June 28, 2001

New ‘Morton’ Spring Oat Has High Yield Potential

The North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station announces the release of ‘Morton’ spring oat. Morton is a white hulled variety that was developed from a cross of two experimental lines and has been evaluated in replicated trials in North Dakota since 1995. According to Dr. Mike McMullen of the Department of Plant Sciences, Morton has exhibited high grain yield potential equivalent to ‘AC Assiniboia’ and during three years of evaluation in 29 locations, has consistently produced a higher test weight grain than any cultivar with the exception of ‘Hytest’.

Morton should provide growers with a disease resistant, high yielding, white hull cultivar that will produce test weights that are consistently high enough for premium oat markets. It has very good disease resistance and excellent straw strength allowing production under conditions of high moisture and high fertility. Morton exhibited a 15% yield advantage and one pound per bushel test weight advantage relative to ‘Jerry’. If Morton were to replace 35 percent of the acreage of Jerry, at current prices, it would generate an additional $1.3 million dollars annually for North Dakota oat producers.

Morton has low groat oil concentration (slightly lower than Jerry). Low oil concentrations are desirable for the food milling industry. The Beta-glucan content of Morton is similar to AC Assiniboia.

Morton produces kernels that are uniform in size. In testing, very few kernels were small enough to pass through a 5/64 inch slotted sieve. It produces medium whole oat protein concentrations similar to Jerry. Although Morton is relatively tall, it has excellent straw strength and lodging resistance compared to any cultivar evaluated in the same trials. It heads about a day later than ‘Kildeer’ and has medium maturity.

Morton exhibited excellent resistance to crown rust and has good resistance to the prevalent races of stem rust. It is susceptible to NA67, a new virulent stem rust race.

Seed increase will be at research/extension centers with distribution through country crop improvement associations and the North Dakota Agricultural Association in 2002. Research was partially funded by Quaker Oat Company.

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Source: Mike McMullan, (701) 231-8165, michael_mcmullen@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Rich Mattern (701) 231-6136, Richard_Mattern@ndsu.nodak.edu