b'OSU FOUNDATION SEED STOCKSA LAUNCHPAD FOR NEW VARIETIESThe Oklahoma Foundation Seed Stocks Inc. (OFSS)Seed Quality Starts Here seed production with later-stage field trialsa shift program plays a key role in transitioning new varieties OFSS maintains breeder seed from the OSU Wheatthat has reduced commercialization lag in recent from research plots to farmers fields. OperatedImprovement Team and other OSU-released cropyears through Oklahoma State Universitys Division ofvarieties, ensuring genetic purity through stringent Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, OFSSquality control measures. OFSS collaborates with Oklahoma Genetics, Inc. maintains and produces high-purity seed of new(OGI), a grower-owned seed entity, to license andI t carries out foundation-class seed increases,distribute certified seed regionally, connecting wheat cultivars and other crops developed by OSUproducing quantity while monitoring for varietal scientists. university innovation to marketplace adoption.identity and purity before certified seed production OFSS is responsible for: begins. A Legacy of Launching Whats Next Increasing breeder seed into foundation-class seed Revenue is self-generated via seed sales andOFSS celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2025, Ensuring genetic purity through rigorous qualityservices, enabling the program to support long-termmarking decades of partnership with OSU breeders control measures maintenance and distribution of OSU-developedand certified producers to safeguard seed quality varieties. and support new variety launches. C oordinating with seed companies for licensed production and commercialization Speeding Up Access to InnovationL ocated at OSUs Agronomy Research Station in For a new wheat cultivar like Orange Blossom CL+,Stillwater, the office coordinates seed maintenance, For new varieties like Orange Blossom CL+, FSS servesstaff operations, and distribution logistics to meet as the initial launch point. A limited quantity of seedOFSS handles the initial seed increase, enabling limited quantities to be made available to certified seedgrower demand.is typically made available to certified seed producers before broader commercial distribution begins. growers ahead of full commercialization.Learn more: https://agriculture.okstate.edu/partners/ This early distribution accelerates the time from cross foundation-seed/index.html to commercial grain, in part by overlapping foundation Quality Profile Suited forIn short, the Agronomy Discovery Commodity Blending Center will allow the wheat improvement When it comes to quality, Carver saysteam to intensify its breeding efforts Orange Blossom CL+ has above-averagewith access to more breeding tools and milling characteristics, while baking per- allow us to expand our operation by formance is described as average. utilizing a greater portion of the calen-Its quality profile is well fit for a com- dar, Carver says. Well be able to shift modity system where varieties of varyingfinancial resources from protection of the functionalities are blended, Carver says.breeding program to innovation within Orange Blossom CL Plus will certainlythe program. We believe the latter will raise the value of the blend for test weighthave greater direct impact on our wheat and protein but may need help from otherindustry.varieties with greater dough strength. The varietys name is a play on the famous 1930s fast-paced musical piece New Research Facilities to SupportOrange Blossom Special by Ervin T. Breeding Innovation Rouse. The song was primarily played Looking ahead, the OSU Wheaton the fiddle and uses double stops, a Improvement Team is preparing tomusical technique of playing two notes expand research capacity with thesimultaneously on a stringed instrument. proposed Agronomy Discovery CenterOrange Blossom CL+ is available in limited in Stillwater. The facility will include newsupply through OSU Foundation Seed greenhouses and lab space for multipleStocks, with broader commercial avail-research teams, including wheat qualityability expected to follow.SW OSU wheat pathologist Meriem Aoun.and pathology.DECEMBER 2025SEEDWORLD.COM /67'