Limagrain UK lunched two new soft wheat varieties of New Group 3

Limagrain UK recently lunched two New soft wheat varieties Zulu and Britannia of New Group 3 offering premium potential and yields to challenge feed types presents exciting opportunities for cereal growers.
 

At 104% of control UK-wide, the highest yielding Group 3 on the RL is newcomer Britannia, which sits just ahead of next joint-highest yielder Zulu (102%). Zulu, slightly behind Britannia for yield,which traces its pedigree back to Group 3 stalwart Claire, offers distilling approval to give an extra market option, especially for growers in northern areas.
 

Tailored variety choice
 

Britannia is quite a strong tillering variety that seems to do better when sown later on heavy land as second wheat. Zulu is a bit slower developing and has stiffer straw, so can be drilled slightly earlier and on lighter land.
 

Britannia, as a first wheat, performs particularly well in the east and growers considering it as a second or continuous wheat should not be deterred by the 4 rating for eyespot. It offers strong disease resistance, especially to septoria and yellow rust and produces good specific weight.
 

Zulu’s earlier maturity than Britannia could make it a better option further north,with the additional option of the distilling market a key driver for the northern soft wheat sector.
 

Britannia and Zulu have good tillering potential, with Britannia suggesting a higher count, which is a valuable trait that could allow possible reductions in seed rate to maximise yield and reduce lodging risk, he says.
 

Britannia is best suited to drilling from late September onwards, while Zulu’s slightly stiffer straw means it can go in slightly earlier (mid to late September), although drilling date for any variety is very dependent on where you are in the country (north v south) and local site conditions.
 

Zulu suits a range of soils, rotational positions and offers a good disease profile, with the added advantage of resistance to orange wheat blossom midge and soil-borne cereal mosaic virus.

 

There are currently 11 Group 3 varieties on the 2015/16 AHDB Recommended List, four of which have joined in the past two years, providing plenty of new options in a category that once accounted for half of the market, yet today represents just 10-15%.
 

After so much focus on Group 4 varieties in previous years, it is great to see Group 3 varieties coming through, such as Britannia and Zulu, that can deliver higher yields and grain quality capable of attracting a premium, yet aren’t expensive to grow.