Wheat Variety fact sheet – Northern Zone

Mitch

Variety snapshot

Mid-late maturity, suits late April to early May planting

One of the best levels of resistance to crown rot available for this planting window

Very high yielding in this planting window

Moderately resistant to black point

Good tolerance to RLN (P. thornei)

Good straw strength, suitable for irrigation

– AH quality classification

Breeders commentsCrown rot, yellow leaf spot and lodging from weak straw strength have been major issues plaguing northern wheat growers for the last decade. With farm rotations tightening, having a variety that exhibits some crown rot tolerance along with acceptable yellow leaf spot resistance is highly sought after in the northern region.

Mitch is a variety that tick these boxes and also delivers high yields in northern New South Wales and Queensland. In both NVT and AGT trials, Mitch has on average out yielded the benchmark variety EGA Gregory in these environments, as well as offering a superior disease package and improved straw strength.

One of the major strengths of Mitch is its crown rot tolerance. In many DPI and CAS crown rot trials Mitch expressed yield on average 10-15% higher than intolerant varieties EGA Gregory and Flanker.

With good straw strength and top end yield, Mitch also lends itself to high yielding situations such as irrigated production systems.

Mitch will offer growers a flexible sowing window in most regions, with its maturity suited to a late April through to 20th May planting.

Seed AvailabilityCommercial quantities of Mitch may be available through AGT Affiliates, or your local retailer. Please consult the AGT website for AGT Affiliate contact details.

Mitch is able to be traded between growers upon the completion of a License Agreement as part of AGTs Seed Sharing™ initiative.

PBR and EPRMitch is protected by Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) and all production (except seed saved for planting) is liable to an End Point Royalty (EPR), which funds future plant breeding. Mitch growers will be subject to a Growers License Agreement that acknowledges that an EPR of $3.25/tonne + GST has to be paid on all production other than seed saved for planting.

Predicted yield of Mitch versus control varieties: NSW DPI Crown Rot trials Grain yield as % of trial series average (11 NSW sites, 2015)

Predicted yield of Mitch versus control varieties: Early sown NVT series Grain yield as % of region average (NVT long term MET analysis 2012-2016)

Central Queensland

South East Queensland

South West Queensland

North East New South Wales

North West New South Wales

Mitch 110 105 110 108 109

Flanker 113 107 112 107 109

Lancer 101 100 103 106 105

Suntop 106 105 110 111 110

Trial mean (t/ha) 3.58 4.24 2.94 3.94 3.57

Predicted yield of Mitch versus control varieties: Main season NVT series Grain yield as % of region average (NVT long term MET analysis 2012-2016)

Central Queensland

South East Queensland

South West Queensland

North East New South Wales

North West New South Wales

Mitch 108 105 110 107 108

Beckom 108 108 111 106 108

EGA Gregory 105 102 103 101 102

Flanker 111 109 110 105 107

Lancer 96 98 96 94 96

Suntop 105 105 108 105 105

Trial mean (t/ha) 3.42 4.39 3.10 3.95 3.40

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

Mitch Flanker EGA Gregory Lancer Viking Suntop

3.02.6

2.4

2.9 2.93.2

Disease, agronomic and grain quality ratings for Mitch and control varieties

Mitch EGA Gregory

Flanker Lancer Suntop

Stem Rust MRMS MR RMR R MR

Stripe Rust MRMS MR RMR MR MRMS

Leaf Rust SVS MR MRMS RMR MRMS

Yellow Leaf Spot MS S MSS MS MSS

RLN (P. thornei) Resistance MSS MSS MS MS MR

RLN (P. thornei) Tolerance MT TMT TMT TMT TMT

Crown Rot MS S S MSS MSS

Acid Soil Tolerance MTMI MT - MII MT

Maturity Mid-Late Mid-Late Mid-Late Mid-Late Mid

Plant Height Tall Very Tall Very Tall Short Tall

Lodging Resistance MRMS MS MS MR MRMS

Northern Zone Quality Classification

AH APH APH APH APH

Sprouting Tolerance I I I - I

Black Point Resistance MR MS MS MRMS MR

Screening Risk Low Moderate Moderate Low High

R ResistantMR Moderately ResistantMS Moderately SusceptibleS SusceptibleVS Very Susceptible

T TolerantMT Moderately TolerantMI Moderately IntolerantI IntolerantVI Very Intolerant

Source / NSW DPI Winter Crop Variety Sowing Guide 2017, NVT and AGT data.

Published July 2017

Kerrie Gleeson, Marketing Manager, Northern NSW/QLD 0427 958 259

Meiqin Lu, Wheat Breeder 0428 856 612

End Point Royalty Office (08) 8313 6810

agtbreeding.com.au

Disclaimer / The information contained in this brochure is based on knowledge and understanding at

the time of writing. Growers should be aware of the need to regularly consult with their advisors on local

conditions and currency of information.