AGT durum breeder Tom Kapcejevs.

AUSTRALIAN Grain Technologies’ (AGT) has released another Melbourne Cup-themed durum wheat variety, with Patron showing promise for South Australian and Victorian growers.

Named after the 1894 cup winner, Patron has performed well in both AGT and NVT trials, and is now the yield benchmark in the southern durum growing regions.

The variety has also recorded high test weights and low screenings in trials, and has an ADR quality classification in the Grain Research and Development Corporation’s Southern Zone, namely SA and Victoria.

Patron was officially released at the Southern Australian Durum Growers Association Mid North crop walk based around Roseworthy on September 7 by AGT durum breeder Tom Kapcejevs, with the crowd inspecting the new variety in local yield trials.

Mr Kapcejevs said Patron was an outstanding performer in the Southern Region, even when compared to popular established durum varieties.

“We view Patron as an excellent alternative to the commonly grown DBA Aurora, sharing similar maturity and adaptation patterns, and as a slower-maturing complement to Bitalli,” Mr Kapcejevs said.

“Whilst Bitalli performs best in low-medium yielding environments or those experiencing quicker finishes to the season, Patron has particularly excelled in medium-high yield-potential environments.”

The disease profile of Patron is comparable with most durum varieties currently on the market, with good resistance to most foliar diseases.

Provisional data also suggests that Patron offers a slight improvement in crown rot resistance over other commonly grown varieties.

Patron durum is now available from AGT affiliates throughout the southern durum-growing region.

The variety joins AGT’s other durum wheat varieties, Bitalli, named after the 1923 Melbourne Cup winner and, Westcourt, the 1917 race winner.

Source: AGT