AAC Nantic

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AAC Scotia', 'Hoffman HRF' and 'AC Walton'

Summary: At booting, the flag leaf of ‘AAC Nantic' is shorter than that of ‘Hoffman HRF'. The plants of 'AAC Nantic' head later than those of ‘AC Walton'. At heading, the spike of 'AAC Nantic' has weak glaucosity while the spike of ‘AAC Scotia' has medium to strong glaucosity. Including the spike and awns, the plants of 'AAC Nantic' are shorter than the plants of ‘AAC Scotia' and taller than those of ‘AC Walton'. The spike of 'AAC Nantic' is awned while those of ‘AAC Scotia' and ‘AC Walton'are awnletted. At maturity, the spike of 'AAC Nantic' is light brown with light brown awns while the spikes of ‘AAC Scotia' and ‘AC Walton' are white with white awns. The plants of ‘AAC Nantic' mature later than those of the reference varieties. The kernel weight of ‘AAC Nantic' is less than those of ‘Hoffman HRF' and ‘AC Walton'. The germ on the kernel of ‘AAC Nantic' is oval while those of ‘Hoffman HRF' and ‘AC Walton' are broad elliptical.

Description:

PLANT: common spring type, intermediate growth habit at 5 to 9 tiller stage, ranging between medium to high and high to very high frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, heads late in the season, matures very late in the season

SEEDLING (4-leaf stage): absent or very 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, medium degree of glaucosity of sheath, glabrous blade and sheath

CULM: weak glaucosity at heading, curved neck
STRAW (AT MATURITY): thin pith in cross-section, no anthocyanin colouration

SPIKE: weak glaucosity at heading, tapering in profile, medium density, light brown at maturity, incline attitude, absent or very sparse to sparse pubescence of convex surface of apical rachis segment
AWNS: shorter than length of spike, light brown at maturity
LOWER GLUME: medium length, medium to broad, pubescent, sparse to medium extent of internal hairs
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: narrow to medium width, slightly sloping shape
LOWER GLUME BEAK: short to medium length, slightly curved shape
LOWEST LEMMA: slightly to moderately curved beak

KERNEL: hard red type, medium red, medium to large, long, medium width, broad elliptical shape, angular cheek, short brush hairs, narrow crease, shallow to medium depth crease
GERM: medium to large, oval shape

DISEASE REACTION: moderately resistant to Fusarium Head Blight (Fusarium graminearum)

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Nantic' (experimental designations 09-NC-12-4 and ECSW 237) originated from a complex cross conducted at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. Two intial crosses were conducted in the winter of 2007-2008, the first cross between ‘AAC Scotia' and the line FL6241 and the second cross between ‘Hoffman HRF' and the line FL6241. Progeny from each cross were then crossed in the winter of 2008-2009. These resulting progeny were then crossed with the variety ‘AC Carberry' in December 2009. After a short lapse, the F1 population was inbred via a modified bulk method in 2012. In 2015, 80 single heads were selected from an F4 bulk plot and grown as single head rows. In 2016, one line, visually selected based on stature, agronomics and apparent disease resistance, was designated as 09-NC-12-4 and grown as a single increase plot in 2017. In 2018, the line was assessed for yield and disease reaction. In 2019, 09-NC-12-4 was entered as ECSW 237 in advanced yield trials in multiple locations in Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward Island and subsequently entered in the Quebec Registration Recommending Trials from 2020 to 2022. Selection criteria used in the development of ‘AAC Nantic' were lodging resistance, disease resistance, grain yield, thousand kernel weight, test weight and grain protein. Breeder seed was established by bulking 115 F12 lines in 2023.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Nantic' were conducted during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. The trials were arranged in a RCB design with 4 replicates. Each plot consisted of 6 rows measuring 5.5 metres long and spaced 25 centimetres apart. The planting density resulted in approximately 3000 plants per variety per year. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 24 measurements per variety per year except for kernel weight which was based on a minimum of 12 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on a Student`s t-test. Disease ratings were provided through the Disease Evaluation Team of the Quebec Recommending Committee for Cereal.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Nantic' with reference varieties 'AAC Scotia', 'Hoffman HRF' and 'AC Walton'

Flag leaf length (cm)

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

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

Days to maturity

Kernel weight (grams per 1000 kernels) (g)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: ‘AAC Nantic' (left) with reference varieties ‘AAC Scotia' (centre left), ‘Hoffman HRF' (centre right) and ‘AC Walton' (right)