South Perth, Western Australia
December 15, 2004

The Department of Agriculture, Western Australia is preparing to release a new improved stripe rust resistant wheat variety in February 2005.

Department cereal breeding manager Keith Alcock said the new wheat, tested as WAWHT2499, is derived from Kalannie and has a very good market acceptance for flour yield, flour colour and end-products.

The new wheat variety has been developed with support from the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

Mr Alcock said once the Department had completed the formal approval process to release the variety, a tender would be undertaken. 

“The Department will have approximately 160 tonnes of certified seed available through the tender.

“The tender will be announced at the variety launch during Crop Updates (16 and 17 February 2005), and growers will have the opportunity to purchase WAWHT2499 for sowing in 2005.”

Mr Alcock said the variety had a final classification of Australian Hard from AWB Ltd.

“WAWHT2499 will provide important opportunities for growers to reduce risk from stripe rust associated with highly susceptible varieties such as Westonia and EGA Bonnie Rock,” he said.

“It has partial resistance (CVT provisional rating of 5-6) to stripe rust, intermediate resistance to leaf rust (CVT rating 5, similar to Carnamah) and meets the minimum standard for resistance to stem rust (moderately susceptible 4 rating).”

Mr Alcock said WAWHT2499 had good overall yield performance and as a mid season wheat, it would be most applicable in the eastern wheatbelt. It has good grain size and low screenings desirable for this region.

“WAWHT2499 shows similar blackpoint levels to Westonia, and susceptibility to a low falling number comparable to Brookton, making it most applicable to low rainfall areas. 

“The variety is not recommended for other areas where sprouting and blackpoint occurrence can be higher. 

“The new variety is expected to have acid soil tolerance similar to Wyalkatchem    and Westonia.”

Growers interested in pre-ordering WAWHT2499 should contact the Department’s Tress Walmsley on 9753 0303.