Comments
Gem is a hard red winter wheat with a Jagger pedigree. It is a medium early maturity wheat, about 3-4 days later than Jagger. Jagger and Gem have similar test weights, but overall Gem yields have averaged 2-3 bushels more. Gem has a good straw strength rating and stands better than Jagger. Protein content is also higher in Gem than Jagger and Jagalene.
Gem has an intermediate disease resistance package. It is resistant to soil-borne mosaic. Gem is moderately resistant to both leaf rust and stripe rust and is moderately susceptible to tan spot.
Gem performs very well throughout the central corridor (south of I-70) and all of eastern Kansas. It also does well in southwest Kansas when grown under irrigation.
Characteristics
Barley yellow dwarf: Not rated Glume blotch: Moderately susceptible
Hessian fly: Susceptible Leaf rust: Moderately resistant
Powdery mildew: Moderately susceptible Septoria leaf blotch: Moderately resistant
Soil-borne mosaic: Resistant Spindle streak: Not rated
Stem rust: Moderately resistant Stripe rust: Moderately resistant
Tan spot: Moderately susceptible Wheat streak mosaic: Not rated
Acid soil tolerance: Not rated Coleoptile length: Medium short
Grazing potential: Average Head size: Medium
Height: Medium Maturity: Medium early
Milling and baking quality: Very good Protein: Good
Shattering reputation: Not rated Straw strength: Fair to good
Test weight: Fair to good Winterhardiness: Fair
Yield potential where adapted: Excellent Pedigree: Not available
Year of release: 2003
Strengths
 | Excellent yield potential |
| Very high protein content |
| Better standability than Jagger |
| Moderately resistant to stem and leaf rust |
| Resistant to Soil-borne mosaic |
Weaknesses
| Susceptible to Hessian fly |
| Moderately susceptible to powdery mildew |
| Can break dormancy early |
| Not yet rated on some diseases and acid tolerance |