Plant breeders believe that hybrid wheats may provide the cereal industry with an opportunity to secure improved yields and enhanced septoria resistance.

Nicholas Bird of KWS said that the production of hexaploid wheat varieties is now underway, courtesy of the work being carried out by staff at the National Institute of Botany in the UK.

“These synthetic wheats, when crossed with modern varieties, could offer new sources of yield improvement, drought tolerance, disease resistance and input use efficiency.”

Bird was speaking at yesterday’s Teagasc Septoria Conference in Co. Meath. Syngenta’s Jason Tatnell also spoke at the event. He confirmed that the international plant breeding and agro-chemical manufacturer was well down the road in bringing hybrid wheats to market.

We have learned a lot from our hybrid barley programme. Fundamentally, hybrid wheats will deliver higher yields, an enhanced tolerance to differing soil conditions and improved disease resistance.

Tatnell also confirmed that Syngenta intends to introduce a new SDHI fungicide onto the Irish market over the next couple of years. The new chemistry will be branded Adepidyn.

“The new product has already been tested in Ireland,” he said.

“It delivers exceptionally high levels of Septoria control.

“Bringing it to market will depend on how quickly we can get through the new EU registration procedures.”

The new chemistry is already available in a number of South American countries. According to Tatnell, the new molecule presents a radical change when it comes to controlling leaf spots, such as Septoria.

“We will be making the new chemistry available in Ireland, as part of a fungicide mix.”

Tatnell also confirmed that Syngenta’s SDHI fungicide Elatus Era will be available for the first time in Ireland this year.

“It is being distributed to merchants at the present time,” he added. “The product will be marketed as T2 fungicide, which acts to protect the flag leaf.”