Advertiser content
2023 weather proves the importance of pod shatter resistance
Provided by
LG is a brand of plant breeder Limagrain; a farmer owned co-op dedicated to developing new varieties of arable, forage & amenity seeds for farmers and growers.
We’re proud to offer a wide portfolio of some of the very best varieties in the market for valuable agronomics and performance, including the highest yielding winter wheat; LG Skyscraper, and the top 6 OSR varieties on the current AHDB Recommended List.
For further information: www.lgseeds.co.uk
More information about Winter wheat varieties webpage can be found online at www.lgseeds.co.uk/crops
© Limagrain In 2023, the oilseed rape harvest was particularly challenging due to an exceptionally wet and windy July.
Across the UK, July was the 6th wettest on record for the last 188 years, and the 7th windiest for the last 55 years.
Because of these abnormal levels of wind and rain pod shatter, a natural process to allow seed dispersion is an ever-present risk to growers.
The wetting and drying of pods in July is a risk factor at a time of the year where all the inputs have been spent on the crop and the pods are most fragile.
Added to the untimely seed shed through direct wind and rain damage, the rain causes a catchy harvest, which increases the likelihood of pod shatter as the crop is left out longer and naturally senesces.
A tool to help combat these issues is the pod shatter resistance trait; first introduced in 2010, pod shatter resistance is an important trait present in all of Limagrain’s commercial hybrid oilseed rape varieties.
The pod shatter resistance trait is the most effective option for preventing pod shatter and is a genetic choice so it can’t be influenced throughout the season.
© Limagrain
With the various challenges involved in growing oilseed rape, the addition of traits into Limagrain varieties is invaluable, including PoSH, TUYV resistance and N-Flex.
These genetics add to the crop’s defence providing on-farm flexibility and securing yields.
With this in mind, it is exciting to see Limagrain continue to produce trait-stacked varieties with on-farm security at the forefront of the breeding effort.