Thomas, J. B. and Graf, R. J. 2014. Rates of yield gain of hard red spring wheat in western Canada. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1-13. The Manitoba and Saskatchewan Seed Guides dating back to 1972 represent an unused source of yield comparisons to re-examine current progress in western Canadian spring wheat cultivar yields. Adjusting for the shift in check cultivars over time showed that the yield rise due to new cultivars could be divided into two periods. Prior to the early 1990s, yields rose at a rate of about 0.33% per year; these low early rates agree with other published estimates from this period and were possibly influenced by a strong emphasis on replicating the quality of previous cultivars. From the early 1990s to 2013, yields rose by about 0.7% per year; this doubling of the earlier rate was significant based on the non-overlap of confidence intervals of comparable slopes. To compare rates published in the literature with these new rates, all slopes were adjusted to a common benchmark where mean yield = 100%. Following these adjustments, current rates in western Canada (about 0.67% per year) were comparable with a world average estimated to be about 0.62% per year. Variation in performance among Canada Western Red Spring cultivars based on the Seed Guides was significantly correlated with their on-farm yields based on Manitoba Management Plus Program (MMPP) crop insurance data (r = 0.81, n = 42). Beginning in 1991, on-farm yields rose by an average of about 1.4% per year both in Manitoba (Manitoba Management Plus Program data) and across the entire western wheat area (Statistics Canada data). This compares favorably with a world-wide rate of yield increase for wheat since 1991 of 1.16% per year. Although western Canadian on-farm yield gains were attributed to a combination of new cultivars and upgraded agronomy, the two influences were not separable in the Manitoba crop insurance data set. Opinions published in the farming press that rates of yield gain among western Canadian wheat cultivars are comparatively low were not supported by the evidence presented here.

McKenzie, R. H., Bremer, E., Middleton, A. B., Beres, B., Yoder, C., Hietamaa, C., Pfiffner, P., Kereliuk, G., Pauly, D. and Henriquez, B. 2014. Agronomic practices for bioethanol production from spring triticale in Alberta. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 15-22. Triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) is an attractive crop for biofuel production due to its high grain yield potential, weed competitiveness, and drought tolerance. Field plot studies were conducted at seven locations across Alberta from 2008 to 2010 to determine optimum agronomic practices (seeding date, seeding rate and N fertilizer rate) for grain and starch production of spring triticale. The yield penalty from delayed seeding was variable, with an average yield decline of only 0.1% per day. Significant yield benefits from increasing seeding rates from 100 to 500 viable seeds m^-2 were obtained at site-years with more than 200 mm of growing season precipitation, but were inconsistent or negligible at site-years with less than 200 mm of growing season precipitation. Optimum N fertilizer rates for grain production increased with growing season precipitation, but were not correlated with pre-seeding soil extractable NO₃-N levels. Starch concentrations were either unaffected or only slightly affected by seeding date, seeding rate or N fertilizer rate. Thus, agronomic practices that were optimum for triticale grain production were also optimum for starch production. Under good growing conditions, grain production of spring triticale was optimum when seeded at 350 to 450 seeds m^-2 and N fertilizer rates of 90 to 150 kg N ha^-1.

Ren, B., Zhang, J., Li, X., Fan, X., Dong, S., Liu, P. and Zhao, B. 2014. Effects of waterlogging on the yield and growth of summer maize under field conditions. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 23-31. A field experiment was performed to study the effects of waterlogging for different durations (3 and 6 d) on the yield and growth of summer maize at the three-leaf stage (V3), six-leaf stage (V6), and the 10th day after the tasseling stage (10VT). The results after 2 yr indicated that maize development and grain yield responses to waterlogging depended on both stress severity (intensity and duration) and different growth stage. Yield decreased significantly with an increased waterlogging duration during V3 and V6. The yields of maize hybrid Denghai 605 (DH605) in treatments V3-3, V3-6, V6-3, V6-6, 10VT-3, and 10VT-6 were 23, 32, 20, 24, 8, and 18% lower than those of the control (CK), respectively; Yields of Zhengdan 958 (ZD958) were lower by 21, 35, 15, 33, 7, and 12%, respectively. Waterlogging also affected the growth and development of summer maize. Ear characteristics (grains per ear and 1000-grain weight) and plant morphology (plant height, ear height, and leaf area index) decreased, whereas the bald tip length increased significantly. The maximum grain-filling rate decreased under waterlogging; furthermore, the dry matter accumulation decreased and dry matter distribution proportions of the stem and leaf increased. However, the distribution proportion of grain decreased. Maize was most susceptible to waterlogging damage at V3, followed by V6 and 10VT, with damage increasing with increasing waterlogging duration.

