Kara

Oat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Nice', 'Domingo' and 'Akina'

Summary: At booting, 'Kara' has a shorter flag leaf than that of 'Akina'. The plants of 'Kara' head earlier than those of 'Domingo'. At maturity, the plants of 'Kara' are shorter than those of 'Nice' and 'Domingo'. The panicle of 'Kara' has a medium density whereas the density is lax for 'Nice' and 'Domingo'. 'Kara' has a shorter panicle than that of 'Domingo'. The spikelet attitude of 'Kara' is nodding whereas it is semi-nodding for 'Akina'. The lemma of 'Kara' has medium to strong glaucosity whereas it is weak to medium for 'Akina'.

Description:

PLANT: spring type, erect to semi-erect juvenile growth habit, absent to very sparse pubescence on lower leaf sheath and lower leaf blade at 5 to 9 tiller stage, medium to high frequency of recurved flag leaves at booting stage

STEM: absent or very sparse pubescence above and below upper culm node

LEAF (at booting stage): dark green, absent to very sparse pubescence on margin, medium to strong intensity of glaucosity at green stage

PANICLE: equilateral/symmetrical orientation, medium density, semi-erect to horizontal attitude of branches, less than 30 degree angle between rachis and dominant side branch
SPIKELET: medium to strong glaucosity of glumes, nodding attitude
RACHILLA: medium length between primary and secondary floret, sparse pubescence
LEMMA: medium to strong glaucosity, white at maturity, very weak density of pubescence on lateral and dorsal surface, weak tendency to be awned

KERNEL (primary kernels from upper spikelets): hulled, basal hairs absent, cream colour
SCUTELLUM: pointed tip, medium size
GROAT: medium density of pubescence

Origin & Breeding History: 'Kara' (experimental designation 'C3M14017') was derived from the initial cross 'SW 01218' and 'SW 02293' made in 2004 in Svalöv, Sweden. The final cross was made in 2004 using a modified pedigree method of breeding with the variety originating from a single plant selection from the F4 generation. Selection criteria included yield, grain quality, agronomic properties and resistance to Crown rust (Puccinia coronata). 'C3M14017' was first tested in 2010 by La Coop fédérée in Sainte-Hyacinthe, Quebec for yield, growth habit, specific weight, thousand kernal weight and resistance to diseases. In 2009, a single panicle was selected from the F7 generation. From this, the breeder seed was derived in 2010 from 5 panicles selected in the F8 generation. 'C3M14017' was advanced into registration trials of the Réseau Grande Culture de Québec from 2011 to 2013.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'Kara' were conducted at the La Coop fédérée Research Farm in Sainte-Hyacinthe, Quebec during the summers of 2014 and 2015. There were 3 replicates arranged in a RCB design. The size of the plots was 5 square metres and consisted of 4 rows with a row length of 5 metres and a row spacing of 33.02 cm. Each plot contained a minimum of 2650 plants per variety. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 40 and 21 measurements per variety in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on LSD values.

Comparison tables for 'Kara' with reference varieties 'Nice', 'Domingo' and 'Akina'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Plant height (cm)

Panicle length (cm)

Number of days to heading

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Oat: 'Kara' (second from left) with reference varieties 'Nice' (furthest left), 'Akina' (centre) and 'Domingo' (furthest right)

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Oat: 'Kara' (bottom row, centre) with reference varieties 'Nice' (bottom row, left), 'Akina' (bottom row, right) and 'Domingo' (top row, centre)