AAC Antler

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AAC Donlow', 'CDC Credence', 'CDC Defy' and 'Transcend'

Summary: The coleoptile of 'AAC Antler' has a very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration while the coleoptile of 'CDC Credence' has a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves for 'AAC Antler' is medium to high while the frequency is high to very high for the plants of 'CDC Credence' and 'Transcend' and very high for those of 'CDC Defy'. The flag leaf of 'AAC Antler' is shorter than the flag leaf of 'CDC Defy' and narrower than that of 'AAC Donlow'. The flag leaf sheath of 'AAC Antler' has medium glaucosity while those of 'CDC Defy' and 'Transcend' have strong glaucosity. The plants of 'AAC Antler' head later than the plants of 'CDC Defy' and 'Transcend'. The spike of 'AAC Antler' has strong glaucosity while the spike of 'CDC Credence' has medium glaucosity and that of 'CDC Defy' has weak glaucosity. The culm of 'AAC Antler' has a medium degree of glaucosity while the culm of 'AAC Donlow' has very strong glaucosity, the culm of 'CDC Defy' has weak glaucosity and that of 'Transcend' has strong glaucosity. At maturity, the plants, including the spike and awns, of 'AAC Antler' are shorter than the plants of 'CDC Credence', 'CDC Defy' and 'Transcend'. Excluding the awns, the spike of 'AAC Antler' is shorter than those of 'CDC Defy' and 'Transcend'. The awns of 'AAC Antler' are white while those of 'CDC Credence' are black. The culm of 'AAC Antler' is straight while those of the reference varieties are curved. The lower glume of 'AAC Antler' is longer than the lower glumes of 'AAC Donlow' and 'CDC Credence' and shorter than that of 'CDC Defy'. The 1000 kernel weight of 'AAC Antler' is less than those of 'CDC Credence', 'CDC Defy' and 'Transcend'.

Description:

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

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

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

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

SPIKE: strong glaucosity at heading, tapering to parallel sided shape in profile, dense, off-white at maturity, erect attitude, absent or very sparse hairiness of convex surface of apical rachis segment
AWNS: longer than spike length, white
LOWER GLUME: medium oblong in shape, medium length and width, glabrous
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: slightly sloping, narrow
LOWER GLUME BEAK: short, slightly curved
LOWEST LEMMA BEAK: slightly curved

KERNEL: amber, large, long, medium width, elliptical, rounded cheek
GERM: oval

AGRONOMIC TRAITS: good resistance to shattering, good pasta quality

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)

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Antler' (experimental designations A1323-EW05 and DT2015) was derived from a three-way cross conducted at the Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Swift Current Research and Development Centre in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. In 2013, an initial cross was conducted between 'CDC Dynamic' and DT858 followed by a subsequent cross to 'Transcend'. In 2014, the F1 seeds were grown in a greenhouse and the resulting F2 generation space planted in a disease epiphotic field nursery near Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Two hundred and thirty two individual F2 plants were selected and grown in 2 metre rows near Lincoln, New Zealand. One hundred and twenty nine F3 lines were selected and the F4 generation grown in unreplicated plot trials under dryland conditions near Swift Current and Indian Head, Saskatchewan in 2015. Nineteen F5 families, each with 7 lines, were selected and grown in 2 metre rows near Lincoln, New Zealand. In 2016, 69 selected F6 lines were grown in plots under dryland conditions near Swift Current and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and under irrigation in Lethbridge, Alberta. One of the lines, satisfying all selection criteria, was designated as A1323-EW05. Quality assessments were conducted by Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Central Quality Laboratory in Winnipeg, Manitoba and at the Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre, Swift Current, Saskatchewan. The line was entered in the Durum 'A6' test in 2017 and the Durum-B test in 2018 and further evaluated at multiple locations in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan for various disease resistances. The variety was entered in the Durum Registration Test as DT2015 from 2019 to 2021. 'AAC Antler' was selected based on disease resistance, plant height, straw strength, maturity, performance and quality characteristics such as protein content, pigment and gluten strength and milling performance.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Antler' were conducted at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre, Swift Current, Saskatchewan during the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons. There were 4 replicates per variety arranged in an RCB design. Each plot consisted of 4 rows, 3.0 metres in length, with 0.23 metre inter-row spacing. The seeding density of 270 seeds per metre squared resulted in 3000 plants per variety per year. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 20 measurements per variety per year, except kernel weight which was based on 4 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on LSD values.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Antler' with reference varieties 'AAC Donlow', 'CDC Credence', 'CDC Defy' and 'Transcend'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Flag leaf width (mm)

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

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

Spike length (excluding awns) (m)

Lower glume length (mm)

Kernel weight (grams per 1000 kernels)

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Wheat: 'AAC Antler' (left) with reference varieties 'AAC Donlow' (centre left), 'CDC Credence' (centre), 'CDC Defy' (centre right) and 'Transcend' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'AAC Antler' (left) with reference varieties 'AAC Donlow' (centre left), 'CDC Credence' (centre), 'CDC Defy' (centre right) and 'Transcend' (right)