Nitro

Oat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Navaro', 'Marechal' and 'Turcotte'

Summary: At the 5 to 9 tiller stage, the plants of ‘Nitro' have an erect juvenile growth habit whereas the plants of Marechal' have a semi-erect growth habit. The pubescence on the lower leaf sheath of ‘Nitro' is dense whereas the pubescence on the lower leaf sheath is of medium density for ‘Turcotte', and it is absent or very sparse for ‘Marechal'. The pubescence on the lower leaf blade of ‘Nitro' is of medium density whereas the pubescence on the lower leaf blade is absent or very sparse for ‘Marechal', and sparse for ‘Turcotte'. At booting, the leaves of ‘Nitro' have a medium intensity of glaucosity whereas the leaves of ‘Turcotte' have weak glaucosity. The frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves is of medium frequency for ‘Nitro' whereas it is high for ‘Marechal' and 'Turcotte'. The pubescence on the stem above and below the upper culm node of 'Nitro' is sparse whereas it is strong for ‘Navaro' and absent or very sparse for ‘Marechal'. The plants of 'Nitro' head later than the plants of ‘Turcotte'. After heading at the green stage, the plants of 'Nitro' are taller than those of ‘Navaro' and ‘Turcotte', and shorter than that of ‘Marechal'. The panicle of 'Nitro' is longer than those of ‘Navaro' and ‘Turcotte', and shorter than that of ‘Marechal'. The angle between the rachis and dominant side branch of the panicle of 'Nitro' is less than 30 degrees whereas it is 30 to 45 degree on ‘Turcotte' and greater than 45 degrees on ‘Marechal'. At maturity, the lower glume of ‘Nitro' is longer than that of ‘Turcotte'. The colour of the lemma is yellow for ‘Nitro' whereas it is white for ‘Marechal'. The primary kernels on the upper spikelets of ‘Nitro' have no basal hairs whereas the basal hairs on the primary kernels' of ‘Navaro' are short and those of ‘Marechal' are of short to medium length. The kernel weight of ‘Nitro' is greater than that of ‘Marechal' and ‘Turcotte'. The primary kernel of ‘Nitro' is longer than that of ‘Turcotte'.

Description:

PLANT: naked type (hull-less), spring type, erect juvenile growth habit at 5 to 9 tiller stage, medium frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves at booting

STEM: sparse pubescence above and below the upper culm node at booting

LOWER LEAVES: dense pubescence on sheath, medium density of pubescence on blade
LEAF: dark green, absent or very sparse pubescence on margin of leaf below flag leaf, medium intensity of glaucosity at green stage

PANICLE: equilateral/symmetrical orientation of branches, lax to medium density, semi-erect to horizontal attitude of branches, less than 30 degrees between rachis and dominant side branches, very few hairs or spines on lower node
SPIKELET: abscission separation, nodding attitude, three grains
RACHILLA: long between primary and secondary floret
GLUME: weak glaucosity
LEMMA: very weak glaucosity, large extent of lateral overlap on palea, yellow at maturity, absent to very sparse pubescence on lateral and dorsal surface, absent or very weak tendency to be awned

KERNEL (PRIMARY KERNELS FROM UPPER SPIKELETS): no basal hairs, cream colour
SCUTELLUM: pointed tip, large
GROAT: medium to dense pubescence

Origin & Breeding History: ‘Nitro' (experimental designation 15ANS06) originated from the cross made between the variety ‘Navaro' and the line MF9910-120 at the Semican Research Centre in Princeville, Quebec, Canada, in 2004. It was developed using a modified bulk breeding method. From 2005 to 2009, selections were made from the F1 to F5 generations grown in the field in Princeville, Quebec based solely on the specific weight. The seeds from selected individual F5 panicles were planted as hill plots (or row plots) in 2009 and the F6 plants were selected based on yield, specific weight, early maturation, lodging resistance and resistance to diseases. In 2010, one line designated as 15ANS06 was advanced to preliminary trials conducted from 2011 to 2014 and further advanced into the registration trials of the Réseau Grande Culture de Québec from 2015 to 2017. Breeder seed was established at the F13 generation in 2016.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for ‘Nitro' were conducted at the Semican Research Centre in Princeville, Quebec, in 2023 and 2024. There were 3 replicates arranged in a RCB design. The plots were 4.3 square metres and consisted of six 4 metre long rows spaced 0.177 metres apart. The seeding density of 62 seeds per linear metre resulted in a total of approximately 4464 plants per variety. The measured characteristics were based on 20 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on LSD values.

Comparison tables for 'Nitro' with reference varieties 'Navaro', 'Marechal' and 'Turcotte'

Days to heading (days from planting to when 50% heads have fully emerged from boot)

Plant height after heading at green stage (cm)

Panicle length (at green stage) (cm)

Lower glume length (at maturity) (cm)

Kernel weight (grams per 1000 kernels) (g)

Kernel length (mm)

Click on image for larger view

Oat: 'Nitro' (centre) with reference varieties 'Navaro' (furthest left), 'Marechal' (second from left) and 'Turcotte' (furthest right)

Click on image for larger view

Oat: ‘Nitro' (centre right) with reference varieties ‘Navaro' (left), ‘Marechal' (centre left) and ‘Turcotte' (right)