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Bullion

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'AC Belmont'

Summary: 'Bullion' has a less erect juvenile growth habit than 'AC Belmont'. The frequency of plants with recurved /drooping flag leaves in 'Bullion' is less than in 'AC Belmont'. 'Bullion' heads slightly earlier than 'AC Belmont'. The glaucosity of the lemma at the green stage in 'Bullion' is stronger than in 'AC Belmont'.

Description: PLANT: medium height, intermediate number of tillers, white straw, medium heading, early maturity

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

LEAF (at booting stage): absent to very sparse pubescence of the leaf margin, weak intensity of glaucosity, low frequency of plants with recurved/drooping flag leaves

STEM: absent to very sparse pubescence/hairiness above and below upper culm node

PANICLE (just after heading): equilateral orientation, semi-erect attitude of the branches, medium length

SPIKELET: nodding attitude

GLUMES: weak glaucosity, medium length

LEMMA: white colour at maturity, absent to very sparse pubescence on the lateral and dorsal surface, medium glaucosity at the green stage, medium length, short basal hairs, long rachilla

KERNEL (primary kernels from upper spikelets): white colour, large size, low density of hairness

DISEASE RESISTANCE: susceptible to Black Loose Smut (Ustilago avena), Covered Smut (Ustilago kolleri), Stem Rust (Puccinia graminis avenae) and Crown Rust (Puccinia coronata), moderately resistant to Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV)

AGRONOMY: good lodging and shattering resistance, good drought tolerance

Origin & Breeding History: 'Bullion' hulless spring oat was developed from the cross 08974Cn x 08944Cn made at the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER), Aberystwyth, UK with the final cross made in 1986. The breeding method used was the pedigree method. The variety originates from a single plant selection in the F5 and repeated selection in F6/7. 'Bullion' was designated OT553 and tested in the Western Oat Coop Test 1997-1998. Early generation selection was for naked expression with later selection for yield.

Tests & Trials: Test and trials were conducted during the summers of 2003 and 2004 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Plots consisted of 1.5 x 3.0m in area with a row spacing of 15cm. There were 2 reps arranged in an RCB design.

Oat: 'Bullion' (top) with reference variety 'AC Belmont' (bottom)