Test soils if BCN suspected

“Get it wrong, choose the wrong variety and not only will yields suffer, but you’ll have done nothing to stem population levels,” he says.

Mr Witheford says that while there are three BCN-tolerant varieties now listed, growers will not find the answer as to which best suits their fields from the NIAB/BBRO Recommended List.

At present, none of these varieties has been officially compared in conditions where the pest causes damage, and while new BBRO research will help, data is not going to be available before growers need to place seed orders, he says.

In Scandinavia, varieties are classed as being either BCN-tolerant or within a new category described as ‘nematode escape’, which means they have a low or light tolerance to the pest. Those with light tolerance simply can not cope in heavy infestations.

“These light tolerance types will do little to prevent the nematode from multiplying and lying in wait to attack the next beet crop in the rotation,” says Mr Witheford.

“In Swedish trials, light tolerant types in heavy pest infestations, can result in nematode populations three times the size of those where strongly-tolerant types have been grown,” he says.

While accepting other varietal comparisons are needed, Mr Witheford says field trials evidence from last year confirms that Annouschka KWS is a step up from its 2010 UK RL BCN introduction, Fiorenza KWS.

“We’ve seen performances in heavy BCN infestations from last year which confirms that Annouschka KWS is capable of beating Fiorenza KWS. This is one of the reasons British Sugar switched orders to the new variety for this season’s crop.

“The best approach for those who think they have the pest is to test soils and grow test units of different varieties or visit strip trials. Ask the breeder for a clear indication of performance of their varieties in conditions which match your own,” says Mr Witheford.

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