Clubroot variety o ers TuYV and pod shatter resistance

For oilseed rape growers in clubroot infected areas looking for high yields, and to protect themselves against turnip yellows virus (TuYV) and pod shatter, LG Anarion is the one variety to o er this.

LG Anarion is the rst clubroot resistant variety to o er high yields, which is secured by a range of valuable genetic traits including TuYV, pod shatter and RLM 7 resistance, and is available to UK growers for the coming season.

“This is a really exciting development for growers of oilseed rape in clubroot infected areas,” says Will Charlton, Limagrain’s arable marketing manager.

“Possession of these traits provides much needed on-farm security to growers who are looking to improve their pro ts from oilseed rape, in areas that have, until now, been challenging as a result of clubroot.”

Clubroot typically causes losses of 0.3t/ha for every 10 per cent of plants a ected. The disease is becoming far more widespread across the UK, spreading into areas such as Somerset and Derbyshire, and is no longer con ned to the wetter regions such as the north-west.

Tighter rotations, low soil pH, warmer, wetter winters and poor OSR volunteer control have all contributed to these increasing levels of infection.

As the rst clubroot-resistant variety to o er (TuYV), pod shatter

Yield advantage over comparator varieties

LG Anarion (TuYV + CR) Alasco (8) LG Anarion TuYV hybrid non CR (3) LG Anarion CR resistant CR resistant non TuYV (3) non TuYV (3) and RLM 7 resistance, LG Anarion is an exciting prospect for this season o ering both high yields and yield security, says Liam Wilkinson, Limagrain’s arable technical o cer.

“In our UK breeding trials, we saw that LG Anarion showed an 11 per cent yield increase over our current clubroot variety, Alasco, and 5 per cent over other leading club root varieties – representing a signi cant improvement and further closing of the yield gap associated with clubroot resistance. We’ve also seen strong performance in independent trials.

“We know that TuYV can knock yields by as much as 30 per cent and infection is di cult to prevent with foliar insecticides alone. Limagrain was the rst to introduce TuYV resistance with the variety Amalie in 2014, and the trait is now a staple of our high-yielding hybrids,” comments Mr Wilkinson.

“LG Anarion also o ers pod shatter resistance; a trait which has recently had its importance acknowledged by the AHDB with its inclusion on the Recommended List. Pod shatter resistance can help secure yields and prevent untimely seed losses if there is inclement weather around harvest.”

It also protects from losses during harvest (as the header hits the crop), as well as reducing the number of volunteers in the following crop.

Other traits stacked into LG Anarion include the RLM7 phoma resistance gene, which provides stable resistance scores of 7 or 8; Limagrain does not o er varieties with a light leaf spot score of below 6.

Agronomically, there is much to like about LG Anarion, notes Mr Wilkinson.

“It o ers good disease resistance, with our breeding data suggesting ratings of 6 for light leaf spot, 6+ for phoma and a good tolerance to verticillium. It has early-mid owering and maturity, and good ratings for stem sti ness and lodging.

“The variety has very strong autumn dynamic growth with fast biomass accumulation and then sits in the winter, so it does not get too ahead of itself. It exhibits very good winter hardiness, which means it can cope with more challenging winter conditions.” FG

It’s important that growers are alert to the threat that clubroot poses and are in a position to counter it as best as possible by identifying areas at most risk and targeting them with integrated cultural control strategies, says Agrii seed specialist, David Leaper (pictured).

Varietal resistance to clubroot should only be used as one element of the management programme, he says. “All clubroot-resistant varieties share the same source of resistance so we should not over rely on it.”

For sites at risk of clubroot, key elements of cultural control should encompass: • Growing OSR no more than one in four years • Remedying any soil compaction or drainage problems • Checking soil pH regularly across all elds • Avoiding early winter rape sowing • Correcting boron de ciencies • Testing soils for clubroot in una ected elds • Minimising soil movement on farm equipment.

Agreement signed to develop hybrid wheat seeds for European markets

The new partnership between RAGT and Bayer aims to provide farmers with new high-potential wheat varieties, enhancing sustainable agricultural practices.

RAGT and Bayer have entered an exclusive collaboration to jointly develop state-of-the-art hybrid wheat varieties. The two companies will pool their strengths by combining Europe’s leading soft wheat genetics with access to the latest breeding methodologies, high-performing seed production systems and advanced digital solutions.

Wheat is the most widely grown food crop in the world. In the European Union and the United Kingdom alone, more than 25 million hectares are under yearly cultivation.

Wheat provides about 20 per cent of the proteins consumed in the world. Securing the wheat harvests through hybrid wheat production systems that help increase yield and robustness of the crop will help meet the expected increase in food consumption to feed a growing world population.

Through a combination of Bayer’s position in wheat crop protection, expertise in seed production systems and its front-running digital solutions in agriculture, and RAGT’s position as a leading cereal seed company in Europe with constant varietal seed innovations, both companies intend to advance the development of hybrid wheat technology and provide an innovative wheat growing system.

“Hybrid wheat o ers farmers the opportunity to meet the challenges of climate change while achieving higher productivity in sustainable cropping systems,” said Bob Reiter, head of research and development at the Crop Science division of Bayer. “We are delighted to partner with RAGT to bring wheat farmers new solutions that support their e orts to produce a quality wheat crop.”

Bruno Tremblay, regional head of Europe, Middle East and Africa for the Bayer Crop Science division, con rmed: “Our agreement with RAGT kicks o another exciting collaboration of two historical partners with the complimentary innovation and digital capabilities needed to unlock the potential of the agronomic performance in wheat. Together, we will bring an industryleading hybrid wheat production system to our growers in Europe. This will also contribute to a more self-su cient European food and feed production system.”

Laurent Guerreiro, general manager of RAGT Semences, also sees this collaboration as a turning point for farmers: “RAGT has continuously pursued a sustainable agriculture approach. This agreement, which aims to provide improved wheat and new cultivation practices, will enable us to support farmers even better. We are in line with the needs of an evolving agriculture. These innovations will enable meeting the needs of di erent types of agriculture: Concretely, by associating parent crops who each have innovative characteristics, we will be able to o er farmers wheat varieties that address the main problems farmers face in any of their elds,” he commented. FG

The highest yielding Clearfield® variety

MATRIX CL is the first commercial Quad-Layer Clearfield® variety that stacks four valuable, complex traits together without compromising yield.

• First to offer TuYV protection.

• Enhanced agronomic performance with RLM7+ stem canker protection and pod shatter resistance.

• Strong early vigour – defence against flea beetle.

• Impressive yields (108% E/W) and oil content (46.0%)

Source: AHDB Candidate List 2021/22 and DSV Internal Trials

Clearfield is a registered trademark of BASF. Use plant protection products safely. Always read the label and product information before use.For further information including warning phrases and symbols, refer to agricentre.basf.co.uk. www.dsv-uk.co.uk