Status: AHDB Candidate List 2024/25

New from DSV UK - CROMPUTER  CR, is helping to bridge the gap between clubroot-protected varieties and ‘normal’ varieties, in many cases it is out-yielding them! It is a high vigour variety that is fast to establish producing tall plants with a compact canopy. It offers a significant yield increase over existing clubroot varieties as well as TuYV protection and improved stem canker resistance. It is later flowering than its competitors offering growers the ability to split the work load with spring sprays it also offers lower risk to frost damage. 

CROMPUTER  CR is a new candidate for use on clubroot-infected land. It is a strong yielding variety on the AHDB Candidate List (Gross Output – 99.9% and Seed Yield E/W – 99.8%) which also scores well for oil content (45.4%). It has a strong score for Light Leaf Spot (6) and Stem Canker (6).

At DSV we always aim to deliver yield with traits rather than traits at the expense of yield. Clubroot has become more apparent on farm during the last five years, with closer rotations, meaning it is often costly and hard to control.

Alongside clubroot protected varieties it is also important to consider other factors such as the PH of the soil should PH 7 or above, and calcium can be added, lengthening rotations, and consideration can be given to the eradication of brassica weeds, such as runch and charlock which can amplify the problem.

CROMPUTER  CR may, however, be infected by certain strains and infections that have been reported in some fields. Early drilling is not advised as this can put pressure on the protection. Where possible clubroot varieties shouldn’t be drilled before the third week of August. DSV recommends Clubroot tolerant varieties such as Cromputer  CR and Crocodile CR should be grown in a 1 in 5 rotation free from brassicas to protect their resistance mechanisms any closer rotation could increase the chances of a breakdown.

We encourage growers to visit the following page provided by the AHDB before growing this variety to reduce the risk of resistance breakdown: https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/clubroot-managementin-oilseed-rape-cropping-factors 

It is important that growers protect the clubroot genetics by only planting the variety where clubroot is known to be an issue. Due to the rapid development of the lower branches of CROMPUTER  CR, DSV recommends a sowing rate of 40 – 50 seeds per m2 and a PGR in spring is only required on fertile sites to ensure efficient harvestability. Its vigorous autumn growth allows it to be drilled over a broad range of dates without any issues.