Canola growers planning next year’s crop now have access to the latest trial data and information to assist variety selection.
The 2018 Canola Variety Guide for Western Australia was prepared by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and is based on variety performance in the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s (GRDC) National Variety Trials (NVT).
Department development officer Jackie Bucat said the updated guide included details about seven new varieties.
“The guide features details about the new Triazine Tolerant (TT) varieties, Hyola® 350TT, SF Ignite TT and DG 670TT,” Ms Bucat said.
“It also provides an overview of the new Roundup Ready® (RR) varieties, Invigor, R 3520, Pioneer 44Y27, DG 408RR and Hyola® 506RR.
The report consolidates results from 207 Western Australian NVT results acquired over the past five years, as well as data from 751 NVTs from around Australia over the same period.
“The NVTs are divided into early season trials for shorter season environments, which may suit early maturing varieties in northern and eastern areas and mid season trials sown in longer environments that suit mid maturing varieties,” Ms Bucat said.
“This makes it possible for canola growers to compare the performance of varieties suited to their location.”
The guide also outlines each variety’s pest and disease tolerance rating, as well as an update on variety blackleg resistance.
In 2016, TT varieties accounted for 74 per cent of all canola sown in WA, while RR varieties contracted slightly to 23 per cent of the canola area.
Ms Bucat said open pollinated TT varieties continued to be the most popular, comprising 71 per cent of canola plantings in 2016.
“ART Bonito continues to be the most widely sown canola variety, comprising 38 per cent in 2016, followed by ART Stingray with 17 per cent,” she said.
“Hybrid TT varieties accounted for 2.5 per cent of 2016 canola plantings, with Hyola® 559TT the most popular hybrid TT variety.
“RR varieties comprised 23 per cent of 2016 canola plantings, with Hyola® 404RR making up 8.6 per cent and Pioneer 43Y23 6.8 per cent of the total area sown to canola.”
The 2018 Canola Variety Guide for Western Australia is available for free. A hard copy will be mailed out to subscribers to the GRDC’s GroundCover magazine.
Media contacts: Jodie Thomson/Megan Broad, media liaison
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