Thompson, D. J. and Willms, W. D. 2014. Effects of long-term protection from grazing on phenotypic expression in geographically separated mountain rough fescue populations. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 33-39. Whether or not long-term grazing or protection from grazing alters the genetic makeup of grass populations has been debated. Mountain rough fescue [(Festuca campestris (Rydb.)], which is highly sensitive to summer grazing, and becomes dominant in plant communities with long-term protection, was chosen to address this question. Plants from three geographic sites (Stavely in AB, Milroy in the Kootenay trench, BC and Goose Lake on the BC interior plateau) with divergent grazing histories were vegetatively propagated from tillers. Daughter plants were planted into two field nurseries (at Kamloops, BC, and Stavely, AB) and morphological measurements were taken in two field seasons post-establishment. Plants from all three populations were taller, flowered earlier, and were more productive at the Kamloops nursery site. Of the three geographic sources, plants from the Goose Lake site were most distinct with narrower leaves, later flowering, and greater yield. Plants with a long history of grazing had slightly shorter fertile tillers and leaves than plants with a history of long-term protection.

Foster, A., Vera, C. L., Malhi, S. S. and Clarke, F. R. 2014. Forage yield of simple and complex grass-legume mixtures under two management strategies. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 41-50. Limited information is available on the dry matter production, protein content and species composition of complex mixtures of introduced perennial forage crop species for hay and pasture in the moister regions of Saskatchewan. A field experiment was sown on 2008 May 27 at Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada, on a thick Black Chernozem (Udic Boroll) silty clay soil, to compare the effects on dry matter yield (DMY), protein content and species composition of perennial forage crop monocultures and mixtures, under a two-cut and a three-cut management system, in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Eleven treatments consisted of monocultures of hybrid bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehm.×Bromus inermis Leyss.), smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn], intermediate wheatgrass [Agropyron intermedium (Host.) Beauv.] and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.); simple mixtures of each of these individual grass species with alfalfa; a more complex mixture of all these grass species and alfalfa, and a very complex mixture consisting of the complex mixture plus meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehm.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), tall fescue [Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.) Wimm.], timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and slender wheatgrass [Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners]. The alfalfa was inoculated with rhizobium, and no fertilizer was added to any treatment during the course of the study. The two-cut system yielded higher than the three-cut system in all years. In 2009, the first cutting year, all treatments, especially under the two-cut system, produced similar forage DMY, with monoculture grasses yielding as much as that of their mixture with alfalfa. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, however, monoculture alfalfa and grass-alfalfa treatments had higher DMY than the monoculture grasses. Monoculture alfalfa also showed superior DMY than most grass-alfalfa mixtures, especially during the last 2 yr of the study. In conclusion, the inclusion of alfalfa in forage mixtures, grown in unfertilized soil, significantly increased forage yield, especially after the first production year, and these grass-alfalfa mixtures yielded almost as much as monoculture alfalfa. Also, the inclusion of alfalfa significantly increased the forage protein content over the grass alone treatments. Hybrid bromegrass, grown alone or in mixture with alfalfa, yielded similar to the other grasses tested, while crested wheatgrass did not compete as well as other main grasses, grown alone or in mixture with alfalfa. In this study, the use of complex or very complex mixtures of introduced grasses with alfalfa did not increase DMY over the simple grass-alfalfa mixtures.

