CDC Vantta durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) is adapted to the durum production area of the Canadian prairies. CDC Vantta combines high grain yield potential, strong straw, and a semi-dwarf growth habit. CDC Vantta is resistant to leaf and stripe rusts and common bunt, and expresses high yellow pigment in the grain and superior pasta colour compared with check cultivars. CDC Vantta has low cadmium concentration and is eligible for grades of the Canada Western Amber Durum class.
Introduction
CDC Vantta, a spring durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum), was developed at the Crop Development Centre (CDC), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, and received registration no. 9455 from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on 15 October 2021. Plant Breeders’ Rights protection was filed with the CFIA (no. 21-10716).
Breeding methods and pedigree
CDC Vantta is derived from the cross D06.76.042/D05.15.089 made at the CDC, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, in 2012. D06.76.042 derives from the cross DT722/DT741//DT760 and D05.15.089 from DT722/DT752//A0042-CK01. The F1 generation was increased in a polyhouse and resulting F2 generation was grown in a space-planted nursery of approximately 10000 plants at Saskatoon in 2013. In total, 300 single F2 spikes were selected based on acceptable plant height and time to maturity and subjected to single seed descent in the F3 and F4 generations. The F4:5 generation was planted as head rows at a contra-season nursery near Christchurch, New Zealand, during the winter of 2014/2015. DNA marker testing was conducted on the F5 embryos, and lines carrying the allele for reduced lipoxygenase activity (Hessler et al. 2002; Carrera et al. 2007) and for low cadmium accumulation (Wiebe et al. 2010) were advanced and grown in unreplicated F6 yield trial at Saskatoon during summer 2015. The line D012.008X.112 was identified as having acceptable plant height, time to maturity, straw strength, and grain yield. Quality evaluations on F6 harvested seed indicated appropriate yellow pigment, and acceptable grain protein concentration and gluten strength for the Canada Western Amber Durum class (Canadian Grain Commission 2019). In 2016, D012.008X.112 was evaluated with appropriate check cultivars for agronomic traits in replicated yield trials in the Saskatoon area at the University of Saskatchewan Kernen and Goodale Research Farms, Swift Current, Regina, and Elrose, SK. In the same year, resistance to leaf and stripe rusts was evaluated in inoculated nurseries at Saskatoon and resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB) was evaluated at Saskatoon, SK and Carman, MB for disease incidence (%) and severity (%). In 2017, D012.008X.112 was advanced and evaluated at Kernen, Goodale, Swift Current, Indian Head, Stewart Valley, SK, and Lethbridge, and Taber, AB as an entry in the Durum Western B Test (and associated disease nurseries) and advanced after evaluation of end-use functionality on a composite sample. Check cultivars in the Durum Western B test were Strongfield (Clarke et al. 2005), AC Navigator (Clarke et al. 2000), AAC Cabri (Singh et al. 2017), and Brigade (Clarke et al. 2009). D012.008X.112 was evaluated as DT1012 in the Durum Wheat Cooperative Registration Test (DWCRT) over 3years (2018–2020).
The variables measured and the operating protocols followed in the DWCRT were those approved each year by the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale ( http://pgdc.ca/committees_wrt_pd.html). In the agronomic performance trials, the check cultivars over all 3years of trialing were Strongfield (Clarke et al. 2005), AC Navigator (Clarke et al. 2000), AAC Cabri (Singh et al. 2017), and Brigade (Clarke et al. 2009). Reactions to leaf and stem rust were evaluated in independent nurseries with appropriate races. In the DWCRT, the stem rust races were TPMKC, TMRTF, RHTSC, QTHJF, RTHJF, RKQSC, and MCCFC (Roelf and Martens 1988; Fetch et al. 2021). The leaf rust inoculum consisted of a mixture of prevalent races isolated from the western Canadian prairies as determined from yearly survey studies (McCallum et al. 2021). Resistance to races T26, T32, and T33 of loose smut (Ustilago tritici (Pers.) Rostr.) (Nielsen 1987) and L1, L16, T1, T6, T13, and T19 of common bunt (Tilletia laevis Kühn in Rabenh. and Tilletia tritici (Bjerk.) G. Wint. in Rabenh.) (Hoffman and Metzger 1976) were evaluated. End-use quality was assessed each year at the Grain Research Laboratory, Canadian Grain Commission, using approved methods (American Association of Cereal Chemists 2000) on composite grain samples as per approved protocols ( http://pgdc.ca/committees_wrt_pd.html). Briefly, composite samples consisted of grain samples representing only the top durum wheat grades available. In each year, the quantity of grain from a location was adjusted to achieve a final composite protein concentration approximating the average for the crop in that given year.
