DSV’s high yielding turnip yellow wirus (TuYV) resistant oilseed rape topping 2018 AHDB trial results

• New variety Temptation achieving average 107% of control to share top spot
• High numbers of Myzus persicae carrying TuYV now recorded in UK
• Varietal resistance only realistic way of protecting against infection

DSV’s Turnip Yellow Virus (TuYV) resistant oilseed rape variety Temptation is currently in joint top position in the latest AHDB variety trials based on 2018 data.

With eleven sets of data complete for the year so far, Temptation has an average gross output of 107% representing a yield of 5.48t/ha.

In some regions, the variety achieved a gross output of 118% of control - some 10% ahead of the next variety tested, says DSV UK’s Sarah Hawthorne.

“These are very encouraging results and support our own findings in the field and comments form growers that Temptation has done exceptionally well this year in what have been far from easy conditions for oilseed rape.

“It also underlines the fact that TuYV could be becoming a growing threat to UK growers following on from experiences on mainland Europe where yield losses from the virus have been as high as 30% in recent years.”

In addition, many now believe that background levels of the virus could be reducing yields in the UK to a greater degree than previously thought, she says.

“Rothamsted Research report levels of the aphid vector Myzus persicae carrying the disease can be as high as 80% and it is very likely this is been reflected in high levels of infection in crops.

“The situation is getting worse following the ban on Neonicotinoid seed treatments and the reduced use of insecticides generally. Furthermore Rothamsted have discovered up to 85% of the aphid vectors involved are resistant to common insecticides.”

The only way of ensuring the virus does not limit production is to grow TuYV resistant varieties in the future, Sarah Hawthorne believes.

“Resistance works by slowing down the replication of the virus in the plant and this is the only realistic way of stopping losses from the condition. Managing the situation is complicated by the fact that the virus is very difficult to identify in growing plants.

“But with Temptation, growers now have the opportunity to protect crops from TuYV safe in the knowledge that they are growing one of the highest gross output oilseed rapes currently available.”