Bélanger, G., Castonguay, Y. and Lajeunesse, J. 2014. Benefits of mixing timothy with alfalfa for forage yield, nutritive value, and weed suppression in northern environments. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 51-60. Alfalfa can be grown alone or with a grass, but little information exists on the benefits of mixing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) with a grass in northern environments. Our objectives were (1) to determine the benefits in terms of forage yield, nutritive value, and weed suppression of mixing timothy (Phleum pratense L.) with alfalfa and (2) to evaluate the persistence of alfalfa cultivars of varied adaptation to cold and of alfalfa populations selectively improved for superior freezing tolerance in a grass-legume mixture and in monoculture. This study was conducted in a region with 1700 degree-days (5°C basis) with one harvest in the seeding year (2008), three harvests in each of two post-seeding years, and one harvest in the third post-seeding year. Adding timothy to alfalfa increased the seasonal total dry matter (DM) yield by an average of 0.57 Mg DM ha^-1 yr^-1 in the first 2 post-seeding years and this seasonal effect was due mostly to a DM yield increase at the first harvest. The weed contribution to total DM yield in the three harvests of the first 2 post-seeding years was greater in the alfalfa monoculture (16 to 47%) than in the alfalfa-timothy mixture (12 to 36%). Mixing timothy with alfalfa also increased neutral detergent fibre concentration and digestibility, decreased N concentration, and tended to increase water soluble concentration, but had little effect on forage DM digestibility. Cultivars and populations recurrently selected for superior freezing tolerance did not differ in persistence and had a limited effect on DM yield and nutritive value attributes. The positive effect on DM yield of mixing timothy with alfalfa was not accompanied by a reduction in forage digestibility that is usually observed with increased DM yield.

Bonesmo, H., Baron, V. S., Young, D., Bélanger, G. and Jing, Q. 2014. Adapting the CATIMO grass model to meadow bromegrass grown in western Canada. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 61-71. The Canadian Timothy Model (CATIMO) simulates the growth and nutritive value of timothy grown in eastern and western Canada, Norway, and Finland, but has not been parameterized for meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehm.) grown under Canadian prairie conditions. We parameterized and evaluated the CATIMO model to simulate the dry matter (DM) yield and N concentration of meadow bromegrass grown in western Canada with data from sequential sampling in primary growth and regrowth from two field experiments for a total of 5 yr of observation. Primary growth DM yield was simulated well [R²=0.95; normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) =16%; model simulation efficiency (EF)=0.93]. Simulations of the regrowth DM yield (R²=0.49, NRMSE=39%, EF=0.47) were not as successful as that of the primary growth, but they were within expected ranges for regrowth DM yields in western Canada. Forage N concentration was poorly simulated in primary growth (R²=0.32, NRMSE=38%, EF=-0.95) and regrowth (R²=0.27, NRMSE=30%, EF=-2.43). Plant-available soil moisture down to 30 cm was simulated well (R²=0.74, NRMSE=19%, EF=0.50). The parameterized model for meadow bromegrass expands the use of the CATIMO model to drier geographical areas where timothy may not be common, and it represents a first attempt to provide DM yield assessment of meadow bromegrass under Canadian Prairie conditions for whole-farm modeling.

Kim, W. B., Lim, C. J., Jang, H. A., Yi, S. Y., Oh, S.-K., Lee, H. Y., Kim, H. A., Park, Y.-I. and Kwon, S.-Y. 2014. SlPMEI, a pollen-specific gene in tomato. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 73-83. Pectin is one of the main components of plant cell walls, and its biosynthesis is controlled by pectin methylesterase (PME). Pectin methylesterase inhibitors (PMEIs) are key regulators of PME. We report here the cloning and characterization of a novel Solanum lycopersicum L. PMEI gene, SlPMEI. RT-PCR studies of leaf, seed, fruit, flower, and flower organs confirmed that SlPMEI is expressed specifically in pollen. Promoter analysis of SlPMEI revealed pollen-specific cis-acting elements (pollen lat52 and g10). In addition, SlPMEI is expressed independently of abiotic stress, pathogen exposure, and growth stage in tomato, and a histochemical analysis of promoter activity revealed pollen-specific expression in both Arabidopsis and tomato. Under the microscope, we observed pollen-specific GUS expression in the stamen of transgenic tomato plant. These results indicate that the promoter of SlPMEI has strong pollen-specific activity, and could therefore be useful for development of industrially and agronomically important transgenic plants.

