OAC Moon

Wheat

Variety Description

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

Summary: The coleoptile of 'OAC Moon' has a medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas that of 'Cruze' has an absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration. At heading, the spike of 'OAC Moon' is shorter than the spike of 'Branson'. At maturity, the spike of 'OAC Moon' has an inclined attitude whereas the spike of both reference varieties has a nodding attitude.

Description:

PLANT: winter type, common wheat, intermediate growth habit at 5 to 9 tiller stage, very low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves

SEEDLING (4-LEAF STAGE): medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the coleoptile, glabrous sheath and blade of lower leaves

FLAG LEAF: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of auricles, medium glaucosity of sheath at heading, glabrous sheath and blade before anthesis

CULM: straight neck at maturity
STRAW (AT MATURITY): pith thin in cross-section, anthocyanin colouration absent

SPIKE: weak glaucosity at heading, tapering shape in profile, dense, inclined attitude, yellow at maturity
AWNS: equal to spike length, light brown at maturity
LOWER GLUME: narrow, medium to long
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: absent or very narrow, sloping
LOWER GLUME BEAK: medium length, slightly curved

KERNEL: soft red type, light red, medium size

Origin & Breeding History: 'OAC Moon' (experimental designations OAC19 SRW-01 and LES15-5199) originated from the three-way cross between the F1 of '97397J1-4-1-4-7' and 'SR30-530' and the variety 'Branson', which was completed at Limagrain Cereal Seeds, Illinois, USA in 2006. 'OAC Moon' was derived from a F4 segregating population and selected as an F4:5 head row based on height, maturity, and general disease resistance. While testing in first yield trial, the F4:6 plants were found to be segregating and therefore 24 spikes were pulled and grown as F6:7 rows the following year. A superior row was selected and named LES15-5199 in the fall of 2014. This F6:8 line was then entered into year 1 trials based on yield, disease resistance, and general agronomics. LES15-5199 was received by the University of Guelph in 2015. After three years of testing in Ontario in the preliminary, advanced, and elite yield trials, the line was re-designated as OAC 19 SRW-01. From 2018 to 2020, this line was tested in the Ontario registration trials. Breeder seed production commenced in the fall of 2020.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'OAC Moon' were conducted at University of Guelph, Elora Research Station, Elora, Ontario in 2021 and 2022. The varieties in the trial were sown in the previous fall in late September. There were 3 replicates per variety arranged in an RCB design. Plots were 4.24 square metres. There were approximately 2100 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% probability level based on Student's t-tests.

Comparison table for 'OAC Moon' with reference varieties 'Branson' and 'Cruze'

Spike length (excluding awns) (cm)

Click on image for larger view

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