Alban

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AAC Synox', 'Topaze', 'Touran' and 'Agora'

Summary: At booting, the frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves is low for 'Alban' whereas the frequency is medium for 'Touran', medium to high for 'AAC Synox' and high to very high for 'Agora'. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the auricles on the flag leaf of 'Alban' is absent to very weak whereas it is of medium intensity on the auricles of 'AAC Synox' and it is of weak to medium intensity on the auricles of 'Topaze'. The plants of 'Alban' head later than the plants of 'AAC Synox', 'Touran' and 'Agora'. At maturity, the culm of 'Alban' has a straight neck whereas that of 'Touran' has a curved neck. The plants of 'Alban' are shorter than the plants of 'Topaze' and taller than those of 'AAC Synox', 'Touran' and 'Agora'. Excluding the awns, the spike of 'Alban' is longer than that of 'Touran' and 'Agora'. The lower glume of 'Alban' has a medium length beak whereas the lower glume of 'Touran' and 'Agora' have a long to very long beak. The 1000 kernel weight for 'Alban' is greater than that of 'AAC Synox' and less than that of 'Touran'.

Description:

PLANT: spring type, common wheat, semi-erect growth habit at 5 to 9 tiller stage, low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, heads mid-season, matures mid-season

SEEDLING (4-leaf stage): absent or very weak 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, strong glaucosity of sheath

CULM: strong glaucosity, straight neck
STRAW (at maturity): thin pith in cross-section

SPIKE: strong degree of glaucosity at heading, tapering shape in profile, medium density, white at maturity, erect to inclined attitude, sparse to medium density of hairiness of convex surface of apical rachis segment
AWNS: equal to spike length, white at maturity
LOWER GLUME: medium to long, narrow to medium width, pubescent, very sparse to sparse extent of internal hairs
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: narrow to medium width, slightly sloping to straight
LOWER GLUME BEAK: medium length

KERNEL: hard red type, medium red to dark red

Origin & Breeding History: 'Alban' (experimental designation BS15-15,02) originated from a controlled cross conducted in Sainte-Rosalie, Quebec between the varieties 'Torka' (female parent) and 'BS04-339' (male parent) in 2007, the progeny coded as SB07-38A. The F1 to F5 generations were mass cultivated in Ste. Rosalie Quebec from 2008 to 2012 where seed selections were made based on grain density at each generation. Spikes were selected from the F5 plants in 2012 and planted in single rows. F6 individual rows were selected using a pedigree selection method based on lodging resistance, grain yield, early maturity and minimal expression of disease symptoms. From 2014 to 2016, the line designated as BS15-15,02 was initially evaluated with other lines in screening trials for the grain yield, volumetric grain weight and resistance to Fusarium head blight. Additional controlled inoculation trials with Fusarium sp. were also conducted in 2015 and 2016 to assess the Fusarium head blight resistance. BS15-15,02 was evaluated in yield trials in 2017 and entered in the registration trials conducted by the Reseau Grandes Cultures du Québec from 2018 to 2019.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'Alban' were conducted at Céréla Inc. in St-Hugues, Quebec, during the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons. There were 2 replications per variety arranged in an RCB design. Plots consisted of 5 rows, each row 5 metres long with an inter-row spacing of 0.19 metres. The seeding density was approximately 425 seeds per squared metre resulting in at least 3825 plants in total per variety each year. Measured characteristics were based on 20 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on paired Student's t-tests.

Comparison tables for 'Alban' with reference varieties 'AAC Synox', 'Topaze', 'Touran' and 'Agora'

Days to heading (days from planting to when 50% heads are fully emerged from boot)

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: 'Alban' (left) with reference varieties 'AAC Synox' (centre left), 'Topaze' (centre), 'Touran' (centre right) and 'Agora' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'Alban' (left) with reference varieties 'AAC Synox' (centre left), 'Topaze' (centre), 'Touran' (centre right) and 'Agora' (right)