In a year when oilseed rape plantings are up by well over 5%, our oilseed rape variety Sesame – which is the highest-yielding conventional variety in HGCA recommended list trials – has taken up over 10% of the acreage this autumn, said Theo Labuda, LSPBs managing director. We have also had success with our varieties Cracker and Palace, and all three will be considered for addition to the HGCA Recommended List later this month.

Paul Nickerson of Ebbage Seeds, who are working with breeders LSPB on the marketing of the variety, commented: Our clubroot-resistant hybrid Cracker has all-but replaced the previous leading clubroot-resistant variety, Mendel, in Scotland where this disease is a key factor in choice of variety.

Also our hybrid variety Palace, which is the third LSPB oilseed rape being considered for recommendation, has outstanding resistance to light leaf spot a disease that is becoming an increasing threat to the crop as this yield-robbing disease spreads southwards.

Mr Labuda added that LSPB has a number of promising varieties in the pipeline: For example, we have a semi-dwarf variety, Thorin, which has completed two years of National List trials. Looking further into the future, we have an interesting IMI-tolerant (imazamox herbicide) variety in National List trials.

LS Plant Breeding Ltd has grown from two companies with a long pedigree in plant breeding in oilseeds, pulses, cereals and forage crops both for Europe and the wider world.  Our varieties have been marketed previously through UK agents, but we are now establishing a firm presence in the UK market in our own right. We believe our varieties already on the Recommended Lists – and our candidate varieties – are good news for the UK as they show the results of our significant investment in breeding new, improved material for the UK grower.

Ebbage Seeds have been trading seed for over 20 years, working with international plant breeders, recognised leading seed growers and the UKs principal processors and seed retailers. Ebbage Seeds have grown to be the leading independent seed wholesaler to the UK seeds industry. Placing emphasis on quality, product and efficient service backed by our specialist knowledge of seed production and procurement.