Benefits of the UF/IFAS small grain breeding program to Florida and the southeastern United States

Small grains are widely grown in the southeastern United States in the wint er and can be used for: 1) green forage during the late fall, winter and ea rly spring months when permanent pastures are dormant and non-productive; 2 ) grain for animal and human food; 3) cover and green manure; and/or 4) com ponents in multiple cropping-minimum tillage systems. The mild winters in t his region are conducive to infestations of disease and/or insect pests, wh ich may severely reduce grain production and quality. In addition, the wint er is extremely variable with periods of low temperatures that may limit th e growth and productivity of cold-susceptible small grain species. Therefor e, cultivar development must emphasize selection for not only production an d quality of the commercial end product but also pest resistance and cold t olerance. The small grain breeding program at the Univ. of Florida has a lo ng and productive history with a large number of outstanding and widely-gro wn cultivars released for wheat (Triticum aestivum L,), rye (Secale cereale L.), oat (Avena sativa L,) and triticale (X Triticosecale, Wittmack), Sinc e 1980, the number and primary use of cultivars released from this program are as follows: 1) 11 wheat cultivars primarily used for grain; 2) three ry e cultivars primarily used for forage; 3) two oat cultivars used for both f orage and grain; and 4) three triticale cultivars used for grain. These imp roved cultivars have made a major impact on increasing the production and v alue of small grains not only in Florida but also throughout the southeaste rn United States.