AB Prime

Barley

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'CDC Austenson'

Summary: The flag leaf of 'AB Prime' is shorter than the flag leaf of 'CDC Austenson'. The lemma awn tips of 'AB Prime' have a weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration while those of 'CDC Austenson' have a very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration. At maturity, the plants of 'AB Prime' are taller than those of 'CDC Austenson'. Excluding the awns, the spike of 'AB Prime' is longer than that of 'CDC Austenson'. The plants of 'AB Prime' have a good resistance to lodging while those of 'CDC Austenson' have a fair resistance to lodging.

Description:

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

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

SPIKE: mid-season emergence, medium glaucosity at end of anthesis, horizontal attitude, platform shaped collar, tapering shape, medium density, parallel to weakly divergent sterile spikelet attitude, glume and iawn of 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 to medium length, weak to medium degree of curvature

KERNEL: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of nerves of lemma, long rachilla hairs, husk present, weak spiculation of inner lateral nerves of dorsal side of lemma, hairless ventral furrow, clasping disposition of lodicules, transverse crease shaped basal markings, medium length and width

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: good resistance to lodging

Origin & Breeding History: 'AB Prime' (experimental designations J08046022 and TR18645) originated from a cross between the variety 'Merit 57' and the Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Field Crop Development Centre breeding line J08041(F1), conducted in Lacombe, Alberta in 2008. The F2 generation was grown in Lacombe, Alberta in 2009 and the F3 bulk grown in California, USA during the winter of 2009-2010. Selected F3 heads were advanced through the F4 to F6 generations in Lacombe, AB from 2010 to 2012. In 2012, 200 F6 heads were selected and grown out as individual F7 headrows from which J08046022 was selected and yield tested from 2013 to 2017. Breeder seed was established at the F13 generation in 2019. The variety was entered in the Western 2 Row Cooperative Registration Test from 2018 to 2019 as 'TR18645' with support for registration received in 2020. Selection criteria used in the development of 'AB Prime' was based on kernel weight, grain yield, test weight, lodging resistance, maturity, disease resistance and quality.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AB Prime' were conducted at the Olds College Field Crop Development Centre in Lacombe, Alberta during the 2021 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 paired Student's T-tests.

Comparison tables for 'AB Prime' with reference variety 'CDC Austenson'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Plant height (at maturity) (cm)

Spike length (excluding awns) (cm)

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Barley: 'AB Prime' (left) with reference variety 'CDC Austenson' (right)

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Barley: 'AB Prime' (right) with reference variety 'CDC Austenson' (left)

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Barley: 'AB Prime' (left) with reference variety 'CDC Austenson' (right)