AAC Network

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AAC Gateway' and 'AAC Elevate'

Summary: At booting, the anthocyanin colouration of the auricles on the flag leaf of 'AAC Network' is of weak to medium intensity whereas it is absent or very weak on the auricles of both reference varieties . At maturity, the plants, including the spike and awns, of 'AAC Network' are taller than the plants of 'AAC Gateway' and shorter than those of 'AAC Elevate'. Excluding the awns, the spike of 'AAC Network' is longer than that of 'AAC Gateway'. The spike attitude for 'AAC Network' is erect whereas the attitude for both reference varieties is inclined. The lower glume shoulder of 'AAC Network' is sloping with an absent or very narrow width whereas the lower glume shoulder of 'AAC Gateway' is straight with medium width and that of 'AAC Elevate' is slightly sloping to straight with a narrow to medium width. The 1000 kernel weight of 'AAC Network' is less than that of both reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: winter type, common wheat, semi-prostrate growth habit at 5 to 9 tiller stage, absent or very low to low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, heads and matures mid-season

SEEDLING (4-leaf stage): glabrous sheath and lower leaf blade

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

CULM: medium glaucosity, straight to weakly curved neck at maturity
STRAW (at maturity): pith very thin in cross-section, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration

SPIKE: weak to medium glaucosity at heading, tapering shape in profile, medium density, erect attitude, absent or very sparse hairiness of the convex surface of the apical rachis segment, white to yellow at maturity
AWNS: shorter than spike, white to light brown at maturity
LOWER GLUME: medium to long, medium width, glabrous
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: sloping, absent or very narrow
LOWER GLUME BEAK: medium length

KERNEL: hard red type, medium red

AGRONOMIC TRAITS: good resistance to lodging, fair to good winter survival

BREAD MAKING QUALITY: good

DISEASE REACTIONS: resistant to Stem rust (Puccinia graminis) and Stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis); resistant to moderately resistant to Leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) and Common bunt (Tilletia tritici and Tilletia laevis), moderately resistant to moderately susceptible to Fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum)
INSECT REACTION: susceptible to Wheat Curl Mite (Aceria tosichella)

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Network' (experimental designation 'W569') originated from a cross between 'LG237' and 'LG278' made at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Lethbridge Research and Development Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta in 2008. The maize hybridization method was used to produce F1 double haploids from plants between 2009 and 2010. In 2011 selections were made for winter survival, spring vigour, plant type, height, and straw strength. In 2012, inoculations in disease nurseries were done to assess stem and leaf rust resistance at the University of Manitoba campus in Winnipeg and stripe rust and bunt resistance in Lethbridge. From 2013 to 2015, advanced selections were made for traits including yield and production characteristics, disease resistance and end use quality. 'W569' was entered into the Western Canadian Winter Wheat Cooperative registration trials from 2015 to 2016 and from 2018 to 2019 at multiple locations.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Network' were conducted at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta in 2020 and 2021. There were 3 replicates per variety arranged in an RCB design. Plots were 4.1 square metres, and consisted of 4 rows 3.5 in length with 0.23 metre inter-row spacing. The seeding density was 360 seeds per square metre, resulting in approximately 4300 plants per variety per year. Measured characteristics were based on 30 measurements per variety per year except for kernel weight which was based on 12 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test. Disease reaction ratings were provided through the disease evaluation of the Western Canadian Winter Wheat Cooperative Registration trials from 2016 to 2018.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Network' with reference varieties 'AAC Gateway' and 'AAC Elevate'

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

Spike length (excluding awns) (cm)

Kernel weight (grams per 1000 kernels) (g)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'AAC Network' (centre) with reference varieties 'AAC Gateway' (left) and 'AAC Elevate' (right)