WIT Wheat Improvement Team
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Wheat Improvement research in Oklahoma is driven by an interdisciplinary team of scientists housed in OSU's Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, charged with developing highly-adapted winter wheat cultivars with marketable grain-quality. This team is committed to strengthening the Oklahoma wheat industry by enhancing its genetic resources, a mission that could not be accomplished without contributions from other state, federal, and private researchers.
Program support is administered by the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station (OAES) through the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. Funding is derived from a partnership between the OAES, the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, and the Oklahoma Wheat Research Foundation. This partnership ensures linkage of the Wheat Improvement Program to the collective needs of Oklahoma's wheat industry. Scientists located at the USDA-ARS Plant Science and Water Conservation Research Laboratory conduct genetic investigations critical to the program.
Program direction is provided by the OSU Wheat Genetics Chair, currently occupied by Brett F. Carver. The original occupant of the Chair was Edward L. Smith, from 1989 to 1997.
Naming a Variety
The art and science of naming a wheat variety
What's in a name?
Well, a lot more than you might think, at least when it comes to the Oklahoma State University-bred wheat varieties that ultimately graduate from experimental lines to commercial products.
The OSU Wheat Improvement Team invests an average of 10 to 12 years developing each of the high performing varieties for which the breeding program is known. The same exacting attention is given to naming the tangible fruits of that labor.
In fact, the naming process often begins 1 to 3 years before a variety is released. Yes, it’s that serious.
“As soon as I see an experimental line with commercial potential, the marketing gears begin to turn,” said Brett Carver, OSU wheat breeder.
In late September, OSU released four new hard red winter wheat varieties. As part of their official rollout, experimental lines OK12716, OK13209, OK13621 and OK13625 became Showdown, Green Hammer, Baker’s Ann and Skydance.
The quartet joins other OSU-bred varieties branded with colorfully descriptive, yet deeply meaningful, names. Examples include Smith’s Gold, Stardust and Spirit Rider.
