AAC Montrose

Barley

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AAC Vitality' and 'OAC Kawartha'

Summary: At the beginning of ripening, the plant height, which includes the awns, of 'AAC Montrose' is taller than that of 'OAC Kawartha'. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration at the tips of the lemma awns of 'AAC Montrose' is very weak whereas it is medium for 'OAC Kawartha'. Excluding the awns, the spike of 'AAC Montrose' is longer than that of 'OAC Kawartha'. The spiculation on the margins of the lemma awns is smooth to semi-smooth for 'AAC Montrose' whereas it is rough for 'AAC Vitality'. 'AAC Montrose' has short rachilla hairs on the kernel whereas they are long for 'AAC Vitality'.

Description:

PLANT: six row, spring feed barley, very low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves
YOUNG PLANT: erect growth habit at tillering, absent or very sparse pubescence on lower leaf sheaths

FLAG LEAF BLADE (AT BOOTING): sparse pubescence
FLAG LEAF SHEATH: strong to very strong glaucosity, sparse pubescence
AURICLES: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence on margins

SPIKE: emerges mid-season, weak glaucosity, erect attitude, open to v-shaped collar, parallel sided shape, lax density, glume and awn of the median spikelet is longer than the grain
LEMMA AWNS: very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the tips, longer than length of spike, smooth to semi-smooth spiculations on margins

KERNEL: whitish aleurone layer, short rachilla hairs, husk present, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration of nerves of lemma, 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, medium length and width

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Montrose' (experimental designation 'HS5626-39') was derived from a cross between 'OAC Kawartha' and 'OB5258-12' made in 2006 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The F1 generation was grown in the greenhouse in Ottawa during the winter of 2006 and 2007. The F2 to F4 generations were grown and bulked in a field in Ottawa in 2007 to 2009. Forty superior heads were selected from the F4 generation and planted in hill plots in Brawley, California during the winter of 2009 and 2010. Three of the seventeen hills (or F5 lines) selected in California were entered into preliminary test at Ottawa in 2011. In 2012, the F5 line, designated as 'HS5626-39', was tested in the Ontario Six-Row Barley Screening Tests and advanced to the Ontario Six-Row Barley Orthogonal Trials in 2013 and 2014. 'AAC Montrose' was selected for its grain yield, head type and lodging resistance.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Montrose' were conducted during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Ottawa Research and Development Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Each 4.88 metres squared plots consisted of 4 rows with a row length of 4.1 metres and a row spacing of 0.23 metres. There were 4 replications per variety arranged in an RCB design. Measured plant characteristics were based on 40 measurements per year. Mean differences are significant at the 5% probability level based on LSD values.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Montrose' with reference varieties 'AAC Vitality' and 'OAC Kawartha'

Plant height (including awns) (cm)

Spike length (excluding awns) (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Barley: 'AAC Montrose' (right) with reference varieties 'AAC Vitality' (centre) and 'OAC Kawartha' (left)