AAC Bell

Barley

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Leader'

Summary: At booting, the flag leaf of 'AAC Bell' is wider than that of 'Leader'. The flag leaf auricles and lemma awn tips of 'AAC Bell' have anthocyanin colouration present whereas anthocyanin colouration is absent on the flag leaf auricles and lemma awn tips of 'Leader'. At the end of anthesis, the spike of 'AAC Bell' has a medium degree of glaucosity whereas the spike of 'Leader' has a weak degree of glaucosity. At ripening, the first segment of the rachis of 'AAC Bell' is medium in length with a weak degree of curvature whereas it is long with a medium degree of curvature for 'Leader'.

Description:

YOUNG PLANT: erect growth habit at tillering, absent or very sparse pubescence on lower leaf sheaths
PLANT: two row, spring feed barley, spike emergence occurs mid-season

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

SPIKE: medium glaucosity, semi-erect attitude, v-shaped collar, parallel shape, lax density, divergent sterile spikelet attitude, glume and awn of the median spikelet are longer relative to the grain
LEMMA AWNS: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of tips, longer than spike, rough spiculations on margins
FIRST SEGMENT OF RACHIS: medium length, weak degree of curvature

KERNEL: whitish aleurone layer, short rachilla hairs, husk present, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration of nerves of lemma, absent or very weak spiculation of inner lateral nerves of dorsal side of lemma, hairless ventral furrow, clasping disposition of lodicules, transverse crease shaped basal markings, medium to long, medium width

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: good resistance to lodging, poor malting quality

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Bell' (experimental designation CH2714-4) originated from the cross between the varieties 'Leader' (female parent) and 'Chief' (male parent) conducted in 2006 at the Charlottetown Research and Development Centre, Harrington, Prince Edward Island, Canada. The F1 generation was grown in the field at Harrington in 2007. The plants were advanced using the bulk breeding method with the F2 to F4 bulks grown out in 2008 to 2010. One hundred twenty five F4 heads were selected based on head type and grown out in head-rows. Eleven F5 lines were selected for preliminary yield trials in 2013 with four of these lines advancing to the Maritime and Ontario Two-Row Barley Screening Trials in 2014. Based on grain yield, lodging and disease resistance, one line was designated as CH2714-4 and advanced to the Maritime and Quebec Two-Row Barley Registration and Recommendation Trials conducted in 2015 to 2017 and the Ontario Barley Orthogonal Trials in 2016 to 2017.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Bell' were conducted during the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Ottawa Research and Development Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Each trial was arranged in a RCB design with 4 replicates and a seeding density of 350 seeds per squared metre. Plots consisted of 6 rows with a row length of 5 metres spaced 0.18 metres apart. Measured characteristics were based on 40 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison table for 'AAC Bell' with reference variety 'Leader'

Flag leaf width (mm)

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Barley: 'AAC Bell' (left) with reference variety 'Leader' (right)