Whitehawk

Wheat

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Snowbird' and 'Snowstar'

Summary: 'Whitehawk' has a medium to high frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves whereas 'Snowstar' has a low frequency. The flag leaves of 'Whitehawk' are longer and wider than those of 'Snowstar'. The spike of ' Whitehawk' is longer than that of 'Snowbird'. The lower glume shoulder of 'Whitehawk' is broad whereas it is medium width on the reference varieties. The beak of the lower glume of 'Whitehawk' is slightly to moderately curved whereas it is straight to slightly curved on 'Snowbird'.

Description:

PLANT: common hard white spring type, semi-erect to intermediate growth habit at the 5-9 tiller stage, mid-season maturity

SEEDLING (4 leaf stage): very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the coleoptile, glabrous sheath and pubescent blade of the lower leaves
FLAG LEAF: medium to high frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the auricles, medium glaucosity of the sheath, glabrous blade and sheath

SPIKE: medium to strong glaucosity at heading, parallel sided shape in profile, medium density, awnlets present, awns shorter than the length of the spike
SPIKE AT MATURITY: white, white awns, erect attitude, very sparse hairiness of convex surface of apical rachis segment
CULM: medium to strong glaucosity at heading, straight at maturity
STRAW (AT MATURITY): thin pith in cross-section, no anthocyanin colouration

LOWER GLUME: medium length, medium to wide, pubescent, sparse extent of internal hairs
LOWER GLUME SHOULDER: broad, straight shape
LOWER GLUME BEAK: very short to short, slightly to moderately curved
LOWEST LEMMA: slightly curved beak

KERNEL: white, small to medium size, short to medium length, medium width, broad elliptical, rounded cheek shape, medium to long brush hairs, medium width and shallow to medium depth of crease
GERM: small to medium size, oval shape

Origin & Breeding History: 'Whitehawk' (experimental designation HW024) was derived from the cross Snowbird/3/Snowstar//Snowbird*2/BW314 made at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Cereal Research Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba in June 2002. The F1 seed was grown in the greenhouse during the winter of 2002-2003. In 2003, the F2 was grown at Glenlea, Manitoba and spikes were selected from strong strawed, disease free plants from which the F3 was then planted in a winter nursery in New Zealand. The F4 was grown and evaluated in Glenlea in a leaf and stem rust nursery. The F5 and F7 were increased in New Zealand and the F6 and F8 lines were planted and screened in yield tests in Manitoba and quality evaluated with the most desirable lines being advanced to A-level testing. In 2007, the F8 line, 02V29-BV4E, was tested in the Cereal Research Centre Hard White 'A1' test and in 2008, was further evaluated in the Cereal Research Centre Hard White 'B' test. In 2009, the line, 02V29-BV4E, was designated, HW024, and was tested in the 2009-2010 Hard White Wheat 'C' test.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials were conducted during the summers of 2010 and 2011 in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. Plots consisted of 5 rows with a row length of 4.3 meters and a row spacing of 23 cm. There were 4 replicates arranged in a RCB design. Measured characteristics were based on 20 measurements per variety per year

Comparison tables for 'Whitehawk' with reference varieties 'Snowbird' and 'Snowstar'

Flag leaf length (cm)

Flag leaf width (mm)

Plant height at maturity (including awns)(cm)

Spike length (excluding awns) (cm)

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Wheat: 'Whitehawk' (left) with reference varieties 'Snowbird' (centre) and 'Snowstar' (right)

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Wheat: 'Whitehawk' (left) with reference varieties 'Snowbird' (centre) and 'Snowstar' (right)