AAC Dutton (BW1094) is a hollow-stemmed, awned, and high yielding Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat cultivar suited to the growing conditions of Western Canada. AAC Dutton was 1% higher yielding than AAC Viewfield, the highest yielding check in the Central Bread Wheat Cooperative registration trials (2019-2021). Within the same test, AAC Dutton was 10% higher yielding than Carberry. AAC Dutton matured 1 day earlier than Glenn, Carberry, and AAC Viewfield and less than a day later than Unity: Unity being the earliest maturing check in the registration trial. AAC Dutton was 10 cm shorter than Unity with lodging score lower than the mean of the checks. The test weight of AAC Dutton was similar to Unity while the 1000kernel weight was higher than AAC Viewfield. The grain protein content of AAC Dutton was lower than all the checks. AAC Dutton had a moderately resistant reaction to Fusarium head blight ( Fusarium graminearum Schwabe) and stripe rust ( Puccinia striiformis Westend). AAC Dutton had optimal resistance to leaf rust ( Puccinia triticina Erikss.), stem rust ( Puccinia graminis Pers. f. sp. tritici Eriks. & E. Henn), common bunt ( Tilletia caries [DC] Tul. & C. Tul.), and to orange blossom wheat midge ( Sitodiplosis mosellana G & eacute;hin). AAC Dutton was registered under the CWRS class.

AAC Stockton is a hulled two-row spring general purpose barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivar widely adapted to western Canada. It was developed from the cross TR11219/CDC Kindersley made in 2012, and it was evaluated in the Western Cooperative Two-row Barley Registration Test (2020–2021) before being registered in 2023. AAC Stockton will offer a good production choice for barley growers across the Prairies due to its grain yield potential, lodging resistance, and improved Fusarium head blight resistance.

AAC Lariat is a hulled, two-row, spring, general purpose barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivar widely adapted to western Canada. It was developed from the cross AAC Synergy/TR09398 made in 2010 and it was evaluated in the Western Cooperative Tworow Barley Registration Test (2019-2020) before being registered in 2022. With its high yield, good standability, and disease resistance, AAC Lariat will offer a good production choice for feed growers across the Prairies.

AAC Darby (PT495) is an early maturing, high yielding, awned and hollow stemmed Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar suited to the growing conditions in the northern Canadian Prairies. AAC Darby was higher yielding than all the check varieties in the Parkland Wheat Cooperative (Park C) registration trials (2018-2020). AAC Darby was 6% higher yielding than Parata and 5% higher yielding than Carberry. AAC Darby matured 5 days earlier than Carberry and 1 day earlier than Parata. AAC Darby was similar in height to Glenn at 2 cm taller. The lodging score for AAC Darby was similar to the mean of the checks. The test weight of AAC Darby was similar to Carberry and the 1000-kernel weight was similar to Glenn and higher than Parata. AAC Darby had protein content only 0.07% lower than Carberry. AAC Darby expressed an intermediate resistant reaction to Fusarium head blight (FHB; Fusarium graminearum Schwabe). AAC Darby was moderately resistant to the prevalent races of stem rust ( Puccinia graminis Pers. f. sp. tritici Eriks. & E. Henn) and moderately susceptible to common bunt [ Tilletia caries (DC) Tul. & C. Tul.]. It was resistant to prevalent races of leaf rust ( Puccinia triticina Erikss.) and stripe rust ( Puccinia striiformis Westend). AAC Darby was resistant to orange wheat blossom midge (OBWM) ( Sitodiplosis mosellana G & eacute;hin). AAC Darby was registered under the CWRS class.

AAC Douglas is a white-hulled spring oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivar, with superior grain-yield potential in the western Canadian oat production areas, yielding 3.5% higher than Summit. AAC Douglas was registered for commercial production in Canada (Reg. No. 8950) on 21 February 2020. AAC Douglas has high protein (5% higher significantly (P = 0.05) than AC Morgan) and beta-glucan content (10.6% higher than the nearest check, Summit), making it attractive for milling purposes. AAC Douglas is resistant to loose smut and covered smut, with moderately resistant to intermediate reactions to other diseases encountered in western Canada.

