AAC Basil

Oat

Variety Description

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

Summary: At the 5-9 tiller stage, the plants of 'AAC Basil' have an intermediate growth habit while the plants of 'Akina' have an erect growth habit. The leaf below the flag leaf of 'AAC Basil' 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 Basil' 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 Basil' is shorter than those of 'AAC Nicolas' and 'AAC Wight'. The pubescence on the stem above the upper culm node of 'AAC Basil' is absent or very sparse while it is dense for 'AAC Nicolas' and medium to dense for 'AAC Wight'. The pubescence on the stem below the upper culm node of 'AAC Basil' is absent or very sparse while it is of a medium density for 'AAC Nicolas' and 'AAC Wight'. The plants of 'AAC Basil' head earlier than the plants of 'AAC Nicolas' and 'AAC Wight'. The glume of 'AAC Basil' has a medium degree of glaucosity while that of 'AAC Nicolas' has weak glaucosity. The panicle of 'AAC Basil' is shorter than that of 'AAC Nicolas'. The branches on the panicle of 'AAC Basil' have an erect attitude while those of the reference varieties have a semi-erect attitude. At maturity, the lower glume of 'AAC Basil' is shorter than those of 'AAC Nicolas' and 'Akina'. At maturity, the lemma of 'AAC Basil' has a medium tendency to be awned while the lemma of 'AAC Wight' has an absent or very weak to weak tendency to be awned. The 1000 kernel weight of 'AAC Basil' is greater than that of 'AAC Nicholas'. At maturity, the kernel of 'AAC Basil' is shorter than the kernel of 'Akina'.

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: absent to very sparse pubescence above and 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, 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: weak 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

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: fair lodging resistance

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Basil' (experimental designation OA1644-13) originated from a three way cross conducted at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. The first cross was conducted on November 16, 2013 between the varieties 'Akina' and 'AAC Nicolas'. The resulting progeny were crossed with the line SA100217 on October 3, 2014, resulting in 180 hybrid seeds. The F1 plants were grown and harvested individually; 10 plants were grown for each F2 individual, leading to 1800 F2:3 plants. One panicle was harvested from each plant and seeded as hill plots in 2016. The F3 lines were visually selected in 2017 and entered in yield trials from 2018 to 2021. One of the selected F3 lines was designated OA1644-13 in 2018. Selection criteria used in the development of 'AAC Basil' were based on plant and seed appearance and yield. Breeder seed was established at the F10 generation in 2021.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Basil' 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 Basil' with reference varieties 'AAC Nicolas', 'Akina' and 'AAC Wight'

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)

Lower glume length (primary grain) (mm)

Kernel weight (grams per 1000 kernels) (g)

Kernel length (primary grain) (mm)

Click on image for larger view

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

Click on image for larger view

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