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Midge-tolerant wheat varieties, the product of 15 years of research work, will be available for the first time in 2010.

Todd Hyra explains the genetics and the stewardship requirements for midge-tolerant wheats, now in the pipeline for 2010. -- Alexis Kienlen photo

Todd Hyra, business manager for SeCan and a member of the Midge Tolerant Wheat Stewardship Team, gave a presentation about the new varieties, and the stewardship agreement for the farmers who use them, onstage at the Agri-Trend exhibition in Red Deer, Alta.

Midge caused over $40 million in losses in Western Canada in 2007 alone, creating hardship for affected wheat growers.

"The damage occurs when the larvae hatch, emerge and then feed on the developing kernels," said Hyra. The damage to the wheat can be characterized by shriveled or damaged kernels.

Yield losses can range from 30 per cent to 50 per cent in severe infestations, said Hyra.

The new varieties of midge-tolerant wheat contain the SM1 gene, transferred from U.S. winter wheat to Canadian spring varieties. The wheat was created using traditional plant breeding methods and is not genetically modified.

The SM1 gene allows naturally occurring phenotic compounds in the wheat to trigger, causing the wheat to become unpalatable to the midge.

In spring 2010, SeCan will launch AC Unity VB, Alliance Seed Corp. will launch AC Goodeve VB, and Faurschou Farms will release AC Glencross.

"These are strong performers, strong agronomically on their own, and offer the added benefit of midge tolerance," said Hyra.

Since the varieties are created with a single resistant plant gene, plant breeders and entomologists have created varieties with an interspersed refuge, a "varietal blend" (VB) of two varieties to extend the new variety's midge tolerance.

For example, AC Unity VB will be sold to growers as a blend of 90 per cent midge-tolerant AC Unity and 10 per cent AC Waskada, which will serve as the refuge or midge-susceptible variety.

In an interspersed refuge, the refuge variety is evenly distributed throughout the field, to prevent the buildup of a virulent midge population that would attack the midge-tolerant varieties.

Using the midge-tolerant varieties will reduce the need to spray, and will limit the destruction of insects that help control the midge population.

To extend the new varieties' resistance for as long as possible, farmers will have to sign and follow the Midge Tolerant Wheat Stewardship Agreement.

"The agreement is really in place to presence the longevity of the varieties and to make the wheat midge-tolerant wheat last as long as possible," said Hyra.

-- Alexis Kienlen is a reporter for Alberta Farmer Express in Edmonton.