AWB Confirms Wheat Variety Classification

SYDNEY - Aug 25/04 - SNS -- The Australian Wheat Board (AWB) has confirmed the classification of three new wheat varieties, for Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, following a meeting of the AWB National Pool Variety Classification Panel.

The three varieties – GBA Sapphire, GBA Ruby and QAL2000 - were reviewed among a total of 38 wheat lines as part of AWB National Pool’s ongoing classification process.

As part of this process, the Panel analyses detailed quality data, for each new variety over a number of seasons. It then assesses the quality of these new varieties against suitable control varieties as a reference, enabling it to determine the appropriate classification of the variety

Following the review, the Panel has made the following classifications:

GBA Sapphire

The Panel confirmed an AWB Premium White classification for GBA Sapphire in Victoria and South Australia. This was confirmation of the original AWB Premium White classification awarded to GBA Sapphire in Western Australia. The Panel felt there was some potential upside in both of these classifications, which would be reviewed once higher protein samples were available for evaluation. GBA Sapphire is commercialised by Pioneer Hi-Bred Australia.

GBA Ruby

GBA Ruby was classified as AWB Standard White in Victoria, and as was the case in it’s primary growing region, Western Australia, the classification panel had concerns about GBA Ruby’s low water absorption and inextensible doughs leading to low loaf volumes. GBA Ruby is commercialised by PlantTech.

QAL2000

QAL2000 was one of the initial wheat varieties developed by the Wheat CRC and an AWB Soft classification was awarded for Western Australia. The variety displayed very good milling quality, dough properties and end product performance and will be a welcome addition to this class of wheat. QAL2000 is commercialised by Austgrains International.