Hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in rainfed environments in the northern Great Plains of North America frequently encounter drought and heat stress during grain-fill, thus reducing yield. Delayed leaf senescence after heading, known as the stay-green trait, has been found to help spring wheat tolerate drought and heat stress during grain-fill. To better understand how the stay-green trait relates to expression of other agronomic traits, data was analyzed from a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a 'Vida'/MTHW0202 cross grown in rainfed and irrigated environments. The genetic architecture controlling traits measured in this study were also examined. Results found the stay-green trait was significantly correlated to overall yield (P < .001, r = .37) in rain-fed environments, but was not significantly correlated to yield (P = .26, r = .09) in irrigated environments. Three quantitative trait loci (QTL) located on chromosomes 2D, 4A, and 4D were associated with the stay-green trait. The 4A stay-green QTL, previously designated QGfd.mst-4A, was collocated with QTL for seed number per head, thousand kernel weight, and heading date. The 4D stay-green QTL overlaps the Rht-D1 plant height gene, and the allele prolonging the stay-green period co-segregates with the wild-type (tall) Rht-D1a allele. Results from this study provide a better understanding of the relationship between stay-green and agronomic traits in rainfed vs. irrigated environments. Additionally, understanding the genetic architecture controlling stay-green and agronomic traits will aid in selecting future drought-tolerant spring wheat varieties.

‘FourOsix’ (Reg. no. CV‐1153, PI 689753) hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was developed and released by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station in 2018. FourOsix was derived from a composite of five single crosses of the predominant cultivar Yellowstone to advanced Montana breeding lines. FourOsix was developed using a modified bulk breeding method and selected as an F5:6 headrow. FourOsix was tested under the experimental number MT1465 in Montana yield trials from 2014 to 2018. FourOsix is a high‐yielding, winter‐hardy hard red winter wheat cultivar with medium maturity, medium to high grain protein concentration, and excellent milling and baking quality. FourOsix was released for its excellent grain yield performance in winter wheat production environments of Montana, with earlier heading date, reduced plant height, improved grain volume weight, and improved stripe rust resistance relative to Yellowstone.

'Colter' (Reg. No. CV-1099, PI 670156) hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was developed and released by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Stations in September 2013. Colter was derived from the cross MT9982*2/BZ9W96-895. MT9982 is a sib selection of 'Yellowstone', and BZ9W96-895 is an unreleased breeding line of unknown pedigree developed by Westbred. Colter was developed using a modified bulk breeding method and selected as an F-5:6 headrow. Colter was tested under the experimental number MT08172 in Montana yield trials from 2009 to 2013. Like Yellowstone, Colter is a high-yielding, winter-hardy hard red winter wheat line with medium to late maturity, medium to high grain protein, and acceptable milling and baking quality. Colter was released for its excellent performance in winter wheat production environments of north-central Montana and its improved grain volume weight and stem rust (caused by Puccinia graminis Pers.: Pers. f. sp. tritici Eriks. & E. Henn.) resistance relative to Yellowstone.

‘WB3768’ (Reg. No. CV-1100, PI 670158) hard white winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was developed and released by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station in September 2013. An exclusive license for commercialization of WB3768 was granted to Monsanto. WB3768 is of unknown pedigree, derived from a composite of two related topcrosses: MTW0047 (‘Judith’/PI 262605//S86-740)/2*MT9982 and MTW0047/MT9982//MT9989 (Judith/‘Arapahoe’). MT9982 is a sib selection of ‘Yellowstone’, and S86-740 (‘Norstar’/’‘Plainsman V’//‘Ulianovkia’) is an unreleased breeding line developed by the Crop Development Center in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. WB3768 was developed using a modified bulk breeding method and selected as an F5:6 headrow. WB3768 was tested under the experimental number MTW08168 in Montana yield trials from 2009 to 2013. WB3768 is a high-yielding, winter-hardy, conventional-height hard white winter wheat line with late maturity, medium to high grain protein, low polyphenol oxidase activity, and acceptable milling and baking quality. WB3768 was released for its combination of the hard white market class and excellent yield performance in winter wheat production environments of Montana.

'SY Clearstone 2CL' (Reg. No. CV-1094, PI 668090) hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was developed by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and released in September 2012 through a marketing agreement with Syngenta Seeds. SY Clearstone 2CL is a two-gene Clearfield backcross-derivative of 'Yellowstone' (PI 643428) hard red winter wheat with resistance to imazamox herbicide Beyond (BASF Corporation). SY Clearstone 2CL was selected from the cross Yellowstone*4/3/MTCL01158/Teal 11A//'Jagalene' (PI 631376). Yellowstone is a high-yielding hard red winter wheat released by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station in 2006. MTCL01158 is an unreleased doubled haploid breeding line [TX12588*4/FS2//Tiber (PI 517194)], which served as the source of proprietary mutant allele TaAHASL1D. Proprietary hard red spring wheat germplasm line Teal 11A (BASF Corporation) served as the source of mutant gene TaAHASL1B. Alleles for herbicide resistance were selected during the backcross process using single-nucleotide, allele-specific polymerase chain reaction markers for TaAHASL1D and TaAHASL1B developed by BASF. SY Clearstone 2CL was selected as an F-2:4 line in 2009 following three generations of screening of the backcross population with imazamox herbicide. Results of three years of replicated field testing indicate that SY Clearstone 2CL is similar to recurrent parent Yellowstone for grain yield, most agronomic characteristics, and milling and baking qualities.

