OAC Virgo

Wheat

Variety Description

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

Summary: At booting, the flag leaf of 'OAC Virgo' is shorter and narrower than that of 'Cruze'. The straw of 'OAC Virgo' has a thin pith in cross section while that of 'Branson' has a thick pith in cross section. The spike of 'OAC Virgo' has a tapering shape in profile while that of 'Branson' is parallel sided in profile. The spike of 'OAC Virgo' is lax while those of the reference varieties are of a medium density. Excluding the awns and awnlets, the spike of 'OAC Virgo' is longer than the spike of the reference varieties. The spike of 'OAC Virgo' is awnletted while that of 'Cruze' is awned. The lower glume of 'OAC Virgo' is short while the lower glume of 'Branson' is long and that of 'Cruze' is medium in length. The lower glume beak of 'OAC Virgo' is short while that of 'Cruze' is a medium length. The kernel of 'OAC Virgo' is light red while that of 'Cruze' is medium red. The kernel of 'OAC Virgo' is a medium size while that of 'Branson' is large. The 1000 kernel weight of 'OAC Virgo' is less than that of 'Branson'.

Description:

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

SEEDLING (4-LEAF STAGE): absent to very weak 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, strong glaucosity of sheath at heading, glabrous sheath and blade

CULM: ranging between medium to strong and strong glaucosity at heading, straight neck
STRAW (AT MATURITY): thin pith in cross-section, anthocyanin colouration absent

SPIKE: ranging between weak to medium and medium glaucosity at heading, tapering shape in profile, lax, inclined attitude, yellow at maturity
AWNLETS: shorter than spike length, light brown at maturity
LOWER GLUME: short, medium width, glabrous
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: narrow, slightly sloping
LOWER GLUME BEAK: short, slightly curved
KERNEL: soft red type, light red, medium size, oval, short brush hairs

Origin & Breeding History: 'OAC Virgo' (experimental designations OAC20 SRW-03 and LES17-2037) originated from the cross between 'B04798' and 'Branson' conducted by Vilmorin & CIE (VCO) at Limagrain Cereal Seeds, Illinois, USA in 2006. An F6:7 head row was selected based on yield, height, maturity and disease resistance and designated LES17-2037. The line was further assessed based on yield, disease resistance and general agronomics and was received by the University of Guelph Wheat Breeding Program in 2017 through a multi-party agreement with VCO. The line was tested in the preliminary, advanced and elite yield trials from 2017 to 2019 and entered the Ontario Registration trials as OAC20-SRW-03 in 2019 and 2020. Breeder seed of 'OAC Virgo' was established at the F12 generation in 2021.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'OAC Virgo' was conducted at University of Guelph, Elora Research Station, Elora, Ontario during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons. The varieties in the trial were sown in late September of 2021. There were 3 replicates per variety arranged in an RCB design. Plots consisted of 6 rows, each row measuring 4.0 metres in length with 18 cm inter row spacing. The seeding density resulted in 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 tables for 'OAC Virgo' with reference varieties 'Branson' and 'Cruze'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Flag leaf width (mm)

Spike length (excluding awns) (cm)

Kernel weight (grams per 1000 kernels) (g)

Click on image for larger view

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

Click on image for larger view

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