Variety choice takes on added importance

Growers should consider varieties that have in-built potential to return strong yields – and that means keeping out diseases, say oilseed rape specialists Corteva.

Andy Stainthorpe, who represents Corteva’s Pioneer seed brand, says PT303 Protector Sclerotinia is the top winter oilseed rape variety for gross output, returning 107% in the AHDB’s UK Recommended List for 2022.

It offers a suite of genetic protection against sclerotinia – a disease associated with the UK’s wet and warm conditions – as well as resistance to Turnip Yellows Virus (TuYV), and good scores for light leaf spot and phoma.

Corteva trials show that the severity of sclerotinia in PT303 is reduced by up to 75% when infection levels are 25% or above. Early vigour and stem development will help crops to grow away from pests during the autumn, says Mr Stainthorpe.

This year, growers have the option of purchasing PT303 seed treated with Lumiposa, adding further protection. It is the only insecticidal seed treatment approved for use on rape seed.

Containing the active cyantraniliprole, Lumiposa offers some help to establish a crop in the face of attack from different pests, including cabbage root fly and cabbage stem flea beetle, says Mr Stainthorpe.”

Top yielder

“PT303 is the top-yielding variety in the country as proven in AHDB trials and will ensure that, whatever your fungicide programme, crops will have the best chance of delivering on the promise of high prices.”

PT303 was commercially launched last year. Farm manager Olly Pemberton, of RJ Hussey & Son, planted 20ha of PT303 in August 2021. “It looks fantastically clean from a disease point of view,” he said.

Some varieties out there in the trial are looking a bit dirtier but this is clean. It established brilliantly, and, for early autumn vigour, it went like a train – going into Christmas it looked phenomenal. It seems very resilient.”