CDC PolarStar

Barley

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Harrington', 'CDC Kendall' and 'AC Metcalfe'

Summary: 'CDC PolarStar' differs from the reference varieties, 'Harrington', 'CDC Kendall' and 'AC Metcalfe' mainly in frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, anthocyanin colouration of the flag leaf auricles, anthocyanin colouration of the tips of the lemma awns, spike length and disposition of the lodicules. The frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves is very low to low in 'CDC PolarStar' whereas it is low-medium to medium in 'AC Metcalfe'. The flag leaf auricles of 'CDC PolarStar' have medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas it is very strong in 'Harrington'. The tips of the lemma awns of 'CDC PolarStar' have medium to medium-strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas it is weak to medium on 'AC Metcalfe'. The spike of 'CDC PolarStar' is longer than that of 'AC Metcalfe'. The disposition of lodicules on the kernel of 'CDC PolarStar' are mid range between frontal and clasping whereas they are strongly clasping in 'CDC Kendall'.

Description:

JUVENILE PLANT: semi-erect to intermediate growth habit, green coleoptile
PLANT AT TILLERING: very sparse pubescence on sheath of lower leaves, semi-erect to intermediate growth habit

FLAG LEAF (at booting): very low to low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, medium density of pubescence on blade, strong to medium-strong glaucosity on sheath, weak to medium pubescence on leaf sheath
FLAG LEAF AURICLES: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, very weak pubescence

SPIKE: mid-season emergence, platform to platform to cup collar, erect to slightly semi-erect attitude, medium to strong glaucosity, parallel shape, dense, sterile spikelet parallel to weakly divergent to divergent
LEMMA AWNS: medium to medium-strong anthocyanin colouration at tips, longer than spike, rough (barbs from tip to next to kernel)
FIRST SEGMENT OF RACHIS: medium to short-medium length, weak to medium-strong curvature
MEDIAN SPIKELET: glume and its awn equal in length relative to the grain

KERNEL: very weak to medium anthocyanin colouration of nerves of lemma, whitish to weakly coloured aleurone layer, husk present, long rachilla hairs, weak to medium-strong spiculation of inner lateral nerves of dorsal side of lemma, no hairiness of ventral furrow, medium clasping of lodicules, horsehoe and incomplete horseshoe basal markings, medium-long to long, medium to medium-wide

AGRONOMIC TRAITS: fair resistance to lodging, good resistance to shattering, straw and neck breaking, fair to good tolerance to drought, good malting quality

DISEASE: susceptible to Common root rot (Cochliobolus sativus, Fusarium spp.), Spot blotch (Cochliobolus sativus) and Net blotch (Pyrenophora teres), very susceptible to Septoria speckled leaf blotch (Septoria passerinii), Scald (Rhynchosoporium secalis) and Stem rust (Puccinia graminis), moderately resistant to Fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum), resistant to covered smut (Ustilago hordei) and False loose smut, Black semi-loose smut (Ustilago nigra) and very susceptible to True loose smut (Ustilago nuda).

Origin & Breeding History: 'CDC PolarStar' was developed through a collaborative breeding program of the Sapporo Breweries Ltd., Crop Development Centre and Prairie Malt Ltd. It arose from the cross OIU003/CDC Kendall originally conducted in Gumma, Japan in 2001, with five subsequent backcrosses to CDC Kendall made at Gumma and the Crop Development Centre between 2001-2003. During the winter of 2003-04, the BC5F1 was increased under glass, with the subsequent BC5F2 and BC5F3 being increased under glass in Saskatoon the following winter. Seed from these increases was grown in a yield trial in Saskatoon during the summer of 2005. Seed from these plots were bulked and increased in a winter nursery in New Zealand in 2005-2006. Bulked seed from the BC5F6 lines was used for testing in the Western Canadian 2-row Cooperative Registration trials as TR06918. Selection criteria included yield potential, early to moderate maturity, grain quality which included test weight, kernel weight and kernel plumpness.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'CDC PolarStar' were conducted at the Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan during the summers of 2007 and 2008. The trials consisted of two replicates of each variety, with each replication consisting of five rows, 3.7 metres in length, planted in a randomized complete block design. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 20 measurements per variety per year.

Comparison tables for 'CDC PolarStar' with reference varieties 'Harrington', 'CDC Kendall' and 'AC Metcalfe'

Spike: length, excluding awns (cm)

Height, including awns (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Barley: 'CDC PolarStar' (left) with reference varieties 'Harrington' (centre left), 'CDC Kendall' (centre right) and 'AC Metcalfe' (right)