Shaka

Oat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Avatar' and 'CDC Orrin'

Summary: At the 5-9 tiller stage, the plants of ‘Shaka' have an erect to semi-erect growth habit while the plants of ‘Avatar' have a semi-erect to intermediate growth habit. The pubescence of the lower leaf sheath of ‘Shaka' is very dense whereas that of ‘Avatar' is dense and that of ‘CDC Orrin' is medium density. At booting, the margin of the leaf below the flag leaf of ‘Shaka' has a medium density of pubescence whereas that of ‘Avatar' sparse and that of ‘CDC Orrin' is absent to very sparse. The frequency of ‘Shaka' plants with recurved flag leaves is low whereas that of the ‘Avatar' is a medium and that of ‘CDC Orrin' is high. The flag leaf of ‘Shaka' is larger than that of ‘CDC Orrin'. The plants of ‘Shaka' reach heading stage later than those of ‘CDC Orrin'. After heading at the green stage, the orientation of branches of the panicle of ‘Shaka' is equilateral/symmetrical whereas that of ‘CDC Orrin' is intermediate. The glume of ‘Shaka' has a weak glaucosity while that of ‘Avatar' is medium. The lemma of ‘Shaka' has a medium overlap on the palea whereas that of ‘Avatar' is small. In the central third of the panicle, at maturity, the lemma of ‘Shaka' is yellow, whereas that of the reference varieties is white. The lemma of ‘Shaka' has an absent to very low tendency to be awned while that of the reference varieties is a medium to strong tendency. The primary kernel of ‘Shaka' is narrower than that of ‘CDC Orrin'.

Description:

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

STEM: medium density of pubescence above and below upper culm node

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

PANICLE (SHORTLY AFTER HEADING): equilateral/symmetrical orientation of branches, medium to dense, semi-erect attitude of branches
SPIKELET: semi nodding to nodding
RACHILLA: medium length between primary and secondary floret, absent to very sparse pubescence
GLUME: weak glaucosity
LEMMA: yellow at maturity, weak glaucosity, absent or very sparse pubescence on lateral and dorsal surface, absent to very weak tendency to be awned, medium overlap on palea

Origin & Breeding History: ‘Shaka' (experimental designation ‘C3M20410' and ‘CFA2011') originated from a cross conducted between ‘AC Morgan' and ‘Stride' in the summer of 2014 in Saint-Hyacinthe, QC. It was developed using a delayed pedigreed breeding system. Early generations were grown as bulk populations in Gorbeau, Chili and Saint-Hyacinthe, QC. Individual panicles were selected in the F4 generation based on grain quality characteristics and individual head rows were planted in the summer of 2017 in St. Hyacinthe. One line ‘CFA2011' was selected based on maturity, yield, grain quality characteristics and disease tolerance characteristics. Breeder seed was created in the F8 generation in 2020.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for ‘Shaka' were conducted in Saint-Hyacinthe, QC in the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons. The trials were conducted using a RCB design consisting of 4 replications per variety. Each plot consisted of 7 rows spaced 18 cm apart, with a row length of 4.5 metres. The planting density of 350 plants 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. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison tables for 'Shaka' with reference varieties 'Avatar' and 'CDC Orrin'

Flag leaf: width (at booting) (mm)

Flag leaf: length (at booting) (cm)

Heading: number of days from planting to 50% of panicles emerged from boot

Kernel: width (primary grain) (mm)

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Oat: 'Shaka' (centre) with reference varieties 'CDC Orrin' (left) and 'Avatar' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Oat: 'Shaka' (left) with reference varieties 'CDC Orrin' (centre) and 'Avatar' (right)