BG46e

Barley

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Prowashonupana' and 'CDC Fibar'

Summary: Spike emergence of 'BG46e' is late whereas it is mid-season in both 'Prowashonupana' and 'CDC Fibar'. The plants of 'BG46e' are taller than those of 'Prowashonupana' and shorter than those of 'CDC Fibar'. The spike of 'BG46e' is longer than those of both reference varieties. The lemma awns of 'BG46e' are shorter than the length of the spike whereas they are much shorter than the length of the spike of 'Prowashonupana' and longer than the length of the spike of 'CDC Fibar'. The first segment of the rachis of 'BG46e' is short to medium in length whereas it is medium to long on both reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: two row, spring food-type barley, erect to semi-erect growth habit at tillering, absent or very sparse pubescence on the lower leaf sheaths

AURICLES: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or very weak pubescence on the margins
FLAG LEAF SHEATH: medium glaucosity, absent or very weak pubescence
FLAG LEAF: weak pubescence on blade

SPIKE: late emergence, weak glaucosity, semi-erect attitude, v-shaped collar, parallel shape, medium density, parallel to weakly divergent attitude of sterile spikelet, glume and awn of the median spikelet is equal in length to the grain
FIRST SEGMENT OF RACHIS: short to medium length, weak curvature
LEMMA AWNS: no anthocyanin colouration of the tips, shorter than length of spike, rough spiculations on margins

KERNEL: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of nerves of the lemma at beginning of ripening, whitish aleurone layer, long rachilla hairs, husk absent, very weak spiculation of inner lateral nerves of dorsal side of lemma, hairiness of ventral furrow absent, clasping disposition of lodicules, transverse crease shape of basal markings, long, narrow

Origin & Breeding History: 'BG46e' arose from the cross between Westbred's short, two-rowed, hulless, Male Sterile Facilitated Recurrent Selection Population and 'Prowashonupana' made in 1990 by WestBred, a unit of Monsanto, in Bozeman, Montana, USA. The F1 seed was planted in November 1990 and harvested in May 1991, saving and planting only the seed with shrunken endosperm. Spikes were selected from the F2 plants in September 1991 and were used to plant single F3 rows near Bozeman in May 1992. Several single rows were harvested in September 1992 and planted as single F4 plots near Bozeman in May 1993. One selection was made based on desirable agronomic traits, harvested and given the experimental designation 'BZ493-46'. The F5 from this plot was grown in a single plot in May 1994 and used to plant replicated yield trials in both irrigated and dryland sites in Montana. Continued yield testing of the F7 to F10 generations was performed from 1995 to 1999 in the states of Washington, Idaho and Montana. In May 1998, one plot was harvested individually and designated 'BZ493-46e'. Breeder seed was produced from this seed in 1998 which, in 2008, after renewed interest, was used to plant and harvest a Foundation seed increase and was given the name 'BG46e'.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'BG46e' were conducted in Neapolis, Alberta during the summer of 2010. The trials consisted of 3 replicates of each variety. Plots consisted of 5 rows of 5 metres long with a row spacing of 0.23 metres. Planting density was 290 seeds per meter square. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 12 measurements. Results were supported by the official technical report purchased from the Plant Variety Protection Office in the USA.

Comparison tables for 'BG46e' with reference varieties 'Prowashonupana' and 'CDC Fibar'

Plant height, including awns (cm)

Spike length, excluding awns (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Barley: 'BG46e' (left) with reference varieties 'Prowashonupana' (centre) and 'CDC Fibar' (right)