AAC Loki

Oat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AAC Nicolas' and 'AAC Blake'

Summary: At booting, the leaf of 'AAC Loki' is narrower than the flag leaf of 'AAC Blake' and shorter than that of 'AAC Nicolas'. The glume and lemma of 'AAC Loki' have a medium degree of glaucosity while those of 'AAC Nicolas' have weak glaucosity. The 1000 kernel weight of 'AAC Loki' is greater than that of 'AAC Nicholas'. At maturity, the kernel of 'AAC Loki' is longer than those of the reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: hulled spring type, intermediate growth habit at 5 to 9 tiller stage, medium frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves at booting

STEM: medium to dense pubescence above upper culm node and sparse pubescence below upper culm node

LOWER LEAF: absent to very sparse pubescence on sheath and blade at the 5 to 9 tiller stage
LEAF (AT BOOTING): medium green, absent or very sparse pubescence on margin of leaf below flag leaf, absent or very weak to weak glaucosity at green stage

PANICLE (SHORTLY AFTER HEADING): equilateral/symmetrical orientation of branches, medium density, semi-erect attitude of branches, less than 30 degree angle between rachis and dominant side branch
LOWEST PANICLE NODE: few hairs or spines
SPIKELET: semi-abscission type separation, semi-nodding attitude, two grains
GLUME: medium glaucosity
RACHILLA: medium length between primary and secondary floret, absent or very short grooves, sparse pubescence
LEMMA: medium glaucosity, small extent of lateral overlap on palea, white at maturity, absent or very sparse pubescence on lateral and dorsal surface, medium tendency to be awned

KERNEL: no basal hairs, white
GROAT: medium density of pubescence
SCUTELLUM: pointed tip, medium size

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Loki' (experimental designation OA1609-7) was developed using a modified single seed descent method followed by a mixed selection method of plant breeding. 'AAC Loki' originated from a cross between the varieties 'AAC Nicolas' and 'AAC Blake' conducted on October 22, 2012 at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. The line was advanced from F1 to F4 generation in the greenhouse without intended selection. Morphological selection started with 183 F4:5 panicles grown as hill plots in 2014, followed by selection for yield and quality in yield trials from 2016 to 2019. An F4:7 line, designated as OA1609-7 in 2016, was selected based on yield, plant and seed characteristics. Breeder seed was established at the F7 generation in 2020.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Loki' were conducted at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa Ontario in the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons. The trials were conducted using a RCB design consisting of 4 replications per variety. Each plot consisted of 6 rows spaced 18 cm apart, with a row length of 3.8 metres. The planting density of 350 seeds per square metre resulted in approximately 5600 plants per variety per year. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 20 measurements per variety per year except for kernel weight which was based on a minimum of 4 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Loki' with reference varieties 'AAC Nicolas' and 'AAC Blake'

Flag leaf width (at booting) (mm)

Flag leaf length (at booting) (cm)

Kernel weight (grams per 1000 kernels) (g)

Kernel length (primary grain) (mm)

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Oat: 'AAC Loki' (left) with reference varieties 'AAC Nicolas' (centre) and 'AAC Blake' (right)

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Oat: 'AAC Loki' (left) with reference varieties 'AAC Nicolas' (centre) and 'AAC Blake' (right)