AB Advantage

Barley

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AC Ranger' and 'Vivar'

Summary: At booting, the auricles on the flag leaf of 'AB Advantage' have a weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas that of both reference varieties have a very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration. At the beginning of ripening, the plants of 'AB Advantage' are taller than the plants of both reference varieties. The spike length, excluding the awns, of 'AB Advantage' is longer than that of both reference varieties. The first segment of the rachis is long for 'AB Advantage' whereas it is short for 'AC Ranger'.

Description:

YOUNG PLANT: intermediate growth habit at tillering, absent or very sparse pubescence on lower leaf sheath
PLANT: six row, spring feed and forage type, absent or very low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, mid-season spike emergence

FLAG LEAF (AT BOOTING): sparse pubescence on blade
FLAG LEAF SHEATH: medium glaucosity, sparse pubescence
AURICLES: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence on margins

SPIKE: weak glaucosity, semi-erect attitude, open shaped collar, tapering, medium density, glume and awn of the median spikelet are longer than the grain
LEMMA AWNS: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of tips, longer than spike length, smooth spiculation on margins
FIRST SEGMENT OF RACHIS: long, weak curvature

KERNEL: whitish aleurone layer, short rachilla hairs, husk present, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration of nerves of lemma, very strong spiculation of inner lateral nerves of dorsal side of lemma, hairiness of ventral furrow absent, clasping disposition of lodicules, horseshoe shaped basal markings, medium length and width

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: good resistance to lodging, fair resistance to shattering, good tolerance to straw breakage, fair tolerance to drought, poor malting quality

Origin & Breeding History: 'AB Advantage' (experimental designation SR16511) originated from a cross between the proprietary line H97098003 and the variety 'Sundre' made in 2007 at the Field Crop Development Centre in Lacombe, Alberta. The F1 and F2 generations were increased and the F3 generation was grown in bulk in a winter nursery in California, USA. In 2008 through to 2010, the lines were grown in bulk in Lacombe, Alberta. At the F7 generation, the line designated as SR16511 was selected from field headrows and grown subsequently in yield trials from 2012 to 2015. Selection criteria included grain yield and test weight, lodging resistance, disease resistance, maturity and grain quality.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AB Advantage' were conducted in Lacombe, Alberta during the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons. Each trial was arranged in a RCB design with 3 replicates. Plots consisted of 8 rows 2.5 metres in length and a row spacing of 14 cm. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 30 measurements. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on unpaired Student's T-tests.

Comparison tables for 'AB Advantage' with reference varieties 'AC Ranger' and 'Vivar'

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

Spike length (excluding awn) (cm)

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Barley: 'AB Advantage' (centre) with reference varieties 'Vivar' (left) and 'AC Ranger' (right)