Wu, Q., Wang, X. Z., Tang, Y. Y., Yu, H. T., Cui, F. G., Zhang, J. C. and Wang, C. T. 2014. Molecular cloning, genomic organization and functional analysis of the ribosomal protein L4/L1 (RPL4) gene from Arachis hypogaea. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 85-97. The ribosomal proteins have been shown to be important in plant polarity establishment, cell proliferation, leaf shape and auxin-related development. The RPL4 protein is crucial for the maintenance of ribosomal translational efficiency and fidelity. This study concerns the RPL4 gene from Arachis hypogaea. The full-length cDNA (1538 bp) of RPL4 consisted of an open-reading frame of 1221 bp encoding 406 amino acids. The genomic DNA sequence of RPL4 gene consisted of 1491 bp containing two exons and one 270-bp intron. The RPL4 mRNA transcript was mainly expressed in roots and leaves, and fewer signals were detected in stems. The sequence data revealed that RPL4 encoded a typical ribosomal protein L4/L1e domain. Phylogenetic analysis for genes encoding proteins showed that RPL4 were conserved within dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants. The ratios of nonsynonymous/synonymous substitution rate (ω=d_N/d_S) were analyzed. No sites were identified under positive selection. In the whole RPL4 sequence, d_S greatly exceeded d_N in all branches of the tree (d_N/d_S<< 1.0), indicating that functional constraints (purifying selection) have acted on RPL4 throughout evolution. The differences among plants and animals and Caenorhabditis elegans may indicate functional differentiation during species evolution.

Cliff, M. A., Stanich, K. and Hampson, C. 2014. Consumer research explores acceptability of a new Canadian apple - Salish™. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 99-108. This research compared consumer preferences for a new Canadian apple, Salish™ (cultivar SPA493), with commercial cultivars using data collected at two University of British Columbia Apple Festivals (2008, 2010). Mean acceptability by mouth and visual acceptability scores for Salish™ were compared with those for each of three tart (subacid/acid) cultivars (Granny Smith, McIntosh, Spartan) (2008, n≈165) and two relatively new cultivars (Ambrosia, Honeycrisp) (2010, n=1182). T-tests on the 2008 data (n≈165) revealed that Salish™ had higher consumer acceptability than Granny Smith and McIntosh. Analysis of variance of the 2010 data evaluated the influence of ethnicity (ancestral origin), age, gender and stated apple preference (sweet, tart), for the two largest sub-groups of consumers (Asian ethnicity, n=353 European ethnicity, n=725). While 88% of consumers of Asian ethnicity categorized themselves as sweet apple eaters, consumers of European ethnicity were both sweet (55%) and tart (45%) apple eaters. The sweet apple eaters rated Ambrosia higher in acceptability by mouth than Salish™, while tart apple eaters preferred Salish™. On average, consumers' stated apple preference (sweet, tart) was consistent with their acceptability scores. Mean acceptability by mouth scores for consumers of Asian ethnicity were higher for Ambrosia and lower for Salish™ as compared with consumers of European ethnicity. The visual acceptability of red apples with a green ground (background) colour was significantly lower than those with a yellow ground colour. This suggested that sweet apple eaters of both ethnicities had a strong negative bias for apples with a slightly green ground colour. The work will assist industry in releasing and appropriately marketing cultivars to selected consumers in the metropolitan marketplace.

