AAC Wight

Oat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AAC Nicolas', 'Akina' and 'AAC Basil'

Summary: At the 5-9 tiller stage, the plants of 'AAC Wight' have an intermediate growth habit while the plants of 'Akina' have an erect growth habit. The leaf below the flag leaf of 'AAC Wight' has sparse pubescence on the margin while the leaf below the flag leaf of 'AAC Nicolas' has a medium density of pubescence on the margin and that of 'Akina' has absent or very sparse pubescence on the margin. 'AAC Wight' has a medium frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves while 'Akina' has a low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves. The flag leaf of 'AAC Wight' is longer than that of 'AAC Basil'. The pubescence on the stem above the upper culm node of 'AAC Wight ' is medium to dense while it is absent or very sparse for 'Akina' and 'AAC Basil'. The pubescence on the stem below the upper culm node of 'AAC Wight ' is of a medium density while it is absent or very sparse for 'Akina' and 'AAC Basil'. The plants of 'AAC Wight' head later than the plants of 'Akina' and 'AAC Basil'. The glume of 'AAC Wight' has a medium degree of glaucosity while that of 'AAC Nicolas' has weak glaucosity. The panicle of 'AAC Wight' is shorter than that of 'AAC Nicolas'. At maturity, the lemma of 'AAC Wight' has an absent or very weak to weak tendency to be awned while the lemma of 'Akina' has a medium tendency to be awned and those of 'AAC Nicolas' and 'AAC Basil have a weak to medium tendency to be awned. At maturity, the kernel of 'AAC Wight' is shorter than the kernel of 'Akina' and wider than that of 'AAC Nicolas'.

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 medium density of 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, sparse pubescence on margin of leaf below flag leaf, medium 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 to three grains
GLUME: medium glaucosity
RACHILLA: medium length between primary and secondary floret, absent or very short grooves, sparse pubescence
LEMMA: weak glaucosity, small extent of lateral overlap on palea, white at maturity, absent or very sparse pubescence on lateral and dorsal surface, absent or very weak tendency to be awned

KERNEL: white
GROAT: medium density of pubescence
SCUTELLUM: pointed tip, medium size

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: fair lodging resistance

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Wight' (experimental designation OA1623-5) was developed using a simplified single seed descent method of plant breeding. 'AAC Wight' originated from a cross between the variety 'Akina' and the line OA1331-5-5 conducted on November 16, 2013 at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. The line was advanced from the F1 to F4 generation in the greenhouse with selections based on visual assessment, yield and quality characteristics made at the F4:5 and F4:6 generations respectively in 2016 and 2017. An F4:7 line was designated as OA1623-5 at the Preliminary Test stage in 2018 and was tested in the registration trials from 2019 to 2021. Breeder seed was established at the F4:10 generation in 2021.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Wight' 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. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Wight' with reference varieties 'AAC Nicolas', 'Akina' and 'AAC Basil'

Flag leaf length (at booting) (cm)

Days to heading (number of days from planting to 50% of heads fully emerged)

Panicle length (at green stage) (cm)

Kernel length (primary grain) (mm)

Kernel width (primary grain) (mm)

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Oat: 'AAC Wight' (top left) with reference varieties 'AAC Nicolas' (top right), 'Akina' (bottom left) and 'AAC Basil' (bottom right)

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Oat: 'AAC Wight' (top left) with reference varieties 'AAC Nicolas' (top centre), 'Akina' (top left) and 'AAC Basil' (bottom left)