RGT Asteroid

Barley

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Esma', 'KWS Kellie' and 'RGT Planet'

Summary: At booting, the flag leaf auricles of 'RGT Asteroid' have a medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas the intensity of anthocyanin colouration is weak for 'Esma' and weak to medium for 'KWS Kellie' and 'RGT Planet'. The plants of 'RGT Asteroid' head later than the plants of 'RGT Planet'. At the end of anthesis, the spike of 'RGT Asteroid' has a medium degree of glaucosity whereas the glaucosity is absent or of a very weak to weak degree for the spike of 'Esma'. At the end of anthesis, the spike, excluding the awns, of 'RGT Asteroid' is longer than that of 'Esma'.

Description:

YOUNG PLANT: semi-erect growth habit at tillering, absent or very sparse pubescence on lower leaf sheaths
PLANT: two row, spring barley

FLAG LEAF: medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration on auricles

SPIKE: emerges mid to late season, medium glaucosity at end of anthesis, semi-erect to horizontal attitude, cup shaped collar, lax to medium density
STERILE SPIKELET: rudimentary development
LEMMA AWNS: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration of tips, longer than spike

KERNEL: short rachilla hairs, husk present, hairless ventral furrow

Origin & Breeding History: 'RGT Asteroid' (experimental designation RP14033) was developed using a double haploid system combined with successive selections of resultant lines from microplots. In 2011, the initial cross between 'Overture', as the female parent, and 'RGT Campanera', as the male parent, was conducted at Cambridge in the United Kingdom. From the F1 generation, double haploids were produced in Gatersleben, Germany. From 2012 to 2013, the variety was advanced from the DH1 generation to the DH2 generation based on grain yield, standability and quality characters such as specific weight, disease resistance, lodging resistance, cold resistance and malting quality with one line designated as RP14033. Breeder seed was established from the DH2 line in 2014.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'RGT Asteroid' were conducted in Oak Bluff, Manitoba during the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons. There were 4 replicates per variety arranged in an RCB design. Each plot was 3.25 square metres and consisted of four 4.5 m long rows spaced 0.18 m apart. The seeding density was 307 seeds per metre squared resulting in approximately 4000 plants per variety per year. Measured characteristics were based on 20 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a LSD values.

Comparison tables for 'RGT Asteroid' with reference varieties 'Esma', 'KWS Kellie' and 'RGT Planet'

Time of spike emergence (number of days from planting to when the first spikelet is visible on 50% of the spikes)

Spike length (excluding awns) (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Barley: 'RGT Asteroid' (left) with reference varieties 'Esma' (centre left), 'KWS Kellie' (centre right) and 'RGT Planet' (right)