Data presented here were analysed annually and combined over all 3years using the PROC MIXED procedure in SAS version 9.4 (Littell et al. 2006), with replications, sub-blocks, zones, locations, and years considered as random effects and entries considered as fixed. The diff command was used to estimate the standard error of the difference between entries, which was used to estimate an F-protected least significant difference at a significance level of 5% (LSD0.05). For end-use quality data, years were considered as replications.
Performance
Agronomy
Averaged over 28 station-years, CDC Vantta yielded 10% more than AC Navigator, 4% more than Strongfield, 3% more than AAC Cabri, and similar to Brigade (Table 1). CDC Vantta expressed a semi-dwarf habit similar to AC Navigator, and is shorter than Brigade, Strongfield, and AAC Cabri (Table 2). CDC Vantta expressed a lower lodging score than Strongfield, AC Navigator, and AAC Cabri but similar to Brigade (Table 2). CDC Vantta was, on average, later maturing relative to the check cultivars (Table 2). The test weight of CDC Vantta was similar to AC Navigator and AAC Cabri but heavier than Strongfield and Brigade. CDC Vantta expressed a similar kernel weight to AAC Cabri, but lighter than AC Navigator, Brigade, and Strongfield (Table 2). Grain protein concentration of CDC Vantta was similar to AC Navigator and lower than Brigade, Strongfield, and AAC Cabri (P > 0.05; not significant from Brigade and AAC Cabri) (Table 3).
Table 1.
Grain yield (kgha−1) of CDC Vantta and check cultivars in the Durum Wheat Cooperative Registration Test (2018−2020) in black and brown soil zones.
Table 2.
Maturity, test weight, 1000-kernel weight, height, and lodging of CDC Vantta and check cultivars in the Durum Wheat Cooperative Registration Test (2018−2020) in black and brown soil zones.
Table 3.
Grain protein concentration (%) of CDC Vantta compared with check cultivars in the Durum Wheat Cooperative Registration Test (2018−2020) in black and brown soil zones.
Disease and pest
CDC Vantta is resistant to prevalent races of leaf and stripe rust, and expressed a variable reaction for stem rust, with ratings ranging from MS to R (Table 4). CDC Vantta was resistant to common bunt (Table 4). Overall, FHB reaction and deoxynivalenol (DON) concentration of CDC Vantta were within the range of the check cultivars but were always better than the semi-dwarf check AC Navigator, except in Morden 2020 where it had a slightly higher DON concentration than the check cultivars (Table 5). Loose smut reaction of CDC Vantta was within the range of the check cultivars and leaf spot reaction was lower than all the check cultivars (Table 4).
Table 4.
Disease reactions of CDC Vantta and check cultivars grown in the Durum Wheat Cooperative Registration Test (2018−2020).
Table 5.
Fusarium head blight (FHB) reactions of CDC Vantta and check cultivars evaluated in the Durum Wheat Cooperative Registration Test (2018−2020).
End-use suitability
Grain and semolina protein concentration of CDC Vantta measured from composite samples was within the range of check cultivars and similar to Brigade (Table 6). CDC Vantta expressed low cadmium concentration similar to AAC Cabri and had significantly higher yellow pigment and pasta colour than all check cultivars (Table 6). The average falling number of CDC Vantta was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than all check cultivars. CDC Vantta exhibited strong gluten properties with a higher gluten index than all the check cultivars (P > 0.05; not significant from Brigade) and higher alveograph P/L value than all the checks (Table 6). The semolina yield and semolina ash of CDC Vantta were within the range of the checks (Table 6).
Table 6.
Average values for quality traits measured on yearly composite samples of CDC Vantta and check cultivars evaluated in the Durum Wheat Cooperative Registration Test (2018−2020).
