‘Better’ noodle wheat launched

WA plant breeder InterGrain has unveiled a new, later-maturing variety of noodle wheat, Kinsei, with the hope of phasing out its old noodle wheat variety Calingiri.

The company has produced a few tonnes of seed for Great Southern and South Coast growers to plant next year after its recent launch in Albany.

Kinsei was bred to be targeted by udon noodle processors in Japan and was named by Japanese language students at Great Southern Grammar in Albany late last month.

InterGrain chief executive Tress Walmsley said Kinsei, which means balance in Japanese, was suited to WA’s medium-to-high rainfall zones, specifically the Great Southern and South Coast.

She said it was also suited to other areas where a later-maturing variety for early sowing was required. “Being a long-season, late-maturing variety, Kinsei can be sown from late April through to early May, when early planting opportunities arise,” Ms Walmsley said.

Kinsei was bred to replace old variety Calingiri, which is under review and could be removed from the Wheat Quality Australia master wheat list next year.

Ms Walmsley said Kinsei was aptly-named, with excellent quality attributes for processing balancing the needs of growers and flour millers.

If Calingiri was removed from the Wheat Quality Australia master wheat list, there would be a two-year notice period to allow growers to move to a replacement variety.

Kinsei was named by Japanese language students at Albany-based Great Southern Grammar, in competition with students from Nichinan City School in Japan.

The connection between InterGrain and the schools was made possible by Perth’s consultate-general of Japan, with students taught about udon noodle production and processing.

Kinsei was trialled as IGW8048 and bred by Dr Dan Mullan and the InterGrain breeding team.

Ms Walmsley said it demonstrated excellent yield in longer-season growing environments during last year’s WA National Variety Trials.

On average, Kinsei has yielded 7-8 per cent higher than Yitpi. Kinsei is available for planting in 2019. However, seed supplies are limited so it is recommended growers place seed orders as soon as possible with local Seedclub members or resellers.