AB Sunbeam

Triticale

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Brevis'

Summary: At anthesis, the flag leaf of ‘AB Sunbeam' is narrower than the flag leaf of ‘Brevis'. The first beak on the lower glume of ‘AB Sunbeam' is long while that of ‘Brevis' is medium in length. The kernel of 'AB Sunbeam' is long while that of ‘Brevis' is of a medium length. The kernel of 'AB Sunbeam' has dark colouration with exposure to phenol while that of ‘Brevis' hasweak colouration with exposure to phenol.

Description:

COLEOPTILE: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration

PLANT: hexaploid, spring 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, very dense pubescence
STRAW (STEM): pith of medium thickness in cross-section

SPIKE: very strong glaucosity, fully awned, white at maturity, medium density, medium width in profile
AWNS: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration at the beginning of anthesis, short
LOWER GLUME: long first beak, small second beak, hairs present on external surface
ANTHERS: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration at mid-anthesis

KERNEL: amber, medium size, long, medium width, elliptical shape, dark colouration with phenol

WINTER SURVIVAL: poor

Origin & Breeding History: 'AB Sunbeam' (experimental designations T293 and 09L172006) was developed using a modified bulk method of breeding. The variety originated from a cross between the line 08P1282 and the variety ‘Tyndal' conducted at the Alberta Agriculture Field Crop Development Centre in Lacombe, Alberta in 2009. The variety was advanced from the F1 to F8 generation based on grain yield, test weight, 1000 kernel weight, lodging resistance, disease resistance, maturity and quality characterstics, with one line being designated as 09L172006 in 2015. The line was further evaluated for yield in 2016 and for yield and disease resistance in 2017 while simultaneously grown in purfication nurseries. The line was entered into the Western Triticale Coop Trials as TB 18 in 2018 and then entered again as T293 from 2020 to 2022. Breeder seed was established at the F13 generation in 2022.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AB Sunbeam' were conducted during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons at Olds College Field Crop Development Centre in Lacombe, Alberta. There were 3 replicates per variety per year. Plots consisted of 8 rows, each row measuring 2.5 metres long with 0.14 metres inter-row spacing. The seeding density of 269 seeds per square metre resulted in approximately 2175 plants per variety per year. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 30 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student`s t-test.

Comparison table for 'AB Sunbeam' with reference variety 'Brevis'

Flag leaf width (mm)

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Triticale: ‘AB Sunbeam' (left) with reference variety ‘Brevis' (right)

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Triticale: ‘AB Sunbeam' (left) with reference variety ‘Brevis' (right)

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Triticale: ‘AB Sunbeam' (right) with reference variety ‘Brevis' (left)