Hybrid Vigour Increasingly Important in the North

This means selecting vigorous types – particularly hybrids – that have good spring ‘bounce-back’ and which can also cope with early season disease pressures, suggests managing director, Andrew Gilchrist.

For this reason – in non club root infected land - he backs restored hybrids such as Cuillin as key variety selection for drilling this August/September.

“Cuillin’s 9-rating for resistance to light leaf spot also means growers can cut fungicide costs, particularly in the autumn,” he points out.  “Furthermore, in the spring, they can look to utilise the more effective fungicides such as Caramba or Folicur that regulate crop height, rather than focus on disease control need.”

Alongside Cuillin, Emerson – 2% lower yielding on the Northern Recommended List - can also provide the early, low disease risk start required.  Alternatively, there’s also a small amount of Palace available – a newcomer from the same NPZ Lembke stable as Cuillin and Emerson.

However, where club root is an issue, growers will be taking a look at Cracker alongside Mendel, a variety which has had a good run and helped maintain rape in regions where the disease has proliferated. 

If hybrids are not your cup of tea, then Mr Gilchrist’s choice is Catana which is 2% higher yielding than Cuillin but one point worse for light leaf spot.  “We are also looking at the semi-dwarf DK Sequoia which has better disease resistance ratings than previous rapes of this type,” he says.

“No fungicides though – including Proline - are giving more than a month to six week control of the disease, so variety resistance is a key tool in the growers’ armoury.  As a result, we won’t look at anything without a minimum 7-rating for light leaf spot,” he points out.