AAC Wallace

Oat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AAC Nicolas' and 'Kara'

Summary: At the 5-9 tiller stage, the plants of 'AAC Wallace' have a semi-erect growth habit while the plants of 'AAC Nicolas' have an intermediate growth habit and those of 'Kara' have an erect growth habit. At booting, the leaf of 'AAC Wallace' is medium green while that of 'Kara' is dark green. The leaf below the flag leaf of 'AAC Wallace' has sparse pubescence on the margin while the leaf below the flag leaf of 'AAC Nicolas' has a medium density of pubescence on the margin and that of 'Kara' has absent or very sparse pubescence on the margin. The frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves is low for 'AAC Wallace' while it is medium for 'AAC Nicolas' and absent or very low for 'Kara'. The flag leaf of 'AAC Wallace' is longer than that of 'Kara'. The plants of 'AAC Wallace' head later than the plants of 'Kara'. The glume of 'AAC Wallace' has a medium degree of glaucosity while that of 'AAC Nicolas' has weak glaucosity. The panicle of 'AAC Wallace' is longer than that of 'Kara'. The 1000 kernel weight of 'AAC Wallace' is greater than the 1000 kernel weight of 'AAC Nicholas' .

Description:

PLANT: hulled spring type, semi-erect growth habit at 5 to 9 tiller stage, low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves at booting

STEM: ranging from absent to very sparse to dense pubescence above upper culm node, ranging from absent or very sparse to sparse pubescence below upper culm node

LOWER LEAF: absent to very sparse pubescence on sheath and blade at the 5 to 9 tiller stage
LEAF (AT BOOTING): medium green, sparse pubescence on margin of leaf below flag leaf, medium glaucosity at green stage

PANICLE (SHORTLY AFTER HEADING): equilateral/symmetrical orientation of branches, medium density, semi-erect attitude of branches, less than 30 degree angle between rachis and dominant side branch
LOWEST PANICLE NODE: few hairs or spines
SPIKELET: semi-abscission type separation, semi-nodding attitude, two grains
GLUME: medium glaucosity
RACHILLA: medium length between primary and secondary floret, absent or very short grooves, sparse pubescence
LEMMA: weak glaucosity, small extent of lateral overlap on palea, white at maturity, absent or very sparse pubescence on lateral and dorsal surface, medium tendency to be awned

KERNEL: no basal hairs, cream coloured
GROAT: medium density of pubescence
SCUTELLUM: pointed tip, medium size

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: fair lodging resistance

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Wallace' (experimental designation OA1613-5) was developed using a modified single seed descent method of plant breeding . 'AAC Wallace' originated from a cross between the varieties 'Kara' and 'AAC Nicolas' conducted on October 23, 2012 at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. The line was advanced from the F1 to F3 generation in the greenhouse and 200 selected F3:4 panicles were grown as hill plots in 2014. The line was further advanced based on visual assessment and yield with one F3:6 line designated as OA1613-5 and entered in the Preliminary Test in 2016. The line was further assessed for yield and was tested in the 2019-2021 registration trials. Breeder seed was established at the F3:9 generation in 2022.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AAC Wallace' were conducted at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa Ontario in the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons. The trials were conducted using a RCB design consisting of 4 replications per variety. Each plot consisted of 6 rows spaced 18 cm apart, with a row length of 3.8 metres. The planting density of 350 seeds per square metre resulted in approximately 5600 plants per variety per year. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 20 measurements per variety per year except for kernel weight which was based on a minimum of 4 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Wallace' with reference varieties 'AAC Nicolas' and 'Kara'

Flag leaf length (at booting) (cm)

Days to heading (number of days from planting to 50% of heads fully emerged)

Panicle length (at green stage) (cm)

Kernel weight (grams per 1000 kernels) (g)

Click on image for larger view

Oat: 'AAC Wallace' (left) with reference varieties 'AAC Nicolas' (centre) and 'Kara' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Oat: 'AAC Wallace' (left) with reference varieties 'AAC Nicolas' (centre) and 'Kara' (right)