CDC Kernen

Wheat

Variety Description

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

Summary: The plants of 'CDC Kernen' are taller than those of the reference varieties. The spikes of 'CDC Kernen' are awned whereas those of 'AC Barrie', 'AC Elsa' and 'Goodeve' are tip awnletted. The lower glume of 'CDC Kernen' has a slightly sloping shoulder shape and a straight beak whereas 'AC Barrie', 'AC Elsa' and 'Goodeve' have a sloping shoulder shape and a slightly curved beak. 'CDC Kernen' is susceptible to orange wheat blossom midge (Sitodiplosis mosellana) whereas 'Unity VB' is resistant.

Description:

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

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

SPIKE: weak to medium glaucosity, parallel sided, dense, white at maturity, erect attitude at maturity, absent or very sparse hairiness of the convex surface of the apical rachis segment
AWNS: awns present, medium length, white at maturity
LOWER GLUME: narrow shoulder, slightly sloping shoulder shape, medium length, narrow, glabrous, short straight beak, sparse extent of internal hairs
LEMMA: straight 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: susceptible to orange wheat blossom midge (Sitodiplosis mosellana).

Origin & Breeding History: 'CDC Kernen' (experimental name 'BW881') was selected from the cross 'CDC Bounty' / 'FHB4' made during the fall of 1999 at the Crop Development Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The F1 was grown in the greenhouse at Saskatoon during the winter of 1999. The F2 was bulked at Saskatoon in 2000 with the F3 bulked in a winter nursery and the F4 grown in bulk in Saskatoon. Seed from single-plant selections were grown out for the F5 and F6, grown in a rust nursery in Saskatoon and selections were made based on rust reaction, plant type and straw strength. A bulked F6 head-row resulted in 'BW881'. The F7 was grown in a two replicate yield trial nursery at Saskatoon in 2003 and selected for yield under drought conditions. 'BW881' was evaluated as W03602 in preliminary yield trials in 2004 and 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 Kernen' with reference varieties 'AC Barrie', 'AC Elsa', 'Goodeve' and 'Unity VB'

Plant height(cm)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'CDC Kernen' (BW881) (left) with reference varieties 'AC Barrie' (centre left), 'AC Elsa' (centre right) and 'Goodeve' (right)