AAC Castle

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Conquer' and '5701PR'

Summary: At the 5 to 9 tiller stage, the plants of 'AAC Castle' have an erect growth habit whereas those of 'Conquer' have a semi-prostrate growth habit. At booting, the frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves is low for 'AAC Castle' whereas the frequency is medium for 'Conquer'. The auricles of the flag leaf of 'AAC Castle' have a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas ithe intensity is absent or very weak for '5701PR'. The flag leaf of 'AAC Castle' is longer and wider than that of 'Conquer'. The flag leaf sheath of 'AAC Castle' has medium glaucosity whereas it is absent or very weak on '5701PR'. At heading, the glaucosity is absent or very weak on the spike of 'AAC Castle' whereas that of '5701PR' has medium glaucosity. In profile, the spike shape of 'AAC Castle' is tapering whereas it is parallel-sided for '5701PR'. 'AAC Castle' has a dense spike whereas the spike of 'Conquer' has a medium density. The spike length of 'AAC Castle' is longer than that of '5701PR'. The awns of 'AAC Castle are equal in length to the spike whereas the awns are shorter than the spike for 'Conquer'. The lower glume shoulder of 'AAC Castle' has a medium width whereas it is very broad for 'Conquer'. The shoulder shape of the lower glume is sloping for 'AAC Castle' whereas it is strongly elevated with a second point for 'Conquer' and slightly sloping for '5701PR'. The lower glume beak on 'AAC Castle' is of medium length whereas it is short for '5701PR" and very short for 'Conquer'.

Description:

PLANT: common wheat, spring type, erect growth habit at 5 to 9 tiller stage, low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, heads and matures mid-season

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

FLAG LEAF: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration of auricles, medium glaucosity of sheath, weak glaucosity of lower side of leaf blade, glabrous blade and sheath

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

SPIKE: absent or very weak glaucosity at heading, tapering shape in profile, dense, white at maturity, incline attitude, sparse hairiness of convex surface of apical rachis segment
AWNS: equal to spike length
LOWER GLUME: medium oblong shape, medium length, narrow, glabrous, sparse extent of internal hairs
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: medium width, sloping shape
LOWER GLUME BEAK: medium length, straight
LOWEST LEMMA: straight beak

KERNEL: hard red type, dark red, large, long, narrow, elliptical shape, rounded cheek shape, medium length brush hairs, narrow and shallow crease
GERM: medium sized from dorsal view, broad elliptical shape

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

BREAD MAKING QUALITY: good

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

INSECT REACTION: resistant to Wheat Midge (Sitodiplosis mossellana)

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Castle' (experimental designation HY2021) originated from the cross made between 'Conquer' and 'CDN Bison', which was further crossed with '5701PR' in 2007 at the Cereal Research Centre of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Winnipeg, Manitoba using a modified pedigree breeding method. The F1 generation was grown in greenhouse whereas the F2 bulk plots were grown near Portage la Prairie, Manitoba in 2008. F3, F5 and F7 generations were grown in contra-season years in nurseries in Palmerston North, New Zealand. In 2009, 245 F4 head rows were grown in an early generation disease nursery, inoculated with bunt, leaf rust, stem rust and corn infected with Fusarium head blight, at Portage la Prairie. All rows were also assessed for midge resistance. In 2009-2010, 29 F5 lines, grown in 1 metre rows near Palmerston North, were selected based on agronomic characteristics, seed appearance, resistance to common bunt and quality traits. From 2011 to 2014, yield tests and selections for agronomic characteristics, disease resistance and quality traits were conducted. In 2011, five F7:8 lines were evaluated in a Yield Trial planted at Brandon, Glenlea and Saskatoon using criteria similar to the F6 generation. From these, three F7:9 lines were evaluated in the 2012 Eastern Prairie Wheat A1 level tests in 5 locations in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Based on agronomic performance, one line was advanced and evaluated as HY2021 in the High Yield Wheat Cooperative Trials from 2014 to 2016.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Castle' were conducted at Fairfield Farm in Lethbridge, Alberta during the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons. There were 3 replications arranged in an RCB design with 250 plants per square metre and 700 plants per plot. 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. Measured characteristics were based on 20 measurements in 2018 and 15 measurements in 2019 per variety. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on LSD values. Disease and insect reaction ratings for 'AAC Castle' were provided through the Disease Evaluation team of the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale and Prairie Grain Development Committee from trials conducted from 2014 to 2016.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Castle' with reference varieties 'Conquer' and '5701PR'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Flag leaf width (mm)

Spike length (excluding awns) (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'AAC Castle' (top) with reference varieties 'Conquer' (centre) and '5701PR' (bottom)