1. Biotech corn: Select hybrids, not traits 1 2. Wheat Quality Lab update 4

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1 Number 118 December 14, Biotech corn: Select hybrids, not traits 1 2. Wheat Quality Lab update 4 1. Biotech corn: Select hybrids, not traits Over the last decade, biotech traits have come to play an ever-increasing role in corn hybrid development and selection. In the November 16, 2007 eupdate, Phil Sloderbeck provided a summary of Bt traits currently available in corn hybrids. Many hybrids also have some sort of herbicide resistance trait, either alone or stacked with one or more Bt traits. This article will summarize those herbicide resistance traits and take a look at how hybrids with any of these traits have performed relative to conventional hybrids. Hybrids containing most of these traits are considered GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) and are regulated by various government agencies. It is important to remember that these hybrids have been approved for all feed and food uses in the United States and most other countries. However, some exceptions exist. The National Corn Growers Association maintains the KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW database that lists traits, hybrids, and their regulatory status in our primary export markets ( The industry-wide Market Choices initiative identifies hybrids with export limitations with the Market Choices mark and statement on seed tags and product catalogues. Be sure to channel grain from those hybrids to appropriate markets. Learn more about this program at Most corn grown in Kansas is consumed domestically, but be aware of potential restrictions if the possibility exists that grain may enter the export stream. Current hybrids may have genes for tolerance to either glufosinate or glyphosate herbicides. Some of these were listed in Sloderbeck s article also because they are linked with, or were inserted at the same time as, one of the Bt traits. Most of these are found in various stacks with each other and with the other Bt traits as well. 1

2 Traits Conferring Glufosinate (Liberty) Herbicide Tolerance Bayer CropScience Liberty Link (LL) Syngenta Agrisure Corn Borer (CB/LL) Herculex Corn Borer (HX or HX1) Herculex Rootworm (HXRW) Event T25 Bt11 TC1507 DAS Traits Conferring Glyphosate Herbicide Tolerance Event Syngenta Agrisure GT (GT) SYGTA21 Monsanto Roundup Ready 2 (RR2) NK603 Gard VT Rootworm/RR2 (VT) MON The increasing importance of hybrids with these traits is illustrated in the following chart, showing the number of hybrids with various traits entered in the Kansas Corn Performance Tests over the past 10 years. The number of conventional hybrids has declined steadily, while the number of hybrids with double and triple stacks has increased. The number of hybrids with single traits increased until about 2006 when double and triple-stack hybrids became more common. In the following charts, the following designations are: VT3 = Gard Corn Borer Bt + Gard Rootworm Bt + RR2 VT = Gard Corn Rootworm Bt + RR2 Triple Stack = Gard Corn Borer Bt + Gard Rootworm Bt + RR2 RW = Gard or Agrisure Rootworm Bt RRRW = RR2 + Gard or Agrisure Rootworm Bt RRHX = RR2 + Herculex Corn Borer Bt RRCB = RR2 + Gard or Agrisure Corn Borer Bt RR = RR2 HXX = Herculex Corn Borer Bt + Herculex Rootworm Bt + LL HX = Herculex Corn Borer Bt + LL CBRW = Gard or Agrisure Corn Borer Bt + Gard or Agrisure Rootworm Bt CB = Gard or Agrisure Corn Borer Bt 2

3 VT3 VT Triple Stack RW RRRW RRHX RRCB RR HXX HX CBRW CB Conventional YEAR How have these hybrids performed in the Kansas State Tests? To answer this question, I ve summarized data over the past seven years (2001 to 2007). Hybrids were grouped by trait or set of traits (for example, all the single-trait Bt hybrids were lumped together). comparisons were made within each location and then standardized so the results could be summarized over several locations and years. The number of comparisons used to calculate each yield estimate (N) provides an indication of how confidant one can be in the estimate (more comparisons = more confidence). I ve dropped out yield estimates based on less than 10 comparisons. Central/West Irr. (bu/a) N All Non- Irrigated (bu/a) Stress Environments (bu/a) N All Tests Irrigated Tests Hybrids with Traits: (bu/a) N (bu/a) N N Conventional CB CBRW HX HXX RR RRCB RRHX RRRW Triple Stack VT VT

4 In general, hybrids with biotech traits have yielded as well or better than conventional hybrids. Exceptions exist, but may have more to do with specific hybrids than with the traits in the hybrids. Examination of results from the 2007 performance tests reveals that hybrids with the same set of biotech traits can be found at the top and bottom of most tests or set of tests. Performance depends on the entire hybrid package, not just a set of specific biotech traits. Be sure to select hybrids that are well adapted and have the specific traits you need to address your production situation. -- Kraig Roozeboom, Crop Production and Cropping Systems Specialist kraig@ksu.edu -- Jane Lingenfelser, Kansas Crop Performance Testing Program jling@ksu.edu 2. Wheat Quality Lab update The K-State Wheat Quality Lab, which is housed in Throckmorton Hall but part of the Department of Grain Science, has three missions: * Evaluate the wheat and flour quality of promising experimental lines that K-State wheat breeders Allan Fritz and Joe Martin are developing. * Assist in the research efforts of agronomists, plant pathologists, entomologists, and grain scientists in evaluating the effect of genetics, environment and handling factors on milling and baking qualities of wheat. * Assist in marketing Kansas wheat through sample evaluation, educational demonstrations and presentations. One of the traditional functions of the Wheat Quality Lab has been to evaluate the milling and baking quality of the hard wheat varieties grown in Kansas. Millers of hard wheat prefer wheat varieties with large kernels that are uniform in size and have high flour yield and good milling properties. Commercial bread bakeries want flour with a medium to high level of protein, white color, high water absorption, and good gluten strength that will produce acceptable bread. We rank the bread baking quality of the wheat varieties as exceptional, acceptable, or less desirable based on loaf size, crumb grain characteristics, and crumb color. We only evaluate the varieties for their performance in pan bread. Some wheat varieties that do not produce good pan bread are well suited for other products, such as tortillas, pizza crusts, or hearth breads. So even though a variety may produce poor pan bread, it may perform exceptionally well in another baked product. 4

5 After a few years absence, this report is again being produced. The results of this year s milling and baking quality evaluations should be available by early March and will be found on the Kansas Crop Performance Test Web site at A brochure listing the results will also be available through the Department of Grain Science. The Wheat Quality Lab has now finished its annual crop quality evaluations of hard red winter wheat produced in We tested a total of 938 wheat samples provided by K- State breeders and commercial grain elevators for the US Wheat Associates Hard Wheat Crop Survey. Those results can be found at This spring, we will conduct some new research projects, one of which is evaluating the effect of the Triticum Mosaic Virus on wheat quality. In addition, the lab provides wheat and flour testing services for a fee for both oncampus and off-campus organizations. Tests we perform on wheat include moisture, ash, protein, falling number, test weight, kernel particle size distribution and kernel hardness. We are able to do small scale laboratory milling with a Brabender Quadrumat Sr. Mill. Flour tests include moisture, ash, protein, falling number, alveograph, farinograph, mixograph, glutamatic, color, bread baking and alkaline noodle color stability. -- Rebecca Miller, Wheat Quality Lab Director beckym@ksu.edu These e-updates are a regular weekly item from K-State Extension Agronomy and Steve Watson, Agronomy e-update Editor. All of the Research and Extension faculty in Agronomy will be involved as sources from time to time. If you have any questions or suggestions for topics you'd like to have us address in this weekly update, contact Steve Watson, swatson@ksu.edu, or Jim Shroyer, Research and Extension Crop Production Specialist and State Extension Agronomy Leader jshroyer@ksu.edu 5