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MT21487 two-gene clearfield hard red spring wheat

Technology

In market

University

High-yielding hard red spring wheat line with two-gene Clearfield imidazolinone tolerance, strong gluten, and intermediate solid-stem sawfly defense.

Description

MT21487 is a high-performing, two-gene Clearfield® wheat line developed for Montana and similar production regions. It combines strong yield potential with very good end-use quality and stable grain protein and test weight. MT21487 is intended for commercialization through a partner holding an approved BASF Clearfield® license.

Key Advantages

Two-gene Clearfield® imidazolinone herbicide resistance (als1, als2)
Excellent yield performance, particularly in rainfed environments
Competitive protein content and test weight
Very good end-use quality suitable for commercial milling and baking

Agronomic Performance (Advanced Yield Trials, 2023-2025, 29 location-years)

Highest-yielding line in rainfed environments (60.5 bu/ac)
Second highest yielding line across all environments (76.4 bu/ac)
Test weight comparable to Dagmar and higher than NS-Presser CLP
Grain protein intermediate between Dagmar and NS-Presser CLP

Standability and Insect Response

Intermediate solid-stem expression
Somewhat more susceptible to wheat stem sawfly than Dagmar under severe pressure
Similar sawfly response to Dagmar under moderate pressure in off-station trials

End-Use Quality

Very good overall end-use quality
Comparable or improved quality relative to Dagmar for most traits
Stronger gluten strength than NS-Presser CLP
Meets or exceeds breeding targets for evaluated quality parameters

Disease Response

Susceptible to fusarium head blight, stripe rust, and leaf rust
Moderately resistant to domestic stem rust races
Additional disease ratings not available

Licensing Opportunity

US plant variety protection (PVP) rights available for license and commercialization in all states; international plant breeder's rights available for license and commercialization outside the United States.
Additional agronomic information available in the MT21487 Variety Release Package.
Licensee(s) to purchase ~1500 bu treated Foundation Seed in September 2026 from MSU at a rate of $42/bu.
Licensee(s) must have a BASF Clearfield Commercial license. BASF has certain requirements that the licensee must follow and will not allow MSU to license to a company that does not have the BASF Clearfield Commercial license.

About Montana State University

Montana State University's substantial research enterprise growth has been accompanied by focused investments in innovation and research translation, creating new opportunities for companies to engage with MSU research and expertise. A particular strength is MSU’s network of specialized centers, institutes, and industry-accessible core facilities, which bring together multidisciplinary expertise, advanced research infrastructure, testing capabilities, and established pathways for working with industry partners. MSU is one of a select group of universities participating in the NSF's Accelerating Research Translation (ART) program, which is building the capacity and infrastructure needed to translate more research discoveries into solutions with real-world impact. The growing MSU Innovation Campus and expanding incubator infrastructure provide additional opportunities for university-industry interaction, startup development, and technology-focused companies. These efforts are complemented by MSU’s Technology Transfer Office, which works with researchers and companies to protect and license MSU inventions and facilitate industry-sponsored research collaborations.