COMPARISON OF HUNGARIAN WINTER DURUM-WHEAT TO OHIO SOFT RED WINTER-WHEAT

The opening of a new durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) mil l in Ohio and the premium prices paid for durum led to an examination of the feasibility of successfully producing Hungarian winter durum wh eat in Ohio and the rest of the soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestiv um L.) (SRWW) region. The grain yields and agronomic characteristics o f three promising Hungarian winter durum wheat cultivars, 'Basa', 'Min aret', and 'Pannondur', were compared to those of Ohio SRWW cultivars, 'Cardinal' and 'Dynasty', in seven field trials from 1989 to 1991, at Wooster, OH. Mean Hungarian winter durum grain yields were 20%, 48%, and 53% of Ohio SRWW in 1989, 1990, and 1991, respectively. Mean plant densities for the Hungarian durums improved from 49% in 1989, to 71% and 93% in 1990 and 1991, respectively. These improvements were attrib uted to higher seeding rates and to milder temperatures in '90 and '91 . Mean test weights f or the durum cultivars were lower than for Ohio SRWW in 1989 and 1990, but not 1991. Higher than normal rainfall durin g grain-fill and maturation in 1989 and 1990 encouraged disease develo pment and preharvest sprouting in the durum cultivars reducing grain q uality. The Hungarian winter durum cultivars headed an average of 1 to 4 d later than Ohio SRWW cultivars and they averaged 6 in. shorter. U nsatisfactory durum grain yields and quality were obtained in two of t he three trial years, indicating the durum cultivars are not comparabl e to the Ohio SRWW. Production of these Hungarian cultivars in Ohio, a nd the rest of the SRWW region, must await their genetic improvement t hrough breeding.