1. Hopewell (previously designated and tested as: OH 490) originated at The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center from the cross: 'Logan'/'Hart'//3270A/'Roussalka'/3/TN1685/IA22//6767/216-6-3. The final cross was made in 1982. This line's earliest designation was "R19182B-33-2". Hopewell was first selected as an F3 plant in 1985. A single F4 plant was reselected in 1986. Sixty spikes were reselected in the F8 generation in 1990 and progeny rows were selected for uniformity of plant type in 1991 and 1992.
2. Breeder seed of Hopewell consists of the progeny of individual F8:11 plants bulked after harvest in 1993. Foundation generation seed was increased at Ohio Foundation Seeds, Inc., Croton, OH in 1994 and 1995 and distributed to contract growers in late summer, 1995.
3. Hopewell appears to be extremely uniform and homozygous as observed in the field in 1991 and 1992. This uniformity is expected utilizing our purification and increase system where individual spikes are selected and increased in a "pedigree" system beginning in the F8 generation.
4. Hopewell appears to be true breeding and very stable in phenotype as evidenced by various agronomic and pathological examinations conducted on the F8 - F11 generations.
5. Variants appear to be few in number and of various non-recurring types, typical of breeding programs involving self-pollinated crops. Specifically, Hopewell has shown < 0.3% total variants of various types but generally variants involving tall plants, awned spikes, and spikes exhibiting blue-green coloration.
6. This cultivar was selected for its high yielding ability, diverse genetics, excellent straw strength, and relatively early maturity, and overall performance.
Hopewell is an awnless, red-chaffed [Y=20.31; x=0.384; y=.372]* cultivar possessing apical awnlets only. Hopewell's Phenol Reaction is "Dark Brown". Plant color of Hopewell is dark green at the boot stage [Y=11.04; x=0.327; y=0.428]. Stems are hollow with 4 nodes and auricles possess anthocyanin. Hopewell appears similar to 'Freedom' wheat until maturity when Freedom is described as yellow-chaffed [Y=22.89; x=0.373; y=0.370] In addition, Hopewell's juvenile growth habit is erect while Freedom's is prostrate. Spikes are mostly erect and average 72 mm in length at maturity. Hopewell is apically awnletted with tip awns measuring 18-20 mm in length. The last rachis internode is glabrous. Glumes are glabrous, medium in length and wide, with oblique shoulders and acute beaks. Kernels are ovate in shape with rounded cheeks. The crease is medium in width and shallow. The brush is medium and non-collared. Kernels average 6.8 mm in length and 3.4 mm in width. Seed weight is .33mg. In statewide yield trials planted at six locations in Ohio from 1991 through 1994, the average yield of Hopewell was comparable to Freedom. Test weight and straw strength are similar to Freedom. Maturity is 3 days earlier than Freedom. Hopewell has exhibited resistance in the field to leaf rust (Puccinia recondita Roberge ex. Desmaz.) at Wooster but does not carry any identified leaf rust resistance genes. It is therefore classified as susceptible to this disease. Hopewell exhibits moderate levels of adult plant resistance to powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis (DC.) E.O. Speer) and probably carries the Pm2/Pm6 resistance genes. Hopewell has shown moderate resistance to the glume blotch phase of Stagonospora nodorum (= Septoria nodorum) in field ratings. Hopewell carries no known resistance genes for Hessian Fly (Mayetiola destructor Say.). Hopewell was evaluated by the USDA Soft Wheat Quality Lab in Wooster in 1992, 1994, and 1995. It is considered to have acceptable soft wheat quality characteristics. Straight grade flour yield is similar to Freedom. Break flour, alkaline water retention capacity, and cookie diameter exceeded Freedom in these tests.
* Color determined by a Minolta Chroma Meter (Model Cr-300) using the "CIE Yxy (1931)" color system on sets of five mature spikes from two plots each in four replications.
As stated above, Hopewell is comparable to Freedom in yield potential while being three days earlier in maturity. Differences in disease resistance also exist. While Hopewell carries no identified genes for leaf rust (Puccinia recondita Roberge ex. Desmaz.) resistance, Freedom is resistant to prevalent races of this disease. Hopewell has no known resistance genes for Hessian Fly (Mayetiola destructor Say.), while Freedom possesses the H3 gene for Hessian Fly resistance. Freedom is also resistant to all selected isolates of stem rust (Puccinia graminis Pers.:Pers.) while Hopewell is categorized as susceptible with Lr genes present but not identified.