AAC Madawaska

Barley

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'AAC Bell'

Summary: At booting, the frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves is medium to high on 'AAC Madawaska' whereas it is very high for 'AAC Bell'. The anthocyanin colouration on the flag leaf auricles of 'AAC Madawaska' is of medium intensity whereas it is weak on those of 'AAC Bell'. At ripening, the first segment of the rachis of 'AAC Madawaska' is short whereas it is of medium length for 'AAC Bell'. The rachilla hair on the kernel of 'AAC Madawaska' is long whereas it is short for 'AAC Bell'.

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): medium to high frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, sparse pubescence on blade
FLAG LEAF SHEATH: strong glaucosity, sparse pubescence
AURICLES: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence on margins

SPIKE: weak degree of glaucosity, semi-erect attitude, v-shaped to cup 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: short, weak 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: fair resistance to lodging

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Madawaska' (experimental designation CH2801-48) originated from the cross between the line CH2716F2 (female parent) and the variety 'Leader' (male parent) conducted in the fall of 2007 at the Charlottetown Research and Development Centre, Harrington, Prince Edward Island, Canada. The F1 generation was grown in the field at Harrington in 2008. The plants were advanced using the bulk breeding method with the F2 to F4 bulks grown out in 2009 to 2011. One hundred and sixty-eight F4 heads were selected based on head type and grown out in head-rows. In 2012, thirty-seven F5 lines were selected for preliminary yield trials with two of these lines advancing to the Maritime Two-Row Barley Screening Trials in 2015. Based on grain yield, lodging and disease resistance, one line was designated as CH2801-48 and advanced to the Maritime Two-Row Barley Registration and Recommendation Trials conducted in 2016 to 2017 and the Ontario Barley Orthogonal Trials in 2016 to 2017.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Madawaska' were conducted during the 2019 and 2021 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 and 20 measurements per variety in 2019 and 2021, respectively.

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