AAC Walsh

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AAC Westking', 'AAC Brandon', 'AAC Goodwin', 'AAC Viewfield' and 'AAC Alida'

Summary: The coleoptile of ‘AAC Walsh' has a medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration while the coleoptile of ‘AAC Goodwin' has an absent or very weak to weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, the coleoptile of ‘AAC Viewfield' has a weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration and that of ‘AAC Alida' has a strong to very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration. At booting, the flag leaf auricles of 'AAC Walsh' have an absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration while the flag leaf auricles of ‘AAC Viewfield' range between a weak to medium and medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration and those of ‘AAC Alida' have a strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The flag leaf of 'AAC Walsh' is longer than those of ‘AAC Viewfield' and ‘AAC Alida'. The flag leaf sheath of ‘AAC Walsh' has a medium degree of glaucosity while that of ‘AAC Viewfield' has strong glaucosity. At heading, the spike of 'AAC Walsh' has a medium degree of glaucosity while that of ‘AAC Viewfield' has strong glaucosity. The culm of 'AAC Walsh' has a medium degree of glaucosity while that of ‘AAC Alida' has strong to very strong glaucosity. At maturity, the plants of 'AAC Walsh' are shorter than the plants of ‘AAC Goodwin' and ‘AAC Alida' and taller than those of 'AAC Viewfield'. The spike of 'AAC Walsh' is longer than those of ‘AAC Goodwin' and ‘AAC Alida'. The spike of 'AAC Walsh' has an erect attitude while the spike of ‘AAC Brandon' has an inclined attitude. The kernel of 'AAC Walsh' is large while those of ‘AAC Westking', ‘AAC Goodwin', ‘AAC Viewfield' and ‘AAC Alida' are medium in size. The kernel of 'AAC Walsh' is long while those of ‘AAC Westking', ‘AAC Viewfield' and ‘AAC Alida' are medium in length. The kernel of 'AAC Walsh' is of a medium width while those of ‘AAC Viewfield' and ‘AAC Alida' are broad. The kernel of 'AAC Walsh' is elliptical in shape while those of ‘AAC Westking', ‘AAC Viewfield' and ‘AAC Alida' are oval. The kernel of 'AAC Walsh' has an angular shaped cheek while those of ‘AAC Westking', ‘AAC Brandon' and ‘AAC Goodwin' have a rounded cheek. The kernel of 'AAC Walsh' has medium length brush hairs while those of ‘AAC Goodwin', ‘AAC Viewfield' and ‘AAC Alida' have short brush hairs.

Description:

PLANT: common spring type, ranging between a semi-erect to intermediate and intermediate growth habit at 5 to 9 tiller stage, medium to high frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, heads emerge mid-season

SEEDLING (4-leaf stage): medium to strong 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, medium degree of glaucosity of sheath and lower side of leaf blade

CULM: medium degree of glaucosity at heading
STRAW (AT MATURITY): thin pith in cross-section, no anthocyanin colouration

SPIKE: medium degree of glaucosity at heading, tapering in profile, lax to medium density, white at maturity, erect attitude
AWNS: shorter than spike, white at maturity
LOWER GLUME: long, medium width
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: medium width, slightly sloping to straight
LOWER GLUME BEAK: short to medium length, slightly to moderately curved

KERNEL: hard red type, dark red, large, long, medium width, elliptical in shape, angular cheek, medium length brush hairs
GERM: large

DISEASE REACTION: susceptible to Orange Wheat Blossom Midge (Sitodiplosis mosellana)

Origin & Breeding History: : ‘AAC Walsh' (experimental designations B1314-DF02A & BW5089) originated from a three-way cross conducted at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Swift Current Research and Development Centre in Swift Current, Saskatchewan in 2013. The initial cross between the varieties ‘AAC Goodwin' and ‘AAC Brandon' was followed by a cross with the variety ‘BW981'. The variety was advanced based on disease resistance, maturity, plant stature and height, lodging resistance, yield, kernel characteristics and grain quality with an F6:8 line designated B1314-DF02A in 2017. B1314-DF02A was entered in the Western Bread Wheat A2 test in 2018 and the Western Bread Wheat ‘B' test in 2019. The variety was entered in the Western Bread Wheat C Registration test as BW5089 from 2020 to 2022. Breeder seed was established from 104 F6:10 breeder lines in 2022.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Walsh' were conducted at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Swift Current Research and Development Centre in Swift Current, Saskatchewan during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons. There were 4 replicates with plots arranged in a RCB design. Each plot consisted of 4 rows, each row measuring 4.0 metres long with an inter-row spacing of 23 cm. The planting density of 220 seeds per square metre resulted in approximately 3200 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 LSD values.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Walsh' with reference varieties 'AAC Westking', 'AAC Brandon', 'AAC Goodwin', 'AAC Viewfield' and 'AAC Alida'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Plant height at maturity (stem plus spike, including awns) (cm)

Spike length (excluding awns and awnlets) (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: ‘AAC Walsh' (furthest left) with reference varieties ‘AAC Westking' (second from left), ‘AAC Brandon' (third from left), ‘AAC Goodwin' (third from right), ‘AAC Viewfield' (second from right) and ‘AAC Alida' (furthest right)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: ‘AAC Walsh' (furthest left) with reference varieties ‘AAC Westking' (second from left), ‘AAC Brandon' (third from left), ‘AAC Goodwin' (third from right), ‘AAC Viewfield' (second from right) and ‘AAC Alida' (furthest right)