OAC Constellation

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Branson' and 'Cruze'

Summary: The coleoptile of ‘OAC Constellation' has a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration while the coleoptile of ‘Branson' has an absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration and that of ‘Cruze' has a very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration. At booting, the flag leaf of ‘OAC Constellation' is shorter and wider than those of ‘Branson' and ‘Cruze'. The flag leaf sheath of ‘OAC Constellation' has a medium degree of glaucosity while those of ‘Branson'and ‘Cruze' have strong glaucosity. At heading, the straw of ‘OAC Constellation' has a thin pith in cross section while the straw of ‘Branson' has a thick pith in cross section. Excluding the awns and awnlets, the spike of ‘OAC Constellation' is longer than the spike of ‘Cruze'. The spike of ‘OAC Constellation' is awned while the spike of ‘Branson' is awnletted. At maturity, including the spike and awns, the plants of ‘OAC Constellation' are shorter than the plants of ‘Cruze'. The lower glume shoulder of ‘OAC Constellation' is slightly sloping while the lower glume shoulder of ‘Branson' is straight and that of ‘Cruze' is sloping. The lower glume of ‘OAC Constellation' is of a medium length while the lower glume of ‘Branson' is long. The kernel weight of ‘OAC Constellation' is less than that of ‘Branson'.

Description:

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

SEEDLING (4-leaf stage): medium 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 degree of glaucosity of sheath, glabrous blade and sheath

CULM: medium degree of glaucosity at heading, straight neck
STRAW (AT MATURITY): thin pith in cross-section, no anthocyanin colouration

SPIKE: weak degree of glaucosity at heading, tapering shape in profile, medium density, yellow at maturity, inclined attitude
AWNS: shorter than length of spike, light brown at maturity
LOWER GLUME: medium length and width, glabrous
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: narrow, slightly sloping shape
LOWER GLUME BEAK: short to medium in length, slightly curved

KERNEL: soft red type, light red, medium sized, oval shape, medium length brush hairs

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: good winter survival

Origin & Breeding History: 'OAC Constellation' (experimental designations DH11SRW2-168 & OAC 17 SRW-04) originated from the cross between the lines C9553 and VA06W-392 conducted by Vilmorin & CIE, dba Limagrain Cereal Seeds (LCS) in Illinois, USA in 2010. From the F1 population, DH lines were developed in the United Kingdom in 2011-12. In 2014, one DH progeny row was selected at Battle Ground, Indiana, USA based on plant height, standability, general appearance and disease resistance and received by the University of Guelph as DH11SRW2-168 through a multiparty agreement. In 2015 and 2016, the variety was further assessed with selections made based on yield, kernel test weight and disease response and designated OAC 17 SRW-04. OAC 17 SRW-04 was entered in the Orthogonal Pastry Registration trials conducted by the Ontario Cereal Crop Committee during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 growing seasons. Breeder seed production commenced in 2019.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'OAC Constellation' were conducted during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons at the Elora Research Station, University of Guelph in Elora, Ontario. The trials were arranged in a RCB design with 3 replicates. Each plot consisted of 6 rows, each 4.0 metres long with 18 centimetres inter-row spacing. The seeding density resulted in approximately 6000 plants per variety per year. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 20 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on a Student`s t-test.

Comparison tables for 'OAC Constellation' with reference varieties 'Branson' and 'Cruze'

Flag leaf length(cm)

Flag leaf width (mm)

Spike length (excluding the awns or awnlets) (cm)

Plant height (stem plus spike including awns or awnlets) (cm)

Kernel weight (grams per 1000 kernels) (g)

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Wheat: ‘OAC Constellation' (centre) with reference varieties ‘Branson' (left) and ‘Cruze' (right)

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Wheat: ‘OAC Constellation' (left) with reference varieties ‘Branson' (centre) and ‘Cruze' (right)

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Wheat: ‘OAC Constellation' (top) with reference varieties ‘Cruze' (centre) and ‘Branson' (bottom)