‘Egan’ hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Reg. No. 1102, PI 671855) was developed by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and released in 2014. Egan is intended for production in areas of Montana infested with the orange wheat blossom midge (OWBM) (Sitodiplosis mosellana Gehin). Egan is resistant to OWBM due to antibiosis conferred by resistance gene Sm1. Egan also contains a chromosome segment originally introgressed into wheat from T. turgidum ssp. dicoccoides containing a gene for high protein (Gpc-B1) and a gene for stripe rust (caused by Puccinia striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici) resistance (Yr36). Egan has shown high yield potential and high grain protein in nurseries grown under OWBM pressure in the Flathead Valley of Montana. Egan is the first hard red spring wheat cultivar with resistance to OWBM developed for Montana.

‘Warhorse’ (Reg. No. CV-1096, PI 670157) hard red winter (HRW) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was developed and released by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station in September 2013. Warhorse is of unknown pedigree, derived from a composite of three topcrosses made to the same F 1 population in 2000: MT9908//‘Nuplains’/MTS9862; Nuplains/ MTS9862//MTW0047; and Nuplains/MTS9862//MTS0028. Warhorse was developed using a modified bulk breeding method and selected as an F 5:6 headrow. Warhorse was tested under the experimental number MTS0808 from 2008 to 2013 in Montana. Quality was evaluated in multilocation Montana trials since 2008. Warhorse is a solid-stem, high-yielding HRW wheat line with medium to high test weight, medium maturity, reduced height (Rht-B1b), medium to high grain protein, and acceptable milling and baking quality. Warhorse was released for its improved host plant resistance to wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus Nort.) conditioned by stem solidness, along with short stature and improved yield potential relative to existing solid-stem cultivars adapted to Montana.

‘Bearpaw’ (Reg. No. CV‐1083, PI 665228) hard red winter (HRW) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was developed and released by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station in September 2011. Bearpaw is of unknown pedigree, derived from a composite of five crosses made to the same F1 male sterile parent in 1999: Dominant male sterile (DMS)/‘Rampart’//‘Pronghorn’/3/2*Rampart, DMS/Rampart//Pronghorn/3/Rampart/4/MTW9806, DMS/Rampart//Pronghorn/3/Rampart/4/‘Nuplains’, DMS/Rampart//Pronghorn/3/Rampart/4/MT9513, DMS/Rampart//Pronghorn/3/Rampart/4/MT98113. Bearpaw was developed using a modified bulk‐breeding method and selected as an F5:6 headrow. Bearpaw was tested under the experimental number MTS0721 from 2007 to 2011 in Montana. Quality has been evaluated in multilocation Montana trials since 2007. Bearpaw is a high‐yielding, solid‐stem, semidwarf (Rht‐B1b) HRW wheat cultivar with medium maturity, medium to high test weight and grain protein, and acceptable milling and baking quality. Bearpaw was released for its host‐plant resistance to wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus Nort.) conditioned by stem solidness, along with short stature and improved yield potential relative to existing solid‐stem cultivars adapted to Montana.

‘WB9879CLP’ hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Reg. No. CV‐1086, PI 666046) was developed by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and released in 2012 to the commercial partner Westbred, a subsidiary of Monsanto. WB9879CLP is a two‐gene Clearfield wheat for use with the imidazolinone herbicide Beyond (BASF). WB9879CLP was developed by backcrossing alleles for resistance to the imidazolinone herbicide class into the recurrent parent ‘Choteau’. Choteau has solid stems, which provide resistance to the wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus Nort.). The wheat stem sawfly is a major yield‐reducing pest in large areas of Montana and surrounding regions. Alleles for herbicide resistance at TaAHAS1D and TaAHAS1B were selected during the backcrossing process and line derivation using polymerase chain reaction markers developed by BASF. Two years of replicated yield trials at a total of 16 sites showed that WB9879CLP is similar to Choteau in most agronomic characteristics. WB9879CLP showed no symptoms of damage at any of 13 testing sites when imidazolinone herbicide was applied at two times the recommended rate. WB9879CLP is the first Clearfield solid‐stem wheat variety for sawfly infested sites in Montana and adjoining regions.

