative stations in Burlington, VT (http://www.nrcc.cornell.edu/page_nowdata.html).       Variety Yield A 3161 B 3886* C 4615* LSD 889 Table 4. Flowering date of 16 winter wheat varieties, Alburgh, VT.                                                                                Image 1. 2014 Flowering winter wheat, Alburgh, VT   Winter Wheat Growth and Development:  During the 2014 growing season, several observations and measurements were recorded on wheat development. Foliar diseases such as Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe graminis f. sp. Tritici) and Ascochyta Leaf Spot (Didymella exitialis) were observed throughout the trial.  Foliar diseases reduce photosynthetic leaf area, use nutrients, and increase respiration and transpiration within colonized host tissues. A diseased plant typically exhibits reduced vigor, growth and seed fill. The earlier occurrence, the greater degree of host susceptibility, and the longer duration of conditions favorable for disease development will increase yield loss. Although foliar diseases were noted, the overall severity was minimal.   The flowering date was recorded when approximately 75% of the plot was in bloom for each of the varieties (Table 4). At this trial location most varieties were in full bloom by 14-Jun (Image 1). In general, bird damage and weed pressure were slight.                   Loose smut caused by the fungus, Ustilago tritici, was observed in several of the trial plots. The loose smut fungus is carried as dormant mycelium within healthy-looking seed and is spread by planting infected seed. A smut-infected seed or plant cannot be distinguished from an uninfected one until the head starts to emerge. The disease is most obvious just after the time of heading by the characteristic dusty black appearance of diseased heads. The spores are dispersed by the wind during wheat flowering and can infect healthy plants.    Variety Flowering Date App. White 12-Jun Arapahoe 14-Jun Expedition 9-Jun Ideal 14-Jun Morley (AC) 14-Jun Neo 5425 9-Jun Neo 6469 9-Jun NEO6545(Freeman) 9-Jun Neo 6607 12-Jun Neo 7409 9-Jun NuEast 16-Jun Overland 14-Jun Redeemer 14-Jun Robidoux 14-Jun Sherman 14-Jun Warthog 14-Jun  Winter Wheat Yield and Quality:  The yields among varieties were not significantly different (Table 5 & Figure 1). The highest yielding variety was Warthog (4003 lbs ac-1) and lowest yielding variety was Sherman (2452 lbs ac-1). The trial mean yield in Alburgh (3334 lbs ac-1) was 500 lbs higher than the mean yield in 2013.     Grain moisture and test weights were significantly different. The variety with the lowest moisture at the time of harvest was Expedition (13.8%).  Only three other varieties, Neo 6607, Neo 7409, and Robidoux, had moistures below 14% at the time of harvest, which is necessary for optimal grain storability.  Test weight is the measure of grain density determined by weighing a known volume of grain. Generally, the heavier the wheat is per bushel, the higher baking quality. NuEast had the highest test weight of 61.9 lbs bu-1. All of the 16 winter wheat varieties trialed attained the optimal 56 to 60 lb bu-1 test weight for wheat.   Table 5. Harvest results of 16 winter wheat varieties, Alburgh, VT.    Variety Yield  @ 13.5% moisture Harvest moisture Test weight   lbs ac-1 % lbs bu-1 Morley (AC) 3438 16.7 59.5 App. White 3375 14.8 60.3 Arapahoe 3112 14.5* 59.3 Expedition 3507 13.8* 61.0* Ideal 3375 15.8 59.4 Neo 5425 3362 14.2* 60.9* Neo 6469 3363 14.8* 61.8* Neo 6545(Freeman) 3561 14.4* 60.0 Neo 6607 3196 13.9* 59.8 Neo 7409 3196 13.9* 59.0 NuEast 3620 15.0 61.9* Overland 3764 15.4 60.5 Redeemer 3136 14.4* 61.1* Robidoux 2881 13.9* 60.8 Sherman 2452 17.6 56.6 Warthog 4003 15.6 61.5* LSD (0.10) NS 0.94 1.12 Trial Mean 3334 14.9 60.2 Values shown in bold are of the highest value or top performing. * Wheat that did not perform significantly lower than the top performing variety     in a particular column is indicated with an asterisk. NS - None of the varieties were significantly different from one another.    Figure 1. Yield and protein concentration of 16 winter wheat varieties, Alburgh, VT. Varieties with the same letter did not differ significantly in yield or protein.    The common measures used by commercial mills to evaluate wheat quality are grain protein, falling number, test weight, and mycotoxin (DON) content (Table 6).  