New winter wheats set for autumn 2023

Four new winter wheats – including two high yielding varieties with bread-making potential – could be commercially available for drilling in autumn 2023.

All four varieties feature on the 2022 AHDB candidate list. They are KWS Ultimatum, KWS Wrenum, KWS Webbum and KWS Zealum. They combine high yields with solid agronomics, says KWS UK wheat breeder Mark Dodds.

Potential Group 2 breadmaking variety KWS Ultimatum is a good example of this, says Mr Dodds. It could yield more than KWS Extase and has a good set of disease resistance scores, he explains.

Promising performance

“It’s looking like a very promising second wheat. It’s got KWS Extase levels of untreated yield at 90% of controls and this is underpinned by an excellent disease resistance package with a standout 9 for yellow rust.”

KWS Wrenum is another potential Group 2 breadmaking variety with sound yield performance and excellent all-round characteristics inherited from its KWS W295 and KWS Siskin parentage, he says.

“It’s supported by a good all-round disease package. Again we’re looking at it being a potential Group 2 variety with a specific weight of 77.2kg/hl an Hagberg Falling Number of 289 – the same as Extase with a similar protein content too.”

Soft feed wheats KWS Webbum has a good yield at 103% of controls in the 2022 AHDB candidate list. Its non-Cougar Septoria resistance will appeal to many growers looking for an out and out barn filler with strong reliability.

Finally, KWS Zealum is a KWS Basset x Reflection cross adding one of the best combinations of yellow rust resistance and Orange Wheat Blossom Midge resistance to the high yielding soft Group 4 sector, says Mr Dodds.

“Strong yields across all regions, particularly in the east, and a class-leading 8.4 for yellow rust resistance allied to a 7 for Eyespot plus non-Cougar genetics, are going to make KWS Zealum a popular choice across the UK.”