AAC Crossfield

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Conquer', '5701PR' and 'AAC Entice'

Summary: The growth habit of the plants of 'AAC Crossfield' is erect while it is semi-prostrate for 'Conquer'. The frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves on 'AAC Crossfield' is medium whereas the frequency is high in 'Conquer' and '5701PR'. The anthocyanin colouration of the auricles of the flag leaf of 'AAC Crossfield' is absent or very weak whereas it is strong for that of 'Conquer'. The spike glaucosity of 'AAC Crossfield' is medium while it is absent or very weak for 'Conquer'. The neck of the culm of 'AAC Crossfield' is straight and has absent or very weak glaucosity whereas that of '5701PR' is curved and has weak glaucosity. The spike of 'AAC Crossfield' has a fusiform shape in profile while that of 'Conquer' has a semi-clavate shape. The plants of 'AAC Crossfield' are shorter than those of 'Conquer'. The shoulder shape of the lower glume of 'AAC Crossfield' is straight whereas it is strongly elevated with a second point present for 'Conquer', it is slightly sloping for '5701PR' and it is sloping for 'AAC Entice'. The shoulder of the lower glume of 'AAC Crossfield' is of medium width whereas that of 'Conquer' is very broad and that of 'AAC Entice' is narrow. 'AAC Crossfield' has a lower thousand kernel weight than 'Conquer' and a greater thousand kernel weight than 'AAC Entice'.

Description:

PLANT: hard red spring type, semi-erect growth habit at the 5-9 tiller stage

SEEDLING (4 LEAF STAGE): absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration of the coleoptile, glabrous sheath and blade of lower leaves

FLAG LEAF: medium frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, strong glaucosity of sheath, glabrous blade and sheath, absent or very weak glaucosity of lower side of leaf blade, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration of the auricles

CULM: absent or very sparse hairiness of uppermost node, absent or very weak glaucosity, straight neck
STRAW: no anthocyanin colouration at maturity, thin pith in cross-section

SPIKE: medium glaucosity at heading, fusiform shape in profile, medium density, white at maturity, inclined attitude, medium length, sparse hairiness of convex surface of apical rachis segment
AWNS: equal to spike length, white at maturity
LOWER GLUME: medium oblong, medium length, narrow, glabrous, sparse extent of internal hairs
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: straight, medium width
LOWER GLUME BEAK: straight, very short
LOWEST LEMMA: slightly curved beak

KERNEL: medium red, large, long and narrow, elliptical shape, rounded cheek, medium length of brush hairs, narrow crease, medium depth crease, dark colouration with phenol
GERM: medium sized, broad elliptical in shape

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: good resistance to shattering, fair resistance to pre-harvest sprouting

BREAD MAKING QUALITY: good

DISEASE REACTIONS: resistant to Leaf rust (Puccinia recondita) and Stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis), moderately resistant to Stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) and Loose smut (Ustilago tritici), moderately susceptible to Fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium species)

INSECT REACTION: susceptible to Wheat Midge (Sitodiplosis mosellana)

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Crossfield' (experimental designation HY1632) was developed from the cross Howard / 2*5701PR made at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Cereal Research Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 2005. F2 plots were planted at Glenlea, Manitoba in 2006. F3, F5 and F7 generations were grown in contra-season years in nurseries in New Zealand (Palmerston North). In 2008, 13 F6 lines were evaluated in single-replicate yield trials at three locations (Glenlea, Brandon and Saskatoon). F7:8 lines were evaluated in a 2009 F8 Yield Trial planted at Brandon, Glenlea and Saskatoon using criteria similar to the F6 generation. F7:9 lines were evaluated in the 2010 Eastern Prairie Wheat A4 level tests (in Saskatchewan and Manitoba) while 4 lines advanced to the 2011 Eastern Prairie Wheat B tests. Based on agronomic performance, HY1632 was advanced to the 2012 High Yield Wheat Cooperative Registration Trial from 2012 to 2014. Selection criteria included disease resistance, agronomic appearance, yield, kernel appearance and quality.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'AAC Crossfield' were conducted during the summers of 2015 and 2016, with the exception of height data measurements that were taken in 2015 and 2017, at Fairfield Farm in Lethbridge, Alberta. Plots that were 2.76 squared metres consisted of 4 rows with a row spacing of 23 cm and a row length of 3 metres. There were 3 replications arranged in an RCB design with 250 plants per square metre and 700 plants per plot.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Crossfield' with reference varieties 'Conquer', '5701PR' and 'AAC Entice'

Plant height, including awns (cm)

Kernel weight (grams per 1000 kernels)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'AAC Crossfield' (left) with reference varieties 'Conquer' (centre left), '5701PR' (centre right) and 'AAC Entice' (right)