CDC Dancer

Oat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'CDC Pacer', 'CDC Boyer' and 'Derby'

Summary: 'CDC Dancer' is a spring oat variety which has strong pubescence on the stem above and below the upper culm node, whereas 'CDC Pacer' and 'Derby' have a glabrous stem. The lemma awns of 'CDC Dancer', when present, are straight compared with those of 'CDC Pacer' which are genticulate (bent) and 'CDC Boyer' which has twisted lemma awns. 'Derby' has no lemma awns. The overlap of the lemma onto the palea is small for 'CDC Dancer' but medium for 'CDC Pacer' and 'CDC Boyer'. 'CDC Dancer' is resistant to stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. avenae) while all the reference varieties are highly susceptible.

Description:

'CDC Dancer' is a spring oat variety. The seedlings have green coleoptiles, medium to long hypocotyls and semi-erect to intermediate juvenile growth habit. The lower leaf sheath and blade are moderately pubescent. Tillering capacity is high. At booting, the leaves are medium green with moderate glaucosity. The margins of the leaves below the flag leaf have medium pubescence and ligules are present. The flag leaf has an upright to intermediate attitude and the flag leaf internode has strong glaucosity. The stem of 'CDC Dancer' has dense pubescence above and below the upper culm node. The culm is medium in thickness and at maturity it is yellow in colour.

'CDC Dancer' has an equilateral shaped panicle, which is intermediate in density and size. The branches are medium in length and semi-erect to horizontal in attitude. The lower whorl of branches is attached at the first node. The rachis is straight, with no secondary node, and there is a 30 to 45 degree angle between the rachis and the dominant side branch. Lower panicle nodes have few, short hairs. 'CDC Dancer' has a medium to long second floret and a moderately narrow, glabrous rachilla. At maturity the rachilla grooves are mid-deep. The spikelet has a nodding attitude and an average of two florets.

'CDC Dancer' has a mid-wide, mid-long, yellow glume. The lemma is short with a pointed tip and at maturity it is yellow. The lemma has no pubescence on either the lateral or dorsal surfaces and has medium glaucosity. Awns are infrequent and straight. The lemma has a small overlap on the palea and the palea is more than half the length of the lemma.

The kernels of 'CDC Dancer' are fluorescent under ultraviolet lights, and are cream coloured, moderately plump, with no basal hairs and dense pubescence on the surface of the groat. The brush hairs are moderately long. There are two grains per spikelet. The scutellum is medium to large, with a pointed tip.

'CDC Dancer' is resistant to stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. avenae), black loose smut (Ustilago avenae) and covered smut (Ustilago kolleri).

Origin & Breeding History: 'CDC Dancer' was developed by the Crop Development Centre at the University of Saskatchewan, using a pedigree breeding system. The variety was developed from the cross OT344 x OT269, which was made in 1991. The F1 to F4 generations were grown as bulks, with the F1 and F3 generations grown in winter nurseries in New Zealand. 'CDC Dancer' was selected as a single panicle from a 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 'CDC Dancer'.

Tests & Trials: Test and trials for 'CDC Dancer' 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, with the exception of kernel weight which was based on 15 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'CDC Dancer' with reference varieties 'CDC Pacer', 'CDC Boyer' and 'Derby'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Flag leaf width (mm)

Plant height (culm plus panicle) (cm)

Days to heading (50% of heads fully emerged)

Number of branches of panicle

Kernel weight