Canadian Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat, Canada’s primary wheat market class, has undergone significant improvements over the past century through plant breeding efforts. This study evaluated CWRS wheat cultivars from Red Fife to Superb using 24 trials over 19 years in Saskatchewan to measure genetic gains in agronomic traits and end-use quality.
Key Points:
- Grain yield increased consistently, with gains of 15 kg/ha per year in 1970, rising to 23 kg/ha per year by 1995.
- Agronomic improvements included reduced days to spike emergence and shorter plant height.
- Kernel weight, protein concentration, SDS sedimentation volume, and dough development time improved, enhancing end-use quality.
- Farinograph mixing tolerance index and yellow pigment concentration decreased over time.
Breeding advancements have improved key agronomic and end-use traits in CWRS wheat, enhancing both productivity and quality to meet market demands.
