Field Performance and Quality of Hybrid Winter Wheat.

Abstract

An assessment of hybrid winter wheat was carried out over three seasons to determine the commercial potential of hybrid varieties under Irish conditions. The studies examined the effects of reduced seeding rate on hybrid grain yield and quality in comparison to pure-line varieties. A comparison of the hybrid varieties available was also carried out and the higher yielding hybrids were then compared with the best pure-line varieties in terms of grain yield and quality, and response to fungicide. The results indicated that in good sowing conditions hybrids can give greater yields than pure-line varieties at reduced seeding rates, but the effect is not large or consistent. There was generally no effect of seeding rate on the grain quality of hybrid varieties but crop lodging occurred in one season at high seeding rates. Of the hybrid varieties examined, Mercury and Hyno Esta were the two better varieties in terms of grain yield; there was little difference between the hybrids examined in terms of grain quality. The best hybrid varieties did not give consistently higher yields or quality than the best pure-line varieties and exhibited a similar response to fungicide application as the pure-line varieties. It is concluded that when the price differential between seed of pure-line varieties and hybrid varieties is taken into account, the winter wheat hybrid varieties currently available do not offer any economic advantages to commercial growers at the present time.