AB Bronco

Triticale

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Bobcat' and 'Metzger'

Summary: The flag leaf of 'AB Bronco' is narrower than those of 'Bobcat' and 'Metzger'. The culm of 'AB Bronco' has absent or very sparse pubescence while that of 'Metzger' has dense pubescence. The plants of 'AB Bronco' are shorter than those of 'Metzger'. The awns above the tip of the spike for 'AB Bronco' are short while those of 'Bobcat' are very short. At maturity, the spike of 'AB Bronco' is slightly coloured while it is white for 'Metzger'. The spike of 'AB Bronco' is lax while it is of medium density for 'Metzger'. Excluding the awns, the spike of 'AB Bronco' is longer than that of 'Bobcat'. The external surface of the lower glume for 'AB Bronco' is hairless while hairs are present on the external surface of the lower glume for 'Bobcat'. The kernel of 'AB Bronco' has medium colouration with phenol while that of 'Bobcat' has light colouration with phenol and that of 'Metzger' has dark colouration with phenol.

Description:

COLEOPTILE: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration

PLANT: hexaploid, winter type, semi-erect growth habit at tillering, low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves at booting, heads mid-season

FLAG LEAF: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on auricles, strong glaucosity of sheath

NECK OF CULM: slightly curved, absent or very sparse pubescence
STRAW (STEM): medium thickness of pith in cross-section

SPIKE: strong glaucosity, half awned, slightly coloured at maturity, lax, medium width in profile
ANTHERS: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration
AWNS: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, short
LOWER GLUME: short to medium length first beak, small second beak, hairs absent on external surface

KERNEL: amber, medium size, medium length and width, elliptical shape, medium colouration with phenol

Origin & Breeding History: 'AB Bronco' (experimental designations 02D006005 and WT0006 ) originated from the cross between the variety 'Bobcat' and breeding line 01D006 conducted at the Field Crop Development Centre, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry in Lacombe, Alberta in 2002. A segregating F2 population designated 02D006, was increased to the F8 generation with plant and headrow selections for cold tolerance, lodging and ergot resistance from 2003 to 2011. A single row selected in 2010 was designated 02D006005 based on grain yield, agronomic and forage quality. The line was entered in the Western Winter Triticale Coop Pre-registration trials as WT0006 where it was evaluated in yield trials in multiple locations in western Canada from 2011 to 2015. The line received support for registration in 2021. Breeder seed was established from 80 F17 lines in 2020.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AB Bronco' were conducted during the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons at Olds College Field Crop Development Centre in Lacombe, Alberta. The trial was arranged in a RCB design with 3 replicates. Each plot consisted of 8 rows with a row length of 2.5 metres. There was 0.14 metre inter-row spacing with 0.61 metres between the plots. The seeding density was 270 seeds per squared metre resulting in approximately 2250 plants per variety. Measured characteristics were based on 30 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison tables for 'AB Bronco' with reference varieties 'Bobcat' and 'Metzger'

Flag leaf width (at anthesis)(cm)

Plant height (cm)

Spike length (cm)

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Triticale: 'AB Bronco' (right) with reference varieties 'Bobcat' (left) et 'Metzger' (centre)

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Triticale: 'AB Bronco' (centre) with reference varieties 'Bobcat' (left) et 'Metzger' (right)