Gehl

Oat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Fregeau', 'Lotta' and 'Baton'

Summary: 'Gehl' has semi-erect juvenile growth habit while it is semi-prostrate in 'Fregeau'. The pubescence of the lower leaf sheath of 'Gehl' is absent or very sparse while it is sparse to medium for 'Fregeau'. 'Gehl' has medium frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves while it is low for 'Fregeau'. The flag leaf of 'Gehl' is narrower than 'Fregeau'. 'Gehl' has absent to very sparse pubescence of the stem above and below the upper culm node while it is sparse for 'Fregeau'. The spikelet attitude for 'Gehl' is nodding while it is semi-nodding for 'Fregeau'. 'Gehl' has a short length between the primary and secondary floret of the rachilla while it is long in the reference varieties. The tendency of the lemma to be awned in 'Gehl' is strong while it is weak for 'Fregeau' and absent or very weak for 'Lotta'. 'Gehl' has fair lodging resistance while it is good for 'Fregeau'.

Description:

PLANT: naked type, spring type, semi-erect juvenile growth habit, absent or very sparse pubescence on lower leaf sheath, absent or very sparse pubescence on lower leaf blade, medium frequency of recurved flag leaves, absent or very sparse pubescence of the stem above and below the upper culm node

LEAF: medium green, absent or very sparse pubescence of margin, medium glaucosity

PANICLE: intermediate orientation, medium density, semi-erect attitude of branches, 30-45 degree angle between dominant side branch and rachis, few hairs or spines on lowest node
GLUME: medium glaucosity
LEMMA: weak glaucosity, white to yellow colour at maturity, absent or very sparse pubescence on lateral and dorsal surface, strong tendency to be awned
SPIKELET: nodding attitude, 3 grains
RACHILLA: short length between primary and secondary floret, absent or very short grooves, sparse pubescence
KERNEL: medium length basal hairs, light brown colour
SCUTELLUM: pointed, medium sized
GROAT: sparse to medium pubescence

AGRONOMICS: fair lodging resistance

Origin & Breeding History: 'Gehl' (experimental designation VAO-2) is a hull-less fatuoid variety developed using the pedigree method from a cross made in March of 1997, at the Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Research Station in Ottawa, Ontario. The pedigree is 06751 // AC Baton*2 / 05588-297. Strains 06751 and 05588-297 are bald seeded and contain the bald gene Gt-1. A contra season nursery in Brawley, California was used during the selection process. Selection criteria included straw strength, seed size, seed hullessness, minimum trichomes and yield.

Tests & Trials: Trials were conducted during the 2009 and 2011 growing seasons at the Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Eastern Cereal Oilseed Research Centre on the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario. Plots consisted of 4 rows with a row length of 3.6 meters and a row spacing of 23cm. There were 3 replicates.

Comparison table for 'Gehl' with reference varieties 'Fregeau', 'Lotta' and 'Baton'

Flag leaf width (mm)

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Oat: 'Gehl' (far right) with reference varieties 'Baton' (far left), 'Lotta' (centre left) and 'Fregeau' (centre right)