CDC Alba
| Denomination: | 'CDC Alba' |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name: | Phalaris canariensis |
| Applicant/Holder: |
University of Saskatchewan Crop Development Centre 4D36 Agriculture Building, 51 Campus Drive Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A8 Canada |
| Breeder: |
Pierre Hucl, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
| Application Date: | 2024-01-29 |
| Provisional Protection: | 2024-01-29 |
| Application Number: | 24-11583 |
Variety Description
Varieties used for comparison: 'CDC Bastia', 'CDC Calvi' and 'CDC Cibo'
Summary: At heading, the flag leaf of ‘CDC Alba' is shorter than those of ‘CDC Bastia' and ‘CDC Calvi'. The penultimate leaf of ‘CDC Alba' is shorter than those of ‘CDC Bastia' and ‘CDC Calvi'. The penultimate leaf of ‘CDC Alba' is wider than that of ‘CDC Bastia'. At maturity, the plants of 'CDC Alba' are shorter than those of ‘CDC Bastia', ‘CDC Calvi' and 'CDC Cibo'. The panicle of 'CDC Alba' is shorter than those of ‘CDC Bastia' and ‘CDC Calvi'. The seed of ‘CDC Alba' is yellow while the seed of ‘CDC Bastia' and ‘CDC Calvi' is brown.
Description:
COLEOPTILE: purple at four leaf stage
SEEDLING: erect juvenile growth habit, glabrous sheaths and blades of lower leaves
PLANT: spring type, panicle emerges mid-season, matures mid-season
FLAG LEAF: glabrous blade and sheath
PENULTIMATE LEAF: short to medium length and narrow to medium width
PANICLE: medium length, medium width
GLUME: glabrous
LEMMA: glabrous
SEED: yellow
Origin & Breeding History: ‘CDC Alba' (experimental designation C16057) originated from the cross between the variety ‘CDC Cibo' and the line C00038, conducted in the summer of 2009 at the Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The variety was advanced to the F5 generation based on seed colour with one F5 line designated as C16057 in 2014. This line was assessed for yield in 2016 and entered in the Glabrous Canary Seed Registration Test from 2017 to 2022. Breeder seed was established at the F10 generation in 2019.
Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for ‘CDC Alba' were conducted at the University of Saskatchewan during the 2024 and 2025 growing seasons. There were 4 replicates arranged in an RCB design. Plots were 3.6 metres long by 1.2 metres wide consisting of five rows. Seeding density was 1400 seeds per plot resulting in a maximum of 5600 plants per variety per year. Measured characteristics were based on 40 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.
Comparison tables for 'CDC Alba' with reference varieties 'CDC Bastia', 'CDC Calvi' and 'CDC Cibo'
Flag leaf length (at heading) (cm)
| 'CDC Alba' | 'CDC Bastia' | 'CDC Calvi' | 'CDC Cibo' | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mean 2024 | 13.6 | 15.3 | 14.7 | 15.1 |
| std. deviation 2024 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 2.3 |
| mean 2025 | 6.2 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 6.5 |
| std. deviation 2025 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
Penultimate leaf length (at heading) (cm)
| 'CDC Alba' | 'CDC Bastia' | 'CDC Calvi' | 'CDC Cibo' | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mean 2024 | 25.0 | 28.0 | 26.7 | 26.7 |
| std. deviation 2024 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.0 |
| mean 2025 | 11.0 | 12.5 | 12.4 | 11.4 |
| std. deviation 2025 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 2.4 |
Penultimate leaf width (at heading) (mm)
| 'CDC Alba' | 'CDC Bastia' | 'CDC Calvi' | 'CDC Cibo' | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mean 2024 | 12.0 | 11.3 | 11.9 | 12.2 |
| std. deviation 2024 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.1 |
| mean 2025 | 8.8 | 8.2 | 8.6 | 8.5 |
| std. deviation 2025 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
Plant height (at maturity, stem plus panicle) (cm)
| 'CDC Alba' | 'CDC Bastia' | 'CDC Calvi' | 'CDC Cibo' | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mean 2024 | 103.4 | 118.0 | 113.4 | 108.4 |
| std. deviation 2024 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 6.3 | 5.7 |
| mean 2025 | 90.2 | 109.2 | 108.6 | 96.4 |
| std. deviation 2025 | 5.9 | 6.5 | 8.2 | 8.0 |
Panicle length (cm)
| 'CDC Alba' | 'CDC Bastia' | 'CDC Calvi' | 'CDC Cibo' | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mean 2024 | 38.6 | 40.7 | 43.7 | 39.1 |
| std. deviation 2024 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 4.1 | 2.3 |
| mean 2025 | 33.9 | 36.3 | 37.1 | 35.3 |
| std. deviation 2025 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 4.8 | 3.5 |
Click on image for larger view
Annual canarygrass: ‘CDC Alba' (left) with reference varieties ‘CDC Bastia' (centre left), ‘CDC Calvi' (centre right) and ‘CDC Cibo' (right)
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