AB Provider

Triticale

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Metzger'

Summary: The intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the coleoptile of 'AB Provider' is absent or very weak while it is weak on the coleoptile of 'Metzger'. The plants of 'AB Provider' head earlier than the plants of 'Metzger'. The culm of 'AB Provider' has absent or very sparse to sparse pubescence while that of 'Metzger' has a medium to strong density of pubescence. At the completion of stem extension, the plants of 'AB Provider' are shorter than the plants of 'Metzger'. The first beak on the lower glume of 'AB Provider' is short while that of 'Metzger' is very short. The lower glume of 'AB Provider' has hair present on the external surface while that of 'Metzger' is hairless.

Description:

COLEOPTILE: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration
PLANT: hexaploid, winter type, semi-erect growth habit at tillering, low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves at booting, heads mid-season

FLAG LEAF: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on auricles, strong glaucosity of sheath

NECK OF CULM: slightly curved, absent or very sparse to sparse pubescence
STRAW (STEM): thin pith in cross-section

SPIKE: strong glaucosity, half awned, slightly coloured at maturity, medium density, medium width in profile
ANTHERS: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration
AWNS: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, short
LOWER GLUME: short first beak, small second beak, hairs present on external surface

KERNEL: amber, medium size, medium length and width, ovate shape, dark colouration with phenol

AGRONOMIC TRAITS: good winter survival

Origin & Breeding History: 'AB Provider' (experimental designations 06D013002 and WT0009) originated from the cross between 'Metzger' and 04D009 conducted in 2006 at the Field Crop Development Centre, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry in Lacombe, Alberta. The F1 seed was increased indoors in 2007 with the subsequent F2 to F4 bulked in Lacombe, AB from 2008 to 2010, respectively. In 2011, 100 F4 heads were selected and planted in a headrow nursery. Selected F5 headrows were grown in multiple winter hardiness nurseries in Central Alberta, Canada and Hermiston, Oregon, USA in 2012 and 2013. One line was designated 06D013002 and tested for grain yield, forage yield and feed quality in multiple locations in Western Canada in 2014 and 2015. Simultaneously, from 2012 to 2015, F5 to F8 purification increases were grown out with 80 F9 plots bulked as breeder seed in 2016. The variety was advanced into the Western Winter Triticale Cooperative Nursery as WT0009 from 2016 to 2019. Selection criteria for 'AB Provider' was based on grain and forage yield, winter hardiness, lodging resistance, forage quality, kernel characteristics and disease resistances.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AB Provider' were conducted during the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons at Olds College Field Crop Development Centre in Lacombe, Alberta. The trial was arranged in a RCB design with 3 replicates. Each plot consisted of 8 rows with a row length of 2.5 metres. There was 0.14 metre inter row spacing with 0.61 metres between the plots. The seeding density was 269 seeds per squared metre resulting in approximately 2250 plants per variety. Measured characteristics were based on 30 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 'AB Provider' with reference variety 'Metzger'

Days to heading (50% of heads fully emerged from boot)

Plant height (including awns) (cm)

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Triticale: 'AB Provider' (right) with reference variety 'Metzger' (centre left)

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Triticale: 'AB Provider' (left) with reference variety 'Metzger' (right)