CDC McGWIRE, a 2-rowed hulless barley developed at the Crop Development Centre, was registered for sale in Canada in May, 1999. CDC McGwire is a 2-rowed hulless variety with an exceptional combination of disease resistance, yield potential and threshability. It carries the Rpg1 gene for stem rust resistance, has good net form and moderate spot form net blotch resistance, has moderate scald resistance and is moderately resistant to both false loose and covered smut. It is susceptible to true loose smut. This outstanding combination of disease resistance is superior to all other hulled or hulless 2-rowed varieties currently registered in Canada.

While similar in grain quality to varieties like CDC Dawn and CDC Freedom, having been selected for low beta-glucan levels and high digestible energy for swine and poultry, CDC McGwire has demonstrated nearly 10% higher grain yield. It also has better straw strength and threshability than CDC Dawn.

CDC McGwire's combination of disease resistance, high quality and high productivity mean it should be well adapted to all barley growing areas of western Canada, except for those areas where exceptional straw strength is required.

CDC McGwire was tested as SB93900 and HB335 and originates from the cross TR311/WM8412-9-2-1, where SB93900 is a CDC hulless breeding line and WM8412-9-2-1 is a hulled breeding line from the AAFC Brandon breeding program. CDC McGwire has been released exclusively to Secan Ltd. for Pedigreed seed production and marketing. Certified seed should be available by the spring of 2001.