Wheat Variety fact sheet – South Eastern & Northern Zones

Suntop

Variety snapshot

APH quality classification in NSW and Queensland

Elite grain yield & broad adaptation

Suited to main season (May) plantings

Good stem, stripe and leaf rust resistance

Excellent resistance and tolerance to RLN (P. thornei)

Very good tolerance to sodic/saline soils

Moderately tolerant of black point

– Risk of screenings when affected by heat shock and drought stress

Breeders commentsSuntop is one of the most widely adapted wheat varieties ever bred for the east coast of Australia. This adaptability was established by crossing a highly disease resistant CIMMYT line (including acid and sodic soil tolerance) with a high yielding, high quality AGT breeding line. This resulted in a variety which is high yielding from central Queensland right down to the Victorian border, has excellent grain quality (APH) and a highly competitive disease resistance package.

Suntop performs well in most environments, and particularly well in areas with high crown rot and root lesion nematode RLN (P. thornei) pressure. In numerous DPI and CAS crown rot trials, Suntop consistently out yielded crown rot susceptible APH varieties such as EGA Gregory and Flanker by up to 20%.

Independent trial work carried out by AMPs suggests that Suntop also has a greater tolerance to sodic/saline soils across northern NSW and QLD compared with other commercially available wheat varieties.

The stripe rust resistance of Suntop is based on adult plant resistance (APR) genes. The expression of these APR genes can be affected by temperature, crop growth stage and nutrient status. It is strongly recommended that Suntop growers provide early seedling protection through either fungicide treated fertiliser at sowing or the inclusion of a preventative fungicide during post emergent spraying to protect the vulnerable seedling until the APR genes activate.

In general, Suntop produces grain with moderate screenings losses. However, screenings losses can be magnified in harsh finishes due to the combination of both drought stress and heat shock. Early and main season NVT data illustrate that sowing Suntop in the first three weeks of May reduces the risk of grain quality issues whilst also maximising potential yield.

Seed AvailabilityCommercial quantities of Suntop may be available through AGT Affiliates, or your local retailer. Please consult the AGT website for AGT Affiliate contact details.

Suntop is able to be traded between growers upon the completion of a License Agreement as part of AGTs Seed Sharing™ initiative.

PBR and EPRSuntop is protected by Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) and all production (except seed saved for sowing) is liable to an End Point Royalty (EPR), which funds future plant breeding. Suntop growers will be subject to a Growers License Agreement that acknowledges that an EPR of $3.25/tonne + GST has to be paid on all production other than seed saved for planting.

Predicted yield of Suntop versus control varieties: Main season NVT series Grain yield as % of region average (NVT long term MET analysis 2012-2016)

Predicted yield of Suntop versus control varieties: Early sown NVT series Grain yield as % of region average (NVT long term MET analysis 2012-2016)

South East New South Wales

South West New South Wales

North East New South Wales

North West New South Wales

Central Queensland

South East Queensland

South West Queensland

Suntop 100 102 105 105 105 105 108

Beckom 110 110 106 108 108 108 111

EGA Gregory 101 96 101 102 105 102 103

Flanker 104 101 105 107 111 109 110

Reliant 101 96 106 108 112 111 111

Lancer 92 92 94 96 96 98 96

Spitfire 94 95 99 96 98 96 98

Trial mean (t/ha) 4.48 3.72 3.95 3.40 3.42 4.39 3.10

South East New South Wales

South West New South Wales

North East New South Wales

North West New South Wales

Central Queensland

South East Queensland

South West Queensland

Suntop 105 106 111 110 106 105 110

Beckom 108 111 116 114 109 106 114

EGA Gregory 100 100 102 104 107 102 106

Flanker 105 105 107 109 113 107 112

Lancer 100 102 106 105 101 100 103

Trial mean (t/ha) 4.68 4.01 3.94 3.57 3.58 4.24 2.94

Disease, agronomic and grain quality ratings for Suntop and control varieties

Suntop Beckom EGA Gregory

Flanker Lancer Spitfire

Stem Rust MR MR MR RMR R MR

Stripe Rust MRMS MRMS MR RMR MR MR

Leaf Rust MRMS S MR MRMS RMR S

Yellow Leaf Spot MSS MSS S MSS MS MSS

RLN (P. thornei) Resistance MRMS MS MSS MS MS MS

RLN (P. thornei) Tolerance TMT MT TMT TMT TMT MTMI

Crown Rot MSS S S S MSS MS

Acid Soil Tolerance MI TMT MT - MII MTMI

Maturity Mid Mid Mid-Late Mid-Late Mid-Late Early

Plant Height Tall Short Very Tall Very Tall Short Medium

Lodging Resistance MRMS MRMS MS MS MR MS

Northern Zone Quality Classification

APH AH APH APH APH APH

South Eastern Zone Quality Classification

APH AH APH APH APH APH

Sprouting Tolerance I MII I I - MI

Black Point Resistance MR MS MS MS MRMS S

Screening Risk Moderate-High Moderate Moderate Moderate Low Low

R ResistantMR Moderately ResistantMS Moderately SusceptibleS SusceptibleVS Very Susceptible

T TolerantMT Moderately TolerantMI Moderately IntolerantI IntolerantVI Very Intolerant

Source / NSW DPI Winter Crop Variety Sowing Guide 2017, NVT and AGT data.

Published July 2017

Kerrie Gleeson, Marketing Manager, Northern NSW/QLD 0427 958 259

Meiqin Lu, Wheat Breeder 0428 856 612

Russell Eastwood, Wheat Breeder 0427 716 632

End Point Royalty Office (08) 8313 6810

agtbreeding.com.au

Disclaimer / The information contained in this brochure is based on knowledge and understanding at

the time of writing. Growers should be aware of the need to regularly consult with their advisors on local

conditions and currency of information.