Cuillin

Cuillin is a hybrid variety bred by LS Plant Breeding.

Cuillin is a very high yielding hybrid with almost complete resistance to light leaf spot (LLS). 

Now commercially proven on farm, Cuillin is a key variety selection for northern growers who are finding it almost impossible to control LLS using fungicides alone.

However, with the disease now an increasing problem further south, here too growers should be factoring Cuillin into their variety mix.

Light Leaf Spot

LLS is the most significant disease of oilseed rape in northern Britain. Crops routinely receive at least two sprays to control a disease that can cut yields by over 1.5t/ha.

The disease is also compromising yield further south and HGCA work, conducted by Rothamsted Research, confirms that LLS is now prevalent again as far south as the Midlands.

Current LLS forecasts suggest that almost 50% of all crops north of a line drawn from the Severn estuary and The Wash will now see levels of the disease where 25% or more plants will be affected.  

With current fungicides struggling to provide a reasonable level of control, growers need to focus on the in-built LLS resistance of a variety to minimise the impact of the disease.

In this respect, Cuillin has a near perfect 9 rating and it is virtually immune to the disease, providing a strong defence.

Top 10 Recommended Varieties for Gross Output

	Light Leaf Spot	Yield
Compass	6	Highest Yield
Fashion	6
Cuillin	9
Flash	5
Catana	7
Lioness	5
Excalibur	6
Hornet	6
Temple	7
Emerson	9	Lowest Yield

Data source: HGCA Recommended List database 2011/12, for Oilseed Rape, North Region.

In a series of trials by ADAS, Scottish Agronomy and Frontier in 2010, untreated Cuillin produced yields on a par with the best fungicide programmes on the other comparator varieties, Castille and Krypton.

However, fungicide use in late autumn and the spring did provide positive yield responses in the variety.  So, in most situations a combination of Cuillin’s LLS resistance, plus fungicides will generate the best returns.

 “Based on our trials data from High Mowthorpe, each point difference in LLS resistance that Cuillin delivers is currently worth 0.2t/ha or £75/ha with rape at £375/t,” Dr Peter Gladders – ADAS (Oilseed rape price as of December 2010).

Exceptional Yield

In HGCA official treated trials, Cuillin has a gross output of 105% with only one other fully recommended variety matching this level.

And, at 101% in the untreated trial series Cuillin’s yield drops by just 0.2t/ha compared to its treated performance, again highlighting its exceptional LLS resistance rating.

Agronomically Suited

Cuillin is quick to move in the spring and stands well even in the most testing of conditions, although a spring PGR would still be beneficial in highly fertile situations. This is backedby early flowering and a medium maturity, to give a long and productive flowering and pod-fill period, without compromising harvest date.

	Cuillin	Flash	Compass
Resistance to lodging	8	7	8
Stem stiffness	8	7	8
Shortness of stem	6	6	6
Earliness of flowering	8	6	6
Earliness of maturity	5	4	5

Data source: HGCA Recommended List database 2011/12, for Oilseed Rape, North Region