AAC Atea

Wheat

Variety Description

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

Summary: At the 5-9 tiller stage, ‘AAC Atea' has a semi-erect growth habit while that of ‘AAC Scotia' has an intermediate growth habit. At heading, the spike of 'AAC Atea' has strong glaucosity while the spike of ‘Hoffman HRF' has weak glaucosity and that of ‘AC Walton' has a weak to medium degree of glaucosity. Including the spike and awns, the plants of 'AAC Atea' are taller than the plants of ‘AC Walton'. Excluding the awns and awnlets, the spike of 'AAC Atea' is shorter than those of ‘AAC Scotia' and ‘Hoffman HRF'. The spike of 'AAC Atea' is awned while those of ‘AAC Scotia' and ‘AC Walton'are awnletted. At maturity, the spike of 'AAC Atea' is white with white awns while the spike of ‘Hoffman HRF' is yellow to light brown with light brown awns The kernel weight of ‘AAC Atea' is less than that of ‘Hoffman HRF'. The brush hairs on the kernel of ‘AAC Atea' are of a medium length while those of ‘AAC Scotia' are long. The germ on the kernel of ‘AAC Atea' is oval while those of ‘Hoffman HRF' and ‘AC Walton' are broad elliptical.

Description:

PLANT: common spring type, semi-erect growth habit at 5 to 9 tiller stage, medium frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, heads mid-season, matures mid-season

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

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

CULM: weak to medium degree of glaucosity, straight neck
STRAW (AT MATURITY): thin pith in cross-section, no anthocyanin colouration

SPIKE: strong glaucosity at heading, tapering in profile, medium density, white at maturity, inclined to nodding attitude
AWNS: shorter than length of spike, white at maturity
LOWER GLUME: medium to long, medium to broad, pubescent, sparse internal hairs
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: narrow to medium width, slightly sloping shape
LOWER GLUME BEAK: very long, slightly curved shape
LOWEST LEMMA: slightly to moderately curved beak

KERNEL: hard red type, medium red, medium to large, long, medium width, elliptical shape, angular cheek, medium length brush hairs, narrow crease, medium to deep crease
GERM: medium size, oval

BREAD MAKING QUALITY: good

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

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Atea' (experimental designations 09-NC-49-1 and ECSW 244) originated from the cross between the inbred line AW687 and the variety ‘Fuzion' conducted at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre in Ottawa, Ontario in 2009. After a short lapse, the F1 population was inbred via a modified bulk method in 2012 resulting in 80 single heads selected from an F4 bulk plot which were grown as single head rows in 2015. One F4 line, visually selected based on stature, agronomics and apparent disease resistance was designated 09-NC-49-1 in 2016 and grown as a single increase plot in 2017. In 2019, 09-NC-49-1 was entered as ECSW 244 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 Atea' were lodging resistance, disease resistance, grain yield, thousand kernel weight, test weight and end use qualities including grain protein, flour yield, flour protein, falling number, glutopeak and mixograph data. Breeder seed was established by bulking 112 F11 lines in 2023.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Atea' 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 Atea' with reference varieties 'AAC Scotia', 'Hoffman HRF' and 'AC Walton'

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

Spike length (excluding awns and awnlets) (cm)

Kernel weight (grams per 1000 kernels) (g)

Click on image for larger view

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