Pullman, WA - Are the best varieties in conventional farming systems the best varieties in organic farming systems? Researchers at Washington State University (WSU) are seeking to answer this question for wheat production. In addition, they are working to determine whether historical wheats contain genes that are beneficial under organic production systems, and whether wheat varieties bred under low-input agronomic conditions will be better adapted to these systems.

In 2002 through 2005, trials were conducted on 35 soft white winter wheat varieties which were evaluated for performance under conventional and organic conditions. In addition, 63 wheat varieties (56 historical and 7 modern) were evaluated under low-input conditions in the 2004-05 seasons.

Key results and practical applications:

• The highest yielding varieties in conventional systems were not the highest yielding varieties in organic systems. This suggests that indirect selection is considerably less efficient than direct selection for both yield and test weight. Indirect selection in this case refers to selection for yield in one system when the target environment is the other system.
  
• There was significant variation in weed suppression ability among 63 spring wheat cultivars tested.
• Under low-input agronomic conditions, highly significant differences among the 63 wheat varieties were found for yield and for mineral content of eight nutrients.

The results suggested that breeding for organic agriculture should be conducted in certified organic fields. They also illustrated the point that yield in organic systems has not been optimized and will not be fully optimized until breeding and selection occurs within these organic systems.

Want to learn more? For a detailed print-friendly project summary go to jones-04s36-wheat breeding-summary (2 pages).

For the complete project report as submited by investigator Stephen Jones (28 pages), go to jones_04s36.pdf

Principal investigator: Stephen S. Jones, Dept. of Crop & Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA; tel. 509-335-6198; email joness@mail.wsu.edu

Co-investigators: Kevin Murphy, Dept. of Crop & Soil Sciences, Washington State University; Tim D. Murray, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Washington State University; Keith and Owen Jorgensen, Jorgensen Brothers Joint Venture, Coulee City, WA; Allen Jorgensen, Coulee City, WA; Jim Moore, Kahlotus, WA; Joe and Sara Delong, St. John, WA.

Project locations: Spillman Agronomy Farm, Pullman, WA; Lind Dryland Research Station, Lind, WA; DeLong Farm, St. John, WA; Jorgensen Brothers Ranch, St. Andrews, WA (all locations farmed under certified organic conditions)

OFRF support: $33,472, awarded over three separate grants in fall 2001, spring 2003 and spring 2004

Full project report: 28 pages, submitted August 2006.