Hallmark

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AC Avonlea', 'AC Melita' and 'AC Morse'

Summary: ‘Hallmark' has weaker anthocyanin colouration of the coleoptile than ‘AC Avonlea'. The flag leaf of ‘Hallmark' is longer than ‘AC Avonlea'. ‘Hallmark' has a higher frequency of recurved/drooping flag leafs than the reference varieties. The flag leaf pubescence of ‘Hallmark' is weaker than in ‘AC Morse'. ‘Hallmark' has absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration of the flag leaf auricle while it is weak in ‘AC Morse'. The flag leaf sheath of ‘Hallmark' has stronger glaucosity than the reference varieties. ‘Hallmark' heads later than the reference varieties. The plant height of ‘Hallmark' is shorter than the reference varieties. ‘Hallmark' has a straighter culm at maturity than the reference varieties. The pith in cross-section of ‘Hallmark' is thicker than the reference varieties. ‘Hallmark' has a tapering shaped spike while it is fusiform in ‘AC Avonlea' and ‘AC Melita'. The spike of ‘Hallmark' is denser than the reference varieties. ‘Hallmark' has a shorter spike than the reference varieties. The lower glume of ‘Hallmark' is wider than the reference varieties and longer than ‘AC Avonlea'. ‘Hallmark' has an elevated shoulder of the lower glume while it is elevated with a second point present in ‘AC Melita'. The beak length of the lower glume of ‘Hallmark' is shorter than the reference varieties. ‘Hallmark' has a rounded kernel cheek shape while it is angular in ‘AC Melita' and ‘AC Morse'. The brush hairs of the kernel of ‘Hallmark' are shorter than ‘AC Melita' and ‘AC Morse'. ‘Hallmark' has a larger germ than ‘AC Avonlea' and ‘AC Morse'. ‘Hallmark' has better powdery mildew resistance than the reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: spring type, durum, intermediate habit at the 5-9 tiller stage, absent or very weak anthocyamin colouration of the coleoptile at the 4 leaf stage
STEM: straight culm, moderate pith thickness when looking in cross-section, no anthocyanin colouration at maturity

FLAG LEAF: high frequency of plants with recurved/drooping, glabrous, glabrous sheath, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration of the auricle, strong glaucosity of sheath

SPIKE: tapered, dense, erect attitude at maturity, medium to strong glaucosity, white at maturity,
AWNS: long, slightly appressed attitude, white
LOWER GLUME: medium to wide, medium to long, glabrous, elevated shoulder shape, narrow shoulder, short beak

KERNEL: durum, amber, medium size, short to midlong, midwide, elliptical, rounded cheek, short brush hairs, large oval germ, midwide crease, mid-deep crease

DISEASE REACTION: susceptible to Septoria tritici blotch (Septoria tritici), moderately resistant to Powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis, f.sp. tritici), resistant to Leaf rust (Puccinia triticina)

Origin & Breeding History: ‘ACS 98735' is the result of the cross of experimental lines FR 90/005 x FR 91/018 made in 1991 in Schwabisch Hall, Germany. F1 seeds were bulked at harvest in 1992. Single plant selection was used from F2 to the F8 generations based on yield potential, lodging resistance, milling quality and disease resistance. 20 rows were selected and agronomically tested in Canada starting in 1998. One row of these 20 rows was the final selection and was bulked.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials were conducted during the years 2005 and 2006 in Palmerston, Ontario. Plots consisted of 8 rows with a row spacing of 15 cm and a row length of 4 metres. There were 4 replications arranged in a Random Complete Block design.

Comparison tables for 'Hallmark' with reference varieties 'AC Avonlea', 'AC Melita' and 'AC Morse'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Days to heading

Plant height (cm)

Spike length (mm)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'Hallmark' (top centre) with reference varieties 'AC Avonlea' (bottom left), 'AC Melita' (bottom centre) and 'AC Morse' (bottom right)