MOSES LAKE SPRING WHEAT (IRRIGATED) – 2005 WSU VARIETY TESTING DATA 

1. 2005 Spring Wheat data from the WSU Variety Testing nursery at the Moses Lake (irrigated) location averaged 80.4, 102.3 and 96.0 bu/ac for soft white, hard white and hard red spring wheat nurseries, respectively.  Average yield in the hard white and hard red nurseries were comparable to 2004 yields; however, average yield in the soft white nursery was 13% below the previous year.  NOTE:  The 2005 nursery was located approximately 5 miles east of Moses Lake (vicinity of Wheeler) and was under a wheel line irrigation system following an alfalfa stand that had been taken out.
2. There was heavy disease pressure from STRIPE RUST in this nursery and stripe rust infections were most apparent in the soft white spring nursery.  Early infections of stripe rust (seedling infections) were minimal, most of the infection appeared at later stages of plant development.  In general, yield and test weight reductions were linked to varietal susceptibility to stripe rust.  For example, Edwall (highly susceptible to stripe rust) had a yield of 47.1 bu/ac (test weight of only 49.0 lb/bu) and Wakanz (resistant to stripe rust) topped the nursery at 104.9 bu/ac (test weight 59.6lb/bu).  NOTE: Stripe rust ratings will be provided as follow-up information.
3. LEAF RUST infections were also prevalent late in the season in this nursery.
4. CEREAL LEAF BEETLE (CLB) infestations were also prevalent in this nursery.  To date, CLB infestations have not required insecticide applications; however, the level of severity observed in 2005 may necessitate CLB control treatments in the spring wheat irrigated nurseries in subsequent years. 
5. LODGING was prevented in the 2005 nursery with an application of Cerone.  This compares to an average of nearly 50% lodging in the 2004 irrigated spring wheat nursery. The Cerone treatment reduced plant height by an average of 5.9 inches the 2005 nurseries compared to the 2004 nurseries (average of 34.1 inches in 2005 vs. 40.0 inches in 2004)
6. Variety yield ranking between the 2004 and 2005 nurseries bounced around a little; however, some of this may be a result of new entries in the 2005 nursery that exhibited improved yield performance.  Also, the severe lodging in the 2004 nursery had a dramatic influence that tended blur the yield and quality performance for many varieties.