Conventional oilseed rape varieties are fighting back with an eye-catching newcomer making its debut at the top of the East and West List.

However, hybrid fans won’t be disappointed either with a high yielder offering UK-wide appeal.

According to Niab Tag’s oilseed specialist Simon Kightley, it was evident as soon as the harvest results started coming in that there were some very good performances from both candidate and existing varieties, giving growers a better choice.

East/West

“The really good news is that Elgar, a conventional variety from Elsoms, is top of the new list for the East/West region and 2% clear of the others on gross output at 111%,” he says.

See also: OSR with turnip yellows virus resistance tipped for Recommended List

For growers wanting to make use of higher seed rates to counter the flea beetle threat, Elgar could be a good choice, he adds.

“If you go down that route, you need a variety with good standing ability. And Elgar has both good lodging resistance and stem stiffness.”

It also has the best disease rating combination, with a 7 for light leaf spot and a 6 for stem canker, plus early flowering and medium-early maturity.

“Elgar is quite tall for a conventional type, but it’s a good introduction and we’re expecting great things from it.”

However, committed hybrid growers still have plenty to be pleased about, continues Mr Kightley.

“The addition of Windozz, Wembley and Alizze to the list puts them ahead of Incentive, Arazzo and SY Harnas, as they have come in with gross output figures of 109% and 108%, respectively.

“All have excellent standing ability and very high yields, with Alizze also having a 7 for light leaf spot and finding a place on both lists.”

Otherwise, hybrid Angus has been added for its stem canker rating of 8. “It’s slightly lower than the others for gross output, on 105%.”

He is pleased to see last year’s top performer, V316OL, has maintained its excellent performance.

“It’s right up there with a gross output of 108%, demonstrating reliability.”

Amalie gains specialist recommendation for its turnip yellows virus resistance, offering a gross output of 99% and lodging and stem stiffness ratings of 8.

“I’m struggling to see how this type of resistance, in a relatively low-yielding variety, can be used.

“Growers will never really know where virus pressure is likely to be at its worst, so planning is almost impossible.”

Mr Kightley was disappointed that Nikita didn’t gain recommendation for the East and West region.

“Next to Elgar, it was convincingly the second best conventional variety last year, ahead of those already recommended.”

North

RAGT’s Alizze now sits at the top of the new list for the North region, with a gross output of 111%.

That puts it on a par with SY Harnas, which has maintained its performance, points out Mr Kightley.

“Alizze is slightly stiffer stemmed, earlier to flower and better for light leaf spot, with a 7. So it broadens the range of choice.”

Just below these are four conventional varieties, all on 110%, two of which are newcomers, he says. “Existing choices Anastasia and Campus have been joined by Barbados and Nikita.

These two have excellent lodging and stem stiffness scores, but different maturities, so they could be mixed and matched successfully.”

Barbados has a really good disease profile, with 7s for light leaf spot and stem canker, while Nikita also offers a 7 for light leaf spot. “Both are promising additions to this top yield category.”

Also added to the list was V324OL, a high-oleic, low-linolenic variety, with a gross output of 109%. “When compared with V316OL, it is slightly later to flower and has pod shatter resistance.”

Seed trade view

David Waite, northern seed manager at Frontier Agriculture believes that UK variety Alizze has a promising future.

“If you ask growers what they need in an oilseed rape variety, they will nominate gross output, standing ability and light leaf spot resistance. And Alizze has all of these.”

Hybrids have always been more popular in the north, he adds, where the longer daylight hours seem to suit them.

“However, the new conventional additions Barbados and Nikita offer these attributes too. Barbados is later to mature, which is how they can be differentiated.”

Having another high-oleic, low-linolenic (HOLL) variety, V324OL, is good news, he believes. “Any yield lag has been dealt with and the buy back contracts look good.”

Agrii national arable seed manager Barry Barker also sees Alizze becoming a market leading hybrid, with both Windozz and Wembley gaining some market share.

The new conventional Elgar has come along at the right time, he notes. “There’s been a swing back to conventionals and Elgar is a really good improvement for this type.

“Growers are bound to like its package and lower seed cost.”