Ferguson

Barley

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Champion' and 'Claymore'

Summary: At booting, the flag leaf auricles of 'Ferguson' have a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration while the flag leaf auricles of 'Champion' have a very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration and those of 'Claymore' have a weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The flag leaf of 'Ferguson' is longer than that of 'Claymore'. At the beginning of anthesis, the lemma awn tips of 'Ferguson' have a very weak to weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration while those of 'Champion' have a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration. At the end of anthesis, the spike of 'Ferguson' is parallel shaped and lax to a medium density while the spike of 'Champion' is tapering and medium to dense. At ripening, the first segment of the rachis of 'Ferguson' is short while that of 'Champion' is medium in length. The curvature of the first segment of the rachis of 'Ferguson' is weak while it is strong for that of 'Champion' and medium to strong for 'Claymore'. The glume and awn of the median spikelet for 'Ferguson' are longer than the grain while the glume and awn of 'Claymore' are equal to the length of the grain. The inner lateral nerves on the dorsal side of the kernel of 'Ferguson' have an absent or very weak degree of spiculation while those of 'Champion' have a weak to medium degree of spiculation. The kernel of 'Ferguson' is medium to long while it is short for 'Claymore'.

Description:

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

FLAG LEAF (AT BOOTING): sparse pubescence on blade
FLAG LEAF SHEATH: weak to medium glaucosity, very sparse pubescence
AURICLES: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration at booting, very sparse pubescence on margins

SPIKE: mid-season emergence, medium glaucosity at end of anthesis, semi-erect attitude, v-shaped to platform shaped collar, parallel shape , lax to a medium density, parallel attitude of sterile spikelet, glume and awn of the median spikelet are longer than the grain
LEMMA AWNS: very weak to weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of tips at beginning of anthesis, 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 the lemma at early to soft dough stage, whitish aleurone layer, long rachilla hairs, husk present, absent or very weak spiculation of inner lateral nerves of dorsal side of lemma, hairless ventral furrow, clasping disposition of lodicules, horseshoe shape basal markings, medium to long, medium to wide

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: fair to good resistance to lodging, fair to good resistance to shattering, good tolerance to straw breakage, fair to good tolerance to drought

Origin & Breeding History: 'Ferguson' (experimental designations TR19758 and HO516-555) was developed by Highland Specialty Grains using a modified bulk pedigree breeding method. The variety originated from a cross between the variety 'Claymore' and a line designated BZ509-443 conducted in 2014 in Casa Grande, Arizona, USA. The variety was advanced from the F1 to F5 generation in the USA based on grain plumpness, resistance to lodging and grain yield with one line being designated HO516-555 in 2016. The variety was further evaluated in the USA and Canada as TR19758 from 2016 to 2020. Breeder seed was established at the F11 generation in 2021.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'Ferguson' were conducted in Neapolis, Alberta in the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons. There were 3 row blocks each consisting of 3 replicates per variety with the second and third row blocks arranged in a RCB design. The individual plots consisted of 5 rows, 5 metres in length, with 0.25m inter-row spacing and 0.45m spacing between the plots. The seeding density was 275 seeds per square metre resulting in a minimum of 10,000 plants per variety per year. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 25 measurements. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison table for 'Ferguson' with reference varieties 'Champion' and 'Claymore'

Flag leaf length (at booting) (cm)

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Barley: 'Ferguson' (centre) with reference varieties 'Champion' (left) and 'Claymore' (right)

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Barley: 'Ferguson' (left) with reference varieties 'Champion' (centre) and 'Claymore' (right)