Date: 08/2020
A new top yielding and early maturing winter barley variety with high levels of tolerance to Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and resistance to mosaic viruses (BYMV1 + 2) is being launched by seed breeders DSV in the UK this summer.
DSV Sensation has consistently outyielded other BYDV resistant varieties across European trials whilst being the earliest heading variety tested, says DSV UK’s Sarah Hawthorne.
“Sensation is the world’s first winter barley variety combining tolerance to BYDV and resistance to BYMV strains 1 and 2 which is a real achievement of plant breeding and will be of real benefit to growers as such diseases take a greater hold in the UK.
“Recent revocation of many insecticides and growing resistance in the aphid vector population to the remaining chemistry we have at out disposal is meaning transmission of such viruses is increasingly difficult to control.
“Like with TuYV in oilseed rape, many entomologists and agronomists are very concerned about a significant rise in BYDV in the future and genetic tolerance is about the only effective way to control this.”
In nearly all varieties the BYMV 1 resistance is standard but it is very unusual to have this combined with resistance to BYMV strain 2, she says.
“This soil born virus, which infect the plants via the soil fungus Polymyxas graminis, can be only controlled by varietal resistance.
“Results from DSV in Germany show that the yield effect between BYMV 1 and 2 resistant varieties and only BYMV 1 resistant varieties can be between 10% to 40% in fields with BYMV strain 2
“So it’s important for growers to know which strain is in their fields and realise they can control this simply by making the right selection of variety.”
Apart from the tolerance to BYDV and resistance to BYMV1 + 2, Sensation is proving to be a strong six-row performer with a good disease resistance package, Sarah Hawthorne adds.
“Sensation has high untreated yields allied to other important traits such as good straw stability to make it a very popular all-round proposition for barley growers.
“As well as a high specific weight, Sensation also has outstanding spring vigour making it one of a the most competitive varieties against blackgrass currently available.”
In trials in France Sensation has achieved yields of 107.4% of control compared to other popular BYDV varieties with a specific weight of 67kg/hl, Sarah Hawthorne explains.
“Sensation has also demonstrated an ability to head up to 5 days earlier than other popular BYDV varieties – 128 days compared to 133 – as well as being suitable for early sowing dates.”
“Other European trials have showed similar results as well as highlighting untreated yields of 93% of treated control and exceptional resistance to lodging.”
Sensation is now starting its journey through the UK testing system with limited amounts available for drilling in autumn 2020.
