A few growers will get the chance to test more RAGT trait technology this season with RGT Ceos, the company’s latest oilseed rape variety.
Planned for commercial launch in autumn 2025, the variety has put in strong performances across Europe but with very little seed available in this country until now, seed merchants have only been able to view it in official and breeder’s trials.
“RGT Ceos is a good example of our new breeding direction and contains some real game-changing characteristics stacked into a different genetic background,” says RAGT UK’s managing director Lee Bennett. “This underpins the variety’s remarkably consistent performance and excellent vigour.”
Dorset-based Pearce Seeds is one merchant allocating RGT Ceos packs for growers to try this autumn. The firm’s Clive Tuffin likes what he has seen of the variety so far.
“Ceos is very vigorous in the autumn, which is really important to get the crop through the vulnerable stage. There are plenty of things that will nobble small OSR plants, not least cabbage stem flea beetle.”
RGT Ceos also grows away quickly in the spring, producing plenty of fresh growth that won’t have as much larval burden as the autumn biomass and setting the crop up well for the months ahead.
Solid disease resistance is another plus for Clive. “Ceos has double phoma resistance which is a big positive, scores a 7 for light leaf spot and it has TuYV resistance.”
He also likes its Verticillium resistance, something he feels is often under-diagnosed in rape crops. “The more traits you can stack, the longer they will last and the better they will work,” he adds.
Clive notes it also stands well, thanks to its very stiff straw, and it has good pod shatter resistance. Oil content is also good at 46.5%.
Sowing management
Clive advises sowing RGT Ceos once the main flea beetle migration period has passed, so the end of August or later.
“If you drill a vigorous variety early, you have to give it a robust autumn pgr – it is a must – and again in the spring. The autumn application can be combined with a graminicide to remove cereal volunteers as soon as the crop hits five leaves.
“Don’t leave the crop to become too proud at the end of October; it’s too late. You will get more leaf die-off through the winter which will host more disease, and you will have a battle to stay on top of it.”
Clive feels RGT Ceos has plenty going for it and possibly help turn WOSR around. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see it take a decent share of the market once there is more seed available,” he concludes.
Vigorous Blackmoon a good late drilling choice
New for this season is RGT Blackmoon. Lee describes it as a variety that never looks back once it gets going, something Procam agronomist Nigel Scott feels is appropriate.
“Its rapid establishment and strong early vigour make it an ideal choice for growers who want to delay drilling to avoid peak cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) pressure,” he says.
“Flea beetle is something we can no longer control, but we can try to mitigate the problem, and late drilling is one way of doing this. Good autumn vigour is the first thing I look for when delaying – we can’t afford any growth checks if we want the crop to go into the winter in optimum condition.
“I’ve seen Blackmoon race away when drilled in September. It has really strong early growth and has been outstanding in trials.”
