UK: New KWS sugar beet varieties expand high-yielding options for growers

Date:05-07-2018

New sugar beet varieties from KWS for 2019 combine excellent yield potential with excellent early drilling performance and resistance to the AYPR strain of rhizomania.

KORTESSA KWS has a yield of 106.2% of controls putting it in the top three highest yielding varieties on the BBRO Recommended List for 2019. It is also well suited to an early drilling slot as the second highest yielding variety suitable for sowing before mid-March after DAPHNA, the highest yielding variety on the BBRO RL for the second year running.

With excellent performance for bolters when sown after mid-March however, KORTESSA KWS comes into its own with the lowest bolting score of any high-yielding variety. It also has an exceptional resistance score for rust.

“KORTESSA KWS is another step forward in yield progression at more than 6% higher than the average of controls. Its yield potential, excellent performance across all sowing dates and high resistance against one of the most prevalent diseases of recent years makes KORTESSA KWS a compelling proposition for those with a long growing season,” says Ben Bishop, KWS sugar beet UK-country manager.

Also new for 2019 is PHILINA KWS. At 104.9% of controls it is in the top-five highest yielding varieties for 2019, while its resistance to the AYPR strain of aggressive rhizomania will be welcomed by those affected by this devastating disease.

“Yielding comfortably ahead of the control varieties, PHILINA KWS means those with land affected by AYPR now have a genuinely high yielding alternative to SANDRA KWS. This will improve performance across the rotation and further support yields across the industry,” says Ben Bishop.

Although not new for 2019, KWS expects the UK’s most widely grown variety of the past three seasons, SABATINA KWS to be popular again in 2019.

“At more than 3% ahead of controls, SABATINA KWS, is in the top-five highest yielding varieties and with noted yield increases among late lifters (after November) and the best rust resistance of any fully recommended variety we expect it to be popular again in 2019,” says Ben Bishop.

KWS also announced that it will increase the amount of SALAMANCA KWS seed available to growers for the 2019 season.

“Bred specifically for the UK, SALAMANCA KWS is a high yielding variety at 103.4% of controls with scores of 5.7 and 5.6 for rust and powdery mildew respectively, it offers one of the best combinations of disease resistance of the fully recommended varieties on the Recommended List.

“Best sown after mid-March, SALAMANCA KWS will appeal to growers seeking a range of high-yielding varieties to spread the drilling workload and manage disease risk,” says Ben Bishop.

Retaining its place as the highest yielding variety in official trials for the second year running, DAPHNA is unique as the only variety to combine beet cyst nematode (BCN) tolerance with a yield well over 6% higher than the average of controls.

“DAPHNA’s strong disease resistance combined with suitability for drilling before mid-March make it a great choice for all growers in 2019,” says Ben Bishop.

Another credible BCN choice is CANTONA KWS, the second-highest yielding BCN tolerant variety available after DAPHNA, but with a higher sugar content of 18.1%.

“An adjusted yield of 103.9% of controls makes CANTONA KWS a top-five variety and its combination of BCN tolerance and high sugar content will appeal to those looking to spread variety risk while managing the drilling workload without compromising on yield potential,” says Ben Bishop.