Robigus

With Riband, Consort and Claire in decline, Robigus remains the market leading Group 3 variety on farm.

Last year it was the most widely used variety in UK biscuit grists, as well as being a mainstay for the distilling market and a leading UKS export wheat.

This year, with UK demand outstripping supply, Robigus remains the key established variety that will attract premiums from biscuit and cake manufacturers while at the same time continuing to satisfy the exacting needs of the distilling and UKS sectors.

 

High yielding first wheat

Robigus is well established and should really only be grown as a first wheat. In this rotational position it is still the highest yielding Group 3 variety on the HGCA Recommended List and one that growers know how to manage to secure high yields.

 

Long grain-fill capacity

Robigus is a high tillering type with good green leaf retention and long grain-fill characteristics.

Even under severe early season drought, it maintains more viable tillers than most wheats. As it matures, it is capable of filling these to maximum potential, providing high yields even in dull, damp summers.

Robigus’ high tillering capacity also gives valuable suppression of grass weeds especially in difficult resistant blackgrass situations.

As a moderately fast maturing variety, Robigus performs well when drilled from mid-September in the first wheat position.

Robigus is resistant to Orange Wheat Blossom Midge. This negates spraying for the pest in all bar the highest pressure situations.

 

Disease resistance

Robigus’ excellent resistance to Septoria – the UK’s main yield-robbing disease – is a key factor in helping to maintain green leaf to drive yields forward.

However, because Robigus is now susceptible to yellow rust, it requires good early season disease control.

The use of T0 and T1 rust-preventative fungicides backed by appropriate seed treatments such as Jockey or Galmano will be beneficial.

Data source: HGCA Recommended List 2009/10, for winter wheat

Robigus	(1-9)
Mildew	6
Yellow Rust	2
Brown Rust	7
S. nodorum	6
S. tritici	6
Eyespot	5
Fusarium Ear Blight	6

Robigus is tolerant to chlorotoluron.