Murphy

Oat

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'CDC Pacer'

Summary: Juvenile plants of 'Murphy' have erect growth habit while those of 'CDC Pacer' have semi erect growth habit. The lower leaf sheath of 'Murphy' is pubescent while the lower leaf sheath of 'CDC Pacer' is smooth. 'Murphy' has a dark green leaves at the boot- stage while 'CDC Pacer' has a light green leaves. The flag leaf in 'Murphy' is usually drooping while the flag leaf of 'CDC Pacer' is intermediate. The flag leaf of 'Murphy' is slightly narrower than that of 'CDC Pacer'. The portion of the stem immediately above and below the upper culm node is pubescent in 'Murphy' while it is variable (i.e. may be pubescent or smooth) in 'CDC Pacer'. 'Murphy' heads later and is taller than 'CDC Pacer'. 'Murphy' has an intermediate panicle shape while 'CDC Pacer' has an equilateral shaped panicle. The panicle of 'Murphy' is more dense and larger is size than 'CDC Pacer'. 'Murphy' has a longer and narrower panicle than 'CDC Pacer'. The length and number of the panicle branches in 'Murphy' is greater than in 'CDC Pacer'. 'Murphy' has a narrower rachilla with shallower grooves than 'CDC Pacer'. The lemma of 'Murphy' is awnless or has very infrequent awns while 'CDC Pacer' has a higher frequency of awns. The kernels of 'Murphy' are slender while those of 'CDC Pacer' are mid plump.

Description:

'Murphy' is a hulled spring forage oat variety. The seedlings have a green coleoptiles, and short to medium length hypocotyls. Juvenile plants have erect growth habit. The lower leaf sheath is pubescent. The lower leaf blades are glabrouse. Mature leaves are dark green and glossy. The leaf margins are smooth. A ligule is present at the base of the leaf. The flag leaf is drooping and is not covered with a waxy bloom. The portion of the stem immediately above and below the upper culm node is pubescent. The culm is medium thick and yellow at maturity.

The panicle of 'Murphy' is compact, long, and narrow. The branches are long and semi-erect. The lower whorl of branches is attached at the first node. The rachis is straight and does not have a secondary rachis node. There are few short hairs on the lower panicle node. Spikelet separation is by fracture; floret separation is by heterofracture. The spikelets are drooping.

The glumes of 'Murphy' are yellow, mid-wide and mid-long. The lemma is short with a medium pointed tip and is white at maturity. The lateral and dorsal surfaces are glabrous. The lemma is awnless and overlaps moderately on the palea.

The kernels are yellow and slender and have very few basal hairs. They fluoresce light blue under UV light. The caryopsis is pubescent and has medium long brush hairs. Each spiklet forms two kernels, except the terminal spikelets which may produce three kernels. The scutellum is medium in size and has a pointed tip.

'Murphy' is highly susceptible to Crown rust (Puccinia coronata races CR13, CR181, CR185, CR192, CR223 and CR225), Stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. avenae races NA8, NA16, NA25, NA27, NA28 and NA55). 'Murphy' has good lodging resistance.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Murphy' was developed at the Agriculture & Agri-food Lacombe Research Center in Lacombe, Alberta. It was derived from the cross of Waldern/IH-1863-515 made in 1989. The F1 generation was grown in a growth chamber in 1990. The F2 to F6 generations were developed in a greenhouse at the Lacombe Research Center using the single seed descent method of breeding. 'Murphy' was selected from amongst 55 sister lines that were grown in an F7 hill plot nursery during the summer of 1993. Further selections were made in the Observation nursery (F8) in 1994, in a preliminary yield trial (F9) grown at two locations in Alberta in 1995, and in a Forage Oat Performance Test (F10,11,12) that was grown in a minimum of five locations in each of 1996, 1997, and 1998. The selection criteria included a variety of agronomic, and forage quality parameters.

Tests & Trials: Conducted for 'Murphy' in 1999, and 2000 at Lacombe, Alberta. Plots consisted of 4 rows measuring 3 metres long with a row spacing of 22.5 cm. Trials consisted of 4 reps per variety in a random complete block design.

Comparison tables for 'Murphy' with reference variety 'CDC Pacer'

Flag leaf width (mm)

Days to heading

Height (cm)