Other characteristics
SPIKES: express strong glaucosity at heading, have parallel-sided shape in profile, dense, yellow at maturity, erect attitude, and medium density of hairiness of convex surface of apical rachis segment. Spikes express black awns that are longer than the spike with a slightly spreading attitude; the width of the lower glumes is medium, while glumes are long and glabrous; glume shoulders are medium width and straight in shape; strongly curved glume beak; straight lemma beak.
KERNELS: amber in colour, medium in size, medium length and width, and elliptical shape; cheeks are angular; crease is deep and wide; brush is short; embryo is medium sized, with broad elliptical shape.
END-USE SUITABILITY: CDC Vantta is eligible for grades of the Canada Western Amber Durum wheat class.
Maintenance and distribution of pedigreed seed
Approximately 275 single spikes of CDC Vantta were selected from an F9 increase grown at Saskatoon in 2018. The F9:10 spikes were threshed individually and grown as single 1m row plots in 2019, and off-type rows were discarded. The remaining 263 head rows were harvested individually and used to establish 27m rows in 2020. Again, off-type rows were discarded and bulk harvested to produce breeder seed. In total, 245 F9:11 breeder lines were composited to form the breeder seed. Breeder seed will be maintained by the CDC, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada. CDC Vantta will be added to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) list of cultivars. Distribution and multiplication of pedigreed seed stocks will be handled by SeCan, 400–300 Terry Fox Drive, Kanata, ON K2K 0E3, Canada.
Acknowledgements
Financial support from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, Secan, and the Wheat Producer Check-Off (administered by the Western Grains Research Foundation) is gratefully acknowledged. Appreciation is expressed to the following: Y. Ruan, R.D. Cuthbert, M. Knelsen, and M. Olfert (Swift Current Research and Development Centre, AAFC, Swift Current, SK, Canada) for coordinating registration trials and assessment of stem solidness; B. Beres and R. Dyck (Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, AAFC, Lethbridge, AB, Canada), E. Schuurmans (Indian Head Research Farm, AAFC, Indian Head, SK), D. Green (Brandon Research and Development Centre, AAFC, Brandon, MB, Canada), F. Kirigwi (Syngenta AgriPro, Pense, SK), D. Maxwell (Ag-Quest, Taber, AB), G. Ford (Scott Research Farm, AAFC, Scott, SK), M. Ismaeel (Nutrien Canada, Moose Jaw, SK), M. Bandara (Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Brooks, AB), R. Ragupathy (Lethbridge Research and Development Centre), and B. Nybo (Wheatland Conservation, Hodgeville, AB) for agronomic performance testing; C. Briggs (CDC, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK), B. Xiao Fu (Grain Research Laboratory, Canadian Grain Commission, Winnipeg, MB), and D. Niziol (Cereal Research Centre, AAFC, Winnipeg, MB) for end-use suitability analysis; A. Brule-Babel (University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB), M.A. Henriquez (Morden Research and Development Centre, AAFC, Morden, MB), A. Burt (Ottawa Research and Development Centre, AAFC, Ottawa, ON, Canada), and A. Foster (Charlottetown Research and Development Centre, AAFC, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada) for assessing reaction to FHB; R. Knox (Swift Current Research and Development Centre) and J.G. Menzies (Morden Research and Development Centre) for determining reaction to loose smut; R. Kutcher (University of Saskatchewan) and B. McCallum (Morden Research and Development Centre) for assessing reaction to leaf rust; R. Aboukhaddour (Lethbridge Research and Development Centre) for assessing reaction to common bunt and stripe rust; T. Fetch (Brandon Research and Development Centre) for stem rust assessment; M. Fernandez (Swift Current Research and Development Centre) for assessing leaf spots; C. McCartney (University of Manitoba) and T. Wist (Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, AAFC, Saskatoon, SK) for assessing wheat midge; and D. Benallack (University of Saskatchewan) for maintenance of breeder seed. The technical support provided by R. Lawrie, R. Babonich, H. Lazorko, C. Stang, C.V. Tang, C. Howard, K. Cochet, D. Holder, T. Gierl, J. Bauche, M. Kist, A. Lichtenwald, X. Lin, L. Gerl, J. Ens, and K. Wiebe (CDC) is gratefully acknowledged.
