Alka

Oat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Kalio' and 'Kyron'

Summary: At the 5 to 9 tiller stage, the juvenile growth habit of 'Alka' is semi-erect whereas the juvenile growth habit of 'Kyron' is intermediate between semi-erect and semi-prostrate. At booting, the leaf of 'Alka' is dark green whereas that of 'Kalio' is medium green. The flag leaf of 'Alka' is longer and wider than that of 'Kalio'. At the green stage, there is a medium overlap of the lemma onto the palea for 'Alka' whereas the overlap is small for 'Kalio'. At maturity, the attitude of the branches on the panicle of 'Alka' is horizontal whereas it is semi-erect for the reference varieties. The kernel of 'Alka' is shorter than the reference varieties and wider than that of 'Kyron'.

Description:

PLANT: spring hulled type, semi-erect juvenile growth habit at 5 to 9 tiller stage, medium to high frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves at booting

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

LOWER LEAF: absent to very sparse pubescence on sheath and blade
LEAF: dark green at booting, absent or very sparse pubescence of margin of leaf below flag leaf, medium glaucosity

PANICLE: intermediate orientation, medium density, horizontal attitude of branches
GLUME: weak glaucosity
SPIKELET: nodding attitude
RACHILLA: medium length between primary and secondary floret, sparse pubescence
LEMMA: medium extent of lateral overlap on palea, white at maturity, absent or very sparse pubescence on lateral and dorsal surface, strong tendency to be awned

Origin & Breeding History: 'Alka' (experimental designations C3M16081, CFA1502 and SW12-1660) was developed using the pedigree breeding method by Lantmännen ek för in Stockhold, Sweden. The original cross between proprietary lines took place in 2009 Svalöv, Sweden. The variety originates from a single plant selection in the F4 generation with subsequent selections in the F5 to F9 generations. Breeder seed was established from one line selected at the F8 generation. Selection criteria were based on yield, maturity and grain quality.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'Alka' were conducted at the La Coop Fédérée Research Farm in Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec in 2019 and 2021. There were 4 replicates arranged in a RCB design. In 2019, the size of the plots were 6 square metres and consisted of seven 5 m long rows spaced 0.18 m apart. In 2021, the size of the plots were 5 square metres and consisted of seven 4.5 m long rows spaced 0.18 m apart. The seeding density was 375 seeds per metre squared resulting in a minimum of 6750 plants per variety per year. The measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 20 measurements. The mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a Tukey test.

Comparison tables for 'Alka' with reference varieties 'Kalio' and 'Kyron'

Flag leaf width (mm)

Flag leaf length (cm)

Kernel width (primary grain) (mm)

Kernel length (primary grain) (mm)

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Oat: 'Alka' (left) with reference varieties 'Kalio' (centre) and 'Kyron' (right)

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Oat: 'Alka' (top) with reference varieties 'Kalio' (bottom left), 'Kyron' (bottom right)