A new high-performing APH quality wheat variety released by Australian Grain Technologies

AGT’s marketing manager Douglas Lush says the new variety, called Sunchaser and tested as SUN843E, offers growers in NSW and Queensland a ‘package deal’ with its unique combination of features.

“Our team are excited to release this variety as a lower risk alternative to Suntop, with excellent grain size, reduced levels of screenings, improved yields, a longer coleoptile and increased disease resistance,” Mr Lush said.

“Over the last three years of testing, Sunchaser has produced grain with lower screenings levels than Suntop and Reliant while proving very similar to Spitfire,“ he said.

“In fact, the screenings levels of Sunchaser have consistently been 2 percent lower than Suntop, from low to high screenings risk situations.

“Elevated screenings can contribute to downgrades at point of sale, so this feature in Sunchaser has the potential to improve grower’s profitability compared to variety’s such as Suntop, amongst others.

“Trial data also shows that Sunchaser displays a yield improvement over Suntop, while performing competitively with Reliant.”

Douglas Lush and Meiqin Lu discussing new wheat variety Sunchaser at the PBI Narrabri field day.

AGT wheat breeder Meiqin Lu, based The University of Sydney’s Plant Breeding Institute at Narrabri, says that one of her main breeding objectives was to improve Suntop’s grain size and disease resistance while retaining its very wide adaptation, yield and agronomic suitability.

“We believe that we have achieved this goal with Sunchaser,” she said.

“Another key attribute of Sunchaser is its coleoptile length. Three years of testing has shown that Sunchaser has a longer coleoptile than Suntop, Spitfire and Reliant.

“In a region where moisture seeking planting is a regular occurrence, the longer coleoptile of Sunchaser should be valued by growers.

“We are also pleased to report that Sunchaser offers an improved disease resistance package in comparison to Suntop, with greater resistance to stem rust, leaf rust, yellow leaf spot and crown rot.

“Sunchaser is suited to the main season planting window and matures slightly quicker than Suntop and Reliant, and a little slower than Spitfire.

Sunchaser has an APH quality classification for NSW and Queensland.

Commercial seed will be available for the 2020 season through AGT Affiliates or local retailers.