Wilkin

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: '606' and 'Sable'

Summary: The flag leaf sheath, the culm and spike of 'Wilkin' all have weak to weak to medium glaucosity whereas it ranges from strong to medium to strong on '606' and strong to weak to medium on 'Sable'. The plants of 'Wilkin' are taller than those of 'Sable'. At maturity, the spike of 'Wilkin' is white whereas it is brown on 'Sable'. 'Wilkin' has awnlets present whereas there are awns on both reference varieties. The spike of 'Wilkin' is longer than both reference varieties. The lower glume shoulder of 'Wilkin' is sloping to slightly sloping whereas it is elevated to strongly elevated with 2nd point present in 'Sable'. The kernel of 'Wilkin' is small whereas both reference varieties are medium sized.

Description:

PLANT: spring type
SEEDLING (at four leaf stage): absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of coleoptile, glabrous lower leaf sheath and blade

GROWTH HABIT (at 5-9 tiller stage): semi-erect
FLAG LEAF (at booting): low to medium frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, no anthocyanin colouration on auricles, weak to medium glaucosity on sheath, glabrous blade and sheath

SPIKE: parallel-sided, medium to dense, weak glaucosity, white in colour with nodding attitude at maturity
CULM: weak glaucosity, very weak curvature at maturity
STRAW: thin pith in cross section, no anthocyanin colouration at maturity
AWNS: awnlets present, very short

LOWER GLUME: narrow to medium width, short to medium length
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: sloping to slightly sloping, narrow to medium width
LOWER GLUME BEAK: straight, short

KERNEL: hard red type, dark red, small, short, narrow to medium width, oval shape, angular cheek, medium to long brush hairs, large round germ
KERNEL CREASE: wide, shallow to mid-deep

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS: fair to good bread making quality

DISEASE REACTION: moderately susceptible to Septoria avenae blotch (Septoria avenae f. sp. triticea), Septoria nodorum blotch (glume blotch) (Septoria nodorum) and Fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium species) and moderately resistant to Powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis f. sp. tritici), Leaf rust (Puccinia triticina), Stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) and Yellow Dwarf VIrus and BYDV.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Wilkin' is the result of the cross KA/GACU/SX/5MS-Prog/ 'Kolibri'// 'Garant'/ Ke54B made in 1992 in Schwabisch Hall, Germany. Single plant selection was used from the F2 to F6 generations based on yield potential, milling and bread making quality and disease resistance. The F9 was bulked by random selection of the progeny of 600 single plants. 'Wilkin' was tested as ACS54617.

Tests & Trials: The tests and trials for 'Wilkin' were conducted in Palmerston, Ontario during the 2008 and 2009 growing seasons. A 4 replicate RCB design was planted with each replicate consisting of 8 rows, measuring 4 metres in length, seeded at a rate of 400 seeds/square metre. Measured characteristics were based on a mean of two years, with 20 measurements recorded each year.

Comparison tables for 'Wilkin' with reference varieties '606' and 'Sable'

Plant height (cm)

Spike length (mm)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'Wilkin' (centre) with reference varieties '606' (left) and 'Sable' (right)