Registration of ‘NE05548’ (Husker genetics brand Panhandle) hard red winter wheat

Western Nebraska wheat producers and those in adjacent areas want taller wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars that retain their height under drought for better harvestability. ‘NE05548’ (Reg. No. CV-1117, PI 670462) hard red winter wheat was developed cooperatively by the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station and the USDA-ARS and released in January 2014 by the developing institutions. NE05548 was released primarily for its superior performance under rainfed conditions in western Nebraska and adjacent areas of the Great Plains and its tall plant stature. NE05548 was selected from the cross NE97426/NE98574 made in 1999 where the pedigree of NE97426 is ‘Brigantina’/2*‘Arapahoe’ and the pedigree of NE98574 is CO850267/‘Rawhide’. The F₁ generation was grown in the greenhouse in 2000, and the F₂ to F₃ generations were advanced using the bulk breeding method in the field at Mead, NE, in 2001 to 2002. In 2003, single F₃-derived F₄ head rows were grown for selection. There was no further selection thereafter. The F_3:5 was evaluated as a single four-row plot at Lincoln, NE, and a single row at Mead, NE, in 2004. In 2005, it was assigned the experimental line number NE05548. NE05548 was evaluated in replicated trials thereafter. It has excellent winter survival, acceptable disease reactions to many of the common diseases in its target area, and acceptable end-use quality for bread making.