Predicting pre-harvest sprouting susceptibility in New Zealand wheat cultivars

Abstract

New Zealand has a maritime climate, hence conditions conducive to pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) in the cereal-growing regions are common. Wheat growers are faced with an ever-increasing list of potential cultivars, and the risk of sprouting damage is a very important consideration in choosing among them. Supported by the NZ Foundation for Arable Research and Flour Millers Association, sprouting nurseries based on artificial weathering and seed dormancy testing have been operated for the last three seasons in an attempt to quantify the risk level of sprouting for each cultivar. In late January/early February 2004, much of the New Zealand wheat crop, including five cultivar evaluation trial sites, was exposed to conditions conducive to pre-harvest sprouting. Data from a sample of the cultivars tested in both the 2003 and 2004 sprouting nurseries and these trials were analysed to assess the repeatability of the various tests used and their usefulness for predicting downgrading due to rainfall.