The KWC has always been involved in the support of those efforts. The Hays component of the Kansas wheat breeding program began to divert its breeding efforts to Hard White wheats adapted for production in western Kansas in 1988. We have now completely converted the program to hard white germplasm. This proposal requests continued support for the development of hard white winter wheats adapted to western Kansas.
Specific objectives follow.
HW wheats will be developed that can be used in both the world bread and noodle markets. This should greatly increase the world market potential of Kansas wheat. Preharvest sprouting tolerance will be incorporated into these new white cultivars. Although western Kansas has been targeted for hard white production because of its reduced rainfall, some sprouting tolerance will be required to divert disaster when rains come after the wheat is ripe but prior to harvest. White wheats have traditionally been very susceptible to preharvest sprouting.