AAC Frontier

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AAC Donlow', 'CDC Precision', 'CDC Defy' and 'Transcend'

Summary: At booting, the frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves for 'AAC Frontier' is absent or very low to low whereas it is of a low to medium frequency for 'AAC Donlow', 'CDC Precision' and 'CDC Defy' and it is of a high frequency for 'Transcend'. The flag leaf of 'AAC Frontier' is shorter than that of 'CDC Precision' and 'CDC Defy'. The plants of 'AAC Frontier' begin heading later than the plants of 'CDC Precision' and 'CDC Defy'. The neck of 'AAC Frontier' has strong glaucosity, whereas those of 'CDC Precision', 'CDC Defy' and 'Transcend' have a medium degree of glaucosity. At maturity, the plants of 'AAC Frontier' are shorter than the plants of 'Transcend'. Excluding the awns or awnlets, the spike of 'AAC Frontier' is shorter than those of 'CDC Defy' and 'Transcend'

Description:

PLANT: durum wheat, spring type, semi-erect growth habit at the 5 to 9 tiller stage, absent or very low to low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves
SEEDLING (4 LEAF STAGE): 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 to strong glaucosity of sheath, absent or very weak glaucosity of sheath, glabrous blade and sheath
CULM: strong glaucosity, curved neck
STRAW (AT MATURITY): thin pith in cross-section, no anthocyanin colouration
SPIKE: medium to strong glaucosity at heading, tapering shape in profile, dense, off white at maturity, erect attitude, awns present
AWNS: equal to length of spike, white at maturity
LOWER GLUME: medium oblong in shape, glabrous
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: absent or very narrow to narrow, sloping to slightly sloping
LOWER GLUME BEAK: short to medium length, slightly curved
LOWEST LEMMA: slightly curved

KERNEL: amber, large, long, medium width, elliptical shape, rounded cheek
GERM: oval shape
AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: good resistance to shattering
PASTA QUALITY: good
DISEASE REACTIONS: resistant to Leaf rust (Puccinia recondita), Stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici), Stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis) and Common bunt (Tilletia caries, Tilletia foetida); intermediate reaction to Fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium species)

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Frontier' (experimental designations DT2033 and A1529-DK03) originated from the cross between 'DT889' and 'DT888' conducted in 2015 at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Swift Current Research and Development Centre in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. The variety was advanced to the F6 generation based on agronomic performance, quality traits and disease resistance where one line, satisfying all selection criteria, was identified as A1529-DK03 in 2018. In 2019, A1529-DK03 was entered in the Durum Western ‘A5' test and further advanced to the Durum-B tests in 2020. The variety was entered in the Durum Registration Trials as DT2033 from 2021 to 2023. Breeder seed was established from 72 F10 breeder lines in 2022.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Frontier' were conducted at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Swift Current Research and Development Centre during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons. There were 4 replicates arranged in an RCB design. Each plot consisted of 4 rows, each 3 metres long, with an inter-row spacing of 23 cm. The planting density was 270 seeds per metre squared resulting in approximately 2980 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. Disease reaction ratings were provided through the Disease Evaluation Team of the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale from the registration trials conducted from 2021 to 2023.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Frontier' with reference varieties 'AAC Donlow', 'CDC Precision', 'CDC Defy' and 'Transcend'

Flag leaf length (cm)

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

Plant height at maturity (including awns) (cm)

Spike length (excluding awns or awnlets) (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: ‘AAC Frontier' (furthest left) with reference varieties ‘AAC Donlow' (second from left), CDC Precision' (third from left), ‘CDC Defy' (second from right), and ‘Transcend' (furthest right)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: ‘AAC Frontier' (furthest left) with reference varieties ‘AAC Donlow' (second from left), CDC Precision' (third from left), ‘CDC Defy' (second from right), and ‘Transcend' (furthest right)