AB Dram

Barley

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AC Metcalfe' and 'CDC Copeland'

Summary: The flag leaf auricles of 'AB Dram' have a medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration while those of 'AC Metcalfe' have a weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The flag leaf of 'AB Dram' is longer than the flag leaf of 'AC Metcalfe'. The nerves of lemma on the kernel of 'AB Dram' have a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration while those of 'AC Metcalfe' and 'CDC Copeland' have an absent or very weak to weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration. At maturity, the plants of 'AB Dram' are shorter than those of 'AC Metcalfe'. The spike of 'AB Dram' is lax while those of the reference varieties are of a medium density. Excluding the awns, the spike of 'AB Dram' is longer than that of 'AC Metcalfe'. The first segment of the rachis for 'AB Dram' is medium in length while it is short for the reference varieties. The sterile spikelet of 'AB Dram' has a parallel to weakly divergent attitude while those of the reference varieties have a divergent attitude.

Description:

YOUNG PLANT: semi-erect growth habit at tillering, very sparse to sparse pubescence on lower leaf sheaths
PLANT: two row, spring malting barley, low to 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, semi-erect to horizontal attitude, platform shaped collar, tapering shape, lax, parallel to weakly divergent sterile spikelet attitude, glume and awn 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: medium length, weak curvature

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

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: good malting quality

Origin & Breeding History: 'AB Dram' (experimental designations TR14617 and J03028003) originated from a cross between the variety 'Ponoka' and the Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Field Crop Development Centre breeding line H92015005, conducted in Lacombe, Alberta in 2003. The F2 generation was grown in Lacombe, Alberta in 2004 and the F3 bulk grown in California, USA during the winter of 2004-2005. Two hundred F3 heads were selected and the F4 and F5 generations grown in Lacombe in 2006 and 2007 under disease pressure. Two hundred F5 heads were selected and grown in F6 headrows in Lacombe in 2008. The selection designated as J03028003 was yield tested from 2009 to 2013. Breeder seed was established at the F13 generation in 2015. The variety was entered in the Western 2 Row Cooperative Registration Test from 2014 to 2015 as 'TR14617' with support for registration received in 2017. Selection criteria used in the development of 'AB Dram' was based on kernel weight, grain yield, test weight, lodging resistance, maturity, disease resistance and malting quality.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AB Dram' 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 Dram' with reference varieties 'AC Metcalfe' and 'CDC Copeland'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Plant height (at maturity) (cm)

Spike length (excluding awns) (cm)

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Barley: 'AB Dram' (centre) with reference varieties 'AC Metcalfe' (left) and 'CDC Copeland' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Barley: 'AB Dram' (centre) with reference varieties 'AC Metcalfe' (left) and 'CDC Copeland' (right)