Western Australia’s soft wheat growers have access to a new high-yielding, rust resistant variety following the release today of the Department of Agriculture’s latest Australian Soft club wheat - Bullaring*.

Department Director General Ian Longson unveiled the new soft wheat at an industry launch at the Dowerin Field Days.

Mr Longson said Bullaring together with EGA 2248* last year and EGA Jitarning* were expected to boost the State’s soft wheat industry by offering varieties with competitive yields.

He said Bullaring was a high yielding soft wheat, suitable for all traditional soft wheat growing areas. It out-yielded Tincurrin and Datatine and is slightly lower yielding than EGA 2248.

“A key feature of Bullaring is its resistance to the three rusts and septoria tritici blotch.  It has the best combination of disease resistances among Australian soft varieties,” Mr Longson said. 

“Bullaring has resistance to stem rust and Western Australia races of leaf rust which is similar to Datatine, EGA Jitarning and Harrismith*.  Bullaring also has moderate resistance to septoria tritici blotch and an intermediate reaction to stripe rust,”Mr Longson said. 

“This disease resistance profile will allow the variety to be grown for the soft wheat grade without any restrictions.”

Mr Longson said Bullaring was a white-chaffed, awned, mid-season, semi-dwarf club wheat. 

The new variety has better grain size and lower screenings than other club wheats Datatine and Tincurrin, but smaller grain size and higher screening than the non club varieties EGA 2248 A and EGA Jitarning.  Grain protein content is similar to Datatine.

“Bullaring is eligible for receival into the AWB Australian Soft class.  It has superior flour yield and colour pigment to Datatine and Tincurrin, and has performed well in end product testing,” he said.

Bullaring was bred by Department of Agriculture plant breeder Robyn McLean and Western Australia's wheat breeding team.

The variety is protected by Plant Breeders Rights and is subject to a Crop Improvement Royalty.

* indicates varieties protected by Plant Breeder’s Rights.