Genserus wheats lead the way in BYDV trials 

Potential breadmaker RGT Goldfinch, which is up for full recommendation this autumn, scored 104% of controls in the trial at Ickleton, Cambridgeshire, well ahead of other quality wheats.

Hard feed wheat RGT Grouse scored 112%, outperforming leading conventional barnfillers.

The trial featured several BYDV-resistant varieties, marketed under RAGT’s Genserus brand, and a range of commercial varieties.

All were sown in mid-September 2023 and inoculated with BYDV-infected aphids during the autumn and early spring, mimicking the intense BYDV pressure that can occur when mild weather dominates the darker months.

All varieties received ‘farm-standard’ fungicide and PGR treatments, but no insecticide.

The Genserus plots looked level and green across the trial when reviewed in June, while many conventional varieties succumbed to a range of reddening and dwarfing symptoms that caused yield loss.

“There was no dwarfism or loss of photosynthetic area in any of the Genserus varieties,” says RAGT UK’s managing director Lee Bennett.

A few of the conventional (susceptible) varieties tolerated BYDV relatively well, but many others suffered, including RGT Illustrious and Crusoe.

“Champion also took a lot of colour although it didn’t suffer from too much dwarfing, but SY Cheer, Gleam and Extase also appeared to detest BYDV, and that’s how it turned out,” Lee added. “They were full of colour and dwarfed badly, which was ultimately reflected in the yield.”

Looking at the results in more detail, RGT Goldfinch outyielded its potential main rival, Extase, by 2.4t/ha. “That extra yield was worth over £600/ha, assuming a breadmaking wheat price of £252/t, as seen on 9 August.”

Significant uplifts were also seen over Skyfall and Cheer, as well as stalwarts Crusoe and RGT Illustrious.

“In addition, RGT Goldfinch’s resistance to both BYDV and orange wheat blossom midge gives growers the chance to earn an additional £45/ha for growing an insecticide-free crop under the IPM 4 action of SFI,” says Lee.

RGT Grouse outyielded Dawsum by 0.925t, worth £169/ha at a feed wheat price of £183/t, plus the potential IPM 4 payment. The variety also pipped Champion and left Recommended List newcomers Bamford and Beowulf trailing.

The results reflect those seen in previous BYDV-inoculated trials at Ickleton. Last season, RGT Grouse outyielded Champion by 8.3%, worth an extra £173/ha with grain at £180/t, and Skyscraper by almost 15%, similar to the two preceding years. In the same trial RGT Goldfinch outyielded Extase by 14% and Skyfall by 11%.

Genserus wheats

RAGT’s BYDV-resistant wheats, the first and only BYDV wheats to be commercially grown in Europe, are marketed under the Genserus (Genetic Security Virus) brand.

Genserus wheats offer season-long control of BYDV, removing the management headaches of autumn aphid control and insecticide resistance, eliminating the risk of operator exposure and protecting the environment.

Both RGT Grouse and RGT Goldfinch are also resistant to orange wheat blossom midge, giving growers the opportunity to grow an insecticide-free wheat crop, which qualifies for an IPM 4 payment under SFI which is worth £45/ha.