Kane

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AC Domain' and 'McKenzie'

Summary: 'Kane' is a hard red, spring wheat variety which has awned spikes, whereas 'AC Domain' has awnletted spikes. At heading the plants of 'Kane' are shorter than those of 'McKenzie'. At maturity, 'Kane' has medium anthocyanin colouration on the straw, whereas 'AC Domain' has no anthocyanin and 'McKenzie' has strong anthocyanin colouration. The shoulder of the lower glume of 'Kane' is narrow, compared with both reference varieties which have medium width glume shoulders. The beak of the glume of 'Kane' is longer than the beak of both references. 'Kane' heads about 2 days later than 'AC Domain' and 'McKenzie' and matures approximately the same time as 'McKenzie', about 2 days later than 'AC Domain'.

Description:

PLANT: spring type, growth habit erect to semi-erect (at booting)
SEEDLING (at four leaf stage): sparse pubescence on lower leaf sheath and blade

FLAG LEAF: low to medium frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, no pubescence on blade and sheath, no anthocyanin colouration on auricles, medium glaucosity on sheath

STRAW: pith thin in cross section, weak to medium anthocyanin at maturity
CULM: neck with medium to strong glaucosity and moderate curvature

SPIKE: parallel sided, medium density, erect at maturity, medium glaucosity, white in colour, sparse hairiness on convex surface of apical rachis segment
AWNS: present, medium in length, moderately spreading attitude, white colour

LOWER GLUME: very narrow, medium length, glabrous, sparse internal hairs
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: slightly sloping to straight, narrow width
LOWER GLUME BEAK: slightly curved, medium length
LEMMA: slightly curved beak

KERNEL: hard red, small to medium size, short, narrow to medium in width, broad elliptic shape, rounded cheek, medium length brush hairs, small to midsize ovate germ, crease narrow and medium depth

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS: good resistance to shattering

DISEASE REACTION: moderately susceptible to Fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium species), moderately resistant to Common bunt (Tilletia caries, Tilletia foetida), susceptible to Loose smut (Ustilago tritici), resistant to Leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) and moderately resistant to Stem rust (Puccinia graminia f.sp.tritici)

Origin & Breeding History: 'Kane' originated from the cross 'AC Domain' / McKenzie, which was made at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Cereal Research Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1996. After two rounds of selection in the F4 and F6 generations, increase and testing for disease resistance, end use quality and agronomic characteristics, a head designated 96B72-Z4A was selected in the F6. It was increased and entered in preliminary yield trials as an F8 in 2000. Following two years of testing in multi-location yield trials in 2001 and 2002, the selection was entered in the Central Bread Wheat Coop in 2003 and was eventually renamed 'Kane'.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Kane' were conducted during 2005 and 2006 at Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. A 4 replicate randomized complete block design experiment was planted using 3.25 square metre harvested area plots, seeded at a rate of 269 seeds/square metre. Measured characteristics were based on a mean of two years, with 20 measurements taken per year.

Comparison tables for 'Kane' with reference varieties 'AC Domain' and 'McKenzie'

Number of days to heading (50% of heads fully emerged)

Plant height at heading (cm)

Number of days to maturity

Spike length, excluding awns (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'Kane' (centre) with reference varieties 'McKenzie' (left) and 'AC Domain' (right)