HSW Program Goals and Objectives
Our goal is to develop cultivars of hard spring wheat adapted to North Dakota and the Northern Plains of the United States.
Breeding Program Objectives:
- Highest possible grain yield with stable grain protein averaging over 14%, and test weight averaging over 60 lb/bu.
- Agronomic factors related to production efficiency
- Conservative plant height
- Stiff straw resistant to lodging
- Uniform appearance
- Easy threshing
- Appropriate maturity date for targeted area of adaption
- Genetic resistance to economically important diseases and pests
- Fusarium head blight (FHB)
- Cereal rusts (leaf, stripe, stem)
- Bacterial Leaf Streak
- Tan Spot
- Wheat Streak Mosaic virus
- Wheat Stem Sawfly
- Orange Wheat Blossom Midge
- High end use milling and baking quality. Protein Quality is essential to maintain high demand for Hard Spring Wheat.
- Strong dough with long mixing time and stability
- High water absorption
- Good flour yield
- High loaf volume
- High vitreous kernel percentage (DHV)
Because of the diversity across North Dakota, we breed, select, and test our lines all over the state.
Locations for various breeding experiments are shown on this map:
