Williams has been released to partner the variety Bannister as the benchmark milling quality oat varieties for Western Australian production. These two varieties are expected to enhance on-farm oat profitability as well as Western Australia's reputation as a world leader in the production of high quality milling oats for export, either exported directly as grain or after processing by local milling companies. With growing demand for export milling oats, it is expected that these varieties will equip industry with the opportunity to capture expanding high value human food markets and provide grain growers with more profitable and productive alternatives to high yielding feed oats.
Breeding
Williams was tested as WAOAT2332. It was bred by the National Oat Breeding program with research and technical input from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI).
Pedigree
Williams was crossed as 98Q954-13-37.
Short pedigree: Pennlo(P25144)/Murray(86Q845-59)//Carrolup(90Q209-21-34)/3/(93Q496-13)TAM386(Quaker-87-151)/Carrolup.
Plant characteristics
- Mid-tall oat, slightly taller than Kojonup and about 10cm shorter than Carrolup.
- Early maturing, flowers slightly earlier than Carrolup and 7-10 days earlier than Kojonup.
- Good straw strength and standibility.
Herbicide tolerance
Williams registered yield loss in a trial with Diuron 1 litre (L) + Dual® 0.5 litres per hectare (L/ha) (pre-emergent), Broadside® 1L, Diuron 0.5L + MCPA 0.5L and 2, 4-D (Amine) 625 1.3L/ha applied post-emergent at label recommended timing in 2012 at Katanning on a loamy sand soil. It also registered low crop safety margin with Amicide Advance 700 1.5L/ha applied at Z31. The variety is being tested further in 2013 to confirm these results which will be published on the National Variety Testing (NVT) website.
Yield
Nationally, Williams is the highest yielding milling oat variety in the National Variety Testing (NVT) trials. In WA its mean yield across AgZones has been 23% higher than Carrolup and 13% higher than Wandering.
| Variety | AgZone 2 | AgZone 3 | AgZone 4 | AgZone 5 | Agzone 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bannister | 4.3 | 4.1 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 4.4 |
| Carrolup | 3.6 | 3.6 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 3.3 |
| Durack | 3.5 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 3.3 |
| Kojonup | 3.7 | 3.6 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 4.0 |
| Kowari | 3.8 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| Mitika | 3.8 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 3.9 |
| Wandering | 4.3 | 4.0 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 3.8 |
| Williams | 4.2 | 4.2 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 4.1 |
| Yallara | 3.7 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
Quality
In accordance with commercial acceptance protocol for assessment of potential milling varieties, Williams was commercially grown in Western Australia and was test milled at Quaker Oats Forrestfield facility. Tests undertaken by Quaker Oats showed that Williams milled very well with qualities that will be appreciated by both Australian and overseas millers.
Williams is a milling variety with hectolitre weight similar to Kojonup and slightly lower than Carrolup. Screenings are similar to Carrolup and its groat percent is slightly lower than Carrolup and Mitika.
| Variety | Hectolitre weight (kg/hl) | 1000 grain weight (g) | Screenings (% 2.0mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bannister | 48.9 | 35.2 | 6.9 |
| Carrolup | 50.5 | 35.0 | 8.4 |
| Durack | 51.5 | 35.6 | 5.8 |
| Kojonup | 47.9 | 35.5 | 6.3 |
| Kowari | 48.7 | 37.0 | 5.0 |
| Mitika | 49.7 | 37.6 | 4.3 |
| Wandering | 47.6 | 35.8 | 6.7 |
| Williams | 48.0 | 33.1 | 9.3 |
| Yallara | 49.9 | 34.9 | 4.9 |
| No. trials | 50 | 37 | 49 |
| Variety | NIR protein (%) | NIR oil (%) | NIR groat (%) | Grain brightness | Estimated metabolisable energy (MG/kg dm) | B-glucan (dry basis) | Hull lignin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williams | 11.1 | 6.8 | 71.7 | - | - | - | - |
| Bannister | 11.1 | 7.1 | 75.1 | 59.1 | 12.0 | 4.3 (3) | High |
| Carrolup | 13.1 | 5.5 | 75.6 | 60.0 | 11.7 | 4.7 (3) | High |
| Kojonup | 13.4 | 5.6 | 78.4 | 60.2 | 12.0 | 5.4 (2) | High |
| Mitika | 12.6 | 6.5 | 75.6 | 58.8 | 12.6 | 5.5 (3) | Low |
| Possum | 12.5 | 5.7 | 76.3 | 58.6 | 11.7 | 4.9 (3) | High |
| Potoroo | 11.6 | 6.6 | 74.4 | 61.0 | 11.8 | 5.0 (3) | High |
| Wandering | 12.3 | 6.2 | 74.2 | 61.7 | 11.6 | 4.9 (3) | High |
| Yallara | 11.6 | 4.6 | 79.3 | 61.3 | 11.7 | 5.1 (3) | High |
| No. Trials | 48 | 42 | 40 | 34 | 15 | - | - |
Disease resistance
Williams is moderately resistant to stem rust and resistant to leaf rust in WA. It also has improved septoria resistance compared to Carrolup and Wandering.
| Variety | Stem rust | Leaf rust | BYDV | Septoria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williams | MR | R | MR-MS | MS |
| Bannister | R-MR | R | MS | S |
| Carrolup | MS | S | MS | S-VS |
| Durack | MR-MS | R-S | MS-S | S-VS |
| Kojonup | R-MS | S | MS | S-VS |
| Kowari | S | R | MS | S |
| Mitika | MR-S | R | S | S-VS |
| Potoroo | MS | S | MS | S |
| Wandering | MS | VS | MR-MS | S-VS |
| Wombat | MR-S | S | MR | S |
| Yallara | MR-MS | R | MS | S |
R = resistant, MR = moderately resistant, MS = moderately susceptible, S = susceptible, VS = very susceptible. Rust reactions may vary in different regions depending on the prevailing pathotypes.
Seed availability
Williams is available through Heritage Seeds.
The National Oat Breeding Program
The National Oat Breeding Program is a partnership between:
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
- South Australian Research and Development Institute
- Grains Research and Development Corporation
- Agrifutures
Its mission is to release improved oat varieties for grain or hay production, adapted to Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and southern New South Wales.