A shining example of a conventional rape variety
A shining example of a conventional winter oilseed rape variety is how the new Grainseed variety Alegria is described by a leading Seed Manager. Colin Button of HLHutchinson is impressed with Alegria’s autumn and spring vigour, its stem strength and its early maturity.
“We have grown Alegria in our trials across the UK, from Lincolnshire and Yorkshire to the South West and I have been impressed with it. It emerged well and grew strongly in the autumn. It excelled in its over-winter survival, which many other rape varieties didn’t this year. In the spring it also showed good vigour. One of its important benefits is its early flowering and maturity, which will allow an early harvest, easier seedbed preparation and drilling of the following crop.”
Colin sees it is a fine example of a conventional type, proven under testing conditions this year. “This spring some hybrids put on a lot of growth with the more aggressive varieties creating growth that has led to the crop starting to lean now that pods are filling and weight being added. Alegria has top straw strength and lower straw height so it has stood really well. It is easy to manage and harvest. For me it ticks all the boxes.”
Commenting on the season, Colin says that rape growers have had to face very difficult conditions this year. “Some growers lost their crops in the winter and other crops are variable in their development. The spring was cold and soil temperatures at the end of April/May measured at around a foot deep was 3 to 4ºC colder than normal, leading to backward crops. Harvest looks likely to be 2 to 3 weeks later this year. Conditions this year will also impinge on next year’s rotational position. We are likely to have an on-going issue with establishment of this year’s crop and we would advise growers to get out with a spade and examine their soils carefully. Turn-around time for next year’s crop will be tight, so a variety that suits early drilling and had good autumn vigour would be an advantage.”
Neil Groom, Technical Director of Grainseed, says that Alegria is a new high yielding conventional winter rape variety with consistent performance across a range of sites. “It has an average treated yield of 106% and high oil content, leading to good gross margins. It has exceptional autumn vigour and excellent spring vigour, ahead of many hybrids. It is medium height at 155cm but with a 9 rating for resistance to lodging and an 8 for stem stiffness this means that it is easily managed and harvested. It has multigene resistance to stem canker with a high resistance rating of 7 and good resistance to Verticillium.”
“One key characteristic of Alegria is its earliness to harvest, as early as Es Alienor. HGCA Recommended varieties such as DK Cabernet and Sesame are up to 2 weeks later to mature than Alegria, creating a potential clash with wheat harvest and putting added pressure on drilling following crops. Alegria is harvested and in the barn before many other varieties have even started being harvested. This is a real benefit to growers this year.”
