CDC Helgason

Barley

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'CDC Dolly', 'AC Metcalfe' and 'Harrington'

Summary: 'CDC Helgason' is a two-row barley variety which has a short first segment of the rachis, whereas 'CDC Dolly' and 'Harrington' have a moderately long first segment. The rachilla hair length is short for 'CDC Helgason' and long for 'AC Metcalfe' and 'Harrington'. The lodicules are more frontal for 'CDC Helgason' and more clasping for the reference varieties.

Description:

'CDC Helgason' is a two-row, feed barley variety which has a semi-erect juvenile growth habit and seedlings with green coleoptiles. At tillering, the plants are semi-erect to intermediate in attitude, with no pubescence on the sheaths of the lower leaves. At booting, there is weak pubescence on the blade and sheath of the flag leaf and strong glaucosity on the sheath. There is medium anthocyanin colouration and very weak pubescence on the auricles of the flag leaf.

The spike of 'CDC Helgason' emerges mid-season and is semi-erect in attitude and parallel in shape. The collar is platform to cup-shaped. The lemma awns have moderately strong anthocyanin colouration at the tips. The spike is dense and has moderately strong glaucosity. The first segment of the rachis is short and weak in curvature. The glume and awn of the median spikelet is equal in length to the grain. The lemma awns are rough and equal to or longer than the spike.

The kernel of 'CDC Helgason' has a husk. The nerves of the lemma have no anthocyanin colouration. The aleurone layer is colourless and the rachilla hairs are short. There is weak to medium spiculation of the inner lateral nerves of the dorsal side of the lemma and no hairiness of the ventral furrow. The lodicules are frontal. The kernel of 'CDC Helgason' is moderately long and wide and has horseshoe to transverse crease shaped basal markings.

'CDC Helgason' has good resistance to lodging, straw breaking, shattering and neck breaking. The variety has fair to good drought tolerance.

'CDC Helgason' is resistant to covered smut (Ustilago hordei), false loose smut, Black loose smut (Ustilago nigra) and true loose smut (Ustilago nuda). The variety is moderately resistant to net blotch (Pyrenophera teres) and moderately susceptible to common root rot (Cochliobolus sativus, Fusarium spp.) and stem rust (Puccinia graminis). 'CDC Helgason' is susceptible to Septoria speckled leaf blotch (Septoria passerinii), scald (Rhynchosporium secalis) and barley yellow dwarf virus.

Origin & Breeding History: 'CDC Helgason', which was known by the experimental designation TR346, was developed using the pedigree breeding system from the cross TR236 x TR327. The original cross was made at the Crop Development Centre, Saskatoon, in 1992. The F1 to F4 generations were grown as bulks, with the F1 and F3 generations grown in winter nurseries in New Zealand. TR346 was selected as a single head from an F4 plant in the field at Saskatoon in 1994. Following that it was grown and selected as a single F5 hill plot at Saskatoon in 1995. The seed from that F5 hill plot was bulked as the line which became TR346.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'CDC Helgason' were conducted in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan during 2000 and 2001. The trials consisted of 2 replicates per variety, planted in a randomized complete block design. Each plot consisted of two 3.7 metre rows. Measured characteristics were based on 40 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'CDC Helgason' with reference varieties 'CDC Dolly', 'AC Metcalfe' and 'Harrington'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Flag leaf width (mm)

Plant height(stem plus spike)(cm)

Spike length (cm)

Kernel weight (per 1000 kernels)