AAC Weyburn

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AAC Stronghold', 'AAC Marchwell', 'CDC Fortitude' and 'CDC Carbide'

Summary: The intensity of anthocyanin colouration for the coleoptile of 'AAC Weyburn' is very strong whereas it is of medium to strong intensity for 'AAC Stronghold'. At booting, the frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves is medium to high for 'AAC Weyburn' whereas 'AAC Stronghold' has a low to medium frequency of recurved flag leaves. The flag leaf of 'AAC Weyburn' is narrower than that of 'AAC Stronghold'. The glaucosity on the flag leaf sheath of 'AAC Weyburn' is strong whereas the degree of glaucosity is medium for 'AAC Marchwell', 'CDC Fortitude' and 'CDC Carbide'. At maturity, the plants, including the spike and awns, of 'AAC Weyburn' are taller than the plants of 'AAC Stronghold' and 'CDC Fortitude'. In cross section, the straw pith of 'AAC Weyburn' is thick whereas the pith is thin for 'AAC Marchwell' and 'CDC Carbide'. The spike, excluding the awns, of 'AAC Weyburn' is longer than that of 'AAC Stronghold', 'AAC Marchwell' and 'CDC Carbide'. The awns of 'AAC Weyburn' are black whereas the awns of the reference varieties are white. The shape of the lower glume shoulder of 'AAC Weyburn' is strongly elevated with a second point present whereas it is strongly to slightly sloping for 'AAC Marchwell' and elevated for 'CDC Carbide'. The beak of the lowest lemma is slightly curved for 'AAC Weyburn' whereas it is moderately curved for 'CDC Fortitude'.

Description:

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

SEEDLING (4 LEAF STAGE): very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration of coleoptile, glabrous sheaths and blades of lower leaves

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

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

SPIKE: weak to medium glaucosity at heading, parallel sided shape in profile, dense, off-white at maturity, erect attitude, absent or very sparse hairiness of convex surface of apical segment
AWNS: longer than spike length, black at maturity
LOWER GLUME: medium oblong shape, medium length and width, glabrous
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: absent or very narrow, strongly elevated with second point present
LOWER GLUME BEAK: short, straight to slightly curved shape
LOWEST LEMMA: slightly curved beak

KERNEL: amber, large, long, medium width, elliptical shape, rounded cheek shape
GERM: oval shape

RESISTANCE TO SHATTERING: good

PASTA QUALITY: good

DISEASE REACTIONS: resistant to Leaf Rust (Puccinia triticina), Stripe Rust (Puccinia striiformis) and Common Bunt (Tilletia caries, Tilletia foetida); moderately resistant to Stem Rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici); moderately susceptible to Fusarium Head Blight (Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium spp.)

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Weyburn' (experimental designations A1150-APK03 and DT897) originated from the cross between the F1 of lines A0262&AM050 and A0434-ER01 and the F1 of lines DT851 and A0463&AV013 made in 2011 at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. In 2012, the F1 seeds were increased in the greenhouse and F2 seeds were space planted in a disease epiphytotic field nursery near Swift Current where individual plants were selected for disease resistances, plant height, straw strength and maturity. Seeds of individual spikes were grown in F3 rows near Lincoln, New Zealand in 2012-2013 and row selections were made for plant height, maturity and straw strength. In 2013, the 321 F4 lines were grown in unreplicated plots near Swift Current and were selected by agronomic performance, quality testing and disease reaction. The spikes of 110 F5 families each with 7 lines per family were grown in rows near Leeston, New Zealand and were selected for plant height, straw strength and maturity. In 2014, 387 F6 lines were grown in various locations in Swift Current and Stewart Valley, Saskatchewan, and Lethbridge, Alberta, and selection was based on agronomic performance, disease resistance and quality characteristics. One F7 line, A1150-APK03, identified as meeting all selection criteria at each stage, was tested in the Durum Western A test in 2015 and the Durum B test in 2016. Disease reactions were further assessed in nurseries in Brandon, Carman and Morden Manitoba. Quality assessments on grain handling, processing and consuming performances were done at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Central Quality Laboratory in Winnipeg, Manitoba. A1150-APK03 was entered in the Durum Cooperative Registration Test and tested as DT897 from 2017 to 2019. Breeder seed production commenced in 2019 at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Seed Increase Unit, Indian Head, Saskatchewan.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Weyburn' were conducted at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Swift Current Research and Development Centre during the 2019 and 2021 growing seasons. There were 4 replicates of 2.76 square metre per plot arranged in an RCB Design. Each plot consisted of 4 rows, each 3 metres long, with an inter-row spacing of 23 cm. The planting density was 270 plants per metre squared, with 2980 plants per variety grown per year. Measured characteristics were based on 20 measurements per variety per year. 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 from the registration trials conducted from 2017 to 2019.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Weyburn' with reference varieties 'AAC Stronghold', 'AAC Marchwell', 'CDC Fortitude' and 'CDC Carbide'

Flag leaf width (mm)

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

Spike length (excluding awns) (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'AAC Weyburn' (left) with reference varieties 'AAC Stronghold' (centre left), 'AAC Marchwell' (centre), 'CDC Fortitude' (centre right) and 'CDC Carbide' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'AAC Weyburn' (left) with reference varieties 'AAC Stronghold' (centre left), 'AAC Marchwell' (centre), 'CDC Fortitude' (centre right) and 'CDC Carbide' (right)