Lemieux

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Touran', 'Aube' and 'Maida'

Summary: At booting, the anthocyanin colouration of the flag leaf auricles is absent or very weak for 'Lemieux' whereas it is of weak to medium intensity for 'Aube'. The flag leaf of 'Lemieux' is longer than that of 'Touran', wider than that of 'Aube' and narrower than that of 'Maida'. The plants of 'Lemieux' head earlier than the plants of 'Maida'. At heading, the spike of 'Lemieux' has a medium degree of glaucosity whereas the glaucosity is strong on the spike of 'Maida'. At maturity, the plants of 'Lemieux' are taller than the plants of 'Touran'. Excluding the awns, the spike of 'Lemieux' is shorter than that of 'Aube'. The lower glume shoulder is slightly sloping for 'Lemieux' whereas the lower glume shoulder is straight for 'Aube' and 'Maida'.

Description:

PLANT: common wheat, spring type, semi-erect growth habit at 5 to 9 tiller stage, heads mid-season

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

FLAG LEAF: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of auricles, medium to strong glaucosity of sheath

CULM: slightly curved neck
STRAW (AT MATURITY): thin pith in cross-section

SPIKE: medium degree of glaucosity at heading, fusiform shape in profile, medium density, white at maturity, inclined to nodding attitude, sparse hairiness of convex surface of apical rachis segment
AWNS: equal to spike length, white at maturity
LOWER GLUME: medium width
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: narrow to medium width, slightly sloping
LOWER GLUME BEAK: long, slightly curved shape

KERNEL: medium red, oval, medium to deep crease
GERM: medium to large

Origin & Breeding History: 'Lemieux' (experimental designation BS13-134) originated from three separate crosses conducted in Sainte-Rosalie, Quebec between FE74 and 'AC Walton' in 1999, the progeny coded as SB99-64 and 'AC Walton' in 2002 and the progeny coded as SB02-264 and 'Orléans' in 2005. The F1 to F5 generations were mass cultivated in Ste. Rosalie, Quebec from 2006 to 2010 where seed selections were made based on grain density at each generation. Spikes were selected from the F5 plants in 2010 and planted in single rows. F6 individual rows were selected using a pedigree selection method based on yield potential, early maturity, lodging and disease resistance. The line, designated as BS13-134, was initially evaluated in screening trials from 2012 to 2014 and further evaluated in registration trials conducted by the Reseau Grandes Cultures du Québec from 2015 to 2017.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'Lemieux' were conducted at Céréla Inc. in St-Hugues, Quebec, during the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons. There were 2 replications per variety arranged in an RCB design. Plots consisted of 5 rows, each row 5 metres long with an inter-row spacing of 0.19 metres. The seeding density was approximately 425 seeds per squared metre. Measured characteristics were based on 30 measurements in 2018 and 25 measurements in 2019 per variety. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a Tukey test.

Comparison tables for 'Lemieux' with reference varieties 'Touran', 'Aube' and 'Maida'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Flag leaf width (mm)

Days to heading (days from planting to when 50% heads are fully emerged from boot)

Plant height at maturity (stem plus spike, including awns) (cm)

Spike length (excluding awns) (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'Lemieux' (top) with reference varieties 'Maida' (centre top), 'Aube' (centre bottom) and 'Touran' (bottom)