Source: GRDC's The Crop Doctor

Independent guidance on triazine tolerant (TT) canola variety selection is available in Western Australia after last year’s inaugural Grains Research and Development Corporation supported National Variety Testing (NVT) trials.

The aim was to independently evaluate TT canola variety performance across all WA rainfall zones and soil types.

Agritech Crop Research agronomist, Fiona Martin, who evaluated the field trials, found that in southern high rainfall areas ATR-Summit, a new long season canola, performed similar to ATR-Beacon.

Meanwhile ATR-Banjo had similar height to ATR-Stubby, but higher oil content and blackleg resistance.

In higher rainfall northern regions, ATR-Banjo performed similar to ATR-Stubby and BravoTT.  ATR-Stubby suited central and northern regions.

As shorter season varieties, Boomer and Trigold suited eastern medium rainfall zones. Trigold had consistently higher oil contents than Boomer and ATR-Stubby.

Bravo TT and Thunder TT demonstrated wide adaptability to both medium and high rainfall zones, yielding higher than ATR-Beacon in the southern and medium rainfall regions. BravoTT and ThunderTT had similar oil content.

Ms Martin said it was difficult to assess the performance of short season canola varieties in 2005 due to a long growing season and cool, damp finish.

She emphasised that management decisions on variety selection should not be based on one season’s data.

Full trial results can be accessed at www.nvtonline.com.au

Further Information: Fiona Martin, Tel 0429 002 206
GRDC Ref: AGT00006

The Crop Doctor is GRDC Managing Director, Peter Reading, Ph 02 6272 5525.