CDC Utmost

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AC Barrie', 'AC Elsa' and 'Goodeve'

Summary: The flag leaf blade of 'CDC Utmost' is pubescent whereas it is glabrous in the reference varieties. The flag leaves of 'CDC Utmost' are longer than those of 'Goodeve'. The beak of the lower glume of 'CDC Utmost' is straight whereas it is slightly curved in the reference varieties. The beak of the lowest lemma of 'CDC Utmost' is slightly curved whereas it is moderately curved on 'AC Barrie' and straight on 'AC Elsa'. The kernel brush hairs of 'CDC Utmost' are short whereas they are medium to long on 'AC Elsa' and medium length on 'Goodeve'. 'CDC Utmost' is moderately resistant to orange wheat blossom midge (Sitodiplosis mosellana) whereas 'AC Barrie' and 'AC Elsa' are susceptible.

Description:

PLANT: common spring wheat, matures mid-season, erect growth habit, low frequency of recurved flag leaves
SEEDLING (4-leaf stage): absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin of the coleoptile, glabrous sheath and blade of the lower leaves

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

CULM/NECK: weak to medium glaucosity, straight at maturity

SPIKE: parallel sided, dense, erect attitude at maturity, weak to medium glaucosity, white at maturity, absent or very sparse hairiness of the convex surface of the apical rachis segment
AWNS: tip awnlets present, very short, white at maturity
LOWER GLUME: narrow shoulder, sloping shape of the shoulder, medium length and width, glabrous, short straight beak, sparse extent of internal hairs
LEMMA: slightly curved beak

STRAW AT MATURITY: thin in cross section, no anthocyanin colouration at maturity

KERNEL: hard red, medium red, small to medium size, medium length and width, oval, rounded to angular cheek, short brush hairs, medium sized round germ, narrow shallow crease, dark colouration with phenol

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: moderately resistant to orange wheat blossom midge (Sitodiplosis mosellana).

Origin & Breeding History: 'CDC Utmost' (experimental name 'BW883') was selected from the cross 'AC Elsa' / / 'CDC Teal'/ 'Seneca' DH#10 made in the fall of 1998 at the Crop Development Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The F1 was grown in a greenhouse during the winter of 1998 with the F2 bulked in Saskatoon in 1999. The F3 was bulked in a winter nursery with the F4 space planted in bulk in Saskatoon in 2000. Seed from single-plant selections were grown out for the F5 and F6 in a rust nursery in Saskatoon and selections were made based on rust reaction, plant type, straw strength and drought tolerance. 'BW883' was evaluated as W04112 in preliminary yield trials in 2004, in the Western Bread Wheat B Test in 2005 and subsequently evaluated in the Western Bread Wheat Cooperative Test from 2006 to 2008.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials were conducted during the summers of 2009 and 2010 at the Crop Science Field Laboratory of the Crop Development Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Plots consisted of 5 rows with a row length of 3.6 meters and a row spacing of 23 cm. There were 4 replications arranged in an RCB design.

Comparison table for 'CDC Utmost' with reference varieties 'AC Barrie', 'AC Elsa' and 'Goodeve'

Flag leaf: length (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'CDC Utmost' (BW883) (left) with reference varieties 'AC Barrie' (centre left), 'AC Elsa' (centre right) and 'Goodeve' (right)