Infinity

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AC Barrie', 'AC Cadillac', 'AC Elsa' and 'Lovitt'

Summary: Infinity' is a hard red, spring wheat variety which has a shorter flag leaf than 'AC Cadillac'. The flag leaf is significantly wider than all reference varieties. Plants of 'Infinity' are shorter than those of 'AC Cadillac' and 'Lovitt'. The spike of 'Infinity' has awnlets which are longer than the awnlets on all the reference varieties. 'Infinity' is more resistant to common bunt than 'AC Elsa' and 'Lovitt'. It is more resistant to loose smut and leaf rust than 'AC Barrie.

Description:

Infinity' is a hard red, spring wheat variety. At the seedling stage, the coleoptile has weak to medium anthocyanin colouration and the blades and sheaths on the lower leaves have sparse pubescence. At booting 'Infinity' has an intermediate growth habit. The frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves is low. There is very sparse pubescence on the flag leaf blade and sheath. The flag leaf auricles have no anthocyanin and the flag leaf sheath has medium glaucosity.

'Infinity' matures mid-season. The neck of the culm has weak to medium glaucosity and is relatively straight. The straw has very weak or no anthocyanin at maturity and the pith is thin in cross-section. The spike is tapering to semi-clavate in shape and medium in density. The spike has an erect to semi-erect attitude at maturity, is white in colour and has weak to medium glaucosity. Short to medium length awnlets are present. The lower glume of 'Infinity' is narrow to medium in width with no pubescence. The shape of the shoulder of the lower glume is mostly straight. The beak on the lower glume is short to medium in length and slightly curved.

'Infinity' has a hard red kernel type that is medium red in colour and small in size. The kernel is short, medium in width and oval to ovate in shape. The kernel cheek is rounded to angular and the brush hairs are midlong. 'Infinity' has a round, medium sized germ. The kernel crease is shallow in depth and medium in width. 'Infinity' is susceptible to fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum), moderately resistant to common bunt (Tilletia caries, Tilletia foetida) and resistant to loose smut (Ustilago tritici). The variety is also moderately resistant to leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) and is resistant to stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici).

Origin & Breeding History: Infinity originated from the cross ND671/8405-JC3C//AC Elsa, made in 1994 at the Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre, Swift Current, Saskatchewan. The F2 seed was inoculated with common bunt and grown as indiviual plants in a leaf and stem rust epiphytotic nursery. Selected F2 plants were threshed and grown out as head-rows in a leaf and stem rust epiphytotic nursery. The F3 seed was inoculated with common bunt. Rows were selected on the basis of resistance to diseases and agronomics. In the F4, F6, F8 generations, early generation screening procedures were used to screen for quantitaive and qualitative traits. Selection was for grain yield potential and grain protein concentration. Reaction to leaf and stem rust was measured in an epiphytotic nursery near Glenlea, Manitoba. Remnant seed from the yield trials was used to assess grain quality and kernel characteristics. The F5 and F7 generations were grown as head rows in a winter nursery near Christchurch, New Zealand, to multiply seed for early generation tests. Selected F8 lines were screened for reaction to loose smut and common bunt. An experimental line designated, 9409-CU2C, was evaluated in the Western Bread Wheat A_3 test in 2000, and as BW799 in the Western Bread Wheat Cooperative tests from 2001 to 2003.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Infinity' were conducted at Swift Current, Saskatchewan during 2003 and 2004. The trials consisted of plots which were seeded 800 seeds per 3 m2 plot, replicated 4 times. Each plot consisted of 4 rows of plants, with a 23 cm spacing between rows. Measured characteristics were based on 20 measurements per year.

Comparison tables for 'Infinity' with reference varieties 'AC Barrie', 'AC Cadillac', 'AC Elsa' and 'Lovitt'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Flag leaf width (mm)

Plant height (cm)