AAC Connery, a doubled haploid awnless hard red spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), was similar in grain yield to CDC Osler and significantly higher yielding than the other check cultivars Katepwa, CDC Teal, and AC Splendor. Wheat and flour protein concentrations were within the range of the checks. AAC Connery matured significantly later than AC Splendor and in a comparable number of days as Katepwa, CDC Teal, and CDC Osler. AAC Connery was significantly shorter than all of the checks and was significantly more resistant to lodging than Katepwa, AC Splendor, and CDC Osler. AAC Connery had significantly heavier kernel weight than Katepwa, CDC Teal, and AC Splendor. The test weight of AAC Connery was within the range of the checks. End-use quality specifications of AAC Connery are suitable for the Canada Western Red Spring wheat market class. AAC Connery expressed moderate resistance to Fusarium head blight, an improvement over the checks, resistance to prevalent races of stem rust and yellow rust, and moderate resistance to leaf rust, loose smut, and common bunt.

AAC Redberry hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has a grain yield significantly higher than the check cultivars Katepwa, and Lillian and is similar to Carberry. AAC Redberry matures in a similar number of days as Katewpa and Lillian, and is significantly earlier maturing than Carberry. AAC Redberry has an awned spike, and a low lodging score indicative of strong straw that is significantly lower than Katepwa and Lillian but significantly higher than Carberry. Plant stature is taller than Carberry, but shorter than Lillian and Katepwa. AAC Redberry expressed resistance to prevalent races of leaf rust, stem rust, yellow rust, loose smut, moderate resistance to common bunt and intermediate resistance to Fusarium head blight. AAC Redberry has quality attributes within the range of the check cultivars and is eligible for grades of Canada Western Red Spring wheat.

AAC Westlock, an awned hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar, combines high grain yield and good agronomic characteristics with excellent resistance to leaf, stripe, and stem rust (including variants of Ug99), Fusarium head blight (FHB), and common bunt. Based on 40 station-years of registration trial data from 2018 to 2020, the grain yield of AAC Westlock was 1% higher than AAC Foray and 7% over AAC Penhold. AAC Westlock was significantly shorter than AAC Foray, had straw strength similar to AAC Penhold, and maturity similar to AAC Foray. AAC Westlock had similar test weight and protein concentration but lower thousand kernel weight as compared to AAC Foray. AACWestlock had milling and baking quality suitable for grades of the Canada Prairie Spring Red wheat market class.

AAC Perform, an awned hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar, combines high grain yield and good agronomic characteristics with excellent resistance to leaf, stem, and stripe rust. Based on 43 station years of registration trial data from 2017 to 2019, the grain yield of AAC Perform was about 6% higher than AAC Foray and about 12% over AAC Penhold. AAC Perform was significantly shorter than AAC Foray and had straw strength similar to AAC Penhold. It was about two days later maturing than AAC Foray. AAC Perform had similar test weight, smaller kernel size and lower protein concentration as compared with AAC Foray. AAC Perform had milling and baking quality suitable for grades of the Canada Prairie Spring Red wheat market class.

AAC Justice is a white-hulled spring oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivar. It was postulated to carry the crown rust resistance gene Pc91, which was effective against the prevalent crown rust races on the Canadian Prairies at the time of its release. It had very good resistance to loose and covered smut and moderate resistance to most of the prairie stem rust races, and was intermediate in reaction to the barley yellow dwarf virus. AAC Justice has a high test weight, average kernel weight, and average groat percentage and kernel plumpness. AAC Justice exhibited high yield potential in the eastern oat-growing areas of Western Canada. AAC Justice was registered (reg. no. 7439) in Canada on 15 October 2013.