Deora, A., Gossen, B. D., Hwang, S. F., Pageau, D., Howard, R. J., Walley, F. and McDonald, M. R. 2014. Effect of boron on clubroot of canola in organic and mineral soils and on residual toxicity to rotational crops. Can. J. Pant Sci. 94: 109-118. Application of boron (B) has been reported to reduce clubroot severity in various Brassica spp., but residual B can have phytotoxic effects on other crops in the rotation. The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of broadcast application of B for clubroot suppression in canola (B. napus) and the effect of residual B on wheat, barley, field pea and canola. Field trials to assess clubroot suppression by B at various rates (1 to 64 kg B ha^-1) were conducted in organic (Ontario) and mineral soils (Alberta, Quebec) heavily infested with Plasmodiophora brassicae in 2011 and 2012. Phytotoxicity was not observed in canola until applications rates exceeded 48 kg B ha^-1. Boron did not reduce clubroot incidence at any site, irrespective of rate, and only reduced severity at the organic soil site at 6 wk after seeding. There was a small increase in shoot weight and yield of canola with increasing B application rates at the organic soil site. The potential phytotoxicity of residual B (4 to 16 kg B ha^-1) was assessed in mineral soils in Ontario and Saskatchewan in 2012. Toxicity symptoms were noted initially in most of the crops, but seedlings recovered quickly and there was no significant reduction in fresh weight at harvest or seed yield of most of the cultivars. The present study indicates that pre-plant broadcast application of B delays clubroot development and increases vegetative growth and yield compared with non-treated plants in organic soil. Also, even high residual rates (16 kg ha^-1) of application are unlikely to have a negative effect on crops in rotation in mineral soil. However, the effect of B application on canola yield found in this study was not sufficient to justify application for commercial canola production, even where clubroot is prevalent.

Vera, C. L., Irvine, R. B., Duguid, S. D., Rashid, K. Y., Clarke, F. R. and Slaski, J. J. 2014. Pasmo disease and lodging in flax as affected by pyraclostrobin fungicide, N fertility and year. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 119-126. Severe infection of the fungal disease known as pasmo, caused by Septoria linicola (Speg.) Garassini, reduces seed yield of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) in western Canada. Pasmo may also indirectly affect seed yield by predisposing flax plants, under favorable weather and soil fertility conditions, to lodge. With the objective of studying the possible association of this disease with the occurrence of lodging and their effect on seed yield, a study was conducted at Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada, during 4 consecutive years (2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012), with two fungicide regimes (application and no application) and five rates of nitrogen (N) fertilization (0, 33, 66, 100 and 133% of recommended). The application of pyraclostrobin fungicide reduced disease severity and increased seed yield of flax in the 3 yr (2010, 2011 and 2012) that pasmo infection was detected, and prevented or reduced the occurrence of lodging in the 2 yr (2010 and 2012) with favorable weather conditions for the occurrence of lodging. Increasing rates of N resulted in increased seed yield in 2009 and 2012, regardless of whether fungicide was used or not. Increasing rates of N also increased the severity of pasmo disease in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and of lodging severity in 2010 and 2012. The increase in disease severity due to N occurred in the absence of fungicide in 2011 and when fungicide was applied in 2012, while in 2010 just the effect of N on the two fungicide treatments combined was significant. Only low levels of disease severity (near 20%) were observed when fungicide was applied in 2011, while extreme disease severity (near 100%) occurred in 2012 at all levels of N when fungicide was not applied. The increase in lodging, as N rates increased, was observed only in the absence of fungicide, in both years. The occurrence of lodging took place late in the development of flax.

Hall, L. M., Beckie, H. J., Low, R., Shirriff, S. W., Blackshaw, R. E., Kimmel, N. and Neeser, C. 2014. Survey of glyphosate-resistant kochia (Kochia scopariaL. Schrad.) in Alberta. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 127-130. Glyphosate-resistant (GR) kochia was identified in Warner county in southern Alberta in 2011. To determine the scale of the distribution and frequency of GR kochia, a randomized stratified survey of more than 300 locations (one population per location) in southern Alberta was conducted in the fall of 2012. Mature plants were collected, seed separated, and F₁ seedlings screened by spraying with glyphosate at 900 g a.e. ha^-1 under greenhouse conditions. Screening confirmed 13 GR kochia sites: seven in Warner county, five in Vulcan county, and one in Taber county. The frequency of GR individuals in a population ranged from 0.3 to 98%. GR kochia were found in arid areas where chemical fallow is a significant component of the rotation. Economic and agronomic impact of this GR weed biotype is compounded because of multiple resistance to acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides.

