AAC Synergy

Barley

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AC Metcalfe', 'Major', 'Newdale' and 'Cerveza'

Summary: At booting, the frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves for 'AAC Synergy' is low whereas it is absent or very low for 'AC Metcalfe'. 'AAC Synergy' has a weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the auricles whereas it is very weak to weak for 'AC Metcalfe'. The flag leaf of 'AAC Synergy' is wider than 'Major' and 'Newdale'. 'AAC Synergy' has a longer first segment of the rachis than 'AC Metcalfe' and 'Cerveza'. The thousand kernel weight of 'AAC Synergy' is greater than that of 'AC Metcalfe', 'Major' and 'Newdale'. 'AAC Synergy' has a lower percent protein than 'AC Metcalfe', 'Major' and 'Newdale'. 'AAC Synergy' is moderately resistant to Spot Blotch (Cochliobolus sativus) while 'Newdale' is moderately resistant to moderately susceptible and 'AC Metcalfe' is moderately susceptible. 'AAC Synergy' is moderately resistant to Net Blotch Net-form (Pyrenophora teres) while 'Newdale' is moderately resistant to moderately susceptible and 'AC Metcalfe' is susceptible. 'AAC Synergy' is resistant to Net Blotch Spot-form (Pyrenophora teres) while 'Newdale' and 'Cerveza' are moderately resistant and 'AC Metcalfe' is moderately susceptible to susceptible. 'AAC Synergy' is moderately resistant to moderately susceptible to Covered smut (Ustilago hordie) and False loose smut (Ustilago nigra) while 'Cerveza' is resistant to both. 'AAC Synergy' is susceptible to True loose smut (Ustilago nuda) while 'AC Metcalfe', 'Major' and 'Cerveza' are resistant.

Description:

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

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

SPIKE: mid-season emergence, medium to strong glaucosity, erect to horizontal attitude, v-shaped cup half opened and half closed collar shape, tapering to parallel sided shape, medium density, the sterile spikelet attitude is parallel to weakly divergent, glume and awn of the median spikelet is longer than the grain, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration of the nerves of the lemma of the kernel
FIRST SEGMENT OF RACHIS: weak to strong curvature
LEMMA AWNS: weak to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the tips, longer than the length of the spike, rough spiculations on margins

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

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: good resistance to lodging, very good malting quality

DISEASE REACTION: resistant to Net Blotch spot-form (Pyrenophora teres), moderately resistant to Spot Blotch (Cochliobolus sativus) and Net Blotch net-form (Pyrenophora teres), moderately resistant to moderately susceptible to Common Root Rot (Cochliobolus sativus), Stem Rust (Puccinia graminis), Covered Smut (Ustilago hordei) and False Loose Smut (Ustilago nigra), moderately susceptible to Fusarium Head Blight (Fusarium graminearum) and susceptible to Septoria Speckled Leaf Blotch (Septoria passerinii), Scald (Rhynchosporium secalis), True Loose Smut (Ustilago nuda) and Barley Yellow Dwarf virus

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Synergy' (experimental designation TR09208 and BM0215-189-1) was developed from the cross of TR02267 / 'Newdale' made in 2002 at the Brandon Research Station in Brandon, Manitoba. TR02267 = TR253 / AC Metcalfe. Early generations were handled by a modified bulk breeding method. The F1 generation was grown as a bulk row in the field in Brandon, Manitoba. The F2 generation bulk plot was increased in 2002-2003 winter nursery in New Zealand. The F3 generation was grown as 2 bulk plots in Brandon in 2003. Based on agronomic appearance and foliar disease resistance 525 spikes were selected, harvested and threshed individually. The seed from each spike were planted as single F4 hill plots in the irrigated field leaf nursery in Brandon in 2004 where spot blotch was the predominant disease. Based on spot blotch resistance and agronomic appearance, 52 lines were selected and grown as F5 progeny rows in Brandon in 2005. 13 of these lines were selected on the basis of height, maturity, lodging resistance, general aoppearance and field disease reaction. The selected F6 lines, of which BM0215-189-1 was one, were grown as single plots with repeated checks in Brandon in 2006. BM0215-189-1 was advanced to a replicated preliminary yield test in Brandon in 2007 where it was evaluated for other traits. It was then evaluated in 2008 in an advanced yield trial in 5 locations across western Canada. It was entered into the Western Cooperative Two-row Barley Registration Trial as TR09208 in 2009-2010. In 2010-2011, TR09208 was evaluated in the Collaborative Malting Barley Trials.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'AAC Synergy' were conducted during the 2011 and 2012 growing seasons in Brandon, Manitoba. Plots consisted of 6 rows with a row length of 4 metres and a row spacing of 18 cm. Plots were spaced 46 cm apart. There were 4 replicates arranged in an RCB design. Measured characteristics were based on 20 measurements in each year.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Synergy' with reference varieties 'AC Metcalfe', 'Major', 'Newdale' and 'Cerveza'

Flag leaf width (mm)

Thousand kernel weight (grams)

Protein content (%)

Click on image for larger view

Barley: 'ACC Synergy' (two on the far left) with the reference varieties 'Newdale' (centre left), 'AC Metcalfe' (centre right), 'Major' (second from the right) and 'Cerveza' (far right)