Catana Oilseed Rape Launched at Cereals 2007
19/06/07

The highest-ever gross output winter oilseed rape to go forward for recommendation was launched at Cereals 2007.

From the same strong DEKALB stable as Castille and Canberra but with a medium biomass rating, Catana combines a very high oil content with consistently high seed yields to earn a  gross output rating of 108 in two years of NL trials. As such, it stands out as the clear performance leader amongst the current RL candidates.

First class establishment vigour, excellent lodging resistance at flowering and stem stiffness at harvest combined with mid-season flowering and medium maturity, a reasonable stem canker rating and very high light leaf spot resistance give the new variety a particularly impressive agronomy package too.

“NL trials show Catana represents another significant step forward in conventional oilseed rapes,” points out DEKALB breeder, Matthew Clarke.

“Particularly so in the HGCA Northern region where its NL gross output rating of over 122 and excellent LLS resistance – not to mention establishment vigour – put it head and shoulders above all currently recommended varieties.

“It stands clearly in the very high oil category  but unlike current very high oil varieties this is not at the expense of seed yield. Nor is it linked with the later flowering and maturity that increases pollen beetle and drought risk.

“Although Catana only has an average stem canker resistance rating, our testing in high disease pressure environments in both England and France have shown it outperforms varieties with higher ratings,” he adds.

DEKALB testing under tough growing conditions further reveals the variety has a remarkable output ability under a broad range of environments. Under lower stress conditions, for instance, it delivers high pod and seed numbers with a medium thousand seed weight. Yet when under stress it compensates for lower pod and seed numbers with a very much higher TSW.

“We see Catana being an excellent partner for lower biomass and slightly earlier maturing Castille across most of England to spread both the harvest and variety risk ,”  explains Matthew Clarke. “Equally, in northern England and Scotland it complements Excalibur especially well while knocking the spots off traditional regional favourites.”

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