SR403

Barley

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Robust' and 'CDC Clyde'

Summary: 'SR403' has a longer, wider flag leaf than 'Robust' and 'CDC Clyde'. The spike of 'SR403' has a greater glaucosity than 'CDC Clyde'. 'SR403' has a smooth lemma awn while it is semi-smooth in 'Robust'. The kernel of 'SR403' has longer rachilla hairs than 'Robust'.

Description:

PLANT: six row, spring malt barley, intermediate juvenile growth habit, green coleoptile, absent to very sparse pubescence on sheaths of the lower leaves, semi-erect to intermediate growth habit

FLAG LEAF: low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, sparse to medium pubescence on the blade, medium to strong glaucosity on the sheath at heading, very sparse to sparse pubescence on the sheath, strong anthocyanin colouration of the auricles, very sparse to sparse pubescence on the auricle margins

SPIKE: early to mid season emergence, platform to cup shaped collar, medium to strong anthocyanin colouration of the tips of the lemma awns, erect attitude at the end of pollen development, medium glaucosity, parallel shape at the beginning of ripening, medium to dense density, medium to long first segment of rachis, weak to medium curvature of first segment of the rachis, the length of the glume and its awn of the median spikelet is longer relative to the grain, the lemma awns are longer relative to the spike, lemma awns are smooth

KERNEL: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration of the nerves of the lemma at the beginning of ripening, whitish aleurone layer, husk present, long rachilla hair, weak spiculation of inner lateral nerves of dorsal side of lemma, no hairiness of ventral furrow, clasping disposition of lodicles, transverse to incomplete horseshoe shape of basal markings, medium to long length, medium to wide width

DISEASE REACTION: resistant to Covered Smut (Ustilago hordei) and False Loose Smut, Black Semi-Loose Smut (Ustilago nigra); moderately resistant to Spot Blotch (Cochliobolus sativus), moderately susceptible to Common Root Rot (Cochliobolus sativus, Fusarium spp.) and Stem Rust (Puccina graminis) susceptible to Net Blotch (Pyrenophora teres), Scald (Rhynchosporium secalis) and True Loose Smut (Ustilago nuda) and very susceptible to Fusarium Head Blight (Fusarium graminearum; perfect state Gibberella zeae)

AGRONOMY: fair to good resistance to lodging and shattering, fair to good tolerance to straw breaking, neck breaking and drought

Origin & Breeding History: 'SR403' was developed by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan barley breeding program using a pedigree breeding system. It originates from a cross SM97292 / SM97216 made at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1998. The F1 thru F4 generations were grown as bulk populations with the F1 being increased in a glass house over the winter of 1998/99 and the F2 grown in a field at Saskatoon in 1999. The F3 was grown in a winter nursery in New Zealand in 1999/2000 and the F4 was grown at Saskatoon in 2000. 'SR403' was grown and selected as a single F4 derived F5 row plot at Saskatoon in 2001. The seed from that F5 row plot was bulked as the line that became 'SR403'. It was tested in the CDC yield trials in 2002-2003 as SM02222, followed by testing in the Western Canadian 6-row Cooperative Trials during 2004-2005. Selection criteria included high yield potential, plant maturity, plant height, disease resistance and grain quality.

Tests & Trials: Test and trials were conducted during the summers of 2006 and 2007 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Plots consisted of 5 rows per variety with a row spacing of 15 centimeters and a row length of 3.7 meters. There were 2 replicates arranged in a RCB design.

Comparison tables for 'SR403' with reference varieties 'Robust' and 'CDC Clyde'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Flag leaf width (mm)

Click on image for larger view

Barley: 'SR403' (centre) with reference varieties 'Robust' (left) and 'CDC Clyde' (right)