The first two-row feed winter barley varieties to come with BYDV tolerance were on display at Cereals this week.

Both are candidate varieties, meaning they will be up for recommendation later this year, coming at the right time for growers to minimise risk and reduce inputs.

They are also likely to appeal to those who are adopting SFI actions which reward integrated pest management approaches and eliminate insecticides – the latter being worth £45/ha.

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Organa from Senova and Carpenter from Limagrain bring a new trait to growers who prefer to grow two-rows, while simplifying workloads and reducing costs, both seed companies stress.

Previously, BYDV tolerance in barley has only been available in six-row varieties.

Carpenter has a treated yield of 103% and an untreated yield of 93%, while Organa has a treated yield of 102% and an untreated yield of 90%.

Both varieties have high specific weights and good all-round disease resistance, along with early maturity.

Results from the forthcoming harvest are eagerly awaited, so that another year’s data can be added and final ratings confirmed.

Senova’s managing director, Tom Yewbrey, explains that Organa has both the YD2 and YD3 genes that give BYDV tolerance, which minimise the risk of BYDV infection.

“There is some impact of BYDV in tolerant varieties, but the yield loss is much less than that of susceptible varieties,” he says. “Organa is a positive development for growers who prefer two-row varieties.

“Bringing this type of variety to market allows us to play our part in helping farms to secure a sustainable future.”

Ron Granger, arable technical manager at Limagrain, predicts that the majority of winter barley varieties will either carry resistance or tolerance to BYDV before too long, as breeders have been proactive in solving key issues.

“These are exciting times for the industry,” he says. “There are some interesting genetics being worked on and in varieties such as Carpenter, we are seeing them come to fruition.

“Not surprisingly, there’s huge interest in varieties which address on-farm challenges.”

Among the 17 winter barley candidates, there are also two conventional six-row candidates offering BYDV tolerance, as well as a six-row hybrid candidate with BYDV resistance.