from a cross made in 1975 between 'Cavell'(l) and 'Gemini'(2). The F, and F 2 generations of this cross were grown in the field. The F 3 through F 6 generations were advanced in growth cabinets by single seed descent. Jasper was selected in 1979 from approximately 650 F 7 lines grown in a panicle-row nursery at Lacombe, Alberta. Jasper was tested as selection no. LA-393-29 in the Preliminary Yield Test in 1980, and in the Project Oat Test in 1981. Jasper was advanced to the Western Cooperative Oat Test in 1982 and tested for 3 yr under the experimental designation OT740. License no. 2551 for this cultivar was issued by the Plant Health and Plant Products Directorate, Agriculture Canada, on 30 Sept. 1985. Juvenile plants of Jasper are erect. Adult plants are medium tall with medium thick and medium strong culms. Culm internodes are glabrous. The flag leaf is relatively erect. The penultimate leaf blades are generally drooping. Leaf blades are medium in width and leaf margins and sheaths are glabrous. A ligule is present at the base of the flag leaf. The panicles are equilateral, erect, medium wide, medium long, ovate, and intermediate in density. The rachis is straight to slightly flexuous. The rachillas are mid-long and glabrous. The spikelets are drooping and produce one or two florets. The lemmas are pointed, medium in length, and produce a few awns. Spikelet separation is by fracture, and floret separation is by disarticulation. The kernels are mid-wide, midlong, yellow in color, and most fluoresce light blue under ultraviolet light. In Alberta, Jasper has yielded more than any cultivar in its maturity group. In 2 yr of province-wide testing in Alberta (48 station yr), Jasper yielded 6% more than 'Athabasca' and matured in about the same number of days as Athabasca. Athabasca is the earliest maturing cultivar currently available to producers in Alberta. In comparison to other cultivars commonly grown in the province, Jasper yielded equal to or better than 'Grizzly', 'Harmon', and 'Random', and produced about 8% less grain than 'Calibre' or 'Cascade'. The latter two cultivars matured 3 to 5 days later than Jasper, which may have contributed to their yield advantage. Jasper is intermediate in plant height and averages about 6 cm taller than 'Dumont'. Jasper is equal to Dumont and 'Rodney' and slightly lower than Cascade in lodging resistance. It has good sprouting tolerance, high test weight, low hull content, and relatively high protein and fat contents. While Jasper is superior to Calibre and Cascade in respect to these characteristics, it is not equal to either cultivar in kernel plumpness. Jasper is recommended for production in central and northern Alberta, where early maturity, high yield, and sprouting tolerance are important considerations. Jasper is resistant to Victoria blight [caused by Bipolaris victoriae (Meehan and Murphy) Shoem.], but susceptible to smut [caused by Ustilago avenue (Pers.) Rostr.], oat crown rust [caused by Puccinia coronata Cda. f.sp. avenae (Eriks and Henn.) Eriks], oat stem rust...

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