AAC Maurice

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AAC Synox' and 'Hoffman HRF'

Summary: At booting, the flag leaf of ‘AAC Maurice' is shorter than the flag leaf of the 'AAC Synox' and ‘Hoffman HRF' and narrower than that of ‘Hoffman HRF'. At maturity, the plants, including the awns, of ‘AAC Maurice' are shorter than those of the reference varieties. Excluding the awns, the spike of ‘AAC Maurice' is shorter than the spike of the reference varieties. The kernel of ‘AAC Maurice is light red whereas that of the ‘AAC Synox' is medium red. The shape of the kernel of ‘AAC Maurice' is oval whereas the kernel of the reference varieties has a broad elliptical shape. ‘AAC Maurice' has a medium length kernel whereas the kernel of ‘Hoffman HRF' is long. The brush hairs on the kernel of ‘AAC Maurice' are short whereas the brush hairs are of medium length on the kernel of ‘Hoffman HRF'. The crease on the kernel of ‘AAC Maurice' is of a medium width whereas it is narrow on the kernel of ‘AAC Synox'.

Description:

PLANT: common wheat, spring type, semi-erect growth habit at 5 to 9 tiller stage, heads emerge mid-season

SEEDLING (4-LEAF STAGE): glabrous sheath and blade of lower leaves

FLAG LEAF: weak to medium degree of glaucosity of sheath

CULM: straight neck
STRAW (AT MATURITY): thin pith in cross-section

SPIKE: weak to medium degree of glaucosity at anthesis, parallel sided shape in profile, medium density, white at maturity
AWNS: present, equal in length to spike, white at maturity
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: narrow, slightly sloping (a variant with a medium width and straight shoulder is observed in the variety)
LOWER GLUME BEAK: long (a variant with a short beak is observed in the variety), straight to slightly curved

KERNEL: hard red type, light red, medium size, medium length, oval shape, short brush hairs, medium width crease, medium to deep crease
GERM: round shape

Origin & Breeding History: ‘AAC Maurice' (experimental designations 12AAC-0205 and CRGB-11C.0205) originated from crossing the F1 of two parental crosses during the winter of 2008-2009 under controlled conditions at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Quebec Research and Development Centre in Quebec, Quebec. The parental crosses were conducted in the winter of 2007-2008. The first parent, PL830, is a cross between GS-0-EM0134, FL-1 and 'Helios'. The second parent, PL987, is a cross between BRS177, FL-1 and BA83-EC8. In 2009, an initial selection of the F1 generation was done from plants grown in poor field conditions that were inoculated with Barley yellow dwarf disease, Fusarium head blight, leaf and stem rust pathogens or vectors. From 2009 to 2011, the variety was advanced based on plant height, lodging resistance, plant vigour and resistance to leaf diseases and Fusarium head blight. One F8 line was designated as 12AAC-0205 in 2012. Breeder seed was established at the F14 generation in 2018.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for ‘AAC Maurice' were conducted at the Centre de recherche sur les grains in Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, Quebec in 2024 and 2025. There were 2 replicates per variety arranged in an RCB design. Plots were 4.7 square metres and consisted of 4 rows 5.3 metres in length spaced 0.18 metre apart. The seeding density was 445 seeds per square metre, resulting in approximately 4000 plants per variety per year. Measured characteristics were based on 40 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on LSD values.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Maurice' with reference varieties 'AAC Synox' and 'Hoffman HRF'

Flag leaf length (cm)

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 Maurice' (centre right) with reference varieties 'AAC Volta' (left), 'Hoffman HRF' (centre left) and 'AAC Synox' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'AAC Maurice' (bottom right) with reference varieties 'AAC Volta' (top left), 'Hoffman HRF' (top right) and 'AAC Synox' (bottom left)