Waskada

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Superb' and 'McKenzie'

Summary: 'Waskada' differs from the reference varieties, 'Superb' and 'McKenzie', mainly in flag leaf length and width, anthocyanin colouration of the flag leaf auricles, plant height, anthocyanin colouration of the straw at maturity, spike length, lower glume width, lower glume shoulder shape, beak length and disease reaction to Fusarium graminearum. The flag leaves of 'Waskada' are longer than those of 'McKenzie' and are wider than those of 'McKenzie' and narrower than those of 'Superb'. The flag leaf auricles of 'Waskada' have weak to medium anthocyanin colouration whereas it is absent in 'McKenzie'. The plants of 'Waskada' are taller than those of 'Superb'. At maturity, the straw of 'Waskada' has no anthocyanin colouration whereas it is weak to medium in 'McKenzie'. The spike of 'Waskada' is shorter then that of 'Superb'. The lower glumes of 'Waskada' are narrow to medium in width whereas they are medium to wide in 'Superb'. The lower glume shoulder of 'Waskada' is slightly sloping whereas it is slightly sloping to straight in 'Superb' and straight to elevated in 'McKenzie'. The lower glume beak length of 'Waskada' is medium whereas it is medium to long in 'Superb' and short in 'McKenzie'. 'Waskada' has a moderately resistant disease reaction to F. graminearum compared to the moderately susceptible reaction of 'McKenzie' and the susceptible reaction of 'Superb'.

Description:

PLANT: spring type, semi-erect growth habit
SEEDLING: weak to medium pubescence on lower leaf sheaths, very weak pubescence on lower leaf blades

FLAG LEAF: medium frequency of plants with recurved/drooping flag leaves, glabrous blades and sheaths, weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration of auricles, medium glaucosity of sheath

CULM NECK: medium glaucosity, weak curvature
STRAW: very thin, no anthocyanin colouration at maturity

SPIKE: parallel-sided shape, medium density, erect at maturity, medium to strong glaucosity, white at maturity, white awns present, awns medium in length in relation to length of spike, medium to slightly spreading awn attitude, sparse hairiness of convex surface of apical segment
LOWER GLUME: narrow to medium in width, medium length, very weak pubescence, slightly sloping narrow shoulder, slightly curved medium length beak, sparse internal hairs
LEMMA: straight to slightly curved beak

KERNEL: hard red type, medium red colour, small to medium size kernel, short to midlong, medium width, ovate shape, rounded cheek shape, short to midlong brush hairs, midsize to large germ, oval shape of germ, narrow and deep crease

Origin & Breeding History: 'Waskada' was derived from the cross, BW278/2*BW252, and is one of 863 double haploids produced for this cross at the Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Cereal Research Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1998. A doubled haploid cultivar identified as 98B19*K156 was increased in a greenhouse at Indian Head, Saskatchewan in 1999-2000 and was tested for leaf rust, stem rust and Fusarium head blight resistance at Portage la Prairie in 2000. A seed increase at the winter nursery in New Zealand, followed by multi-location yield tests and disease evaluations were conducted, and following two years of testing in additional multi-location yield trials in 2002 and 2003, 98B19*K156 was entered in the Central Bread Wheat Coop in 2004 under the experimental designation BW357.

Tests & Trials: The tests and trials for 'Waskada' were conducted in Glenlea, Manitoba during the summer of 2006 and in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba during the summer of 2007. 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 'Waskada' with reference varieties 'Superb' and 'McKenzie'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Flag leaf width (mm)

Plant height (cm)

Spike length (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'Waskada' (centre left) with reference varieties 'Superb' (left) and 'McKenzie' (centre right)