Muskwa

Barley

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Sundre'

Summary: The frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves is absent or very low in 'Muskwa' whereas it medium in 'Sundre'. 'Muskwa' has weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the flag leaf auricles whereas it is absent or very weak on 'Sundre'. The flag leaves of 'Muskwa' are shorter than those of 'Sundre'. The plants of 'Muskwa' are shorter than those of 'Sundre'. Spike attitude of 'Muskwa' is semi-erect whereas it is horizontal on 'Sundre'. The spike collar of 'Muskwa' is open whereas it is v-shaped on 'Sundre'. Spike density of 'Muskwa' is medium whereas it is lax in 'Sundre'. 'Muskwa' has shorter spikes than 'Sundre'.

Description:

PLANT: six row, spring feed-type barley, erect growth habit at tillering, absent or very sparse pubescence on the lower leaf sheaths

FLAG LEAF: absent or very low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, sparse pubescence on blade
AURICLES: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence on the margins
FLAG LEAF SHEATH: strong glaucosity, weak pubescence

SPIKE: mid-season emergence, absent or very weak glaucosity, semi-erect attitude, open collar shape, tapering shape, medium density, glume and awn of the median spikelet is longer than the grain
FIRST SEGMENT OF RACHIS: medium length, weak curvature
LEMMA AWNS: no anthocyanin colouration of the tips, longer than length of spike, smooth spiculations on margins

KERNEL: whitish aleurone layer, long rachilla hairs, husk present, absent or very weak spiculation of inner lateral nerves of dorsal side of lemma, hairiness of ventral furrow absent, clasping disposition of lodicules, horseshoe shape of basal markings, short, narrow

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: good resistance to lodging and shattering, good tolerance to straw breakage and drought, poor malting quality

Origin & Breeding History: 'Muskwa' (experimental designation BT584, H97090012, and FB427) was developed at the Field Crop Development Center, Lacombe, Alberta using a modified bulk pedigree method. It arose from the cross 'Tukwa' / SD513 conducted in 1997. The F2 generation was grown at Lacombe in 1998, and the F3 was grown in El Centro, California during the winter of 1998-99. The F5 to F7 generations were grown in bulk populations at Lacombe from 1999 to 2002. From the F7 bulk, 200 heads were selected to be grown as F8 headrows in 2003. From these headrows, the line H97090012 was selected to be grown in yield trials from 2004-10. While in yield trials, purification nurseries were grown at each level of yield testing for removal of variants and to compile detailed descriptions. In 2007, 200 heads were grown out from a bulk increase plot as individual rows. Selected heads provided the source for a Pre-Breeder Headrow nursery in 2008, and breeder rows and plots in 2009. These plots were bulked to form the first breeder seed of the variety, made up of 200 F15 breeding lines. In 2009, this line was tested as BT584 in the Western Six Row Barley Cooperative Test and as FB427 in the Western Forage Barley Cooperative Test. 'Muskwa' was supported for registration by the Prairie Recommending Committee for Oats and Barley in 2011. Selection criteria included grain yield, test weight, 1000 kernel weight, lodging resistance, disease resistance and maturity.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials were conducted during the summers of 2011 and 2012 in Lacombe, Alberta. Plots consisted of 8 rows with a row spacing of 0.14 meters and a row length of 2.5 meters. There were 3 replicates. Measured characteristics were based on 20 measurements in each year of test.

Comparison tables for 'Muskwa' with reference variety 'Sundre'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Plant height (cm)

Spike length (excluding awns) (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Barley: 'Muskwa' (left) with reference variety, 'Sundre' (right)