Altorado

Barley

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Xena', 'Champion' and 'Brahma'

Summary: The flag leaf auricles of 'Altorado' have weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas those of 'Champion' have none. The flag leaves of 'Altorado' are longer and wider than those of 'Xena' and 'Brahma'. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration at the tips of the lemma awns of 'Altorado' is weak whereas it is absent on 'Champion'. The spike of 'Altorado' is shorter than that of 'Brahma'. The spike attitude of 'Altorado' is semi-erect to horizontal whereas it is erect to semi-erect for 'Champion'. The anthocyanin colouration of the nerves of the lemma of 'Altorado' is of medium intensity whereas it is strong for 'Xena'. The plants of 'Altorado' are shorter than those of 'Champion'. The length of the first segment of the rachis of 'Altorado' is short whereas it is medium length for 'Xena'. The glume and its awn are longer than the grain of 'Altorado' whereas the glume and awn are equal in length to the grain for the reference varieties.

Description:

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

FLAG LEAF SHEATH: weak to medium glaucosity
FLAG LEAF AURICLES: weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, very sparse pubescence on margins

SPIKE: emerges mid-season, weak to medium glaucosity, semi-erect to horizontal attitude, platform collar shape, parallel shape, dense, glume and awn of the median spikelet are longer than the grain
LEMMA AWNS: weak anthocyanin colouration of the tips, longer than length of spike, rough spiculations on margins
FIRST SEGMENT OF RACHIS: short, medium curvature
STERILE SPIKELET: parallel attitude of sterile spikelet, reduced in size

KERNEL: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration of nerves of the lemma at beginning of ripening, whitish aleurone layer, long rachilla hairs, husk present, absent or very weak spiculation of inner lateral nerves of dorsal side of lemma, no hairiness of ventral furrow, clasping disposition of lodicules, horseshoe shape basal markings, medium length, medium to wide

AGRONOMY: good resistance to lodging, fair to good resistance to shattering, good tolerance to straw breakage, fair to good tolerance to drought

Origin & Breeding History: 'Altorado' (experimental designations BZ509-601 and TR13740) originated from the cross 'Xena'/YU501-385 made near Bozeman, Montana in February, 2006 and was advanced using the standard pedigree method. The F1 was grown near Bozeman, Montana during the 2006 growing season and F2 seed was planted in May 2007. Single F2 spikes were selected in September 2007, threshed in bulk and planted as an F3 population in May, 2008 near Bozeman, Montana. Single spikes were selected from the F3 and planted as single F4 rows near Bozeman in May 2009. Agronomically desired rows were selected and one such row was harvested and designated BZ509-601. The F5 through F8 generations were tested for grain yield and other agronomic traits from 2010 through 2014. TR13740 was tested in the Canadian Western Two Row Barley Coop trials in 2013 and 2014.

Tests & Trials: The tests and trials for 'Altorado' were conducted in Neapolis, Alberta during the 2014 and 2015 growing seasons. The trials were planted in a RCB Design and consisted of 3 replicates of each variety, with each variety grown and replicated a minimum of 3 times in each replicate. Each replicate was approximately 5 metres in length with 5 rows per replicate spaced 0.23 metres between rows. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 25 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired student's T-test.

Comparison tables for 'Altorado' with reference varieties 'Xena', 'Champion' and 'Brahma'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Flag leaf width (cm)

Spike length (cm)

Plant height (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Barley: 'Altorado' (left) with reference varieties 'Xena' (centre left), 'Champion' (centre right) and 'Brahma' (right)