Club Spring Wheat
Melba is intended as a replacement for JD club spring wheat in intermediate, high rainfall, and irrigated production areas of the Pacific Northwest. Melba has similar maturity as JD, with shorter plant height, lower protein content, excellent resistance to stripe rust, very good test weight, and superior yield potential in intermediate, high rainfall, and irrigated production areas. Like JD, Melba is susceptible to Hessian fly. Melba is broadly adapted and has performed well in all production regions in the PNW.
Agronomics
- Yield Potential is Excellent
- Test Weight is Very Good
- Maturity is Medium-Late
- Height is Short
- Quality is Most Desirable
- Straw Strength is Excellent
Disease Resistant
- Stripe Rust is Excellent
- Hessian Fly is Susceptible
- Aluminum Tolerance is Not Tolerant
Two-Year Variety Testing Data from 2015-2016
| Variety | >20″ Yield (BU/A) | 16″-20″ Yield (BU/A) | Test Weight (LBS/BU) | Protein (%) | Falling Numbers (SEC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melba* | 80 | 66 | 60.7 | 10.7 | 315 |
| Seahawk | 81 | 66 | 60.8 | 11.1 | 323 |
| Ryan | 81 | 65 | 60.0 | 10.6 | 325 |
| Tekoa | 82 | 60 | 60.8 | 10.7 | 304 |
| Diva | 79 | 63 | 60.5 | 10.6 | 358 |
| JD* | 76 | 62 | 61.7 | 11.3 | 324 |
| WB6121 | 77 | 61 | 61.0 | 11.8 | 287 |
| Louise | 74 | 63 | 59.4 | 10.7 | 332 |
| Whit | 74 | 62 | 59.5 | 10.9 | 299 |
| WB6341 | 72 | 63 | 59.3 | 10.0 | 252 |
| Babe | 66 | 57 | 59.6 | 10.5 | 304 |
| WB-1035CL+ | 58 | 54 | 59.1 | 12.1 | 295 |
| C.V.% | 6 | 6 | 1 | 5 | — |
| LSD (0.05) | 2 | 2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | — |
>20″ Precip (Fairfield, Farmington, Palouse, Pullman) 2015-2016, 6 loc/years
16″-20″ (Dayton, Mayview, Plaza, St. John, Walla Walla) 2015-2016, 8 loc/years
Falling Number based on 9 location average in 2015 (5) and 2016 (4)
Availability
Foundation seed of Melba is maintained by the Washington State Crop Improvement Association. For variety inquiries contact Washington Genetics, or by phone at 509-659-4020 U.S. Plant Variety Protection status for this cultivar is pending.
Dryland Wheat Areas >16″ Precipitation
Support for the development of this variety was provided by Washington State University, the USDA, and the Washington Grain Commission. For more information, please visit smallgrains.wsu.edu.