CDC Ruffian

Oat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'CDC Dancer' and 'Leggett'

Summary: The pubescence/hairiness on the stem above and below the upper culm node of 'CDC Ruffian' is absent to very sparse whereas it is sparse to medium on both reference varieties. 'CDC Ruffian' heads later than both 'CDC Dancer' and 'Leggett'. The plants of 'CDC Ruffian' are shorter than those of 'CDC Dancer' and taller than those of 'Leggett'. The panicle of 'CDC Ruffian' is longer than that of 'Leggett' and shorter than that of 'CDC Dancer'. The lemma of 'CDC Ruffian' has a strong tendency to be awned whereas the tendency is absent to very weak in the reference varieties.

Description:

SEEDLING (5-9 tiller stage): spring oat, erect to semi-erect juvenile growth habit, sparse pubescence on lower leaf sheath and blade

LEAF (at booting stage): dark green, absent to very sparse pubescence on margin, medium intensity of glaucosity at green stage, low to medium frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves

CULM: absent to very sparse hairiness on stem above and below upper node

PANICLE (shortly after heading): dense, few short hairs or spines on the lowest node
PANICLE BRANCHES: equilateral/symmetrical orientation, semi-erect attitude, ranging from 30 to 45 degree to more than 45 degree angle between rachis and dominant side branch
SPIKELET: weak to medium glaucosity of glumes, fracture type separation of lower florets, semi-nodding to nodding attitude
RACHILLA: medium length between primary and secondary florets, short grooves, sparse pubescence
LEMMA: medium glaucosity, small extent of lateral overlap on palea, white to yellow at maturity, very sparse pubescence on lateral and dorsal surfaces, strong tendency to be awned

KERNEL (primary kernels from upper spikelets): hulled, short to medium length basal hairs present, cream to yellow, two per spikelet, medium to dense pubescence on groat
SCUTELLUM: pointed tip, medium sized

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: fair to good lodging resistance, day length sensitive, 13.4% protein content, 7.2% lipid content, 4.3% gum (betaglucan) content

Origin & Breeding History: 'CDC Ruffian' (experimental designation OT3054) was developed at the Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan using a pedigree breeding system. It arose from the cross 'OT399' x 'OT599' made in 2003. The F1 through F4 generations were grown as bulk populations with the F2 and F4 grown in a winter nursery in New Zealand. 'CDC Ruffian' was grown and selected as a single F5 derived F6 hill plot in Saskatoon in 2006. The seed from the F6 hill plot was bulked as the line SA070923 and tested in Crop Develpment Centre yield trials in 2007-2009, followed by testing in the Western Canadian Oat Cooperative Registration trials as OT3054 during 2010 and 2011. Selection criteria for 'CDC Ruffian' included high grain and milling yield, high thousand kernel weight and plump seed with low thins, shorter plant height and resistance to smut.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'CDC Ruffian' were conducted in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan during the summers of 2012 and 2013. Plots consisted of 5 rows with a row length of 3.7 metres and a row spacing of 20 cm. There were 3 replicates arranged in a RCB design. Measured characteristics were based on 20 measurements. Differences are significant at the 5% probability level based on LSD values.

Comparison tables for 'CDC Ruffian' with reference varieties 'CDC Dancer' and 'Leggett'

Number of days to heading

Plant height (cm)

Panicle length (cm)

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Oat: 'CDC Ruffian' (centre) with reference varieties 'CDC Dancer' (left) and 'Leggett' (right)

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Oat: 'CDC Ruffian' (centre) with reference varieties 'CDC Dancer' (left) and 'Leggett' (right)