Relative performance of four midge-resistant wheat varietal blends in western Canada
Date
2012-03-13
Authors
Vera, C.L.
Fox, S.L.
DePauw, M.A.H.
Wise, I.L.
Clarke, F.R.
Procunier, J.D.
Lukow, O.M.
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Abstract
Orange wheat blossom midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin), causes significant yield losses to
spring wheat in western Canada in severe infestations. To mitigate losses, midge-resistant wheat
varietal blends, consisting of cultivars carrying the Sm1 midge resistance gene and 10%
interspersed midge susceptible refuge, have been made available to farmers. To test their
performance relative to conventional midge-susceptible cultivars, four varietal blends were
grown during four consecutive years, at eight locations in the provinces of Manitoba
Saskatchewan and Alberta, in comparison to four conventional, midge-susceptible cultivars.
Midge damage was higher in 2007 and 2010 than in 2008 and 2009. In general, the varietal
blends, as a group, yielded more grain than the susceptible cultivars, especially when grown in
environments with high midge pressure (5.5 - 35% seed damage). In environments with low
midge pressure (0 – 2.6% seed damage), the varietal blend average yield advantage was smaller
but still significant, indicating that some of the varietal blends had additional superior attributes,
in addition to midge resistance.
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Part Of
Soils and Crops Workshop