CDC Mayfair

Barley

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'CDC Sisler' and 'Legacy'

Summary: 'CDC Mayfair' differs from the reference varieties, 'CDC Sisler' and 'Legacy' mainly in flag leaf length and width, collar shape, spike length, spiculation on the margins of the lemma awns and plant height. The flag leaves of 'CDC Mayfair' are longer and wider than those of 'CDC Sisler'. The collar of 'CDC Mayfair' is v-shaped whereas it is platform in both reference varieties. The spike of 'CDC Mayfair' is shorter than that of 'CDC Sisler'. The lemma awns of 'CDC Mayfair' are semi-smooth whereas they are smooth on 'CDC Sisler'. The plants of 'CDC Mayfair' are shorter than those of 'CDC Sisler'.

Description:

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

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

SPIKE: mid-season emergence, v-shaped collar, erect to slightly semi-erect attitude, weak to medium glaucosity, parallel shape, medium-dense to dense
LEMMA AWNS: medium-strong to strong anthocyanin colouration at tips, longer than spike, semi-smooth (barbs on one half to two thirds of the awn)
FIRST SEGMENT OF RACHIS: medium to short-medium length, medium to weak curvature
MEDIAN SPIKELET: glume and its awn longer than grain

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

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

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

Origin & Breeding History: 'CDC Mayfair' was developed by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan. It arose from the cross BT459/BT941 originally conducted under glass during the winter of 1998-99 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The F1 to F4 generations were grown as bulk populations where the F1 was increased under glass in 1999 and the F2 was grown in a winter nursery in New Zealand in 1999-2000. The F3 and F4 were grown in the field at Saskatoon during the 2000 and 2001 growing seasons. 'CDC Mayfair' was grown and selected as a single F4 derived F5 row plot at Saskatoon in 2002. Seed from that F5 plot was bulked as the line SM03219 and was tested in University of Saskatchewan yield trials in 2003-2004 and was further tested as SR412 in the Western Canadian Six-Row Cooperative Registration trials during the summers of 2005-06. Selection criteria included yield potential, plant maturity, plant height, disease resistance and grain quality.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'CDC Mayfair' were conducted at the 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 Mayfair' with reference varieties 'CDC Sisler' and 'Legacy'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Flag leaf width (mm)

Spike length, excluding awns (cm)

Plant height, including awns (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Barley: 'CDC Mayfair' (centre) with reference varieties 'CDC Sisler' (left) and 'Legacy' (right)