AB Wrangler

Barley

Variety Description

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

Summary: 'AB Wrangler' has a low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves while 'Canmore' has an absent or very low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves. The flag leaf auricles of 'AB Wrangler' have a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration while those of 'Canmore' have a strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The flag leaf of 'AB Wrangler' is wider than the flag leaf of 'Canmore'. The anthocyanin colouration of the nerves of lemma on the kernel of 'AB Wrangler' is of a weak to medium intensity while it is of an absent or very weak to weak intensity for 'Canmore'. The collar on the spike of 'AB Wrangler' is platform shaped while it is cup-shaped for 'Lowe' and 'Canmore'. The spike of 'AB Wrangler' is of a medium density while it is lax for 'Lowe'. The sterile spikelet of 'AB Wrangler' has a parallel to weakly divergent attitude while that of 'Lowe' has a divergent attitiude. The plants of 'AB Wrangler' have good resistance to lodging while those of 'Canmore' have a fair resistance to lodging.

Description:

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

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

SPIKE: mid-season emergence, medium glaucosity at end of anthesis, semi-erect attitude, platform shaped collar, tapering shape, medium density, parallel to weakly divergent sterile spikelet attitude, glume and its awn of the median spikelet are equal to length of 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: weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration of nerves of lemma, long rachilla hairs, husk present, weak to medium spiculation of inner lateral nerves of dorsal side of lemma, hairless ventral furrow, clasping disposition of lodicules, horseshoe shaped basal markings, medium length and width

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: good resistance to lodging, poor malting quality

Origin & Breeding History: 'AB Wrangler' (experimental designations J07046021 and TR17639) originated from a cross between the variety 'Busby' and the line 'TR06390', conducted in Lacombe, Alberta in 2007. Using a modified bulk breeding method, the variety was advanced with an F7 head row designated as J07046021. Head selections were performed from 2013 to 2018 where 200 F12 lines were grown as individual plots and the resulting F13 seed bulked as breeder seed in 2019. The variety was entered in the Western 2 Row Cooperative Registration Test from 2018 to 2019 as 'TR17639' with support for registration received in 2019. Selection criteria used in the development of 'AB Wrangler' was based on kernel weight, grain yield, test weight, lodging resistance, maturity, disease resistance and quality.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AB Wrangler' were conducted at the Olds College Field Crop Development Centre in Lacombe, Alberta during the 2020 and 2022 growing seasons. The trials were arranged in a RCB design with 3 replicates. Plots consisted of 8 rows, 2.5 metres in length, with 14 cm inter-row spacing and 40 cm between the plots. The seeding density was 270 seeds per square metre resulting in 2250 plants per variety. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 30 measurements. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's T-test.

Comparison table for 'AB Wrangler' with reference varieties 'Lowe' and 'Canmore'

Flag leaf width (cm)

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

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