CDC Defy

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AAC Cabri', 'CDC Carbide', 'CDC Credence' and 'CDC Precision'

Summary: The intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the coleoptile of 'CDC Defy' is absent or very weak whereas it is weak on 'AAC Cabri' and 'CDC Carbide'. At booting, the glaucosity on the flag leaf sheath of 'CDC Defy' is strong whereas it is medium for that of 'CDC Precision' and 'AAC Cabri' and weak to medium for 'CDC Credence'. The frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves is medium on 'CDC Defy' whereas it is absent or very low on the reference varieties. The anthocyanin colouration of the auricles of the flag leaf of 'CDC Defy' is weak to medium whereas it is absent or very weak to weak for 'AAC Cabri'. The flag leaf of 'CDC Defy' is longer than that of the reference varieties and narrower than that of 'AAC Cabri', 'CDC Carbide' and 'CDC Precision'. At maturity, the plants of 'CDC Defy' are taller than those of 'CDC Precision'. In cross-section, the straw pith of 'CDC Defy' is of medium thickness whereas it is thick for 'AAC Cabri'. Excluding awns, 'CDC Defy' has a longer spike than those of the reference varieties. The awns of 'CDC Defy' are white whereas they are black for 'CDC Credence'.

Description:

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

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

FLAG LEAF: weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the auricles, medium to strong glaucosity of sheath, glabrous blade and sheath

CULM: strong glaucosity, curved neck
STRAW: medium thickness of pith in cross-section, no anthocyanin colouration at maturity

SPIKE: medium to strong glaucosity at heading, parallel-sided shape in profile, dense, yellow at maturity, erect attitude, sparse to medium density of hairiness of convex surface of apical rachis segment
AWNS: longer than spike, white at maturity
LOWER GLUME: long, medium width, glabrous, sparse extent of internal hairs
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: narrow to medium width, slightly sloping to strongly elevated with second point present
LOWER GLUME BEAK: medium to long, moderately curved
LOWEST LEMMA: straight beak

KERNEL: amber, large, long, medium width, elliptical shape, angular cheek shape, short brush hairs, medium to wide crease, medium to deep crease
GERM: medium size, broad elliptical to elliptical shape

DISEASE REACTIONS: resistant to Common bunt (Tilletia laevis Kühn in Rabenh.,T. tritici Bjerk.) Loose smut (Ustilago tritici) and Leaf rust (Puccina recondita); moderately resistant to Stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) and Stripe rust (Puccina striiformis) and moderately susceptible to Fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium species)

Origin & Breeding History: 'CDC Defy' (experimental designations D09.60.065 and 'DT1004') originated from the cross between 'CDC Verona', as the female parent, and 'DT563', as the male parent, made in the summer of 2009 at the Crop Development Centre of the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The F1 generation was increased at a contra-season near Christchurch, New Zealand. The F2 and F3 generations were increased in bulk in Saskatoon and near Christchurch in 2010. In 2011, the F4 generation was planted in a nursery at Saskatoon with 550 single spikes selected and grown as F5 head rows at Saskatoon in 2012. From these head rows, a line designated, as D09.60.065, was selected for plant height, maturity and straw strength. In 2013, D09.60.065 was evaluated in un-replicated F6 yield trials in Saskatoon and the resistance to Fusarium head blight and to leaf rusts were evaluated in endemic nurseries in Carmen, Manitoba. In 2014 and 2015, D09.60.065 was evaluated for agronomic traits, advanced in replicated yield trials at various locations in Saskatchewan and Alberta in 2014 and also assessed in disease resistance trials conducted in Saskatoon and Carman. From 2016 to 2018, 'DT1004' was evaluated in the Durum Wheat co-operative tests. Selection criteria were plant height, maturity, straw strength, disease resistance, yield, test weight, thousand kernel weight, and quality traits such as, yellow pigment, protein and gluten content, and milling properties such as semolina milling yield and semolina ash content.

Tests & Trials: The comparative tests and trials of 'CDC Defy' were conducted during the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons at the Crop Science Field Laboratory, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. There were three replications arranged in a RCB Design. Plots consisted of 5 rows spaced 20 cm apart. The plot size was 4.0 square metres with a minimum density of 300 plants per square metre. Measured characteristics are based on 20 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences are significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's T-test. Disease ratings for 'CDC Defy' were provided through the Disease Evaluation team of the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale and the Prairie Grain Development Committee from the Durum Wheat Co-operative Registration Trials conducted from 2016 to 2018.

Comparison tables for 'CDC Defy' with reference varieties 'AAC Cabri', 'CDC Carbide', 'CDC Credence' and 'CDC Precision'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Flag leaf width (cm)

Plant height at maturity (including awns) (cm)

Spike length (excluding awns) (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'CDC Defy' (left) with reference varieties 'CDC Carbide' (centre left), 'CDC Precision' (centre), 'CDC Credence' (right centre) and 'AAC Cabri' (right)