Rival wheat and barley are tipped for list success
Rival wheat and barley are tipped for list success
A NEW potential biscuit-making wheat to rival Consort and Claire and a malting barley to challenge Pearl are among 36 cereal and oilseed varieties vying for a place on the new recommended lists in December.
The candidates were announced last Friday by Crop Evaluation Limited, the Home-Grown Cereals Authority offshoot, which has taken over full control of the recommended lists.
The larger than normal number of varieties selected reflects CELs desire to give more varieties the chance of assessment, says recommended lists manager, Dr Jim McVittie.
Robigus, from breeder CPB Twyford, is being tipped as the rising star among new wheats. "It has a 4% yield advantage over Claire and Consort, with a good stiff straw," says NIAB cereal expert Richard Fenwick.
Among malting candidates Pedigree from New Farm Crops could knock Pearl from its number one position with maltsters, he adds. "Pedigree is 6% higher-yielding than Pearl with good malting potential – it looks very strong to me."
The five potential bread-making wheat candidates are Tellus from CPB Twyford, NSL WW37 and WW41 from Nickerson, and Scorpion 25 and Warlock 24 from Advanta Seeds.
"These are better than Malacca, but none currently look as exciting as Xi-19," says Mr Fenwick.
Wizard also from CPBT, Goodwood from Cebeco Seed Innovations and Nickersons NSL WW39 are the other potential biscuit-makers.
CPBTs Brunel and Carlton from Elsoms Seeds are potential feed varieties.
An interesting feed barley development is six-row Sequel, offering specific weight comparable to many two-rows, says Mr Fenwick. "It sets new standards for specific weight, but its not as stiff-strawed as Siberia."
Advantas Kestrel, Saigon from Nickerson, Parasol from Monsanto and Clara from Saaten Union are the other potential malting types.
NSL 97-6016 from Nickerson, Swallow from Advanta and Antelope from CPBT make up the other two-row feed candidates.
Spring barley varieties with malting potential are Colston, Vortex, Sebastian, Novello and Cocktail from New Farm Crops, Topic from Monsanto and NSL 98-4087 from Nickerson.
The two other varieties, Kirsty from Saaten Union and Global from Dalgety have been tested for malting, but do not appear suited so have been selected as potential feeds, says CEL. *
Its a year of consolidation, says NIAB oilseed expert Simon Kightley, who rates restored hybrid Toccata from Syngenta as the top newcomer, although it offers the same gross output as the conventional type Winner.
"But the last two growing seasons have gone against hybrids, so were really looking for a third year of results before we can confidently say these ratings are a reality."
Nelson, another restored hybrid from Syngenta, and CPBTs varietal association Congress are the other candidate hybrids.
The conventional varieties are Cancan from Monsanto, Ontario from Nickerson, Tequila from Danisco and Ibex from DLF-Perryfields.