Celesta

Barley

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Cyane' and 'Rhea'

Summary: At the 5 to 9 tiller stage, the plants of 'Celesta' have a semi-erect growth habit whereas those of 'Cyane' have a semi-erect to semi-prostrate growth habit. At booting, the frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves is low for 'Celesta' whereas 'Cyane' has a medium frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves. The flag leaf sheath of 'Celesta' has a medium degree of glaucosity whereas that of 'Cyane' has a strong degree of glaucosity. The plants of 'Celesta' head later than those of 'Cyane'. At the beginning of anthesis, the intensity of the anthocyanin colouration of the tips of the lemma awns of 'Celesta' is strong whereas it is medium for 'Rhea' and very weak for 'Cyane'. At the end of anthesis, the spike of 'Celesta' has a medium degree of glaucosity whereas the spike of the reference varieties has weak glaucosity. At the beginning of ripening, the spike of 'Celesta' has a platform shaped collar whereas those of the reference varieties have a v-shaped collar. The spike of 'Celesta' is lax whereas it is of medium density for 'Rhea'. The spiculations on the margins of the lemma awns are rough for 'Celesta' whereas they are smooth for the reference varieties. At ripening, the first segment of the rachis for 'Celesta' is of medium length whereas the first segment of the rachis is short for 'Rhea'. 'Celesta' has a strong curvature of the first segment of the rachis whereas 'Rhea' has a medium degree of curvature and 'Cyane' has a weak degree of curvature. The spiculation on the inner lateral nerves of the dorsal side of the lemma on the kernel of 'Celesta' is absent or very weak whereas that of 'Cyane' has a medium degree of spiculation. The kernel of 'Celesta' is of a medium width whereas the kernel of 'Cyane' is wide.

Description:

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

FLAG LEAF (AT BOOTING): absent or very sparse pubescence on sheath, very sparse pubescence on blade
FLAG LEAF SHEATH: medium glaucosity
AURICLES: anthocyanin colouration absent at booting, absent or very sparse pubescence on margins

SPIKE : spike emergence occurs mid-season, medium degree of glaucosity at end of anthesis, semi-erect to horizontal attitude, platform shaped collar, parallel shape, lax, glume and awn of the median spikelet are longer than the grain
LEMMA AWNS: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration of tips, shorter than spike, rough spiculations on margins

FIRST SEGMENT OF RACHIS: medium length, strong curvature

KERNEL: short rachilla hairs, husk present, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of nerves of lemma, absent or very weak spiculation of inner lateral nerves of dorsal side of lemma, hairless ventral furrow, medium length and width

Origin & Breeding History: 'Celesta' (experimental designations CFO1815 and C2M18260) originated from the cross conducted between 'Rhea', as the female parent, and 'Boroe', as the male parent, in a contra-season nursery in the winter of 2010 in Gorbea, Chile. A deferred pedigree selectiom method was used from the F1 to F5 generations based on yield, maturity, lodging resistance, test weight, 1000 kernel weight and disease resistance. From 2011 to 2014, these generations were grown in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec or in Gorbea, Chile. In Saint-Hyacinthe, one line from the F5 generation was designated as CFO1815 in 2014 and seeds from 60 selected spikes were sown in individual rows in 2015. 'Celesta' was then evaluated in performance trials from 2016 to 2018 and advanced trials in 2019 and 2020. Spikes, representing 22 lines of the F9 generation, were selected and bulked to establish breeder seed in 2018.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'Celesta' were conducted at Sollio Agriculture in St-Hyacinthe, Quebec in the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons. There were 4 replicates per variety per year arranged in an RCB design. Plots consisted of 7 rows, each row measuring 4.5 metres long with 0.18 metres inter-row spacing. The seeding density was 333 seeds per square metre resulting in approximately 5328 plants per variety per year. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 20 measurements per variety per year.

Comparison table for 'Celesta' with reference varieties 'Cyane' and 'Rhea'

Spike emergence (number of days from planting to when first spikelets is visible in 50% of the plants)

Click on image for larger view

Barley: 'Celesta' (left) with reference varieties 'Cyane' (centre) and 'Rhea' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Barley: 'Celesta' (left) with reference varieties 'Cyane' (centre) and 'Rhea' (right)