Release Of New Varieties Pending

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31119, 23 July 1966, Page 10

Release Of New Varieties Pending

The field crop committee has recommended the release of a number of new varieties of turnips, rape, peas and oats from the Crop Research Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

The varieties are, with the dates when they will be available for general farm use being shown in brackets: Kapai 67 turnip (1967). Rangi rape (1968). Greenfeast 68 pea (1968 or 1969).

Blue Prussian 68 pea (1968). Amuri oat (1968). The field crop committee consists of representatives of the Crop Research Division, Plant Diseases Division and Entomology Division all divisions of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research —the Department of Agriculture and Massey University of Manawatu and Lincoln College. It receives reports of the results of research in the last year and plans future co-operative trials. The following are notes on the new varieties, the release of which has been recommended: Kapai 67 turnip has been produced by selection from Kapai 66. It is mosaic resistant and as resistant to soft rot as Kapai 66. It is a better yielder than Kapai 66 and probably equal to or better than Green Globe when sown in January or early February. It has a better bulb shape than Kapai 66, with the bulbs growing further out of the ground. It is not as suitable, however, for late sowing as York Globe. It is expected to replace all early sown Green Globe crops in areas liable to virus attack. Rangi rape has been selected from the cross of (Broad Leaf Essex by Calder) by Giant rape. An improved aphis resistant variety, it is more productive than Aphid Resistant and is more resistant to aphides and virus at-

tack. It is as palatable as Aphid Resistant, and is expected to replace Aphid Resistant rape. Greenfeast 68 pea is a mosaic resistant, wilt resistant variety produced by the back cross method from crosses between Hursthouse and Greenfeast W.R. It is identical with Greenfeast W.R. but is resistant to pea mosaic, which is a serious disease in Hawkes Bay processing crops. It will probably replace Greenfeast W.R. Blue Prussian 67 is a wilt resistant, top yellows resistant Blue Prussian type pea. It was produced from the crossing of Onward W.R. and a selected line of Blue Prussian. Top yellows is a serious virus disease of peas in Canterbury and Marlborough. Amuri oat has been produced from crosses between Victoria, Richland, Algerians and Milford. This is a general purpose white oat with high early greenfeed production and it is crown rust resistant. It is expected to replace Algerians for greenfeed or chaff but it has a lower grain yield than Mapua.