Liu, C., Gan, Y. and Poppy, L. 2014. Evaluation of on-farm crop management decisions on canola productivity. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 131-139. This study determined key factors affecting canola productivity in western Canada and evaluated the differences among soil-climatic zones in canola crops responding to the key agronomic factors. A total of 68 canola farm fields were randomly selected in western Canada, and multiple correspondence analysis, coupled with multivariate predictive model with partial least squares projection and regressions, was used to analyze the data set. Canola produced in Alberta averaged 2500 kg ha^-1, and was 23% greater than canola produced in southern Saskatchewan, 10% greater than canola produced in northern Saskatchewan, and 59% greater than canola produced in Manitoba. Canola produced on chem-fallow averaged 2557 kg ha^-1, and was 17% greater than canola grown on cereal stubble, or 43% greater than canola grown on pea/lentil, corn stubble. Canola grown on canola stubble produced 54% of the seed yield as canola grown on cereal stubble, or 46% of the seed yield as canola grown on chem-fallow. Shallow and earlier seeding with narrow row spacing increased canola seed yields consistently. Canola receiving K fertilizer increased seed yield by an average of 25% compared with those receiving no K fertilizer. Straight combine resulted in 500 kg ha^-1 or 24% more seed yield than conventional swath-combine method. Those key factors may serve as the first-hand information in the development of sound guidelines for less experienced canola producers in western Canada.

May, W. E., Fernandez, M. R., Selles, F. and Lafond G. P. 2014. Agronomic practices to reduce leaf spotting and Fusarium kernel infections in durum wheat on the Canadian prairies. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 141-152. Fusarium head blight (FHB) has become an important disease of durum wheat [Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum (Desf.) Husn] in the humid and sub-humid regions of the prairies along with leaf spots, black point and red smudge. Together, they contribute to lower grain yields and grain quality. The study objective was to determine the effect of seeding rate, nitrogen (N) fertilizer rate, fungicidal treatment, and cultivar on disease severity, crop development, grain yield and quality in durum. A four-way factorial design was used with two seeding rates (150 and 300 viable seeds m^-2), two N rates (75 and 100% of recommended rate), three cultivars (AC Avonlea, AC Morse and AC Navigator), four fungicide treatments (no application, propiconazole at flag leaf, tebuconazole at anthesis, and propiconazole at flag leaf followed by tebuconazole at anthesis) and three locations (two in Saskatchewan and one in Manitoba) from 2001 to 2003. There were no interactions among fungicide, seeding rate, N fertilizer and cultivar for all measured variables. Foliar fungicide treatments resulted in greater kernel weight, grain yield and test weight than the no-fungicide treatment. The application of tebuconazole at anthesis did not reduce the amount of FDK in the harvested grain. The application of a fungicide increased the percentage of kernels infected by black point from 0.38% to over 0.50% and red smudge from 0.54 to 0.61%. Two fungicide applications increased red smudge to 0.85%. Grain yield increased by 2.4% when the seeding rate was increased from 150 to 300 plants m^-2. Increasing N fertilizer rate increased grain yield by 5.2%, protein concentration by 5.4% and hard vitreous kernels (HVK) by 2.6%, but decreased test weight by 0.5%. Cultivar selection had the largest effect on FDK. In conclusion, effects of a fungicide application on durum wheat did not interact with selection of seeding rates, cultivars or N rates used in this study.

Duguid, S. D., Rashid, K. Y., Busch, H. and Schaupp, H. 2014. AAC Bravo flax. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 153-156. Bravo, a medium maturing oilseed flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) was released in 2012 by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Morden Research Station, Morden, Manitoba. Developed from the Flanders/Pacific made in 1995, AAC Bravo was evaluated in the Flax Cooperative Trials (2008-2010) before being registered in 2012. AAC Bravo's desirable combination of agronomic traits, particularly its significantly large seed size as compared with other commercially available cultivars, seed quality and disease resistance, should make it a useful cultivar for producers and the flax industry.

Duguid, S. D., Rashid, K. Y. and Kenaschuk, E. O. 2014. Shape flax. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 157-160. Shape, a medium maturing oilseed flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), was released in 2007 by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Morden Research Station, Morden, Manitoba. Developed from the cross M4684/FP1043 made in 1997, Shape was evaluated in the Flax Cooperative Trials in (2004-2006) before being registered in 2007. Shape's desirable combination of agronomic traits and seed quality, particularly its significantly improved oil and protein content, oil quality profile and disease resistance, should make it a useful and unique cultivar for producers and the flax industry.

