AAC Vitality

Barley

Variety Description

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

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

Description:

PLANT: six row, spring feed barley, high 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: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence on margins

SPIKE: emerges mid to late season, very weak glaucosity, erect attitude, 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, rough spiculations on margins

KERNEL: whitish aleurone layer, long 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, transverse crease basal markings, medium length and width

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Vitality' (experimental designation 'HS5606-11') was derived from a cross between 'OAC Kawartha' and 'Encore' 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. Eighteen of the twenty-two hills (or F5 lines) selected in California were entered into preliminary test at Ottawa in 2011 and five were advanced into the Ontario Six-Row Barley Screening Tests in 2012. In 2013, one of the F5 line, designated as 'HS5606-11', was advanced to the Ontario Six-Row Barley Orthogonal Trials. 'AAC Vitality' was selected for its grain yield, head type and lodging resistance.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Vitality' 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 Vitality' with reference varieties 'AAC Montrose' and 'OAC Kawartha'

Plant height (including awns) (cm)

Spike length (excluding awns) (cm)

Click on image for larger view

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