Quality differed significantly among the varieties. The variety with the highest protein content was Sherman. Other high protein varieties were Redeemer (11.7%) and Appalachian White (11.6%). Sherman however was the only variety that  met the 12-15% protein level required by most commerical bakers. Expedition had the lowest  protein level (8.9%). All varieties had falling numbers above 300 seconds. The variety with the highest falling number was Warthog (408 seconds). Additional varieties with high falling numbers include: NuEast, Overland, Redeemer, Robidoux.           Table 6. Quality of 16 winter wheat varieties, Alburgh, VT.           Variety Crude protein      @ 12% moisture Crude protein      @ 14% moisture Falling number       @ 14% moisture DON   % % seconds ppm Morley (AC) 10.6 10.3 322 0.63* App. White 11.6* 11.4* 328 2.90 Arapahoe 10.2 10.0 354 0.70* Expedition 8.9 8.7 365 1.67 Ideal 10.2 10.0 341 2.17 Neo 5425 9.8 9.5 319 2.33 Neo 6469 9.8 9.6 350 1.27* Neo 6545(Freeman) 9.0 8.8 356 1.00* Neo 6607 10.2 10.0 333 1.03* Neo 7409 10.2 10.0 331 0.80* NuEast 11.5 11.3 390* 2.03 Overland 10.3 10.1 397* 2.23 Redeemer 11.7* 11.5* 387* 1.43 Robidoux 9.5 9.3 382* 1.90 Sherman 12.4* 12.1* 335 1.10* Warthog 10.2 9.9 408* 1.03* LSD (0.10) 0.78 0.77 39.0 0.69 Trial Mean 10.4 10.1 356 1.51 Values shown in bold are of the highest value or top performing. * Wheat that did not perform significantly lower than the top performing variety in a     particular column is indicated with an asterisk.    In the Northeast, Fusarium head blight (FHB) is predominantly caused by the species Fusarium graminearum. This disease is very destructive and causes yield loss, low test weights, low seed germination and contamination of grain with mycotoxins. A vomitoxin called deoxynivalenol (DON) is considered the primary mycotoxin associated with FHB. The spores are usually transported by air currents and can infect plants at flowering through grain fill. Eating contaminated grain greater than 1ppm poses a health risk to both humans.  The DON levels of the varieties were highly variable in 2014 (Figure 2).  Twelve of the 16 varieties trialed were above the FDA’s 1ppm limit.The lowest DON level was AC Morley (0.63ppm). Other varieties with low DON levels include; Arapahoe, Neo 7409, Neo 6545 (Freeman), Neo 6607, and Warthog. The variety with the highest DON level was Appalachian White (2.90 ppm).      Figure 2. Deoxynivalenol (DON) level of 16 winter wheat varieties, Alburgh, VT. Varieties with the same letter did not differ significantly in DON levels.   DISCUSSION  It is important to remember that the results only represent one year of data. The 2014 growing season brought many challenges to the grain growing industry. The cold winter and limited snow cover caused some winter kill. In addition, the prolonged cool and wet spring further delayed wheat development, this might help explain the later flowering dates and higher grain moistures at harvest. The mean yield, although higher than 2013, was still approximately 1000 lbs ac-1 below the 2012 average. The below average temperatures, and above average rainfall, persisted throughout the growing season which resulted in delayed wheat development and dry down. Interestingly, DON levels were not nearly as high as they were in 2013. Four varieties out of the 16 trialed were at or below the 1ppm FDA recommended limit for DON concentration. The average DON level in 2014 was 1.51 ppm, 4.96 ppm below average DON level in 2013.  It is important, as you make variety choices on your farm, that you evaluate data from test sites that are as similar to your region as possible.    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS  The UVM Extension Crops and Soils Team would like to thank the Borderview Research Farm for their generous help with the trials, as well as acknowledge the USDA OREI grants program for their financial support. We would like to acknowledge Conner Burke, Lily Calderwood, Julija Cubins, Hannah Harwood, Ben Leduc, Laura Madden and Dana Vesty for their assistance with data collection and entry. This information is presented with the understanding that no product discrimination is intended and neither endorsement of any product mentioned, nor criticism of unnamed products, is implied.   UVM Extension helps individuals and communities put research-based knowledge to work.    Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Vermont Extension, Burlington, Vermont, University of Vermont Extension, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status.     

Organic Winter Wheat Variety Trial Report

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Organic Winter Wheat Variety Trial Report

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