AAC Oravena is a white-hulled spring oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivar selected and developed under organic management. AAC Oravena yields well under organic and conventional production systems, compared with check cultivars. AAC Oravena has good milling quality. AAC Oravena was registered (Reg. No. 7561) by the Variety Registration Office, Canada Food Inspection Agency, on 3 July 2014.

AAC Prairie is a hulled two-row spring malting barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivar widely adapted to western Canada. It was developed from the cross CDC Kindersley/TR08204 made in 2008 and it was evaluated in the Western Cooperative Two-row Barley Registration Test (2017–2018) as well as the Collaborative Malting Barley Trials (2018–2019) conducted by the malting and brewing industry before being registered in 2021. AAC Prairie’s good combination of agronomic and disease resistance traits as well as a desired malting quality profile should make it a useful cultivar for the barley industry.

AAC Kongsore is a white-hulled spring oat ( Avena sativa L.) cultivar selected and developed under organic management. AAC Kongsore had high yields under organic and conventional production systems, compared to check cultivars (AAC Oravena, Leggett, AC Morgan and CDC Dancer). AAC Kongsore has good physical and milling quality traits.

AAC Succeed durum wheat [Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.] is adapted to the durum production area of the Canadian prairies. AAC Succeed carries the Sm1 gene, which confers antibiosis-based resistance to orange wheat blossom midge [Sitodiplosis mosellana (Gehin)]. Averaged over three years, AAC Succeed yielded significantly more grain than Strongfield (7%) and AC Navigator (21%). AAC Succeed had a protein concentration significantly higher than Brigade and AC Navigator, and similar to Strongfield. AAC Succeed had significantly stronger straw as measured by lodging score than Strongfield, and similar to Brigade. AAC Succeed is eligible for grades of Canada Western Amber Durum, has low grain cadmium concentration, and has higher yellow pigment concentration than the check cultivars.

AAC Redwater is a hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) adapted to the shorter season wheatgrowing regions of the Canadian prairies. AAC Redwater was evaluated in the Parkland Wheat Cooperative Test in 2009, 2010, and 2011. AAC Redwater was significantly (P < 0.05) higher yielding than Katepwa (6.4%) and AC Splendor (7.5%) and was not significantly different in grain yield compared to CDC Teal and CDC Osler. AAC Redwater had maturity similar to AC Splendor, matured a day earlier than Katepwa, and was significantly earlier maturing (2 d) than CDC Teal and CDC Osler. AAC Redwater was significantly shorter than all check cultivars and had a similar mean lodging score to the check cultivars. AAC Redwater is resistant to moderately resistant to leaf and stem rust, comparable to AC Splendor. AAC Redwater was resistant to intermediate in its field reaction to stripe rust and intermediate in its reaction to the Ug99 stem rust race, similar to CDC Teal. At the time of registration, AAC Redwater met the end-use quality specifications of the Canada Western Red Spring wheat class.

Stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis, is a catastrophic disease that has and continues to cause yield losses in barley, oat, and wheat crops worldwide. Use of host resistance genes is the most economic, efficient, and environmentally best method to control the disease. Resistance genes have been incorporated into most commercial cultivars and have been effective, for races in the North American populations of P. graminis. However, new races of stem rust are constantly emerging and therefore it is imperative to monitor the virulence structure in the populations to detect new races with increased virulence. Stem rust samples were collected in 2013 and 2014 in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan to determine the incidence and severity of stem rust in barley (Hordeum vulgare), oat (Avena sativa), and wheat (Triticum aestivum) fields and to characterize the virulence dynamics in the pathogen populations. No stem rust was found in cultivated wheat, and incidence was at trace (<1%) levels in barley fields and very low (0-5%) levels in oat fields in 2013 and 2014. In wheat trap plots and collections from barley, race QFCSC of P. graminis f. sp. tritici was dominant in 2013 (85.9%) and was the only race found in 2014. Races MCCFC, QTHJF, RFCSC, RKQSC, and TMRTF were at low (<5%) levels in 2013. From collections in oat fields and stands of wild barley, nine races of P. graminis f. sp. avenae were found in 2013, with TJS (56.9%) and TJJ (23.5%) the most frequent. In 2014, we found only six races and TJS (74.5%) and TJJ (19.1%) were the most frequent. No new races of stem rust were detected in Canada in 2013 or 2014.

