Branson

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Emmit' and 'HY116-SRW'

Summary: At the four leaf stage, the lower leaves of 'Branson' are glabrous while they are pubescent in the reference varieties. 'Branson' has a shorter flag leaf than 'HY116-SRW'. The flag leaf width of 'Branson' is narrower than the reference varieties. 'Branson' has absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the flag leaf auricles while it is a medium intensity in 'Emmit'. 'Branson' heads earlier than the reference varieties. The plant height of 'Branson' is shorter than the reference varieties. 'Branson' has medium glaucosity of the neck of the culm while it is strong to very strong in the reference varieties. At heading, the spike of 'Branson' has absent or very weak glaucosity while it is strong in the reference varieties. 'Branson' has a shorter spike than 'Emmit'. The hairiness of the convex surface of the apical rachis segment of the spike in 'Branson' is medium while it is sparse in 'Emmit'. 'Branson' has a narrower lower glume than 'HY116-SRW'. The lower glume length of 'Branson' is long while it is medium length in the reference varieties. 'Branson' has a straight to slightly curved lower glume beak while it is moderately curved in 'HY116-SRW'. The extent of the internal hairs of the lower glume in 'Branson' is sparse while they are medium in 'Emmit'. 'Branson' has a straight lemma beak while it is slightly curved in 'Emmit'. The brush hairs on the kernel of 'Branson' are short to medium in length while they are medium to long in 'HY116-SRW' and long in 'Emmit'. 'Branson' has an oval shaped germ while it is round in the reference varieties. The width of the kernel crease in 'Branson' is narrow while it is medium width in 'HY116-SRW' and medium to wide in 'Emmit'.

Description:

PLANT: winter type, common wheat, semi-erect growth habit at the 5-9 tiller stage, medium glaucosity of the culm at heading, low to medium frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, matures early

SEEDLING (4 leaf stage): absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the coleoptile, glabrous sheaths and blades of the lower leaves

FLAG LEAF: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the auricles, medium to strong glaucosity of the sheath, glabrous blade and sheath

STRAW (AT MATURITY): thin pith in cross-section, no anthocyanin colouration
SPIKE: absent or very weak glaucosity at heading, parallel sided profile, medium density, awns present, awns shorter than the length of the spike
SPIKE AT MATURITY: white, whitish awns, appressed awn attitude, erect to incline attitude, straight neck of the culm, medium hairiness of convex surface of apical rachis segment
LOWER GLUME: narrow shoulder, slightly sloping shoulder, long, narrow, pubescent, short straight beak, sparse internal hairs
LEMMA: straight beak

KERNEL: soft red type, light red colour, medium to large size, medium length, narrow, broad elliptical, rounded cheek shape, short to medium length brush hairs, small to medium sized oval germ, narrow crease width, shallow crease depth

QUALITY: good pastry and biscuit making

DISEASE REACTION: resistant to Septoria nodorum blotch (Septoria nodorum), Powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis, f. sp. tritici) and Leaf rust (Puccinia triticina), moderately resistant to Septoria tritici blotch (Septoria tritici) and Fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum), and moderately susceptible to Stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici)

Origin & Breeding History: 'Branson' (experimental designation M00-3701) is a soft red winter wheat developed using the modified bulk breeding method by Agripro Wheat located in Brookston, Indiana, USA. 'Branson' derives from the cross made in 1993 of Pioneer 2737W / 89I-4584A, where 89I-4584A derives from Pike / Florida 302. F1 seed was increased in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The F2 and F3 bulk populations were grown in Brookston, Indiana. In 1997, the F4 bulk was abandoned because of poor stands. In 1998, remnant seed was planted to recreate the F4 bulk. Sixty-one heads were selected and planted as F5 head rows near Lafayette, Indiana in 1998-99. Four selections entered preliminary yield testing in 2000. 'Branson' was selected for advancement and 100 uniform heads were selected and planted in an isolated increase block. Ninety-nine rows were bulk harvested and sent to Colorado for initial Breeders seed increase. Hyland Seeds tested 'Branson' within the 2004-05 and 2005-06 orthogonal Trial across Ontario. Selection criteria used were high yield, quality and other agronomic characteristics.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials were conducted during 2009 and 2010 in Nairn, Ontario. Plots consisted of 5 rows, with a row length of 4 meters and a row spacing of 20 cm. Plots were seeded at a rate of 400 seeds per meter squared. There were 4 replicates arranged in a RCB design.

Comparison tables for 'Branson' with reference varieties 'Emmit' and 'HY116-SRW'

Means are based on the average of the two years.

Flag leaf length (cm)

Flag leaf width (mm)

Days to heading (days from planting to when 50% of heads fully emerged from boot)

Plant height (including awns) (cm)

Spike length (excluding awns)(cm)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'Branson' (centre) with reference varieties 'HY116-SRW' (right) and 'Emmit' (left)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'Branson' (middle) with reference varieties 'Emmit' (top) and 'HY116-SRW' (bottom)