State-wide Wheat Variety Evaluation Program for Texas.

In 2003, a state-wide wheat variety evaluation program began as a collaborative effort between Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Texas AgriLife Research scientists in Texas.  The purpose of the variety evaluation program is to provide unbiased yield, quality, and pest rating data for wheat producers across the state while gathering important data for the wheat breeding programs.  With this information, Texas wheat producers can make an educated decision about the most appropriate variety for their geographic region. 

Each year a 40 entry trial of hard red winter and hard white winter wheat is planted at over 20 locations in each of the major wheat production regions.  A state-wide uniform list of 30 to 35 entries are planted at all locations, while the remaining 5 to 10 entries are specific for each major production region, South Texas, Blacklands, Rolling Plains, or High Plains.  Entries are reviewed each year; however, each entry is evaluated minimum of three years.  Plots are arranged in a randomized complete block design and three replicates are used at each location.  Data are analyzed using Fischer’s Protected LSD with P values < 0.05 are considered significant and CV values are provided.  Yields are summarized for all locations and published as educational publications as quickly after harvest as possible. 

For this poster, a bi-plot analysis will be conducted using the data from multiple years of the state-wide uniform variety trial.  Results from these bi-plot analyses will be used to identify the locations with the best conditions, biotic and abiotic, for evaluating advanced breeding lines and current varieties.