CDC Desire

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Strongfield', 'CDC Verona', 'AC Avonlea' and 'CDC Carbide'

Summary: The coleoptile of 'CDC Desire' has a very weak to weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration while that of 'CDC Verona' has none. The flag leaf sheath of 'CDC Desire' has a medium degree of glaucosity while that of 'Strongfield' has a strong degree of glaucosity. The flag leaf of 'CDC Desire' is wider than those of 'AC Avonlea' and 'CDC Carbide'. The frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves is low for 'CDC Desire' while it is absent or very low in 'Strongfield' and 'AC Avonlea'. The flag leaf auricle of 'CDC Desire' has a very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration while those of 'CDC Verona' and 'CDC Carbide' are weak to medium and that of 'AC Avonlea' is of medium intensity. The straw pith of 'CDC Desire' is thick while it is thin for 'CDC Verona'. The spike of 'CDC Desire' is parallel sided whereas that of 'CDC Carbide' is tapering. The spike of 'CDC Desire' is shorter than that of 'AC Avonlea'. The hairiness on the convex surface of the apical rachis segment of 'CDC Desire' is sparse whereas it is medium to dense for 'AC Avonlea' and of medium density for 'CDC Carbide'. The lower glume shoulder shape of 'CDC Desire' is elevated whereas it is slightly sloping for 'Strongfield'.

Description:

PLANT: durum spring type, erect growth habit at the 5 to 9 tiller stage, matures mid-late season

SEEDLING (4 LEAF STAGE): very weak to weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the coleoptile, glabrous sheath and blade of the lower leaves

FLAG LEAF: low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, very weak to weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the auricles, medium glaucosity of the sheath, glabrous blade and sheath

CULM: medium glaucosity, weakly curved neck
STRAW (AT MATURITY): thick pith in cross-section, no anthocyanin colouration, yellow

SPIKE: absent or very weak glaucosity at heading, parallel-sided shape in profile, dense, white at maturity, erect to inclined attitude, sparse density of hairiness of convex surface of apical rachis segment
AWNS: white, equal to longer than spike, appressed to slightly spreading attitude
LOWER GLUME: medium to long, medium width, glabrous to slightly pubescent, sparse to medium extent of internal hairs, LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: narrow to medium width, elevated
LOWER GLUME BEAK: medium length, straight to slightly curved
LOWEST LEMMA: straight to slightly curved beak

KERNEL: amber, medium to long, medium width, elliptical shape, angular cheek shape, short brush hairs, wide and mid-deep crease
GERM: medium size, broad elliptical shape

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: poor to fair lodging resistance

PASTA QUALITY: good

DISEASE REACTIONS: resistant to Common bunt (Tilletia caries, Tilletia foetida), Leaf rust (Puccina recondita) and Stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici), moderately resistant to Loose smut (Ustilago tritici), susceptible to Fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium species)

Origin & Breeding History: 'CDC Desire' (experimental designation 'DT561') is the result of the cross 'D40-2237' / 'Strongfield' made in the summer of 2002 at the Crop Development Centre of the University of Saskatchewan. The F1 was increased at a contra-season in New Zealand and the F2 was planted in Saskatchewan in 2003. Spikes were selected from F2 plants and advanced. In 2004, the F2:4 generation was planted in a leaf rust/stem rust nursery at Saskatoon and 300 plants were selected and grown as F5 head rows at Saskatoon in 2005. In 2006, selected F6 lines were grown in un-replicated yield trials in Swift Current and one line, D02X.68.6B was selected for plant height, maturity and yield. In 2007, D02X.68.6B was further evaluated in various locations in Saskatchewan and Alberta in the Western Durum Wheat A-test. It was evaluated as 'DT561' in the Durum Wheat co-operative tests in 2008-2011. Selection criteria were yield potential, plant maturity and plant height.

Tests & Trials: The comparative tests and trials of 'CDC Desire' were conducted during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons at the Crop Science Field Laboratory, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A two replicate, randomized complete block design was planted with each replicate consisting of 5 rows. The plot size was 4.5 square metres with a density of 300 plants per square metre. Measured characteristics are based on 20 measurements per variety. Mean differences are significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's T-test.

Comparison tables for 'CDC Desire' with reference varieties 'Strongfield', 'CDC Verona', 'AC Avonlea' and 'CDC Carbide'

Flag leaf width (mm)

Spike length, excluding awns (cm)

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Wheat: 'CDC Desire' (centre) with reference varieties 'AC Avonlea' (far left), 'CDC Verona' (centre right) and 'Strongfield' (far right)

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Wheat: 'CDC Desire' (centre) with reference varieties 'Strongfield' (top), 'CDC Verona' (left) and 'AC Avonlea' (right)

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Wheat: 'CDC Desire' (centre) with reference varieties 'CDC Verona' (top), 'Strongfield' (left) and 'AC Avonlea' (bottom right)