Joining the winter OSR Recommended List for 2021/22 with an unbeatable combination of performance and yield-protection is DK Expectation.
Joining the winter OSR Recommended List for 2021/22 with an unbeatable combination of performance and yield-protection is DK Expectation.
An official gross output rating of 107.0% puts the variety in second place on the East/West List and fourth place overall when UK-wide varieties are included – with no significant performance difference from the top-placed variety on either List.
Alongside this, DK Expectation brings the best disease resistance ratings of any variety – an 8 for phoma, 7 for light leaf spot and TuYV resistance. Importantly too, the variety carries the pod shatter resistance trait pioneered by Dekalb to minimise summer and harvesting seed losses.
“This is the first time the pod shatter resistance we first launched in Excalibur and have made standard in all our Ex varieties has been highlighted as an attribute on the List,” notes Dekalb breeder, Matthew Clarke. “And about time too, with growers across the country finding it every bit as important in safeguarding yield as Turnip Yellows Virus Resistance, if not more so.
“To have the first variety with TuYV resistance we have commercialised join the RL with such an impressive all-round combination of output and agronomic strength is especially encouraging given the strength of the pipeline we have behind it.
“Individual traits are useful in themselves, but their real value in the field comes when they are stacked together to provide the greatest resilience to seasonal pressures, making varieties so much more consistent in delivering on their output potential. Especially if, like DK Expectation, they have a notably fast rate of autumn development as well as vigorous establishment.
“All-round agronomic strength is something we have always insisted upon in our breeding, so it’s good to see it now being given much greater recognition alongside gross output in the Recommended List process.”
From the same breeding stable, DK Imprint CL joins the new RL as the only Clearfield variety with a full UK recommendation, representing a clear step forward from existing East/West-only varieties in its regional gross output and agronomic package.
Together with phoma and light leaf spot resistance ratings of 8 and 6 respectively, DK Imprint CL also brings recognized pod shatter resistance resistance to the sector to reduce the pressure on subsequent volunteer control as well as improving harvest security and flexibility.
“It’s good to be able to claim two of this year’s six Recommended List additions,” Mr Clarke adds. “Equally, to have four strong candidates for Recommendation in 2022/23 – including DK Extremus, matching TuYV-resistant varieties in its NIAB trial performance and already valued by growers for being the earliest spring developer of all; and the first Clearfield HOLL, V382CL.”
