Wheat breeders take note of falling number issue

Wheat breeders take note of falling number issue

Farm and Ranch October 11, 2011 The falling number test conducted on wheat determines sprout damage to the kernel that may not be visible to the naked eye but can negatively impact end-use quality. Historically it has been a problem when rain occurs during harvest. But in the last couple of years producers in various Pacific Northwest locations have received price discounts due to low falling number scores despite dry harvest weather for both winter and spring wheat.

The subject came up at the recent meeting of the Washington Grain Commission where Washington State University winter wheat breeder Aaron Carter was quizzed about it. In an interview Carter said;

Carter: “The environmental issue with wheat and with genetics in general are always interesting and each year they are going to pose a different concern. So is it some rain? Is it the environment? Is it the late harvest? I don‘t think we have looked into it enough or done enough studies on it to find out. But it is definitely something we will probably go back and start looking in the literature to see what other research has been done across the nation so we can make some informed decisions about how go forward.”

Carter said WSU’s spring wheat breeding program has begun using the falling number test as it looks at varieties.

Particularly frustrating to growers is repeating the falling number test on the same sample can bring different results, one with an acceptable falling number and another with a number bringing a price discount.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and ranch Report on Northwest Aginfo Net.

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