Merl Wheat Variety Description
U. S. Protected Variety
Can be sold only as a class of Certified seed
Merl is a broadly adapted, high yielding, moderately short, mid-season soft red winter wheat cultivar having good milling and pastry baking quality. Spikes and straw are creamy white in color at maturity, and the awnletted spikes are blocky to tapering in shape. Straw strength in Virginia is very good. In Virginia, Merl had a three year (2006-2008) average grain yield of 92 bu./ac that was similar to that of the highest yield cultivar, Shirley. Merl had an average test weight of 60.3 lb./bu. and produced test weights significantly above the test averages in three out of four years. It is resistant to powdery mildew and moderately resistant to stripe rust, fusarium head blight, and depending on environment and location, is moderately resistant to moderately susceptible to Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus, Wheat Spindle Streak Mosaic Virus, Septoria tritici leaf blotch, and glume blotch. It is susceptible to leaf rust, stem rust, Soil borne Mosaic Virus, and Hession fly.