The last two seasons have demonstrated the value of growing consistent varieties that will perform under a range of conditions. Growers need to know that whatever the weather does, the varieties that they have in the ground can cope and will yield.
The last two seasons could not have been more different testing varieties across the recommended list with many succumbing to the intense disease and environmental pressures, whilst others have continued to perform backed up by a sound and robust agronomic make up.
"When choosing varieties for the coming season growers really need to look at these performances to ensure they choose varieties that they have confidence in to deliver irrespective of the season,” says Dr Paul Rowe, wheat breeder with Limagrain.
"Limagrain has a reputation for providing growers with varieties that are consistent for performance in both agronomic and end use specification and it is varieties such as the high yielding, soft wheat Revelation that has performed very well in both fungicide treated and untreated trials over a number of very different years, that underpin this confidence. “
"Revelation which joined the recommended list last year offers an excellent disease resistance package backed up by stiff straw and the results of this have been seen across the country. In fact the variety’s performance last year was outstanding, which in the face of the severe disease pressures we had confirms its genetic robustness.”
"This excellent agronomic package makes it not only an easy variety to manage, but also one that provides more flexibility for input timings than is available with many weaker-strawed, more disease-prone varieties. “
Revelation’s pedigree is based on an Alchemy x Claire cross with Shepherd. "The objective of this cross was to combine the soft-milling and excellent agronomic qualities of Alchemy and Claire with the more diverse disease resistance, including pch1 eyespot resistance, carried by Shepherd (derived from Aardvark)," he adds.
Revelation is suitable for the feed, distilling, export and bio-fuel markets. The variety has excellent quality specifications, producing grain of good specific weight and a hagberg falling number significantly higher than several other varieties in this sector such as Cougar for example, which does not have a recommendation for distilling.
High yielding and outstanding agronomic profile
Revelation has produced very high yields throughout the UK, and in recommended list trials has out-performed all the established varieties in the soft feed group, producing 104% over control in treated trials. Revelation performed particularly well in the east and northern regions outperforming Cougar by as much as 2% in the east.
“There is no other variety currently on the recommended list that displays such levels of resistance over all the major wheat diseases. As the only variety with a rating of 9 for yellow rust and brown rust, an 8 for eyespot and a 7 for Fusarium it is clearly the most robust disease resistant package currently on offer from the soft wheat group, certainly offering a more robust package than either Cougar or Leeds.”
“This outstanding disease resistance gives growers a level of assurance that if fungicide applications are delayed due to adverse weather conditions yield will not be compromised to any great extent. Revelation has stiff straw of a moderate height, and is a late maturing variety.”
“However it is important to note that Revelation does not possess genetic resistance to wheat orange blossom midge, so in areas where this is a problem control with an insecticide application will be beneficial.”
Rotational flexibility
According to Dr Rowe it is the flexibility of where the variety can be grown within the rotation that should make it particularly appealing to growers as it has produced a consistent performance in both first and second wheat rotational positions, and on both light and heavy soil types.
“Although only low levels of take – all have been found on farm in the last couple of seasons, partly due to the extreme climatic variation, Revelation would appear to be a very good second wheat candidate from our own trials. The data illustrates that Revelation has the potential to yield consistently well, over several years, in this key rotational position, presumably in part due to the variety’s excellent eyespot resistance of 8,” he says.
Early drilling
This coming season many farmers will be looking to get their wheat crops in as early as possible to avoid a repeat of last autumn. For those growers who may be discouraged by the risk of increased disease, lodging or weed pressure associated with early drilling, Revelation is a variety that they should consider for this slot that overcomes most of these early drilling issues.
"The requirements for an early-sowing variety “are a prostrate winter growth habit and a relatively slow primordial development in the spring, combined with good disease resistance and stiff straw, all of which Revelation possesses."
"The variety’s high level of eyespot resistance is an added bonus for a variety in the early drilling slot, as the incidence of this disease is greatly increased from early sowing dates, even in a first wheat situation, which can result in reduced yields."
