Gadsby

Barley

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Seebe' and 'Busby'

Summary: The plant growth habit at tillering of 'Gadsby' is erect whereas it is intermediate in 'Seebe' and semi-erect in 'Busby'. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the flag leaf auricles of 'Gadsby' is strong whereas it is medium on 'Busby'. The plants of 'Gadsby' are shorter than those of 'Busby'. The spiculation of the inner lateral nerves of the dorsal side of the lemma is absent or very weak on 'Gadsby' whereas it is medium on both reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: two row, spring feed barley
YOUNG PLANT: erect growth habit at tillering, absent or very sparse pubescence on the lower leaf sheaths

FLAG LEAF: low frequency of plants with recurved flag leafs, weak pubescence on blade
FLAG LEAF SHEATH: medium glaucosity, weak pubescence
AURICLES: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, weak pubescence on the margins

SPIKE: emerges mid-season, absent or very weak glaucosity, horizontal attitude, platform shaped collar, parallel shape, medium density, divergent attitude of sterile spikelet, glume and awn of the median spikelet is equal in length to the grain
LEMMA AWNS: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the tips, longer than length of spike, rough spiculations on margins
FIRST SEGMENT OF RACHIS: short, weak curvature

KERNEL: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of nerves of the lemma at beginning of ripening, whitish aleurone layer, long rachilla hairs, husk present, absent or very weak spiculation of inner lateral nerves of dorsal side of lemma, no hairiness of ventral furrow, clasping disposition of lodicules, horseshoe shape basal markings, medium length and width

AGRONOMY: good resistance to lodging and shattering, good tolerance to straw breakage, fair tolerance to drought, poor malting quality

Origin & Breeding History: 'Gadsby' (experimental designations H96043002, TR08684) was developed at the Field Crop Development Centre, Lacombe, Alberta using a modified bulk pedigree method. It arose from the cross H92066001/TR248 made in 1996. The F2 to F6 generations were grown in bulk populations at Lacombe from 1997 to 2001, with an additional F6 bulk grown at Olds, Alberta in 2001. From the F6, 200 heads were selected to be grown as F7 headrows in 2002. Line H96043002 was selected from these headrows to be grown in yield trials from 2003 to 2009. In 2006, 200 heads were grown out from a bulk increase plot as individual rows. Heads picked provided the source for a Pre-Breeder Headrow nursery in 2007, and breeder rows and plots in 2008. These plots were bulked to form the first breeder seed of this variety, made up of 200 F14 breeding lines. Selection criteria included grain yield, test weight, 1000 kernel weight, lodging resistance, disease resistance and maturity. In 2008, this line was entered in the Western Two Row Barley Cooperative Test as TR08684 and was supported for registration in 2010 by the Prairie Recommending Committee for Oats and Barley.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials were conducted during the summers of 2010 and 2011 in Lacombe, Alberta. Plots consisted of 8 rows with a row spacing of 0.14 meters and a row length of 2.5 meters. There were 3 replicates. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 10 measurements.

Comparison table for 'Gadsby' with reference varieties 'Seebe' and 'Busby'

Plant height (cm) (including awns)

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Barley: 'Gadsby' (centre) with reference varieties 'Seebe' (left) and 'Busby' (right)