AC Bellatrix hard red winter wheat

Thomas, J. B., Gaudet, D. A. and Graf, R. J. 2012. AC Bellatrix hard red winter wheat. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 163-168. AC Bellatrix is a winter-hardy, reduced-height cultivar of hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at the Lethbridge Research Centre. Based on evaluation in the Western Winter Wheat Cooperative Registration trials from 1995 to 1997, the average grain yield of AC Bellatrix was higher than Norstar and AC Readymade and similar to CDC Clair and CDC Osprey. AC Bellatrix was shorter than the standard height cultivar Norstar and had moderate lodging resistance, equivalent to CDC Osprey but with stiffer straw than Norstar and CDC Clair. AC Bellatrix exhibited moderate resistance to common bunt but was susceptible to leaf diseases including stein, leaf and stripe rust. Since its registration, AC Bellatrix is eligible for the enhanced-quality grades of the Canada Western Red Winter wheat market class.