Unity

Wheat

Variety Description

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

Summary: 'Unity' differs from the reference varieties, 'Superb' and 'McKenzie', mainly in orange wheat blossom midge resistance, 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, shoulder shape and beak length. 'Unity' carries a gene for antibiosis resistance to orange blossom wheat midge while 'Superb' and 'McKenzie' do not. The flag leaves of 'Unity' are shorter and narrower than those of 'Superb'. There is no anthocyanin colouration of the flag leaf auricles of 'unity' whereas it is medium to strong on 'Superb'. The plants of 'Unity' are taller than those of 'Superb'. There is weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the straw of 'Unity' at maturity whereas it is absent in 'Superb'. The spike of 'Unity' is shorter than that of 'Superb'. The lower glumes of 'Unity' are narrow to medium in width with a straight to elevated shoulder whereas they are medium to wide in 'Superb' with a slightly sloping to straight shoulder in 'Superb'. The lower glume beak of 'Unity' is short to medium in length whereas it is short in 'McKenzie' and medium to long in 'Superb'.

Description:

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

FLAG LEAF: low to medium frequency of plants with recurved/drooping flag leaves, glabrous blades and sheaths, no anthocyanin colouration of auricles, medium glaucosity of sheath

CULM NECK: medium glaucosity, weak to medium curvature
STRAW: ranging from very thin to thick to very thick, weak to medium 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, straight to elevated shape of shoulder, narrow to medium shoulder width, slightly curved short to 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, midlong brush hairs, midsize germ, oval shape of germ, narrow and deep crease

Origin & Breeding History: 'Unity' was derived from the cross McKenzie*3//BW174*2/Clark made at the Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Cereal Research Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1997. The F2 progeny of the original cross, identified as '97B64', were grown as spaced plants at Glenlea in 1998 with individual spikes being selected and grown as F3 hills in a winter nursery in New Zealand. The F4 generation was grown as short rows at Glenlea where selection for resistance to midge may have occurred along with selection for agronomic traits and leaf and stem rust resistance. Yield testing occurred at the F6 generation followed by selection of spikes and increase of each spike in a winter nursery in order to produce sufficient seed at multiple locations. Following two years of testing in multi-location yield trials in 2002 and 2003, 'Unity' was entered in the Central Bread Wheat Coop in 2004 as the major component of 'BW362' which consists of 90% 'Unity' and 10% 'BW357'. 'Unity' was tested as '97B64-F9A3'.

Tests & Trials: The tests and trials for 'Unity' 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 'Unity' 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: 'Unity' (centre) with reference varieties 'Superb' (left) and 'McKenzie' (centre right)