UK increased the number of beet varieties allowed for use in 2023
Two new high-yielding sugar beet varieties with tolerance to beet cyst nematode are the highlight of the nine new beet varieties approved for use for beet growers in spring 2023.
It is reported by Farmers Weekly.
Harryetta and Button are added to the new Recommended List (RL) of sugar beet varieties for 2023, both having tolerance to the yield-damaging nematode.
The first variety from breeder KWS is the second highest-yielding variety on the list at 103.5%, only just behind top yielding non-tolerant variety BTS1915 at 107.1% but ahead of the previous highest-yielding BCN tolerant variety Daphna at 101.5%.
Button from breeder Stubbe UK yields 99.2%.
A third variety BTS Smart 9485, from Limagrain, is an acetolactate synthase (ALS) herbicide-tolerant variety with a yield of 96.0%, and is ahead of the previous only ALS-tolerant variety Smart Rixta on the list at 92.1%.
The other six varieties include Annatina from KWS, BTS3610 from Limagrain, Tawny and Adder from SESVanderHave UK, and Morgan and Stewart from Stube UK.