Desperado

Barley

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Binscarth', 'Ranger' and 'Virden'

Summary: 'Desperado' differs from the reference varieties, 'Binscarth', 'Ranger' and 'Virden', mainly in plant growth habit, frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, anthocyanin colouration of the flag leaf auricles, spike emergence, collar shape, rachis length and disposition of lodicules. The plant growth habit of 'Desperado' is semi-erect whereas it is erect in 'Virden'. The frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves is medium in 'Desperado' whereas it is high in 'Binscarth' and 'Ranger'. There is no anthocyanin colouration of the flag leaf auricles of 'Desperado' whereas it is very weak in 'Binscarth'. Spike emergence of 'Desperado' is earlier than 'Virden', slightly earlier than 'Binscarth' and slightly later than 'Ranger'. The collar shape of the spike of 'Desperado' is predominantly platform whereas it is predominantly v-shaped in both 'Binscarth' and 'Virden and predominantly cup shaped in 'Ranger'. The rachis of 'Desperado' is medium in length whereas it is short in 'Virden'. The disposition of lodicules of 'Desperado' are clasping whereas they are frontal in 'Ranger'.

Description:

JUVENILE PLANT: semi-erect growth habit, green coleoptile with medium elongation
PLANT AT TILLERING: glabrous green sheath of lower leaves, semi-erect growth habit, slightly pubescent leaf blade

FLAG LEAF (at booting): medium green, glossy, glabrous blade and sheath, strong glaucosity on sheath, intermediate attitude
FLAG LEAF AURICLES: anthocyanin colouration absent, no pubescence
STEM: full exertion, medium thickness, weak glaucosity, straight, medium green at maturity

SPIKE: mid-season emergence, platform collar, semi-erect attitude, weak glaucosity, fusiform shape, medium density, very short
LEMMA AWNS: no anthocyanin colouration at tips, longer than spike, rough (barbs from tip to next to kernel), lateral veins with many barbs
RACHIS: short first segment, medium curvature, glabrous margin
GLUME: medium length, hair restricted to middle vein, short hairs, awns longer than length of glume, glume awns smooth, no anthocyanin colouration

KERNEL: medium anthocyanin colouration of nerves of lemma, whitish aleurone layer, husk present, long rachilla and rachilla hairs, no abnormal rachillas, weak spiculation of inner lateral nerves of dorsal side of lemma, hairiness of ventral furrow absent, clasping lodicules, horsehoe and transverse crease basal markings, medium length and width

AGRONOMIC TRAITS: forage type, fair resistance to lodging, good resistance to shattering

DISEASE: moderately resistant to Common root rot (Cochliobolus sativus), resistant to covered smut (Ustilago hordei), highly susceptible to fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum), resistant to false loose smut (Ustilago nigra), moderately susceptible to true loose smut (Ustilago nuda) western races, resistant to net blotch (Pyrenophora teres) race 857, susceptible to scald (Rhynchosporium secalis) and Septoria sepckled leaf blotch (Septoria passerinii) race 1493, moderately susceptible to spot blotch (Cochliobolus sativus) and resistant to stem rust (Puccinia graminis s. sp. tritici) race MCC

Origin & Breeding History: 'Desperado' was derived from the cross Brandon CC53/B1602/2/Bran. 806F6/Argyle/Lacombe/Minn. M82/Rosser/3/Chapais/BT375 conducted in 1997 at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Brandon Research Centre and was developed using conventional pedigee selection. The F1 and F2 generations were sown and bulk harvested as cross EX695. Individual heads were selected from 360 F3 plants which were then planted in head rows. Individual rows (147) were selected based on phenotype which were then planted in unreplicated plots alternating with 'Virden' and 'AC Rosser' as check varieties every tenth plot using a Nearest Neighbour (NN) design. Each plot was evaluated for heading, height, lodging, disease load, maturity, grain yield, dry matter yield, thousand kernel and test weights. The line, EX695-6-12, was selected and underwent further evaluation in multi-site replicated trials from the F6 to F9. In 2005, EX695-6-12 was entered in the Western Co-operative Forage Barley Registration Trial, where it was tested as FB012 and demonstrated improved forage yield, equal grain yield and higher kernel test weight when compared to the check varieties. As a result, FB012 was supported for registration by the Prairie Recommending Committee for Oat and Barley in February 2007.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Desperado' were conducted in Brandon, Manitoba during the summers of 2007 and 2008. The trials consisted of 3 replicates of each variety arranged in complete randomized block design. Each plot measured approximately 6 metres long x 1 metre wide spaced approximately 15 cm apart. Measured characteristics were based on approximately 60 measurements per variety per year.

Comparison tables for 'Desperado' with reference varieties 'Binscarth', 'Ranger' and 'Virden'

Plant height, including awns (cm)

Kernel weight

Click on image for larger view

Barley: 'Desperado' (left) with reference varieties 'Binscarth' (centre left), 'Ranger' (centre right) and 'Virden' (right)