CDC Skye

Oat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'CDC Dancer' and 'Summit'

Summary: At booting, the frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves of 'CDC Skye' is low to medium whereas it is high for that of 'Summit'. The flag leaf of 'CDC Skye' is shorter than that of 'Summit'. The plants of 'CDC Skye' head later than those of 'Summit'. After heading at the green stage, the plants of 'CDC Skye' are shorter than those of 'CDC Dancer'. The lemma of 'CDC Skye' has weak glaucosity while that of 'CDC Dancer' has medium glaucosity. 'CDC Skye' has a shorter panicle than 'CDC Dancer' and a longer panicle than 'Summit'. The node on the lowest panicle of 'CDC Skye' has many hairs or spines whereas there are few on that of 'CDC Dancer'. The lower glume of 'CDC Skye' is longer than that of 'CDC Dancer'. The kernel weight of 'CDC Skye' is greater than that of 'CDC Dancer'. The kernel of 'CDC Skye' is longer than that of 'Summit'.

Description:

PLANT: hulled spring type, low to medium frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves

SEEDLING (5 to 9 tiller stage): semi-erect juvenile growth habit, medium density of pubescence on lower leaf sheath, absent to very sparse pubescence on lower leaf blade

LEAF (at booting): medium green, absent to very sparse pubescence on margin of leaf below flag leaf, medium intensity of glaucosity at green stage

STEM: medium density pubescence above and below upper culm node

PANICLE (shortly after heading): equilateral/symmetrical orientation of branches, lax to medium density, semi-erect attitude of branches, less than 30 degree angle between rachis and dominant side branch
LOWEST PANICLE NODE: many short hairs or spines
SPIKELET: fracture type separation of lower florets, semi-nodding to nodding attitude, two to three kernels
RACHILLA: medium length between primary and secondary floret, medium to long grooves, sparse pubescence
GLUME: weak glaucosity
LEMMA: weak glaucosity, small to medium extent of lateral overlap on palea, white at maturity, absent to very sparse pubescence on lateral and dorsal surfaces, absent to very weak tendency to be awned

KERNEL (primary kernels from upper spikelets): cream colour, medium length basal hairs
SCUTELLUM: pointed tip, medium sized
GROAT: medium to dense pubescence

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: good resistance to lodging, day length sensitive

DISEASE REACTIONS: resistant to Crown rust (Puccinia coronata races CR13, CR223, CR241, CR249, CR254, CR257, CR258 and CR259) and susceptible to Stem rust (Puccinia graminis races NA8, NA16, NA25, NA27, NA28 and NA67)

Origin & Breeding History: 'CDC Skye' (experimental designations OT3097 and SA131995) originated from a cross between 'Stride' and SA070860 conducted in a greenhouse at the Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan during the winter 2009-2010. The F1 generation was grown in a greenhouse in a bulk population during the summer of 2010 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The F2 generation was grown in a bulk population in a New Zealand winter nursery in 2010 and 2011, while the F3 generation was further bulked in the summer of 2011 in Saskatoon. In the winter of 2011 and 2012, greenhouse facilities were used to grow single seed derived lines of the F4 and F5 generations. The F6 generation was grown in panicle hill plots during the summer of 2012 in Saskatoon. The seed from the selected F6 hill plot was bulked as the line SA131995. Further testing was conducted from 2013 to 2015 in Crop Development Centre yield trials and the Western Canadian Cooperative Oat Registration trials as OT3097 in 2016 and 2017. Selection criteria included Beta-glucan and oil content, groat percentage, grain quality, lodging resistance, yield, maturity and resistance to crown rust.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials of 'CDC Skye' were conducted in 2018 and 2019 at the Crop Science Field Laboratory, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A four replicate randomized complete block design was planted each year consisting of 5 rows per plot, with a seeding error requiring the removal of the 5th row of various plots in 2019. Plots were 4.5 square metres with a density of 215 plants per square metre, with 3.66 metre long rows spaced 0.2 metres apart. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 24 measurements per variety per year, except kernel weight, which was based on 20 measurements in 2018 and 10 measurements in 2019. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on LSD values.

Comparison tables for 'CDC Skye' with reference varieties 'CDC Dancer' and 'Summit'

Flag leaf length (cm)

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

Plant height (culm plus panicle) (cm)

Panicle length (cm)

Lower glume length (mm)

Kernel weight (with hull) (grams per 1000 kernels)

Kernel length (with hull) (mm)

Click on image for larger view

Oat: 'CDC Skye' (centre) with reference varieties 'CDC Dancer' (left) and 'Summit' (right)