Swoop

Wheat

Variety Description

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

Summary: The coleoptile of 'Swoop' has a weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration while that of 'Branson' has an absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The flag leaf of 'Swoop' is wider than those of the reference varieties. The flag leaf sheath of 'Swoop' ranges between a medium to strong and strong degree of glaucosity while that of 'Branson' has a weak to medium degree of glaucosity. The plants of 'Swoop' head later than those of the reference varieties. At heading, the spike of 'Swoop' ranges between a strong and a strong to very strong degree of glaucosity whereas the spike of 'Branson' ranges between a weak and a weak to medium degree of glaucosity and that of 'Emperor' has a weak degree of glaucosity. The plants of 'Swoop' are taller than the plants of 'Branson' and shorter than those of 'Emperor'. The spike of 'Swoop' has a tapering shape in profile while the spike of 'Branson' is parallel sided in profile. The spike of 'Swoop' is dense while the spike of 'Branson' is of a lax to medium density and that of 'Emperor' is of a medium density. The spike, excluding the awns, of 'Swoop' is longer than those of the reference varieties. The lower glume beak of 'Swoop' is very short while that of 'Branson' is short. The kernel of 'Swoop' is medium red while those of the reference varieties are light red. The 1000 kernel weight of 'Swoop' is greater than those of the reference varieties.

Description:

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

SEEDLING (4-leaf stage): weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of coleoptile, glabrous sheath and blade of lower leaves

FLAG LEAF: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of auricles, ranging between medium to strong and strong glaucosity of sheath, glabrous blade and sheath

CULM NECK: strong glaucosity, straight
STRAW (AT MATURITY): thin pith in cross-section, anthocyanin colouration absent

SPIKE: ranging between strong and strong to very strong glaucosity at heading, tapering shape in profile, dense, white at maturity, erect attitude
AWNS: shorter than spike, white at maturity
LOWER GLUME: medium length and width, glabrous
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: ranging between medium and medium to long, slightly sloping to straight
LOWER GLUME BEAK: very short, straight

KERNEL: soft red type, medium red, medium size, medium to long, elliptical, rounded cheek, medium length brush hairs, narrow crease of medium depth
GERM: medium to large

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: good winter survival

PASTRY AND BISCUIT QUALITY: good

Origin & Breeding History: 'Swoop' resulted from the cross between a Purdue line P99840C4-8-4 as the female parent and a Westbred line 21525c1* as the male parent, conducted by the Great Lakes Cereal Grains Company in Berthoud, Colorado, U.S.A in 2010. 'Swoop' was advanced at KWS Cereals USA, LLC in Champaign, Illinois using a modified pedigree selection method of plant breeding from 2011 to 2016. Selections from the F2 to F4 generation were based on visual assessment including plant height and head type, followed by selections based on grain yield, test weight, straw strength, winter hardiness, maturity and disease resistance from the F5 to F7 generations. Subsequent generations were assessed based on milling and baking characteristics. Ten F10 sublines were used to establish breeder seed in 2019.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Swoop' was conducted at C&M Seeds in Palmerston, Ontario during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons. There were 4 replicates arranged in a RCB design. Each plot consisted of 8 rows, each row measuring 4.0 metres long, with an inter-row spacing of 15 cm and 50 cm between the plots.The planting density of 400 seeds per square metre resulted in approximately 6400 plants per variety per year. Measured characteristics were based on 20 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison tables for 'Swoop' with reference varieties 'Branson' and 'Emperor'

Flag leaf width at booting (mm)

Days to heading (number of days from planting to when 50% of heads have emerged)

Plant height at maturity (cm)

Spike length (excluding awns) (cm)

Kernel weight (grams per 1000 kernels) (g)

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Wheat: 'Swoop' (left) with reference varieties 'Branson' (centre) and 'Emperor' (right)

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Wheat: 'Swoop' (centre) with reference varieties 'Branson' (left) and 'Emperor' (right)

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Wheat: 'Swoop' (centre) with reference varieties 'Branson' (left) and 'Emperor' (right)