AAC Donlow

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AAC Spitfire', 'AAC Durafield', 'Strongfield' and 'Transcend'

Summary: At booting, 'AAC Donlow' has a medium frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves while 'Strongfield' has a high to very high frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves. The flag leaf of 'AAC Donlow' is wider than that of 'Transcend'. At maturity, the plants of 'AAC Donlow' are shorter than the plants of 'Transcend'. The lower glume shoulder shape is sloping to slightly sloping for 'AAC Donlow' whereas it is straight to strongly elevated with a second point present for 'Transcend'. The lower glume of 'AAC Donlow' is shorter and narrower than that of 'AAC Spitfire' and longer than that of 'AAC Durafield'. The brush hairs on the kernel of 'AAC Donlow' are short while they are of medium length for 'AAC Durafield' and 'Transcend'. The germ on the kernel of 'AAC Donlow' is medium in size while it is large for 'AAC Spitfire', 'AAC Durafield' and 'Strongfield'. The kernel crease is of medium depth for 'AAC Donlow' while it is shallow for 'AAC Spitfire'.

Description:

PLANT: durum wheat, spring type, semi-erect growth habit at the 5 to 9 tiller stage, medium frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, heads mid-season

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

FLAG LEAF: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of auricles, medium to strong degree of glaucosity of sheath, absent or very weak degree of glaucosity of lower side, glabrous blade and sheath

CULM: absent or very sparse hairiness of uppermost node, medium degree of glaucosity, curved neck
STRAW (AT MATURITY): thin pith in cross-section, no anthocyanin colouration

SPIKE: medium degree of glaucosity at heading, tapering or fusiform sided shape in profile, dense, off-white at maturity, erect attitude
AWNS: longer than spike, white at maturity
LOWER GLUME: medium oblong in shape, medium length and width, glabrous
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: absent or very narrow to narrow, sloping to slightly sloping shape
LOWER GLUME BEAK: very short to short, straight to slightly curved shape
LOWEST LEMMA: straight to strongly curved beak

KERNEL: amber, large, long, medium width, elliptical shape, rounded cheek, short brush hairs, narrow crease, medium depth of crease
GERM: medium sized, oval shape

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: good resistance to shattering, good tolerance to drought

PASTA QUALITY: good

DISEASE REACTIONS : resistant to Leaf rust (Puccinia recondita), Stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici), Stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis) and Common bunt (Tilletia caries, Tilletia foetida); moderately susceptible to Fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium species)

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Donlow' (experimental designations DT890 and A1035-ES07) originated from the cross between DT839 and 'Transcend' conducted in 2010 at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Swift Current Research and Developmental Centre in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. The F1 generation was increased in a greenhouse in 2010 and the F2 generation space planted in a disease epiphytotic field nursery near Swift Current in 2011. In 2011-2012, F3 seeds, from 239 individual F2 plants were grown in rows near Lincoln, New Zealand. The resulting F4 seeds, from 123 selected F3 rows. were grown in unreplicated four-row plot agronomic trials under dryland conditions near Swift Current and Regina, Saskatchewan in 2012. F3 selection was based on plant height, straw strength and maturity. From the agronomic trials, 38 F4 families, each composed of 7 F5 lines per familly were selected based on agronomic performance, quality testing and disease reaction. The F5 lines were grown as head rows near Leeston, New Zealand and further selected on the basis of plant height, straw strength and maturity. In 2013, 87 selected F6 lines were grown in four-row plots under dryland conditions near Swift Current and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and under irrigated conditions at Lethbridge, Alberta. Selections from the F6 lines, based on agronomic performance, quality traits and disease resistance, resulted in the identification of the line A1035-ES07, which met all criteria. A1035-ES07 was tested in the Durum A6 test in 2014 and in the Durum-B test in 2015. Disease reaction was assessed at various locations in Saskatchewan and Manitoba while quality assessments were performed at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada`s Central Quality Laboratory in Winnipeg, Manitoba. A1035-ES07 was tested in the Durum registration trials from 2016 to 2018 as DT890.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Donlow' were conducted at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Swift Current Research and Developmental Centre in Swift Current, Saskatchewan during the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons. Plots consisted of four replications arranged in a RCB design with each plot consisting of 4 rows with a row length of 3 metres and row spacing of 23 cm. The planting density was 270 plants per metre squared, per variery, per year. Measured characteristics were based on 20 measurements per variety for each year of trials. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on LSD values. Disease reaction ratings 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 in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Donlow' with reference varieties 'AAC Spitfire', 'AAC Durafield', 'Strongfield' and 'Transcend'

Flag leaf width (mm)

Plant height at maturity (including awns) (cm)

Lower glume length (mm)

Lower glume width (mm)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'AAC Donlow' (left) with reference varieties 'AAC Spitfire' (centre left), 'AAC Durafield' (centre), 'Strongfield' (centre right) and 'Transcend' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'AAC Donlow' (left) with reference varieties 'AAC Spitfire' (centre left), 'AAC Durafield' (centre), 'Strongfield' (centre right) and 'Transcend' (right)