AAC Westlock

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AAC Foray' and 'AAC Penhold'

Summary: At booting, the frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves on 'AAC Westlock' is low whereas the frequency is absent or very low on the plants of 'AAC Foray'. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the auricles on the flag leaf of 'AAC Westlock' is absent or very weak whereas it is of medium intensity for 'AAC Foray'. The flag leaf sheath and lower side of the leaf blade of 'AAC Westlock' have a weak glaucosity whereas those of 'AAC Foray' have a medium degree of glaucosity. The flag leaf of 'AAC Westlock' is narrower than that of 'AAC Penhold'. At heading, the spike of 'AAC Westlock' has a weak glaucosity whereas that of 'AAC Penhold' has a medium degree of glaucosity. In profile, the spike of 'AAC Westlock' has a tapering shape whereas that of 'AAC Foray' has a parallel-sided shape. The awns of 'AAC Westlock' are equal to the length of the spike while those of 'AAC Foray' are longer than the spike. The mature plants, including the spike and awns, of 'AAC Westlock' are shorter than the mature plants of 'AAC Foray' and taller than those of 'AAC Penhold'. The lower glume shoulder of 'AAC Westlock' is elevated and broad whereas the lower glume shoulder of the reference varieties is straight and narrow. The lower glume beak of 'AAC Westlock' is very long and slightly curved whereas that of the reference varieties is very short and straight. The thousand kernel weight of 'AAC Westlock' is less than that of 'AAC Foray'.

Description:

PLANT: spring type, common wheat, 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 anthocyanin colouration of the coleoptile, glabrous sheath and blade of lower leaves

FLAG LEAF (AT BOOTING): absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of auricles, weak glaucosity of sheath and lower side of leaf blade, glabrous sheath and blade before anthesis

CULM: absent or very sparse hairiness of uppermost node, absent or very weak glaucosity at anthesis, curved neck at maturity.
STRAW (AT MATURITY): pith thin in cross-section, anthocyanin colouration absent

SPIKE: weak glaucosity at heading, tapering shape in profile, medium density, erect attitude, white at maturity, absent or very sparse hairiness of convex surface of apical rachis segment
AWNS: equal to spike length, white at maturity
LOWER GLUME: medium length, medium width, glabrous, sparse extent of external and internal hairs
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: elevated, broad
LOWER GLUME BEAK: very long, slightly curved
LOWEST LEMMA: slightly curved

KERNEL: hard red type, medium red, large, long, medium width, elliptical shape, rounded cheek, medium length brush hairs, medium width, shallow crease
GERM: medium size, broad elliptical shape

AGRONOMIC TRAITS: good resistance to shattering, good resistance to pre-harvest sprouting

BREAD MAKING QUALITY: good

DISEASE REACTIONS: resistant to Common bunt (Tilletia tritici and Tilletia laevis), Leaf rust (Puccinia triticina), Stem rust (Puccinia graminis) and Stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis); moderately resistant to Fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum)

INSECT REACTION: susceptible to Orange Wheat Blossom Midge (Sitodiplosis mosellana)

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Westlock' (experimental designations WB25597 and HY2090) originated from a three way cross conducted at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta in January, 2014. The initial cross between 'AAC Foray' and 'AAC Tenacious' was followed by a subsequent cross to 'AAC Penhold'. F1 derived double haploids were produced using maize hybridization techniques in the summer of 2014 with 461 resulting double haploid lines evaluated in a contra-season nursery in Leeston, New Zealand during the winter of 2015-2016. One hundred and sixty nine rows selected based on plant type, plant height, maturity and leaf rust resistance were harvested and evaluated in single replicate yield trials and disease nurseries in multiple locations in western Canada. Twenty two lines selected based on agronomic, disease resistance and quality traits were advanced to B-level testing in multiple locations in western Canada and simultaneously evaluated in various disease nurseries in 2017. One line designated WB25597 was entered in the 2018 High Yield Wheat Registration Trial as HY2090 where it was evaluated from 2018 to 2020. Breeder seed production commenced in 2021.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Westlock' were conducted at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta in 2021 and 2022. There were 3 replicates per variety arranged in an RCB design. Plots were 2.76 square metres, and consisted of 4 rows 3.0 metres in length with 0.23 metres between rows. Plots were spaced 0.54 metres apart. The planting density was 250 plants per square metre, resulting in approximately 2050 plants per variety per year. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 20 measurements per variety per year, except for the kernel weight which was based on 15 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on Student's t-tests. Disease and insect reaction ratings were provided through the disease evaluation of the High Yield Wheat Registration trials from 2018 to 2020.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Westlock' with reference varieties 'AAC Foray' and 'AAC Penhold'

Flag leaf width (cm)

Plant height at maturity (including spike and awns) (cm)

Kernel weight (grams per 1000 kernels) (g)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'AAC Westlock' (bottom) with reference varieties 'AAC Foray' (centre) and 'AAC Penhold (top)