CDC Hughes

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Unity', 'Cardale', 'Carberry' and 'CDC Landmark'

Summary: At maturity, the plants of 'CDC Hughes' are shorter than those of 'Unity' and 'Cardale'. The spike of 'CDC Hughes' is shorter than that of 'Carberry'. In cross-section, the pith of the straw of 'CDC Hughes' is thick to solid whereas it is very thin for 'Cardale' and 'Carberry'. The hairiness of the convex surface of the apical rachis segment of 'CDC Hughes' is very sparse whereas it is medium to dense for 'Unity' and sparse to medium for 'Carberry'. The awns of 'CDC Hughes' are shorter than those of 'CDC Landmark'. The beak length of 'CDC Hughes' is longer than that of 'CDC Landmark'. 'CDC Hughes' carries the gene for resistance to Orange blossom wheat midge (Sitodiplosis mosellana) whereas 'Cardale' and 'Carberry' do not.

Description:

PLANT: hard red spring type, erect growth habit at the 5 to 9 tiller stage, heads emerge and mature early to mid-season

SEEDLING: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of coleoptile, glabrous lower leaf sheaths and blades

FLAG LEAF: medium frequency of plants with recurved/drooping flag leaves, very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of auricles, very weak glaucosity of sheath, glaucosity absent on lower side of leaf blade, glabrous blade and sheath

CULM NECK: medium glaucosity, weak degree of curvature, upper internode glabrous
STRAW: thick to solid pith in cross-section, no anthocyanin colouration at maturity, yellow

SPIKE: absent to very weak glaucosity, tapering to parallel sided shape in profile, medium density, white at maturity, erect to inclined attitude, very sparse hairiness of convex surface of apical rachis segment
AWNS: shorter than to equal to length of spike, white
LOWER GLUME: medium to long, medium width, glabrous to slightly pubescent, medium extent of internal hairs
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: narrow to medium width, straight to elevated shape
LOWER GLUME BEAK: long, slightly to moderately curved
LOWEST LEMMA: straight to slightly curved beak shape

KERNEL: medium red, medium size, medium length and width, oval shape, rounded to slightly angular cheek, medium length brush hairs, mid-wide and mid-deep crease
GERM: medium size, oval shape

DISEASE REACTION: resistant to Stem Rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici), moderately resistant to Loose Smut (Ustilago tritici) and Leaf Rust (Puccinia triticina), moderately resistant to moderately susceptible to Fusarium Head Blight (Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium species), Stripe Rust (Puccinia striiformis) and Leaf Spots (a combination of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, Septoria nodorum, S. tritici and S. avena f. sp. triticea), and moderately susceptible to Common Bunt (Tilletia tritici and Tilletia laevis)

Origin & Breeding History: 'CDC Hughes' (experimental designations W10096 and 'PT588') is derived from the cross 'Unity' / 'BW864' carried out in the winter of 2006 at the Crop Development Centre of the University of Saskatchewan. The F1 was grown in the field at Saskatoon and the F2 was bulked in a winter nursery in New Zealand during the winter of 2006-2007 with the F3 bulked in a nursery in Saskatoon. F4 and F5 advances were grown as single seed descent in the greenhouse in Saskatoon during the winter of 2007-2008. F6 hills were grown in Saskatoon and selected for reaction to rust, plant type and straw strength during the following growing season. During the 2009 growing season, seed from a bulked F6 hill was entered into an unreplicated yield trial nursery in Saskatoon and subjected to selection for improved yield, height and straw strength. 'PT588' was evaluated as W10096 in preliminary yield trials in 2010, in the Western Bread Wheat 'B' Test in 2011 and subsequently evaluated in the Parkland Wheat Cooperative Test from 2012 to 2014.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials of 'CDC Hughes' were conducted during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons at the Crop Science Research Farm, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A four replicate, RCB design was planted with each replicate consisting of 5 rows. The plot size was 3.6 square metres by 1.2 metres with a seeding rate of 1400 seeds per plot. The awn and beak measurements were collected during the 2016 and 2017 growing seasons. Mean differences are significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired student's T-test.

Comparison tables for 'CDC Hughes' with reference varieties 'Unity', 'Cardale', 'Carberry' and 'CDC Landmark'

Plant height at maturity (including awns) (cm)

Spike length (excluding awns) (cm)

Awn length (mm)

Beak length (mm)

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Wheat: 'CDC Hughes' (bottom) with reference variety, 'CDC Landmark' (top)

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Wheat: 'CDC Hughes' (left) with reference varieties 'Unity' (centre left), 'Cardale' (centre right) and 'Carberry' (right)