GROWERS CAN look forward to more robust, consistent wheat varieties in the future, according to one cereal breeder, RAGT.

A number of varieties offering more predictable performance, without the need for overcomplicated agronomy are already in the pipeline, said RAGT‘s Richard Summers.

Mascot, a new potential Group 1 is currently in recommended list trials. “It is yielding 99-100% of controls, around the Claire and Consort level, has a stable Hagberg and sprouting resistance.”

The material in National List 2 is beginning to address the two key elements that are important to RAGT; robust field performance and improved septoria resistance, he said.

“We wanted to move the goalposts in terms of Group 2 quality and have developed some competitive wheats, all with strong septoria resistance.”

In fact all RAGT‘s biscuit and feed wheats are likely to have a score of eight for Septoria tritici, he suggested.

Further down the line, currently in NL1 trials are two group one/two varieties, one giving exciting quality, and the other with good yields at 107-109% of controls, he added.