Rape variety Bohemes light leaf spot resistance gives it extra boost in Scotland

A candidate oilseed rape variety for the North is defying disease and weather conditions in Morayshire, showing a significantly better performance than its neighbours so far this season.

Boheme has dominated vigour and winter hardiness scoring in Frank Thomsons oilseed rape field variety trials, which he puts down the varietys light leaf spot resistance.

Rape crops in the north of England and Scotland have been under a lot of pressure from light leaf spot this spring, says Mr Thomson, who farms over 700 ha just east of Elgin on the Firth of Moray. By the end of April Boheme was much further ahead than the other varieties that have been significantly held back by the conditions.  Its been a healthier crop from the start, shrugging off any problems including the recent dry conditions on our sandy loam soil.

Mr Thomson hosts oilseed rape variety and fungicide demo trials in strips ranging in size from half to one hectare.  He appreciates the opportunity to compare the farm performance of new material coming onto the Recommended List, especially varietal resistance to light leaf spot disease.

The trial was drilled on 4^th September 2010, followed by torrential rain two days later.  The weather delayed the autumn fungicide spray, but Mr Thomson followed it up with a fungicide/insecticide tank mix in mid-April and aims to spray Amistar at mid-flowering to extend the canopy and increase the oil content. We had superb oil contents of 47% last year using Amistar at the same time, he says.  The rape crops receive up to 300 kg N/ha split three ways across the season.

Despite being close to the coast Mr Thomson had the earliest snowfall he could ever remember, on 28^th November, and the snow remained on the ground until mid-January.  The light leaf spot seemed to thrive under the snow on the rape crops and spread rapidly on the more susceptible varieties.  Bohemes varietal resistance and winter hardiness has definitely been instrumental in its success this season.

Boheme is a candidate variety for the North region combining high yield, winter hardiness and good light leaf spot disease resistance, equal to any of the current HGCA candidates and better than many of the current Recommended List varieties.  Boheme is capable of matching or beating the gross output of any of the current HGCA Listed varieties.  With very good lodging resistance, medium plant height, and a similar maturity to Catana and Fashion, Boheme is a solid variety for the North region, says Nigel Padbury, Syngentas OSR seed manager.

 

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