Five varieties from Senova’s cereals portfolio have been added to the AHDB Recommended List.
The two-row feed winter barley Darcie comes with resistance to both strains of Barley Yellow Mosaic Virus (BaYMV). Specifically recommended for the East, it has a treated yield of 106.
It is also one of only two listed varieties to offer dual soil-borne virus protection, and also has a Rhynchosporium resistance rating of 7, a net blotch score of 6 and a grain specific weight of 70.9kg/hl.
“The genetic potential of Darcie is clear when you look at its agronomic merit score,” says George Goodwin, managing director of Senova. “With its strong disease and virus resistance, stiff straw and lower screenings, it’s a variety that will appeal to growers.”
The husked winter oat Rannoch has been added, with a treated yield of 106 and an untreated score of 92, giving it a 4% yield advantage over Cromwell and 10% over Mascani.
It comes with a kernel content of 74.5% and a specific weight of 51.7kg/hl, with low screenings of 3.3%. When looking at resistance, it scored an 8 against crown rust, and a 5 against mildew.
“Rannoch is a big step forward,” says George. “When you consider that its untreated yield is virtually on a par with the treated yield of the country’s most popular oat variety, it highlights what this introduction represents and the breeding progress that has been made.”
Merkawa, a hard Group 4 spring wheat, joins the List with a treated yield of 107, with good all-round disease resistance and early maturity.
It scores 9 against mildew, 7 for both yellow and brown rust and is rated 5 against septoria.
Onto the spring barley portfolio, Nolan has malting potential and comes with a treated yield of 103 and an untreated yield of 88.
Suitable for brewing and distilling, it has good Predicted Spirit Yield (PSY) and Hot Water Extract (HWE) figures, along with a specific weight of 67.9kg/hl and low screenings of 2.8%.
Disease resistance figures include a 9 for mildew, 8 for net blotch, 5 for Rhynchosporium and 4 for brown rust. It will now be submitted for MBC testing.
Making its way onto the Descriptive List, Bicross is a winter triticale that offers drilling date flexibility, with a yield of 99, a high specific weight, early ripening and a yellow rust resistance of 9.