New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts

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Yield comparisons of old and new cultivars of swedes (Brassica napus ssp. napobrassica) in Southland, New Zealand

S. Gowers
R. Butler

New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research Limited
Private Bag 4704
Christchurch, New Zealand
email: gowerss@crop.cri.nz

S. D. Armstrong

New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research Limited
P.O. Box 273
Gore, New Zealand

Abstract Yield trials of swedes (Brassica napus ssp. napobrassica) were analysed to compare the performance of recently released cultivars with the older cultivars they have replaced. Data from 1993/94 to 1997/98 were analysed using a mixed model analysis and G*E effects were examined. The recently released ‘Major Plus’ produced the highest fresh weight yield of bulb, 105 t/ha, 15% higher than ‘Doon Major’, the low dry matter (DM) cultivar that it has replaced. ‘Highlander’ had over 14% higher bulb DM yield than ‘Doon Major’ and the other main crop cultivars that have been replaced. ‘Tina’, the older cultivar with good clubroot and dry rot resistance, had a low yield. ‘Winton’ was bred to combine the disease resistance of ‘Tina’ with the yield of ‘Highlander’; it produced a bulb dry yield 5% higher than ‘Highlander’ and 47% higher than ‘Tina’. Estimates of total dry weight yield gave similar results and over the trial environments and years examined ‘Winton’ was also the most stable cultivar for total dry weight yield.

Keywords swedes; Brassica napus ssp. Napobrassica; yield trials; Southland

New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 2006, Vol. 34: 109–114
0014–0671/06/3402–0109      © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2006
H05035; Online publication date 12 April 2006. Received 7 April 2005; accepted 21 December 2005

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