AAC Volta

Wheat

Variety Description

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

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

Description:

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

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): very thin to thin pith in cross-section

SPIKE: weak to medium degree of glaucosity at anthesis, parallel sided shape in profile, medium density, white at maturity, inclined to nodding attitude.
AWNS: present, equal in length to spike, white at maturity
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: narrow, straight to elevated
LOWER GLUME BEAK: long, slightly to moderately curved

KERNEL: hard red type, medium red, small to medium size, medium length, elliptical shape, short brush hairs, narrow crease, shallow crease
GERM: oval shape

Origin & Breeding History: ‘AAC Volta' (experimental designations ERA149-R1 and F5 PL-647(08)6A1A F8) originated from crossing two lines 06GG-294 and 06FL-94 during the summer of 2007 under controlled conditions at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Quebec Research and Development Centre in Quebec, Quebec. In 2008, an initial selection of the F1 generation was done on plants grown in plots in poor field conditions that were inoculated with Barley yellow dwarf disease, Fusarium head blight and wheat rust pathogens. The variety was advanced based on resistance to leaf diseases, Fusarium head blight and Stripe rust as well as plant height and grain yield. One F8 was designated as ERA149-R1 in 2012. Breeder seed was established at the F12 generation in 2018.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for ‘AAC Volta' 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 Volta' with reference varieties 'AAC Synox', 'Hoffman HRF' and 'AAC Maurice'

Flag leaf width (cm)

Flag leaf width (cm)

Days to heading (number of days from planting to 50% of heads fully emerged from boot)

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

Spike length (excluding awns) (cm)

Click on image for larger view

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

Click on image for larger view

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