SY Kestrel is the first variety to hit UK shores and is the flagship of Syngenta’s new Hyvido Neo branding.
Syngenta sees Hyvido Neo as the next step in its Hyvido hybrid barley technology, now over twenty years old. Looking ahead to the next 20 years, growers can expect to see varieties better able to utilise nutrition and water, and offering resilience against environmental factors such as drought and temperature extremes.
Syngenta’s Ben Urquhart said that Hyvido Neo traits would build on the benefits already established with existing Hyvido varieties. Over time these have moved beyond just consistent high yield to deliver improved agronomics including better specific weight, superior grass weed suppression and the flexibility to offer growers a grain or wholecrop opportunity.”
SY Kestrel moves viral genetics from tolerance to resistance with protection against all major BYDV serotypes MAV, PAV and RPV (Cereal Yellow Dwarf Virus). For good measure, it also offers tolerance to Wheat Dwarf Virus (WDV).
Resistant varieties are likely to have very low, or no levels of infection and viral replication is likely to be low or non-existent. By contrast tolerant varieties may show symptoms of virus and allow viral replication, particularly in high-pressure situations, although tolerance protects yield even in the presence of the viral symptoms, says Ben.
“BYDV-resistant varieties like SY Kestrel have remained green in the face of significant natural infection pressure in Syngenta breeding trials in Germany,” Ben explains. “We also have two years of ELISA testing which have shown negligible viral DNA in SY Kestrel.
“Tolerance delivers some flexibility, especially as it will increase the spray window for applying pyrethroids in the autumn. Resistance offers growers greater flexibility again. Upgrading your genetics opens the door for SFI options such as CIPM4, worth £45/ha.”