10/28/08 Jointed goatgrass and Clearfield wheat hybridization

Farm and Ranch October 28, 2008 That goatgrass can hybridize with wheat is nothing new. Even with Clearfield wheat varieties. And that is of increasing concern. Hulting: "And we have collected some of these hybrids in different locations throughout Oregon and in fact the hybrids to carry the gene conferring the resistance to imazamox from the Clearfield wheat. So we know the crossing continues in the field when you have jointed goatgrass populations." That is Oregon State University Extension Weed Specialist Andy Hulting. Imazamox of course being the chemistry in the herbicide used for weed control in the Clearfield wheat system. The jointed goat grass wheat hybrids are sterile plants but can backcross to both wheat and goatgrass. That would create a serious management problem. Hulting says a popular practice is increasing hybridization and that is planting Clearfield varieties just because they yield so well. Hulting: "And that is fine but they need to realize that if they are not going to use the chemistry then that chance for the hybridization goes up if the goatgrass is present." Hulting says doing a good job of controlling jointed goatgrass in fallow in a wheat-fallow system will slow the development of the hybrid populations. OSU's September Department of Crop and Soils Department News and Notes Newsletter contains an article entitled "All Things Clearfield Wheat." I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.