CDC Fraser

Barley

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'CDC Copeland' and 'AC Metcalfe'

Summary: The flag leaves of 'CDC Fraser' are wider than those of both reference varieties. The plants of 'CDC Fraser' are shorter than those of both reference varieties. The curvature of the first segment of the rachis of 'CDC Fraser' is medium whereas it is weak for both reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: two row, spring barley, weak to medium frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves
YOUNG PLANT (at tillering): intermediate growth habit, absent or very sparse pubescence on lower leaf sheaths

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

SPIKE: emerges mid-season, medium glaucosity, erect to semi-erect attitude, v-shaped to open shaped collar, parallel shape, lax density, divergent attitude of sterile spikelet, glume and awn of median spikelet are equal to length of grain
FIRST SEGMENT OF RACHIS: medium length and curvature
LEMMA AWNS: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of tips, longer than length of spike, rough spiculation on margins along entire length

KERNEL: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration of nerves of lemma at early to soft dough stage, whitish aleurone layer, long rachilla hairs, husk present, medium spiculation of inner lateral nerves of dorsal side of lemma, no hairiness of ventral furrow, clasping disposition of lodicules, horseshoe to incomplete horseshoe shape basal markings, long, medium width

AGRONOMY: good resistance to lodging, shattering and straw breakage; fair to good drought tolerance, good malting quality
DISEASE REACTION: resistant to True loose smut (Ustilago nuda)

Origin & Breeding History: 'CDC Fraser' (experimental designations 'TR12135', 'SM090669') originated from the cross 'TR04280' x 'SM04261' made in a greenhouse at the Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 2005 and was developed using a bulk breeding system. Both the F1 and F2 generations were grown as bulk populations in a winter nursery in New Zealand in 2005-06 and in Saskatoon in 2006, respectively. The seed was returned to New Zealand during the winter of 2006-07 to grow as an F3 bulk population with the subsequent F4 grown as a space planted population in Saskatoon in 2007. Individual spikes were harvested and selected for general seed characteristics and then grown in the field as F5 hill plots in Saskatoon in 2008. Seed from the selected F5 hill plot was bulked as the line that became known as 'SM090669'. It was tested in the Crop Development Centre yield trials from 2009 to 2011 followed by testing in the Western Cooperative Two-Row Barley Registration Trials as 'TR12135' during 2012-13. Selection criteria included short and strong straw, yield, grain quality and disease resistances.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials were conducted at the University of Saskatchewan Crop Science Field Laboratory in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons. The trials were planted in a RCB design and consisted of 4 replicates for each variety. Each plot consisted of 5 rows 3.66 metres in length with a row spacing of 0.2 metres. The planting density was 215 plants per square metre. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 20 measurements each year. The mean differences were significant to at least a 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison tables for 'CDC Fraser' with reference varieties 'CDC Copeland' and 'AC Metcalfe'

Flag leaf width (mm)

Plant height (including awns) (cm)

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Barley: 'CDC Fraser' (centre) with reference varieties 'CDC Copeland' (left) and 'AC Metcalfe' (right)

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Barley: 'CDC Fraser' (centre) with reference varieties 'CDC Copeland' (left) and 'AC Metcalfe' (right)