AHDB has today (27 November) launched the online edition of the Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds 2024/25.
With fewer new varieties added than in recent years, the latest edition has shorter lists for most major crops. However, highlights include the first BYDV-tolerant six-row hybrid winter barley, the first new UKFM Group 1 winter wheat since 2017, and a ‘barn-filling’ Group 3 winter wheat.
RL 2024/25 also features improvements to the tables following feedback from the RL review, as well as information on verticillium stem stripe resistance in oilseed rape.
Paul Gosling, who manages the RL at AHDB, says the RL review has already resulted in numerous changes to the lists. “This year’s leaner lists will be welcomed by many. However, quality remains high, with several exciting new additions.”
Barley
The winter barley list has two new varieties – SY Buzzard (Syngenta), the first six-row hybrid with tolerance to BYDV; and feed variety, LG Capitol (Limagrain).
The spring barley list has six new varieties, all under evaluation by the Malting Barley Committee (MBC) – three for brewing only, two for brewing and malt distilling and one for malt distilling only.
Paul says the list now makes it easier to identify which varieties have full MBC approval or are under test.
In terms of yield, especially in the East region, Paul says Bounty (Agrovista) is a stand-out addition. Under test for brewing only, it offers good disease and lodging resistance. NOS Gambit (Senova) and LG Aquarius (Limagrain) are also under test for brewing only.
Dual-purpose varieties now on the list are Belter (Agrii) and Olsen (Limagrain), which feature treated and untreated yields above the current market leaders. NOS Munro (Senova) is under test for malt distilling only and is high yielding in the North.
Wheat
The winter wheat list has five new varieties. SY Cheer is the first provisional UKFM Group 1 variety since 2017, with its relatively high untreated yield and good resistance to rusts as stand-out features. UKFM will confirm its Group 1 classification in March 2024.
The list also features two new recommended UKFM Group 3 varieties. Bamford (from Elsoms) has very high treated and untreated yields, which match up to the best Group 4 varieties, and good disease resistance and grain quality.
Almara (Senova) is recommended only for the North region, where it has good treated and untreated yields. According to Paul, it has approval for export and its favourable distilling report marked it out as a good variety for the region.
The only new Group 4 soft variety is Blackstone (Elsoms), with good disease and lodging
resistance and untreated yield. It also received a favourable distilling report and its high specific weight offers reassurance to feed growers.
The only hard Group 4 variety added is LG Beowulf (Limagrain). With consistent high yields, high untreated yields, resistance to lodging and good grain quality, Paul says it adds strength to this already strong group.
The spring wheat list has two new varieties – Group 2 WPB Mylo (LSPB) and hard Group 4 SEW19-3003SW.
Winter oilseed rape
For the first time, the winter OSR list features information on verticillium stem stripe resistance. Paul explains that varieties are rated as either susceptible, moderately resistant or intermediate.
“The requirement for this disease data was identified in the previous RL review and is the culmination of nearly a decade’s worth of research investment,” he says.
“Phoma stem canker ratings have been ‘reset’ to correct a drift in the ratings over recent years and as a result, ratings have generally fallen.”
The three new UK-recommended hybrid varieties are LG Armada, LG Academic and LG Adeline (all Limagrain). They have high yields and good disease resistance, including resistance to TuYV, however don’t currently have verticillium ratings.
Recommended for the East/West region is hybrid variety Dolphin (DSV). It has good disease resistance and is one of only seven varieties to be rated as moderately resistant to verticillium.
A new UK-recommended conventional variety Pi Pinnacle (Grainseed) has good yields in the East/West region and good light leaf spot resistance. Miraculix CL (DSV) is a new Clearfield variety for the North, where it has relatively high yields.
Oats
The spring oats list features two new varieties – husked Asterion (from Saaten Union) and naked Ovation (Senova); once again, there are no new winter oat varieties.
List improvements
Next year is the 80-year anniversary of the first recommended list and the RL continues to evolve to meet changing requirements.
In response to feedback from the latest RL review, the online tables feature numerous improvements to help navigation. The RL app also includes a new feature to allow a side-by-side comparison of varieties; the app will be updated in January with RL 2024/25 data.
The RL archive now features a tool to help users identify the year when varieties were first and last listed.
The RL booklet, due out in January, will also feature major changes to the table designs and extensive information about the RL trial and recommendation processes.
Two calls for scoping reviews have also been issued to examine evidence of varietal responses under lower-input scenarios (nitrogen and fungicides, respectively). Paul said: “Some recommendations from the RL review can be quickly applied, some will take longer or not be practical or affordable.
“We’re also looking at ways to maximise the value of RL data already collected to provide new varietal insights. Whatever the next steps, we’ll keep RL users informed about major developments,” he concludes.