AAC Castle, an awned hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), cultivar, combines high grain yield and good agronomic characteristics with excellent resistance to leaf, stem, stripe rust, common bunt and loose smut. It also expressed tolerance to the orange wheat blossom midge. Based on 39 station years of data in the registration trials from 2014 to 2016, the grain yield of AAC Castle was about 17% higher than 5700PR but similar to the other checks. AAC Castle was significantly shorter than AAC Foray and CDC Terrain, but had similar lodging resistance and maturity. AAC Castle had higher test weight, protein concentration, falling number and flour yield than AAC Foray and CDC Terrain. AAC Castle is eligible for grade of the Canada Prairie Spring Red wheat market class.

Stem rust is a major disease on barley, oat, and wheat crops worldwide. The primary means of control is by host resistance genes that are incorporated into commercial varieties and have been effective against most races of Puccinia graminis Pers., the causal pathogen. Since this pathogen continually mutates, analyzing the population virulence structure is crucial to detect new races with increased virulence. Stem rust samples were collected from 2015 to 2019 from the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan to find the prevalence of stem rust in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), oat (Avena sativa L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) fields and the virulence dynamics in the two pathogen populations. Stem rust was absent in cultivated wheat and at trace (<1%) levels of incidence in barley and oat fields in all years. While the dominant races of P. graminis f. sp. tritici were MCCDC (54.5%) and TPMKC (27.3%) in 2015, and TMRTF (29.2%) in 2016, race QFCSC was dominant in 2017 (52.0%), 2018 (88.4%), and 2019 (81.3%). The dominant race of P. graminis f. sp. avenae was TJS from 2015 to 2018. Race TJS declined in frequency across the years, from 89.5% (2015) to 73.7% (2016), 42.6% (2017), 49.1% (2018), and only 14.3% in 2019. The dominant races in 2019 were SGB (51.7%) and TGN (19.6%). One new race (TJQ) of P. graminis f. sp. avenae was detected in 2016 at one location near Emerson, Manitoba, which may have arisen from a single-step mutation to avirulence to Pg15 from race TJS.

Breeding for tolerance to lodging is an objective, but also a challenge, in oat (Avena sativa L.) breeding programs. A widely adopted method to assess breeding lines for tolerance to lodging is based on visual scoring of plant standability (1 = standing upright; 9 = completely lodged). The lack of sufficient lodging pressure due to weather or growing conditions often renders the visual scoring method ineffective. We present an alternative approach that allows selection for tolerance to stem lodging by screening for peduncle strength in the absence of lodging pressure. This approach also provides objective selection of lodging tolerance using a quantitatively measurable plant trait rather than subjective scoring of the lodged plants. Stem structural and mechanical properties of six oat cultivars with varying levels of lodging tolerance were tested at field experiments over 3 site-years under three nitrogen rates. Results suggested peduncle breaking resistance (PBR), measured below the panicle, as a potential selection criterion for stem strength and therefore lodging tolerance. Significant genetic variation among oat cultivars (p < 0.01) was observed for PBR, which was significantly correlated with the strength of all lower internodes in all environments (R2 > 0.73, p ≤ 0.05). This suggests that PBR provides a good estimation of the whole culm strength. Phenotyping of PBR can be easily integrated into breeding programs because of the ease of sampling and rapid measurement.

AAC Crossfield, an awned hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar, combines high grain yield and good agronomic characteristics with excellent resistance to leaf, stem, and stripe rust. AAC Crossfield is significantly shorter than Conquer and AAC Foray, and has maturity, straw strength, and test weight similar to the check cultivars. AAC Crossfield has improved farinograph stability and is eligible for grade in the Canada Prairie Spring Red wheat market class.