Louisiana Variety Testing 2010 SCC-33/UCTA St. Pete Beach, FL January 26-29, 2010 Rick Mascagni Northeast Research Station St. Joseph, LA

LSU AgCenter Variety Testing Crop Coordinator (Project leader/ Research Associate ) Project leader (Research Station) Research Associate (Research Station)

CoordinatorCooperator Solicits seed company participation via application form on-line Collects seed Packages and distributes seed/locn Visits each location Collects data from each locn Summarizes data in a report posted on-line Plants the test and directs all the recommended cultural practices Takes notes, i.e. mid- silk date, plant height, lodging, etc. Harvests plots

Variety Testing Variety testing conducted on research stations, which are autonomous. Funding generated by entry fees –Wheat/oats - $300/entry (receives commodity support) –Corn/grain sorghum - $500/entry –Soybeans - $600/entry –Cotton - $900/entry –Fees are divided among coordinator, cooperators, and administration RCB with 4 to 5 reps Data posted on the web – –Click on “Variety Trials & Production Practices” –Single locations

Background of OVT Any variety tested for three years and whose yield falls within 90% of the avg. yield of the top three hybrids by location and maturity group was recommended provided it was acceptable in other agronomic traits.

Background of OVT Any variety tested for two years and whose yield falls within 90% of the avg. yield of the top three hybrids by location and maturity group was recommended provided it was acceptable in other agronomic traits.

Background of OVT Corn, Grain Sorghum, Soybeans, Cotton –2007 was the last year varieties were recommended –Starting in 2008, highest-yielding varieties for one year (varieties falling within one LSD, 0.10) were reported –Highest-yielding varieties for two years (varieties that fall within one LSD for two years) were reported

Soybean Variety Testing Coordinator – Ronnie Levy (Ext. Spec.) Dean Lee Research Station – Alexandria Macon Ridge Research Station – Winnsboro Northeast Research Station – St. Joseph

Soybean Variety Testing MGIII – 5 varieties MGIV early – 11 varieties MGIV late – 75 varieties MGV – 62 varieties MGVI – 2 varieties

Soybean Parameters Measured Grain yield Maturity date Plant height Lodging Salt damage Seed quality Green stem Cercospora, Leaf blight ratings

Cotton Variety Testing Coordinator – Jim Hayes (RA-RRRS) Dean Lee Research Station – Alexandria (silt loam and clay) Macon Ridge Research Station – Winnsboro (irr and non-irr) Northeast Research Station – St. Joseph (silt loam and clay)

Cotton Variety Testing Early-maturing – 25 varieties Medium-maturing – 20 varieties

Cotton Parameters Measured Yield Lint % Fiber properties –Length UHM –Micronaire –Strength –Uniformity

Grain Sorghum Hybrid Testing Coordinator – Rick Mascagni (PL-NRS) Rice Research Station – Crowley Dean Lee Research Station – Alexandria Red River Research Station – Bossier City Macon Ridge Research Station – Winnsboro Northeast Research Station – St. Joseph

Grain Sorghum Hybrid Testing hybrids 6 seed companies

Grain Sorghum Parameters Measured Grain yield Harvest moisture Test weight Mid-head Plant height Head exertion Head type Bird damage Midge damage Lodging

Wheat/Oat Variety Testing Coordinator – Steve Harrison (PL-BR) North Louisiana –Alexandria, Bossier City, Winnsboro, St. Joseph South Louisiana –Baton Rouge, Crowley, Jeanerette Oats –Baton Rouge, Bossier City, Winnsboro

Wheat/Oat Variety Testing Wheat –69 entries –50 varieties –19 lines (LA, GA, AR, VA) Oats –22 entries –6 varieties –16 lines (LA, FL, TX)

Wheat/Oat Parameters Measured Grain yield Test weight Head day Plant height Lodging Diseases –Leaf rust –Stem rust Phenotype

Corn Hybrid Testing Coordinator – Rick Mascagni (PL-NRS) Dean Lee Research Station – Alexandria Red River Research Station – Bossier City Macon Ridge Research Station – Winnsboro Northeast Research Station – St. Joseph (silt loam and clay)

Corn Hybrid Testing hybrids 5 hybrids not RR 12 seed companies

Corn Parameters Measured Grain yield Harvest moisture Test weight Plant population Mid-silk Plant height Ear height Shuck cover Lodging Ear tip

Corn Hybrid Families Pioneer brand hybrid –PB 31G66 (conventional) –PB 31G68 (YG) –PB 31G65 (RR) –PB 31G71 (Herculex, LL, RR)

Corn Hybrid Maturity In the 1990’s, had early maturity ( days), medium maturity ( days), and late-maturity (119 and greater days) categories in the OVT. We were relying on seed companies to categorize hybrid maturity. In early 2000, started using harvest moisture for categorizing hybrid maturity.

Corn Maturity Early Maturity % Medium Maturity % Full Season %

Corn Hybrid Maturity Days to maturity ranged from 107 to 120. Harvest moisture on Sharkey clay at the NERS ranged from 14.5 to 18.1%. High-yielding group across locns. – 2009 –106 – 112 day maturity – 7 hybrids – day maturity – 40 hybrids –119 and greater day maturity – 5 hybrids Should we categorize hybrids based on maturity?

Rick Mascagni Northeast Research Station P.O. Box 438 St. Joseph, LA Ph: (318) Fax: (318) e:mail: WHO DAT.NATION GO SAINTS