Reid, L. M., Zhu, X., Voloaca, C., Wu, J., Woldemariam, T., Martin, R. A. and Beres, B. L. 2014. CO450 corn inbred line. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 161-167. CO450 is a short-season early-maturing (average 71 d to flowering) corn (Zea mays L.) inbred line with excellent combining ability and superior resistance to eyespot (Aureobasidium zeae). This is the first inbred to be released from AAFC's eyespot resistance breeding program. CO450 also has moderate resistance to common rust, intermediate resistance to common smut and both fusarium and anthracnose stalk rot. Excellent hybrid yields and performance data were achieved when CO450 was crossed with stiff stalk inbreds such as MBS1130 and an Iodent inbred, MBS8148. CO450 also exhibited good performance at sites with 2400 CHU or less in combination with a very early inbred, CL30.

Reid, L. M., Zhu, X., Voloaca, C., Wu, J. and Woldemariam, T. 2014. CO451 corn inbred line. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 169-173. CO451 is a short-season corn (Zea mays L.) inbred line with excellent combining ability as well as moderate resistance to common smut and fusaruim stalk rot. Excellent hybrid yields and performance data were achieved when CO451 was combined with stiff stalk inbreds such as MBS1130 and MBS9250 as well as with the Iodent inbred MBS8148.

DePauw, R. M., Knox, R. E., Cuthbert, R. D., Singh, A. K. and McCaig, T. N. 2014. AAC Bailey hard red spring wheat. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 175-181. AAC Bailey hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) had grain yield within the range of the checks with maturity significantly earlier than the mean of the checks. The quantity of protein of AAC Bailey was significantly less than Lillian but gluten strength was stronger than Lillian as measured by farinograph. AAC Bailey is eligible for grades of Canada Western Red Spring. AAC Bailey expressed resistance to prevalent races of leaf rust and stem rust, moderate resistance to common bunt, and moderate susceptibility to loose smut. AAC Bailey frequently had lower fusarium head blight disease index and lower deoxynivalenol concentration than Lillian and Laura.

Fowler, D. B. 2014. CDC Chase hard red winter wheat. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 183-186. CDC Chase is a hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that is eligible for grades of the Canada Western Red Winter (CWRW) wheat class. High grain yield potential relative to the grain quality checks, CDC Buteo and Moats, is its primary strength. It has excellent stem, leaf, and stripe rust resistance, and low physiological leaf spot and very susceptible bunt ratings. Except for minor differences, its performance has been similar to that of CDC Buteo and Moats for the remainder of the agronomic characters measured. A suitable combination of grain quality, rust resistance, and grain yield make CDC Chase a good fit for the low to intermediate precipitation regions of western Canada.

Acharya, S. N. 2014. AAC Meadowview alfalfa. Can J. Plant Sci. 94: 187-189. AAC Meadowview alfalfa (Medicago sativa) was developed by the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta. This cultivar, tested as AT05 in Western Forage Trials, is derived from parental clones selected for high forage yield under low pH conditions and resistance to both bacterial wilt (BW) (caused by Corynebacterium insidiosum) or Verticillium Wilt (VW) (caused by Verticillium albo-atrum Reinke & Berthold). When grown under irrigated and rainfed conditions of western Canada AT05 out yielded Beaver (check) by 5%. AAC Meadowview is well suited to forage and seed production in western Canada where VW and acidic soil conditions may be of concern. AAC Meadowview received Canadian Food Inspection Agency's registration number 7402 on 2013 Jun. 06. Breeder seed for the cultivar will be produced by AAFC and the multiplication and distribution rights were awarded to Northstar Seeds through a competitive process.

Bing, D.-J., Beauchesne, D., McLaren, D., Vera, C. and Gehl, D. 2014. AAC Ardill field pea. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 191-192. AAC Ardill is a semi-leafless, yellow cotyledonary field pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivar developed at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Lacombe Research Centre, Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. It is a high-yielding cultivar with excellent standability. AAC Ardill is resistant to powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe pisi Syd. It has medium maturity and is adapted to all field pea growing regions in western Canada.