Sown: 10 May 2024
Harvested: 7 November 2024
Rotation position: 2023 Canola
Soil type: Loamy Sand (Deep ripped 2022)
FAR code: FAR WAE IIB24-23-02
Trial Location: Esperance Port Zone WA

The Germplasm Evaluation Network (GEN) is a FAR Australia ‘Industry Innovations’ initiative that tests crop performance across FAR Australia’s national network of Crop Technology Centres. GEN sites test crop performance with and without fungicide. FAR Australia provides the control varieties and breeders enter their chosen lines for evaluation.

Key Points:
A drier season at the start and finish resulted in 279mm growing season rainfall (GSR) and grain yields that ranged from 4.64 – 6.07t/ha depending on variety and fungicide input.

Net form net blotch infection (NFNB) and phenology appeared to be key drivers of yield with Cyclops, Neo CL, Minotaur and Bigfoot CL (AGTB0669) having the highest yields and lowest (<2.5% plot infection) NFNB infections.

Although there was no significant yield response to fungicide application (p=0.12) there was a general trend to indicate a yield increase from a two-spray fungicide programme in those varieties showing the highest levels of NFNB in untreated crops.

The highest levels of NFNB infection in untreated crops were recorded in RGT Planet, KWS Thalis, RGT Orbiter and RGT Asteroid, and although fungicide lifted yields, fungicide protection was ineffective in these varieties during grain fill, suggesting fungicide resistance in the NFNB pathogen is influencing results.

As a general trend the quicker developing varieties tended to perform slightly stronger than the later developing varieties, which was most evident in comparisons of Neo CL and Rosalind (quicker developing) with IGB21130 (slower developing).

The warmer drier grain fill period had the effect of increasing screenings and reducing retentions, particularly in the later developing varieties.

There were no varieties that achieved malt as per CBH 2024/25 receival requirements due to low test weights.

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