‘Judee’ (Reg. No. CV‐1084, PI 665227) hard red winter (HRW) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was developed and released by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station in September 2011. Judee has the pedigree ‘Vanguard’/‘Norstar’//‘Judith’ dwarf selection/3/‘NuHorizon’. Judee was developed using a modified bulk‐breeding method and selected as an F5:6 headrow. Judee was tested under the experimental number MTS0713 from 2007 to 2011 in Montana. Quality was evaluated in multilocation Montana trials since 2007. Judee is a solid‐stem, high‐yielding HRW wheat line with medium to high test weight, medium maturity, reduced height (Rht‐B1b), medium to high grain protein, and acceptable milling and baking quality. Judee was released for its host‐plant resistance to wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus Nort.) conditioned by stem solidness, along with short stature and improved yield potential relative to existing solid‐stem cultivars adapted to Montana.

‘Duclair’ hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Reg. No. CV‐1060, PI 660981) was developed by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and released in 2011. The objective for the development of Duclair was to provide a solid‐stemmed, semidwarf cultivar for areas infested by the wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus Nort.). Duclair was developed through initial generations of single seed descent of F2 seed from a ‘Choteau’/MT0249 cross. Progeny lines were selected to have solid stems from Choteau, and extended green leaf duration from MT0249. Duclair was tested as MT0832 at sites across Montana in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Stem solidity of Duclair is similar to the solid‐stemmed cultivar ‘Fortuna’ and slightly less than ‘Choteau’. Duclair has shown good yield potential throughout Montana and its height is more desirable for dry conditions than Choteau. Duclair has grain protein levels similar to other hard red spring wheat cultivars and acceptable milling and baking characteristics. Duclair will be of interest to wheat growers in sawfly‐infested areas of Montana and adjoining regions.

Results: The spring wheat data are presented in Tables 7 -13. The durum nursery data are shown in Tables 14 and 15. The growing season in 2010 was cooler and wetter than the 25 year average at the Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center, with an extended frost free growing season into October. Grain yields were 9 bu/acre higher than the six year average, and grain protein levels were slightly below average with test weights also slightly below the six year average. The spring wheat plants headed later and grew taller than the six year average. Harvest was three to four weeks later than normal. The advance spring wheat and durum nurseries suffered hail damage on July 19 and September 5. Durum grain yields were almost 20 bu/acre higher than the six year average, and grain protein levels were 1.5% below average with test weights slightly above the six year average. The durum plants headed 2 days earlier and grew taller than the six year average (Tables 14 and 15). Yields ranged from 35 to 58 bu/acre at the ‘Knees’ and 31 to 45 bu/acre north of Devon (Tables 12 and 13). The Choteau area location was lost due to differential wire worm damage and the Cut Bank location was lost due to hail. Additional comments on spring wheat and durum varieties are presented in the following pages. Also refer to MSU Extension Bulletin 1093 for descriptions of many of the varieties tested.

Cercospora beticola, the causal agent of Cercospora leaf spot of sugar beet, survives as pseudostromata in infected sugar beet residues in the soil. Under optimal conditions, overwintering propagules germinate and produce conidia that are dispersed as primary inoculum to initiate infection in sugar beet. We developed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for rapid detection of C. beticola in field soils. Total DNA was first isolated from soil amended with C. beticola culture using the PowerSoil DNA Kit. The purified DNA was subjected to PCR in Extract-N-Amp PCR mix with CBACTIN primers over 35 cycles. The amplified products were resolved and compared by electrophoresis in 1% agarose gels. The PCR fragment size of C. beticola from the amended field soil correlated in size with the amplicon from control C. beticola culture DNA extract. Additionally, sample soils were collected from sugar beet fields near Sidney, MT and Foxholm, ND. Total DNA was extracted from the samples and subjected to PCR and resolved as previously described. The amplicons were purified from the gels and subjected to BigDye Terminator Cycle sequencing. All sequences from field soils samples, C. beticola-amended field soil, and pure culture were compared by alignment with a C. beticola actin gene sequence from GenBank. The result of the alignment confirmed the amplicons as products from C. beticola. Rapid screening for the presence of C. beticola in the soil by PCR will improve research capabilities in biological control, disease forecasting, and management of this very important sugar beet pathogen.

Willow Creek' forage winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Reg. No. CV-1032, PI 655073) was released by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station. Awnletted cereal forages are widely used for hay production on integrated crop- livestock operations in the Northern Great Plains. Five awnletted winter wheat accessions were evaluated for forage characteristics in 1996 and 1997, and Willow Creek was selected directly from PI 306505. Willow Creek was evaluated in replicated trials for forage yield and quality, grain yield, and agronomic characteristics from 1998 through 2008. Willow Creek is an awnletted winter wheat cultivar with good performance as an annual hay crop under irrigated or rainfed conditions in Montana and Wyoming. This cultivar has excellent winterhardiness and is tall and late-maturing. Willow Creek has good forage quality characteristics suitable for use by livestock in winter maintenance diets.