AAC Vortex

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Emerson' and 'AAC Goldrush'

Summary: At maturity, the plants, including spike and awns, of 'AAC Vortex' are shorter than the plants of both reference varieties. The spike of 'AAC Vortex' has weak to medium glaucosity whereas the spike of 'Emerson' has absent or very weak to weak glaucosity. The 1000 kernel weight of 'AAC Vortex' is greater than that of 'Emerson'.

Description:

PLANT: winter type, common wheat, semi-prostrate growth habit at 5 to 9 tiller stage, medium to high frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, heads and matures mid-season

SEEDLING (4-leaf stage): glabrous sheath and lower leaf blade

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

CULM: weak glaucosity, straight to weakly curved neck at maturity
STRAW (at maturity): pith very thin in cross-section, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration

SPIKE: weak to medium glaucosity at heading, tapering shape in profile, medium density, white to yellow at maturity, inclined attitude
AWNS: shorter than spike, white to light brown at maturity
LOWER GLUME: medium length and width, glabrous
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: absent or very narrow, sloping to slightly sloping
LOWER GLUME BEAK: medium to long

KERNEL: hard red type, medium red

AGRONOMIC TRAITS: very good resistance to lodging, good winter survival

BREAD MAKING QUALITY: good

DISEASE REACTIONS: resistant to Leaf rust (Puccinia triticina), Stem rust (Puccinia graminis), Stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis); moderately resistant to Fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum), susceptible to Common bunt (Tilletia tritici and Tilletia laevis)

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Vortex' (experimental designation 'W583') originated from the three way cross (LF1815 and LD1829) and, then, 'Emerson' completed at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta in 2008. The maize hybridization method was used to produce F1 double haploids from plants between 2009 and 2011. In 2012, selections were made for winter survival, plant type, height, straw strength, stripe rust resistance, and leaf health. From 2014 to 2016, advanced selections were made based on grain yield and production characteristics, disease resistance and end use quality. 'W583' was entered into the Western Canadian Winter Wheat Cooperative registration trials from 2016 to 2017 and 2018 to 2019 at multiple locations.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Vortex' Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta in 2020 and 2021. There were 3 replicates per variety arranged in an RCB design. Plots were 4.1 square metres, consisted of 4 rows, with each row being3.5 metres long with 0.23 metre inter-row spacing. The seeding density was 360 seeds per squared metre, resulting in approximately 4300 plants per variety per year. Measured characteristics were based on 30 measurements per variety per year except for kernel weight which was based on 12 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test. Disease reaction ratings were provided through the disease evaluation of the Western Canadian Winter Wheat Cooperative Registration trials from 2017 to 2019.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Vortex' with reference varieties 'Emerson' and 'AAC Goldrush'

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

Kernel weight (grams per 1000 kernels) (g)

Click on image for larger view

Wheat: 'AAC Vortex' (left) with reference varieties 'Emerson' (centre) and 'AAC Goldrush' (right)