AB BrewNet

Barley

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Canmore' and 'Lowe'

Summary: The lemma awn tips of 'AB BrewNet' have a weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration while anthocyanin colouration is absent on the lemma awn tips of 'Lowe'. At maturity, the plants, including the awns, of 'AB BrewNet' are taller than those of 'Canmore'. The spike of 'AB BrewNet' is of a medium density while that of 'Lowe' is lax. The spike, excluding the awns, of 'AB BrewNet' is longer than that of 'Canmore'. The sterile spikelet for 'AB BrewNet' has a divergent attitude while that of 'Canmore' has a parallel to weakly divergent attitude.

Description:

YOUNG PLANT: semi-erect to intermediate growth habit at tillering, absent or very sparse pubescence on lower leaf sheaths
PLANT: two row, spring malting barley, low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, spike emergence occurs mid-season

FLAG LEAF (AT BOOTING): sparse pubescence on blade
FLAG LEAF SHEATH: medium glaucosity, sparse pubescence
AURICLES: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence on margins

SPIKE: medium glaucosity, semi-erect attitude, cup shaped collar, tapering, medium density, divergent sterile spikelet attitude, glume and awn of the median spikelet are equal in length 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, long rachilla hairs, husk present, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration of nerves of lemma, strong spiculation of inner lateral nerves of dorsal side of lemma, hair present on ventral furrow, clasping disposition of lodicules, horseshoe shaped basal markings, medium in length and width

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: good resistance to lodging, good resistance to shattering, good tolerance to straw breakage, fair tolerance to drought, good malting quality

Origin & Breeding History: 'AB BrewNet' (experimental designations TR16629 and J06039004) originated from the cross between the varieties J06018 F1 and 'Merit' conducted in 2006 at the Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Field Crop Development Centre in Lacombe, Alberta. The F2 and F3 generations were bulked in Lacombe in 2007 and in California in the winter of 2007-2008, respectively. Two hundred F3 heads were selected and the seed advanced to the F6 generation with disease pressure in Lacombe, Alberta. In 2011, 200 F7 head rows were grown in Lacombe where one line designated J06039004 was selected based on marker assisted selection for resistance to scald, grain yield, test weight, kernel weight, lodging resistance, straw strength and maturity. J06039004 underwent further disease testing from 2012 to 2015 and was entered in the Western Cooperative Two-row Barley Test as TR16629 in 2016.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AB BrewNet' were conducted during the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons at Olds College Field Crop Development Centre in Lacombe, Alberta. The trial was arranged in a RCB design with 3 replicates. Each plot consisted of 8 rows with a row length of 2.5 metres. There was 0.14 metre inter row spacing with 0.4 metres between the plots. The seeding density was 269 seeds per squared metre resulting in approximately 2250 plants per variety. Measured characteristics were based on 30 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 'AB BrewNet' with reference varieties 'Canmore' and 'Lowe'

Plant height (stem plus spike, including awns) (cm)

Spike length (excluding the awns) (cm)

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Barley: 'AB BrewNet' (centre) with reference varieties 'Lowe' (left) and 'Canmore' (right)

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Barley: 'AB BrewNet' (left) with reference varieties 'Lowe' (centre) and 'Canmore' (right)