AAC Walker

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AAC Hodge' and 'AAC Viewfield'

Summary: The coleoptile of 'AAC Walker' has a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration while the coleoptile of 'AAC Hodge' has an absent or very weak to weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The flag leaf auricles of 'AAC Walker' range between having a medium and medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration while the flag leaf auricles of 'AAC Hodge' have an absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The plants of 'AAC Walker' head later than the plants of 'AAC Hodge'. The plants of 'AAC Walker' are shorter than the plants of 'AAC Hodge' and taller than those of 'AAC Viewfield'. The kernel of 'AAC Walker' is dark red while the kernel of 'AAC Hodge' is medium red. The plants of 'AAC Walker' are resistant to Orange Wheat Blossom Midge while the plants of 'AAC Viewfield' are susceptible.

Description:

PLANT: common wheat, spring type, ranging between intermediate and intermediate to semi-prostrate growth habit at 5 to 9 tiller stage, heads emerge mid-season

SEEDLING (4-leaf stage): medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration of coleoptile

FLAG LEAF: ranging between medium and medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration of auricles, medium to strong glaucosity of sheath and blade

CULM NECK: ranging between weak to medium and medium to strong glaucosity
STRAW (AT MATURITY): ranging between thin and thin to medium width pith in cross-section

SPIKE: medium to strong glaucosity at heading, tapering to parallel sided in profile, ranging between medium to dense and dense, yellow at maturity
AWNS: shorter or equal to length of spike

KERNEL: dark red

REACTION TO INSECTS: resistant to Orange Wheat Blossom Midge (Sitodiplosis mosellana)

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Walker' (experimental designations BW1116 and 16SB103*A0327) resulted from the cross between the varieties 'BW1052' and 'AAC Viewfield' conducted at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Brandon Research and Development Centre in Brandon, Manitoba in 2016. From the resulting F1 generation, double haploid lines were created and grown as hill plots in two locations in New Zealand in 2017. In 2018, 220 lines were evaluated in the BSD103 Test in Melfort, Saskatchewan and one line designated 16SB103*A0327 was selected based on yield, disease resistance, agronomics and quality characteristics. The line was further evaluated in the Central Bread Wheat “A” test in 2019 and entered in the Central Bread Wheat “C” tests as BW1116 in multiple locations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan from 2020 to 2022. Breeder seed was established at the DH4 generation in 2022.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'AAC Walker' was conducted at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research and Development Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons. There were 3 replicates arranged in a RCB design. Each plot consisted of 5 rows, each row measuring 3.35 metres long, with an inter-row spacing of 18 cm. The planting density of 264 seeds per square metre resulted in approximately 2360 plants per variety per year. Measured characteristics were based on 21 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on a paired Students t-test.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Walker' with reference varieties 'AAC Hodge' and 'AAC Viewfield'

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

Plant height at maturity (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'AAC Walker' (centre) with reference varieties 'AAC Viewfield' (left) and 'AAC Hodge' (right)